Verizon iPhone Launches with Mobile Hotspot and Redesigned Antenna

[UCPonch]

Buying it subsidized and paying the ETF when you need to would result in the same outcome expect you would also have the possibly of letting the contract run it's natural course saving you hundreds in the process

That's true and makes a lot of sense I may just have to resolve myself to signing a contract again. I've always felt it was relinquishing too much power to the carriers.

I wouldn't even hesitate to upgrade if I wasn't worried an LTE iPhone is a possibility this summer though.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

It is funny how people talk junk about CDMA when they don't understand how long some of us Sprint/Verizon users have been on a 3G network.

My first 3G phone was a flip phone in 2006.

T-Mobile and some parts of AT&T STILL don't get full 3G service.


Yeah ultimately, their 3G service can be upgraded and more speed added, but at the same time Verizon and Sprint are both already pretty deep in their "4G" offerings and i've been enjoying 4G already for the past few months.

Decent downloads speeds...uploads could use some work...still faster than my home cable though.

A) 3G+ speeds were worthless until a phone that could really take advantage of them was offered i.e. the iPhone.
B) 4G is a borderline scam. The speed difference for stuff like web browsing is only going to be marginally faster then (AT&Ts) 3G. The ping times, not bandwidth are what's important at this junction. And finally 4G is going to result in worse battery life which truth be told really isn't worth the gain for most people.

 

[ecib]

People are assuming its free. It's an additional $20 / month plus the data plan for other smartphones on Verizon, I don't see why the iPhone would be any different.

Well, it could be like the Palm Pre on Verizon.

My girlfriend got a Palm Pre for 30$ last year, and it came with exactly the same mobile hotspost feature that lets you serve up to 5 devices.

The promotion she took advantage of gave her the mobile hotspot free for the duration of her 2 year contract.

As far as I know, that is the only phone they offered free hotspots with to date, -I believe all Android you have to pay for, but I'm not totally sure on that one.

EDIT: And to be clear, I'm not sure if the hotspot is always free with the Pre, or if it was a one-time deal. All I know is that it was offered for free at least for some period of time.

 

[Geckotek]

Am I the only one willing to pay the full price? I hate being locked into contracts and quite frankly if a new phone is unveiled in summer (dual CDMA/GSM or LTE) I would rather use an upgrade for that. Conversely if the iPhone 5 isn't anything special then I'm not missing anything and the cost of the phone will not seem too bad as I may have it for a very long time (until the LTE version comes out). Maybe I have just been waiting so long for the iPhone to come to Verizon the "it costs too much" section of my brain isn't working properly.

I agree 100%. The only problem is, if you don't sign a contract, you don't get a discount in the service plan. Therefore, the wiser decision financially is to sign the contract.

I think carriers should provide a non-subsidized option that discounts the monthly rate accordingly. But I think this doesn't look as good on their financials as having someone locked into a contract.

It is funny how people talk junk about CDMA when they don't understand how long some of us Sprint/Verizon users have been on a 3G network.

My first 3G phone was a flip phone in 2006.

T-Mobile and some parts of AT&T STILL don't get full 3G service.


Yeah ultimately, their 3G service can be upgraded and more speed added, but at the same time Verizon and Sprint are both already pretty deep in their "4G" offerings and i've been enjoying 4G already for the past few months.

Decent downloads speeds...uploads could use some work...still faster than my home cable though.

THIS! This is what I've been saying all along. When I was on Sprint and Verizon I was basking in the glory of 3G data speeds while my AT&T buddies were stuck on Edge. I refused to buy an iPhone until 3G was offered.

A) 3G+ speeds were worthless until a phone that could really take advantage of them was offered i.e. the Treo.
B) 4G is something I know nothing about but I'm going to throw around a lot of assumptions and make it sound bad.

Fixed that for ya....

 

[yergnov]

In my opinion, the announcement today was not too exciting other than the fact that competition benefits us all.

I HATE the dropped calls and lousy coverage I have had on AT&T, but don't know that I am ready to drop the simultaneous data/voice option for a service that is inferior. Perhaps I will do the following:

Keep my current AT&T plan until the iPhone 5 comes out. In the meantime, purchase a used iPhone 4 from ship-jumpers and keep it until the 5 comes out (hopefully LTE) and not get stuck into a contract on either service until I can weigh the best price/coverage/carrier/options. Right now I still have the unlimited offering from AT&T which I hope they bring back in the name of competition for all users.

I have had Verizon and it is far superior in terms of coverage, but have seen recent improvements in AT&T. Once a hoard leaves them, perhaps my own service will improve?

The only other thing that AT&T lacks is decent partnerships in Canada- right now it costs $.20/minute for voice and super high data- and that is with the monthly Canada plan. Verizon is cheaper by far in this arena.

It will also be interesting to see how the hotspot option prices out, that could influence future decisions, especially since I am waiting for iPad2 to come out.

 

[UCPonch]

The only problem is, if you don't sign a contract, you don't get a discount in the service plan.

I never realized the service was more expensive month-to-month. Is that just for those individuals that never originally sign a contract? I don't think the cost of my monthly service changed when my contract ran out and I started paying month-to-month.

 

[Geckotek]

Once a hoard leaves them, perhaps my own service will improve?

It may help on the overloaded channels and backhauls. It won't help in areas that have bad reception or are stuck on Edge.

 

[DougB541]

A) 3G+ speeds were worthless until a phone that could really take advantage of them was offered i.e. the iPhone.
B) 4G is a borderline scam. The speed difference for stuff like web browsing is only going to be marginally faster then (AT&Ts) 3G. The ping times, not bandwidth are what's important at this junction. And finally 4G is going to result in worse battery life which truth be told really isn't worth the gain for most people.

A. I don't know what phone you had, but 3G was easily noticible on my Sanyo M1 on sprint. Maybe you were stuck on a crappy phone, but i was watching Sprint TV on my phone at that time, sending MMS and using Google Maps without having to wait nearly as long as I once had to. Because YOU didn't use it don't make general statements like that.

3G speeds weren't worthwhile until the iPhone? WHAT? Just please stop. Yes iPhone ushered in improved web browsing but to say 3G speeds weren't useful on smart and flip phones before the iPhone just comes off as ignorance.

B. Again, you keep inserting your usage as a catch all. I agree, speed difference while browsing isn't remarkable (though it is noticeable). The ping time is important i agree, but unless you are using your 4G hotspot to play games, you will not notice much latency based on the ping times i've obtained on my phone (in the 100ms generally). News flash, using your phone uses battery life.....do i keep my 4G on all the time? No. Am i thankful i have it when i do need it? Yes. My wifi range does not reach my bedroom so i am generally on a 4G connection there.

An example of my usage: This morning while walking to the subway to go to work, I realized i totally forgot to update one of my favorite podcast "We're Alive" (i recommend it to people, really good). Each Chapter comes in 3 parts so I flipped on my 4G, queued up the 3 downloads, by the time I was sitting on my subway, all 3 podcast (around 20 MBs each) were downloaded and finished. I would've most likely only finished one normally in that time.


If you don't think you need 4G, that's your choice, but don't try to paint everyone's usage as the same.

 

[Geckotek]

I never realized the service was more expensive month-to-month. Is that just for those individuals that never originally sign a contract? I don't think the cost of my monthly service changed when my contract ran out and I started paying month-to-month.

It's not. But the issue is this...if you sign a contract the carrier is giving you a certain amount of money in exchange for the contract to help pay for the phone. If you don't sign the contract, not only do you not get that money, but you are still paying the same monthly rates as someone that did sign the contract. So you just basically waved goodbye to about $300 on average.

Edit: Basically the carrier factors part of your monthly rate to pay for a device. If they aren't paying for you device, you aren't getting your money's worth.

 

[ecib]

If I'm using this as a wifi hub and an incoming call comes in, does anyone know if I drop my wifi (data) connection or is the incoming call blocked?

On Verizon's network, using the Pal Pre's mobile hotspot, the call will go through and data connectivity will cease for the duration of the call. I'd expect the same for the iPhone, since this is the type of priority one would expect when using a device like a phone.

 

[cherry13bomb]

How do apps like Pandora work if there is no simultaneous voice and data?

If you're listening to Pandora, are you able to receive SMS and phone calls?

Oh... wait a minute.
No voice and data at the same time?
No thanks. I'll pass.

Can someone explain to me why this is such a big deal for people? With Pandora, why would someone want music blaring in their ear while they talk? I guess I could understand looking up a phone number while on a call. Maybe I don't understand because I've had Verizon since my first cell phone, so I have yet to experiance using it, but it doesn't seem like something that would really bother me even if I had.

 

[srxtr]

People are automatically assuming iPhone 5 will be for Verizon too... I seriously doubt that will be the case. I think AT&T will continue to get the June/July Launch, while Verizon will have a non-event catchup in January. It makes absolutely no sense to release iphone 5 in 6 months and piss off all these newly happy Verizon iphone users.

I wouldnt be surprised if we dont see another verizon iPhone until June 2012, and from that point launch them side by side. The fact that no comment was made on whether the Verizon iphone would get a yearly refresh indicates that this is a test of their network and customer feedback. Then if all goes well then the next launch will be LTE in 2012.

This has been said repeatedly.

Even if you get an iPhone with AT&T now the iPhone 5 will still come out in 6 months, so what's the difference?

If you know the iPhone 5 is coming out in 6 months and you can wait, then just wait for it, otherwise just get it.

Gawd

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Fixed that for ya....

you mean broken.

Maybe you should take your advice and look up LTE for yourself. Especially without the carrier unlimited plans, its essentially half crippled from the get-go.

 

[UCPonch]

If you don't sign the contract, not only do you not get that money, but you are still paying the same monthly rates as someone that did sign the contract. So you just basically waved goodbye to about $300 on average.

Edit: Basically the carrier factors part of your monthly rate to pay for a device. If they aren't paying for you device, you aren't getting your money's worth.

I hadn't thought of that. Giving a monthly discount on the 32 GB iPhone for example would offer saving of almost 16 dollars a month over the lifetime of a two year contract when compared to the subsidized price. That's almost 25% of my current monthly bill. I would be much more inclined to pay more money upfront to have discounted monthly bills and not be locked into a contract. I kind of hate the carriers even more now.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

I hadn't thought of that. Giving a monthly discount on the 32 GB iPhone for example would offer saving of almost 16 dollars a month over the lifetime of a two year contract when compared to the subsidized price. That's almost 25% of my current monthly bill. I would be much more inclined to pay more money upfront to have discounted monthly bills and not be locked into a contract. I kind of hate the carriers even more now.

Except you are paying 400 dollars extra up-front in the full cost of the phone. IDK what you are complaining about. Sign a 2yr contract, get a subsidized phone, pay 400 less, pretty simple.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Tethering for up to 5 devices...AT&T better come up with something fast, or I'm switching to Verizon!

Bryan

 

[UCPonch]

Except you are paying 400 dollars extra up-front in the full cost of the phone. IDK what you are complaining about. Sign a 2yr contract, get a subsidized phone, pay 400 less, pretty simple.

Not complaining, just discussing. You sound grumpy.

 

[thegman1234]

NOW where are all the folks who all said "there will be no re-design on the iphone 4" and "VZW will not get the iphone till 2012"
All the folks that stated this in the Summer/Fall/Winter 2010, hold your head LOL

Redesigning the antennae for CDMA is hardly a redesign. It's a necessity. You can't release a phone on a CDMA network without a CDMA antennae. That required a physical change to accommodate the antennae. It's not a redesigned iPhone in any way, shape, or form other than the required antennae change.

 

[Geckotek]

Not complaining, just discussing. You sound grumpy.

He is.

 

[3282868]

Tethering for up to 5 devices...AT&T better come up with something fast, or I'm switching to Verizon!

Bryan

+1 I'm no longer contracted with AT&T so I may leave at any time. If AT&T is "evaluating" this feature, perhaps I need to re-evaluate AT&T.

 

[Glideslope]

If AT&T is great in your area I don't see a need to switch at all!

Yup. That's about it. I'm curious on the antenna redesign however. Looks like more than tuning for CDMA to me. I'm REALLY looking forward to see how Verizon's Network is doing after 5-6 million iPhones. There won't be any LTE iPhones till 2012. LTE is not ready for prime time in 2011.

The inability to handle Voice and Data simultaneously defeats the entire purpose of iOS IMO.

While I have 0 issues with my 4 on at&t with a 3rd gen Pixel HD Case, the antenna revision must be coming to GSM as well.

Tim: "I'm not going to comment beyond that". OK, guess GSM users wait till June for our "Tuned Antenna". LMAO.

Nice to see those with no good at&t coverage have an option now. This is a win/win for Apple.

 

[Glideslope]

Tethering for up to 5 devices...AT&T better come up with something fast, or I'm switching to Verizon!

Bryan

I'd wait for the Plan Price before getting too excited.

 

[kdarling]

You always need to take what Kdarling, forum troll, says with a grain of salt.

In over three decades of being online, one thing never changes:

When someone doesn't have a decent argument, they resort to calling names.

He left out the part where the reason CDMA was so expensive was because of the patents and qualcomm.

I didn't realize that I was supposed to write a thousand word essay. I believe I did say that CDMA was more expensive to deploy at first.

With the Verizon phone I bet Apple is actually paying CDMA royalties upfront.

Apple is still on the hook for a possible billion dollars in back fees for doing a GSM phone without paying Nokia. (And if Nokia wins, watch Sony-Ericsson want a piece too.)

At least with the Verizon phone out now, Apple has a backup in case their GSM phones get banned from import.

 

[NoExpectations]

Tethering for up to 5 devices...AT&T better come up with something fast, or I'm switching to Verizon!

Bryan

Looks like this is a iOS 4.3 feature. If one carrier supports it, now the other(s) must follow.

 

[Geckotek]

You always need to take what Kdarling, forum troll, says with a grain of salt. He left out the part where the reason CDMA was so expensive was because of the patents and qualcomm. Verizon and Sprint decided to buy into qualcomm's CDMA tech assuming others would eventually be forced to pay as well. Trues out other carriers weren't sucker and decided to make another form of CDMA that wasn't so expensive. Now Verizon & Sprint has the odd-man technology.

Troll?? Really? Perhaps he left it out, but I don't think it was an important detail. (I was already WELL aware of it myself) Mentioning it was more expensive still made the point.

And I've seen WAY more useful, educated, and factual data from him. What I've seen from you today has been nothing but FUD.