Do I plan to get the Verizon iPhone?

[Steve Mehs]

I wanted to wait for at least 50 responses before commenting.

It is surprising to me to see the results-

* At this time, one might conclude that there won't be a serious exodus from ATT to Verizon in the next month.
* Also, those at Verizon aren't that excited about having access to the iphone.
* Android has become a real hot alternative OS to iphone / iOS.

Now, it will be interesting to see how this group maintains this spread as the iphone actually does become available during February and later when the iphone5 comes out. I suspect Verizon will cut back it's heavy Android ad campaign, as it budget some of its ad money to promote the iphone on Verizon.

It will also be interesting to see how the general public embraces the iphone on Verizon service too. I have always maintained that this group generally does not favor Apple way and favors the open access and hardware variety of the Android phones. But I also think the general public work with a different mindset, thinking of their smartphone as just a phone with internet access and converged ipod, camera, and games. This is why iphone became so popular among non-techies from the beginning as it did this stuff so well. Today, Android phones does this well too but has a several year late start.


Using my wife as my reference on Blackberry- She likes hers for what it does well and doesn't need anything else, nor cares. She needs her calendar and her e-mail and phone. For that it works perfectly. Not that she has a choice because it is a company owned phone but other than the high security hoops she is required to jump through, she likes it.
I have always maintained that as a device for business, the Blackberry ain't that bad. I wouldn't want one but for a business appliance, it does work well.

Not sure what’s so surprising. Most people have looked past the iPhone and have discovered there are much better phones out there, or just simple never bought into the hype to begin with. The iPhone on Verizon Wireless won’t be as big as everyone thinks it will be, mark my words. Sure the Q1 numbers will probably be pretty good but then after the initial surge it will go down hill and fast. Verizon, with as much as I hate them, does have a killer selection of Android powered devices and I don’t think any current subscribers in their right mind would consider downgrading from an Android phone to an iPhone. The iPhone will fade and remain in existence for Apple worshipers and those that use the phone as a fashion accessory and status symbol.

Pretty sleazy on both Apple and Verizons part to release the iPhone 4 when in a few short months this phone will be replaced. But then again this is Verizon and Apple were talking about here, two of the most despicable companies the planet has ever seen, so why not milk consumers out of as much money as possible because you know there will be a handful of Apple Sheeple that will get the iPhone 4 on Verizon in the middle of February just to upgrade to the next generation in June and pay full price.

 

[DodgerKing]

There is only one thing worse that the Apple worshipers, Apple haters.

Seriously, I am no fan of Apple. I am a MS PC guy all of the way. I too cannot stand the snobby attitude by a minority of, not all, Apple fans. I use the iPhone, not because I am an Apple worshiper nor a fashion accessory, but because it is the best smart phone with ATT and the most classroom friendly smart phone. I like the Droid OS as well. When I bought the phone 2 years ago, Droid was not even a factor.

We all use a particular device for a particular reason. I spent many months looking into phones and providers when I finally decided on the iPhone. I did not buy it because I love Apple (I do not care for Apple PCs). I did not buy it as a status symbol (90% of the time it is in my pocket and nobody even knows I have it). I bought it because it was the best option for me at the time.

Please stop with all of the hate. It is getting very old very quick.

 

[Steve Mehs]

Sorry, I will never stop with the Apple Hate.

 

[DodgerKing]

Sorry, I will never stop with the Apple Hate.

Fine, but then don't lump all of us iPhone users under that same Apple fanboy group.

Keep in mind, in doing so, you come off sounding exactly like those you are criticizing

 

[Steve Mehs]

My iPhone was my second Apple purchase ever, well third if you count the $40 [ripoff] I spent on the ‘official’ Apple iPod dock. I was not an Apple fanboy either, I bought it because I thought (thought being the key word) that it was the best phone out there. Boy was I wrong, REALLY WRONG! My whole point is the iPhone is nothing special, it is not the best of anything and is a lackluster overrated device. In the grand scheme of things, relatively speaking very few people will have a Verizon iPhone. This is not a big deal but everyone and every tech related website is proclaiming this is some big monster of an event, when it’s not. People have moved past the iPhone and the numbers have and will coninue to show that.

 

[DodgerKing]

Tell me. Name a better phone on ATT, and why it is better?

Keep in mind what was being offered 2 years ago when I bought the phone. No Droid

 

[Steve Mehs]

Well if I was unfortunate enough to be stuck with AT&T Mobility I'd look at the HTC Aria, Samsung Captivate, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and possibly the Palm Pre Plus. Not sure about the Pre, but for the Android devices some of the advantages, interchangeable batteries, removable storage, the freedom of the Android OS, you don’t have to use proprietary software to interface with the phone like the God-awful iTunes, you don’t need specialized power adaptors, the iPhone is just about the only current phone (smart or dumb) not to adopt micro USB and you don’t have to deal with Apples crappy radio in the phone. As much as I loathe AT&T Mobility (but I hate Apple even more) there are many many many reports of people who have an iPhone and another phone on AT&T but the iPhone has the worst signal and has more dropped calls then the other phone. But none of those three Android devices are a match to the Droid X on Verizon or the Evo on Sprint. Like I said above, it is my belief AT&T has purposely shunned Android.


I bought the iPhone two years ago as well, March 7 2009. About three months later the ‘awe’ period was over and the honeymoon had ended I came to the realization and discovered the mistake I made. I couldn’t wait for something else to come along. Refusing to do business with Verizon, and wanting to get away from AT&T severely limited my choices so I put up with the stupid iPhone for another year. Sprint didn’t have a great handset selection and the Samsung Instinct has a worse UI then the iPhone (had to believe, I know) and I never really did look into T-Mobile.

 

[DodgerKing]

Don't understand the hate for ATT either. I have a grandfathered 15 year old PacBell plan and grandfathered unlimited data plan. I CANNOT get a better deal for a better price with any other provider. Plus ATT has better service in my area, where I spend 90% of my time. So there is nothing unfortunate about being with ATT.

As for those phones you listed, I can see your bias as well as your preference. None of those phones on ATT are better. And the few features they have that the iPhone does not, does not interest me in the least. Of course each phone has something better than the others as well as worse features than the others. When everything is weighed for my need, there is simply nothing better than the iPhone on ATT. And there is no better service plan than the one I currently have with ATT. My phone plan cost me $40 for two phones (Total, not each.) Every time they add a feature, like Rollover minutes, or free mobile to mobile, I get it without having to change my plan or raise my rate.

I do agree with you on iTunes. I do not care for it too much and I do not like how Apple controls the APPs. But my phone is jailbroken and most of those annoying things are no longer annoying.

Remember I spent a lot of time researching what is best for me. I am not a fanboy of either one. I chose the best option for me. To this day, the iPhone is still the best option for me and the best phone on ATT.

 

[grydlok]

Tell me. Name a better phone on ATT, and why it is better?

Keep in mind what was being offered 2 years ago when I bought the phone. No Droid

That is because AT&T set back and counting all the dollars they got from the iPhone subscribers and now that they lost exclusive rights now they pull out probably the most anticipated Android Headset of the Summer?
The Bionic is a beast of a phone.

 

[Steve Mehs]

Don't understand the hate for ATT either. I have a grandfathered 15 year old PacBell plan and grandfathered unlimited data plan. I CANNOT get a better deal for a better price with any other provider. Plus ATT has better service in my area, where I spend 90% of my time. So there is nothing unfortunate about being with ATT.

1 - Subar speeds on 3G. This speedtest of mine was taken a few days before I got rid of the iPhone in a parking lot around the corner from a billboard proclaiming AT&T as ‘Buffalo’s Fastest 3G Network’. Full bar 3G coverage might I add.

2 - The most dropped calls ever. I've had Nextel since 2002. Nextel isn't known for their coverage since there is no other iDEN provider to roam on to in the US other then regional provider SouthernLinc. I have a VZW work issued phone and the Evo on Sprint. In the two years I've had a VZW work phone, not that I use it all that often, but I've had zero dropped calls. In the 7 months I've had the Evo, no dropped calls. In the little over 8 years with Nextel, maybe 2 or 3 dropped calls a year. In the painful 15 months with AT&T and the iPhone, I would drop calls left and right. Most of the time I had full coverage.

3 - Ripoff Pricing. After it was all said and done I was paying not quite $90/month for data, 450 minutes anytime minutes and 200 texts a month. Then I was stupid and instead of paying $10/month extra for GPS I prepaid for $80/year. And unlimited iPhone plan on AT&T would have ran me $160/month. That's what I pay with Sprint, only difference is I have a three phone Sprint account sharing just abput unlimited everything. I rely on GPS daily, sucks AT&T charges $10/month of Telenav when Sprint includes it with every phone for free.

4 - An extension of #2. Not only did I have piss poor coverage around home, but even during travel. At least I had service in areas I frequent, even if it was unreliable and inconsistant, but when I'd travel down in the southern part of NY State I'd have no service, or be stuck on Edge, which is just about useless. About a month after I got the iPhone I took my first big weekend road trip with it. I was disappointed to find out that the toy I just spent $300 on was all but useless. My buddy was also disappointed with his iPhone (now as an Evo too) but my other friend had no problems with his Verizon phone and while not a smartphone, my Nextel phone had service. Pretty disappointing actually as we were within 10 miles or so of I86 at all times which is a major interstate and a major way to get to New York City.

As for those phones you listed, I can see your bias as well as your preference. None of those phones on ATT are better. And the few features they have that the iPhone does not, does not interest me in the least. Of course each phone has something better than the others as well as worse features than the others. When everything is weighed for my need, there is simply nothing better than the iPhone on ATT.

Of Couse I’m biased. I’ve used both the iPhone and Android I know which one is better and have personal experiece with 3 out of the 4 big providers plus Nextel. And I would never seriously consider a Samsung phone as I can’t stand Samsung, and as much as I’m in love with Sony could never buy one of their Android phones due to the UX overlay.

Let me ask you this, what makes the iPhone so great? Why is it the best?

 

[DodgerKing]

Why should I care what speed people get on ATT in other parts of the country if I do not live there? I don't care how many dropped calls they get nationwide or how slow their 3G is in someone else's area. Like I said, ATT has the BEST service in MY AREA. Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile do not have 4G in my local area (when ATT upgrades to 3G+, what they call 4G, my area is one of the first areas slated). I have tested speed of the networks in my area and ATT is the fastest. Plus I have never had one dropped call on ATT in my area. My parents, who have Verizon, have to stand in one corner of their yard just to get a good enough signal to make a call on their cell.

Here is my result taken just a few minutes ago. Early in the morning or late at night, it is even faster.

Trust me when I say Verizon is slower here. Plus I would have to pay at least twice as much to get a comparable phone plan with Verizon.

If you were in my shoes, where your phone bill was $40, you live in an area where you get better service, faster networking, and fewer dropped calls than the other providers, and you spend 90% of your time in said area, would you still switch providers?

 

[DodgerKing]

That is because AT&T set back and counting all the dollars they got from the iPhone subscribers and now that they lost exclusive rights now they pull out probably the most anticipated Android Headset of the Summer?
The Bionic is a beast of a phone.

When I am up for renewal this July, I will be looking at other options, including an decent Droids and the iPhone 5 (if available). Again, I will weigh all of my options and pick what is best. If ATT gets the Bionic, it maybe one I may choose.

 

[lakebum431]

I saw my first joint ATT and Verizon iPhone 4 commercial today.

 

[grydlok]

When I am up for renewal this July, I will be looking at other options, including an decent Droids and the iPhone 5 (if available). Again, I will weigh all of my options and pick what is best. If ATT gets the Bionic, it maybe one I may choose.

So you going to switch to Verizon for a Droid? or wait try out the Bionic?

 

[DodgerKing]

So you going to switch to Verizon for a Droid? or wait try out the Bionic?

I will not switch to Verizon because, their coverage in my area is not very good, and most importantly, I do not want to give up my grandfathered $40/month phone bill with ATT.

When I do shop for a new phone this summer, I will see what else ATT has to offer. If there is a very good Droid with them, I may try out the Droid. If it means I have to wait until ATT gets it, I just may do that.

Many of my colleagues use the Droid and I like the phone. I even set my jailbroken iPhone to a Droid like UI for a while.

Do you know when ATT is supposed to get the Bionic?

 

[DodgerKing]

One issue. The Ooma hub is slowing down my internet. Is there a way to adjust the QoS upload and download settings?

 

[Ramy]

One issue. The Ooma hub is slowing down my internet. Is there a way to adjust the QoS upload and download settings?

Yes, in your router settings.

 

[DodgerKing]

Yes, in your router settings.

Damn. That made a huge difference.

I thought I there was a way I can change the settings in the Ooma itself. Don't need to now.

Got my upload back up to 30+ mbps

 

[Ramy]

Damn. That made a huge difference.

I thought I there was a way I can change the settings in the Ooma itself. Don't need to now.

Got my upload back up to 30+ mbps

Glad I could help.

 

[charper1]

Dodger, where in SoCal are you? I visit that area quite a bit from Carmel down to San Diego and my VZW Blackberry Storm has absolutely zero issues there and speed is very nice too. Share some details as I am intrigued.