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By the time that happens Verizon may very well be on their way to the largest 4G LTE network, leaving AT&T behind in the dust once again.

Not even close. AT&T will be 4G LTE ready to go in their major markets nearly a year ahead of Verizon.

What's going to upset you more is when AT&T starts rolling out regional zones that currently Verizon brags about--the same zones they bought from Alltel.
 
i don't mean to be rude but, Where are you getting your facts? AT&T's 4G network is to be up and running as early as next year. while Verizon's CEO stated that his wouldn't even cover 66% of the U.S. until late 2012...

Really? I thought I read that ATT hope to test LTE in the field this year. From ATT:

AT&T now plans field trials of LTE technology later this year, with Ericsson delivering equipment as well as a full suite of services to design, deploy and optimize the LTE network. Commercial deployment is scheduled to begin in 2011, although AT&T has not committed itself to any more specific dates.

If Verizon has tested 2 cities and are saying 20-30 this year, how is ATT ahead? I'm no verizon fanboy, but if they have hardware working and ATT hopes to test, I can't see they are ahead, I used ATT, cellworld, reuters and wirelessmobilenews as sources. Will verizon meet the 20-30? who knows. But now they are on record, they should be held to it. As ATT should be helt to testing 'in the field'.
 
I Love AT&T Rollover Minutes + Simul-Data/Talk Capability

bnerd said:
It's already been proven that Verizon's 3G speeds are slower than AT&T's, plus no talk and data at the same time ..
no thanks. If they do get the iPhone I'd stick with AT&T.
Ditto. I was with Verizon before I got my iPhone and I prefer AT&T now for the same reasons plus their rollover policy inherited from Cingular. I think AT&T has tried hard to please iPhone customers and they have earned and deserve our loyalty. :)
 
Ditto. I was with Verizon before I got my iPhone and I prefer AT&T now for the same reasons plus their rollover policy inherited from Cingular. I think AT&T has tried hard to please iPhone customers and they have earned and deserve our loyalty. :)

And AT&T has years of experience with the iPhone. It may not be perfect but Verizon has no experience with the iPhone. I'm sure people will complain about Verizon if the iPhone comes to that network. As much as they prepare, Verizon will at least initially get crushed by all that data usage.
 
Short answer: it depends.

Longer answer: most people want reliable network coverage in a few specific places (their home, place of work, school, etc.).

If you travel a lot, particularly for business, you might want a network that performs acceptably wherever you go. If that includes international destinations, you will need to think how your phone's compatibility with the local cellular networks.

Verizon uses the CDMA technology which is not widely deployed beyond the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. Thus, most Verizon phones are useless when traveling abroad (there are a few "worldmode" phones that work with varying degrees of success in non-CDMA countries).

It's important to note that in the last Consumer Reports survey of U.S. mobile operators, none of them were good. Verizon ended up on top by a slim margin that was barely above the threshold of statistical significance. Basically, Verizon is a 37" giant in a land of three-foot midgets.

I'd love to get an iPhone, but I get zero reception on the AT&T network at home. Nothing. Would I buy a Verizon iPhone? Probably not. I still want a cellphone that works overseas. Thus, I am stuck waiting for the iPhone to arrive on T-Mobile (their signal is strong at home) or hoping that some day AT&T will place a cell tower closer to where I live. Who knows, maybe someone on the other side of my town has the opposite experience: AT&T is great and get zero bars with T-Mobile.

So really, it's up to you to assess network quality in the places you frequent the most and understand which one provides the best value. Then you have to think whether or not the functionality of any given handset (iPhone or other) is enough to justify the level of service offered by the carrier in question. If you move or change jobs, it's likely that you'll see some change in cellular reception quality with your existing carrier. Better or worse? You'll never know until it happens.

It's a value assessment that you will have to make yourself. As a matter of fact, you really wouldn't want anyone else to decide for you.

While I agree with most of the general concepts of your statements, there are some things with which I take issue. Assessing a carrier's network in your home area is a great idea. However, some of us travel all over the country, and the world. It's hard to predict what kind of service you'll get in new areas that you travel to.

I have had all three of the networks in question. I was an AT&T subscriber for over a decade when they were on their old TDMA network, left to go to Verizon for a year, came back to AT&T shortly after Cingular took them over, and now have a jailbroken iPhone on T-Mobile. Here's my view of them all:

AT&T's TDMA network could stand toe-to-toe with Verizon in most places, and their customer service was acceptable for me for the most part. But it could never stand up to today's demands. Besides, it's gone now, so that's all moot.

Verizon has, by far, the best and most saturated coverage in the 48 contiguous states. When I had a Verizon phone I had coverage in remote locations while others were sadly looking at no bars on their AT&T and T-Mobile devices. I was in Aspen recently, and while all of us who had T-Mobile experienced very spotty service and couldn't get a signal at all in the condo in the middle of town, the one Verizon user was able to offer up his Droid with 4 bars on 3G for use as a reliable tethering device for my laptop. But their customer service policies are not great, and they will always push their customers around as much as the market allows. I don't trust them. Case in point: I was recently in a Verizon store buying a Droid phone for a friend of mine for her birthday. The poor guy at the counter next to me was buying an upgrade from a straight phone to a new Blackberry. I overheard the Verizon guy tell him that he was going to charge him $20 to migrate his contacts over to the BB!! This is because of Verizon's technology, not anything the guy did. Total poor customer service proprietary BS. I wonder how many years ago Verizon paid for those transfer devices in the back of their stores...

I went back to AT&T after the Cingular merger because I needed a new phone, and Verizon's hardware offerings at the time were weak. Besides, I was tired of waiting 45 minutes for service every time I went into the store. What a nightmare that move was. AT&T/Cingular is a horrible, incompetent company. I left them before my contract was up, paid the ETF to get away, and will never give them another dime.

I have been on T-Mobile with both a BB for several years and an iPhone more recently. Fantastic company from a customer service/customer friendly standpoint. But their network lacks in saturation. Of course, using a jailbroken iPhone means no 3G for me. But my 3G BB is lightning fast. Interesting to note that T-Mobile is in the process of increasing both their 3G network speed (software updates). That update will cover 200 million people before the 4th quarter this year. They're also upgrading their POPs to 1Gb from 100Mb. These upgrades will make T-Mobile's 3G network faster than both AT&T and Verizon. In fact, my BB on the East Coast is already faster than AT&T.

So the Consumer Reports ratings, aside from the fact that CR tends to be very subjective in their rating system, are not all that helpful to a lot of users when you say that Verizon is "only marginally" better than the other carriers. Sure, when you take things like customer service, proprietary policies and lack of reliable international coverage into account they lose points. But for most US users, Verizon's network is going to be the 800 lb. gorilla that will make their phones just work. I, personally put a lot of weight into how my cellular company values and respects me as a customer. T-Mobile wins that hands down. But it does sometimes get frustrating to lose coverage and experience dead spots in major metropolitan areas. As far as AT&T is concerned, as I said they are a despicable company, and I am convinced they'd be in a lot of trouble if they hadn't gotten the iPhone. Hopefully T-Mobile and Verizon will get it soon, and AT&T will start to hemorrhage customers. A little karmic justice is in order.
 
You don't say!!!

Now if they would ACTUALLY carry it...

Forget about the stupid TamPad and worry about getting the iPhone in peoples hands, then you have a winning strategy.

Im sooo close to buying a smartphone, my contract is up for upgrade pricing on a new phone, and its sooo tempting to buy a droid

Go for it. I am sure there's a "droid" for you:cool:
 
No Verizon for me !!!

I would never buy anything at all from Verizon after they screwed over the customers of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire by dumping us to a bankrupt company (Fairpoint).
 
I think you are right, the original iPhone had no contract in the US. I think the contract will be running out this summer for all of the people who bought the 3G in the first summer it was offered (2008).

As I hope people have corrected already, the original iPhone did have a two year contract, even though no subsidy. However, not sure to what extent AT&T tried and/or was successful enforcing it. The 3G had contract, but enforced on a declining balance so after 1 1/2 years, not much penalty to switch anyway. Not sure of the relevance, however, since I'm fairly certain AT&T has exclusive until 2011. AT&T was making no effort last summer to cut deals to sign people up for two year contracts, which probably would have done if losing exclusive in one year.
 
Not even close. AT&T will be 4G LTE ready to go in their major markets nearly a year ahead of Verizon.

What's going to upset you more is when AT&T starts rolling out regional zones that currently Verizon brags about--the same zones they bought from Alltel.

You could'nt be more wrong if you tried. Verizon will have atleast 30 markets up by end of 2010, 1/3 of Americans. They will also double that within 15 months, so by mid 2012 and they have stated 100% coverage by 2013. They actually stated they are ahead of schedule. AT&T has stated they wont even be testing until 2011, and probably closer to mid to late 2011 at that. AT&T has also said they are not really interested in working on LTE right now and are focusing on continuing to roll out 3G. So you tell me how the heck AT&T will be ready to go a year ahead of schedule? Besides, AT&T is still trying to catch up to Verizon in 3G coverage nevermind LTE.

Go ahead and enjoy your 3G coverage while we'll be enjoying LTE.
 
Any coincidence that all of this Verizon chatter is happening this week?

Maybe there will be an announcement this Thursday during the 4.0 preview.
 
Am I the only person who finds it rather hilarious that people care so much about these 3G maps we see in all the commercials?

I live near Chicago. 3G is everywhere I go. How often do most of us travel outside of our home area? Not that often. I could care less if AT&T offers me 3G coverage in the fields of Nebraska. All I care about is that I'm covered where I live, and that is the case all of the time.
 
Am I the only person who finds it rather hilarious that people care so much about these 3G maps we see in all the commercials?

I never got those Verizon commercials where there is an imaginary map floating over the person's head. Particularly, the one where the guy sits down in front of the television and his floating 3G map is blocking the view and his friends tell him to move. Is there some sort of hidden meaning to it? Is it that his internet coverage is so awesome that it grabs the attention of an entire room of people?
 
then maybe you could actually get one to work in manhattan

Mine works perfectly in manhattan, I'm even able to check emails and surf the web while on a call in manhattan.. imagine that!!!

Verizon might project this almighty image but we all know they are kicking themselves behind closed doors for not taking steve's offer in the first place lol. MAKE THEM SUFFER STEVE!!! :D
 
Am I the only person who finds it rather hilarious that people care so much about these 3G maps we see in all the commercials?

I live near Chicago. 3G is everywhere I go. How often do most of us travel outside of our home area? Not that often. I could care less if AT&T offers me 3G coverage in the fields of Nebraska. All I care about is that I'm covered where I live, and that is the case all of the time.

Its not just about having 3G coverage in the fields of Nebraska, although its mighty nice when I visit family and friends out in the stix and still have 3G :cool:

No, its about having 3G coverage while out traveling betweeen cities. It kind of sucks when you leave the city metro area and drop to EDGE, if your lucky to get EDGE. Youre using GoogleMaps or a Navi software and guess what, no coverage period!
 
In Apple's Court? Please...

Verizon is good for the home (i.e. FIOS), but let's face it, no point in having great coverage if your phones suck. It's like having a great interstate highway system, but you have to drive a frickin' Pinto on it. No thanks... I'd rather drive something great, even if the roads are a bit bumpy...
 
Verizon is good for the home (i.e. FIOS), but let's face it, no point in having great coverage if your phones suck. It's like having a great interstate highway system, but you have to drive a frickin' Pinto on it. No thanks... I'd rather drive something great, even if the roads are a bit bumpy...

No road here in Pasadena Md. They put a new tower behind the Texas Roadhouse to help the area, but it's on the wrong side of the hill. For me, what's the point of a good phone without service.

What part of Md? Towson has gotten better, most phones are getting 3 to 4 bars now.
 
Too Little, Too Late

Hurm.

Seidenberg and Verizon had their chance 2006/2007. Too bad they turned Apple down.

EXACTLY. Apple only went to AT&T after Verizon turned up their nose at the iPhone. Well, Verizon, you have been a victim of your own foolish shortsightedness. I used to hate AT&T, but I think they actually have made some imporvements in their network and I'm not sure I'd even want Verizon now. That's the breaks when you make a bad business decision!
 
Think People!!!!

if The CEO of Verizon has to make this type of statement publicly..this should serve as proof that Verizon is not getting the iPhone...not any time soon...if they were getting the iPhone mum would be the word until Apple announced it...by the way where is that CDMA iPad?
 
Ooooh, a bitch-fight of titan billionaires! They are playing with your money and feel entitled to do so, like monarchs thought God wanted them to be the king.

Competition is the very last thing they really want, so that should be the very first thing we should demand.
 
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