Verizon iPhone 5 Will Not Offer Simultaneous Voice and Data [Update: It Was A Hardware Decision]

[dgreene196]

Lots and lots of good thoughts in this thread. Despite this being a potentially significant issue, I don't think this will dramatically affect iPhone sales in the short-term.

The folks upgrading from a current Verizon iPhone will already be used to this situation. They've adapted to not requiring the use of simultaneous data and voice over cellular networks.

For the potential switchers from AT&T to Verizon, this could require a significant change in how one uses an iPhone.

For the AT&T upgraders, not a lot changes.

And all of that really depends on how much time a person spends during the day in accessible range of a WiFi network. I spend 80-90% of most days in WiFi network range. The rest of the time I'm usually in a car, and I rarely use both data and voice. Of course, I'm not everybody. And there are times I can see this being an issue depending on how it's implemented. And, as an AT&T user, I don't know how the phone determines priority of data vs. voice.

Definitely have a lot of frustrated folks on the messages boards due to this design decision by Apple. And it is a design decision by Apple than a flaw or an epic fail or some other word suggesting a disaster. The cellular chip they chose to use offers excellent battery life and a broad range of potential network frequencies at the cost of possessing a single cellular antenna. Definitely in contrast to the big phone/big battery/multi cellular chip strategies chosen by other companies (admittedly, not much of a choice considering this chip hasn't been used widely in the marketplace to date). I guarantee we'll see commercials mocking the iPhone for this decision.

 

[mohsy90]

No effing way! Why Apple? Whyyyy?? I was definitely looking forward to voice+data.

 

[NoExpectations]

Simultaneous voice and data is an absolute MUST. Once you have it, can't live without it. Sticking with AT&T.

 

[samcraig]

1. form over function
2. battery life I imagine
3. use of additional chip or alternate chip and paying more for license


The whole comment about LTE from Shimpi is silly "Plus, in the next two years the 4G LTE network is supposed to evolve to support voice calls, which would render another antenna unnecessary later."

So? That's at least 2 years away.

1) there will be 2 iPhone models before then
2) Last I checked being backwards compatible wasn't a bad thing. So even if someone held on to their iPhone 5 for more than 2 years - the phone would still work. So it would have another Antenna. Big deal.

 

[NoExpectations]

With the new IOS Maps and Turn-by-Turn, if I am on the call and I have to reroute, I guess I am out of luck. This stinks.

 

[lilo777]

Name me 3 occasions where you absolutely need voice and data that you simply can't look up after the phone call? Do we have ADD so bad to a point where while talking to someone we need to browse the web and check facebook?

It's the end of the world as we know it ...

This has nothing with the point of my post which simply clarified who is to blame for this issue. It's Apple and not Verizon. Everyone will decide for himself whether they want this feature or not. And if they do, they can go with AT&T or a fully-featured LTE phone (like SGSIII) on Verizon.

 

[pragmatous]

Name me 3 occasions where you absolutely must talk on the phone and browse the web at the same time on a phone?

You can also stop at a pay phone and make a call too. But that's inconvenient. How about limiting your data to edge speeds? That should also be ok by your standards, it will just take a little longer. Or are these limitations only deemed acceptable when they appear as a negative mark on the company you're a fan of?

 

[notabadname]

I was really considering switching to Verizon until this. I really use this feature regularly. Using a phone with a bluetooth earpiece really makes browsing something I like to to while talking, say for researching dining plans, or the movie we are meeting for. CDMA just doesn't match GSM.

 

[TeamMojo]

I'm always struck by the tenor of the comments when Apple release something. Many people basically say "I can't believe Apple didn't build this in the way that I wanted." As if Apple is going to specifically tailor a phone to the whims of a particular random Internet commenter. For example all the Lightning connector whining. Apple makes decisions. Most are for very good reasons. You don't have to buy Apple. And if you base your smart phone purchase on whether there is a MicroUSB connector, then you deserve what you get.

 

[pragmatous]

It has nothing to do with Apple. It's a physical limitation of CDMA technology. They found a work around with another antenna but that has nothing to do with any particular technology company. It's how CDMA is designed. GSM naturally allows data and voice to come thru because it's designed that way but it's also a lot less secure. GSM is easily hackable.

This has nothing with the point of my post which simply clarified who is to blame for this issue. It's Apple and not Verizon. Everyone will decide for himself whether they want this feature or not. And if they do, they can go with AT&T or a fully-featured LTE phone (like SGSIII) on Verizon.

 

[dokujaryu]

That really sucks. It would definitely be a deal-breaker for me if I were considering them as a carrier. People can bash AT&T all they want but I have never had bad customer service, billing problems, or issues with my voice or data failing me. I guess I'm one of the lucky few.

I was driving myself crazy trying to pick between the two, but this cinched it. In Austin there's a choice between AT&T LTE and Verizon, so I really wasn't sure if I should go with the slightly faster AT&T or the much more pervasive Verizon. I was leaning towards AT&T for the reasons you mentioned, and this pushed me over.

 

[armandxp]

I use the Internet all the time while talking on the phone over 3G with AT&T, and all I can say is: AT&T started throttling the data speed to where it is barely even usable. I can't believe more people aren't complaining about this crap from AT&T. I can barely even read my Facebook while talking over the phone on 3G. There was absolutely no reason for them to start doing this late last year!!!!

 

[TechieGeek]

The first iPhone did not support voice and data at the same time, that required the iPhone 3G. (On a GSM 3G network, as well. My wife has an iPhone 3G on T-Mobile, and cannot talk and surf at the same time, since it only supports EDGE on T-Mobile.)

The refarm is in progress, bro' http://airportal.de/

Soon....very soon..... We will have full HSPA+ speed on the iPhone on T-Mobile. That's 12mbps of juicy data in my area

 

[Rot'nApple]

I've had AT&T for years, traveling often to major cities, and never really understood the complaining until I spent some time in San Francisco this year for business. Wow... AT&T is atrocious there - both data and voice. Maps were hopeless.

I assume NoCal is over-represented in tech forums and that explains a lot of the constant fury. Honestly in New York City AT&T is fine.

What's wrong is not ATT, but California and how it's run!

Even if one were to say ATT sucks at and lists some other geographical area. I still stand by what I said.
/
/

 

[mellofello]

Glad I saw this article. I was at the vz store today getting brochures. I asked a rep this question specifically, and was told that the 5 could do both. I had planned to order Verizon butt now I will stick to AT&T.

I work in the field and usually have my phone ringing non stop, while navigating through motion x, and feeding my laptop through hot spot.

Bs apple. Bs

 

[YesILoveTech]

My Samsung Galaxy SIII works PERFECTLY well on Verizon simultaneously providing voice and data. Somehow the Verizon iPhoners will lie to themselves and pretend like it doesn't matter.

 

[KPOM]

No effing way! Why Apple? Whyyyy?? I was definitely looking forward to voice+data.

It's a function of getting the phone as small as possible and as battery efficient as possible by using a single chip. Verizon could solve this by deploying VoLTE (voice over LTE), but knowing them they will wait forever to do so. It's a curious decision by Apple, to say the least. If they had known that within an hour the message boards would be abuzz I'm curious if they'd have done this.

That said, for the record, this is absolutely the kind of thing Steve Jobs would have approved. As far as he was concerned, it's the carrier's fault for not supporting the latest and greatest. He likely would not have added a third antenna just to suit Verizon or Sprint.

 

[budselectjr]

Plus, in the next two years the 4G LTE network is supposed to evolve to support voice calls, which would render another antenna unnecessary later.

smart move.

 

[lilo777]

It has nothing to do with Apple. It's a physical limitation of CDMA technology. They found a work around with another antenna but that has nothing to do with any particular technology company. It's how CDMA is designed. GSM naturally allows data and voice to come thru because it's designed that way but it's also a lot less secure. GSM is easily hackable.

I would agree if other LTE phones had the same limitations. They don't. There is a way to deal with this issue which Apple decided not to use in order to maximize their profits (as usual). Not a biggy. Verizon customers have had sub-par iPhone experience for a couple of years already, they can suffer for two more years. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why many people prefer Android phones. They (phones) are technically superior.

 

[samcraig]

I'm always struck by the tenor of the comments when Apple release something. Many people basically say "I can't believe Apple didn't build this in the way that I wanted." As if Apple is going to specifically tailor a phone to the whims of a particular random Internet commenter. For example all the Lightning connector whining. Apple makes decisions. Most are for very good reasons. You don't have to buy Apple. And if you base your smart phone purchase on whether there is a MicroUSB connector, then you deserve what you get.

I don't disagree with your premise. But the old "if you don't like it - buy something else" doesn't negate people from wanting to comment on why they are unhappy. It also doesn't mean they won't buy the iPhone as most people decide what to buy on several factors - none of which alone is a factor - but when combined with others could make someone choose something else.

So the USB thing might be a factor - but maybe it's also no NFC and that they want a bigger screen. Maybe it's not.

Apple makes decisions. So do forum members. The advantage forum members have is - they are the customer and if they don't like something - have every right to complain about it.

I'm certainly glad I, myself and others complained when Apple's antenna on the iPhone 4 had issues. If we hadn't - it's entirely possible Apple wouldn't have changed the antenna in the 4S and now the 5.

Don't be so quick to "silence" the complainers. Better for you to just walk on by if you don't like the noise.

 

[KPOM]

My Samsung Galaxy SIII works PERFECTLY well on Verizon simultaneously providing voice and data. Somehow the Verizon iPhoners will lie to themselves and pretend like it doesn't matter.

It uses two radios and two antennas. It takes a toll on battery life. Verizon could address this by implementing VoLTE, which would benefit everyone using an LTE phone, including you, since it would shut off the CDMA radio entirely. They could also implement CDMA Rev B, which supports SVDO over CDMA.

It's a curious decision by Apple, to be sure, but I can understand the technical reasons for making that design choice (Apple wants to use a single more advanced chip than two less advanced chips to save space and battery life).

Anyway, I'm on AT&T, so I don't really care as I could do this years ago.

 

[indiekiduk]

Another reason for avoiding Verizon is that SMS is another feature of GSM networks that CDMA networks don't support very well at all. You won't receive messages or they will be corrupt.

 

[KPOM]

I would agree if other LTE phones had the same limitations. They don't. There is a way to deal with this issue which Apple decided not to use in order to maximize their profits (as usual). Not a biggy. Verizon customers have had sub-par iPhone experience for a couple of years already, they can suffer for two more years. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why many people prefer Android phones. They (phones) are technically superior.

It's probably not profits per se. Apple could have saved money using two older chips. It's that they wanted the phone to be thin and light and save battery above all.

 

[sniffies]

What a load of crap!

Phil Schiller himself said iPhone 5 would support simultaneous voice+data. Watch the keynote again.

 

[efktd]

Really?! REALLY??! Even though I renewed my contract with AT&T when the 4S came out, I was SOOO ready to switch to Verizon with the iPhone 5 ever since AT&T told me I had to change to the share plan to use FaceTime over cellular, when I don't even use FaceTime that much. But now that Verizon is saying no simultaneous voice and data, I guess I'll have to just finish out my contract that ends in May, and decide then if I want to debate switching over to a new carrier. Maybe by then, they'll have things sorted out...

/sarcasm