Wireless: Stay On ATT Or Switch To Verizon?

[jyl]

I have a iPhone 3G on ATT. I am considering either (1) getting a iPhone 4 on ATT (I'm eligible for a new phone), or (2) waiting until early next year when I suspect the iPhone 4 will become available on Verizon (maybe a MacWorld announcement?)

My questions are:

1. My main usage on the cellphone is web-browsing, email, and streaming data. I need voice to work, but don't talk on the cellphone that much. Will my user experience on the Verizon network be significantly better than the ATT network IN 1 YEAR?

- I know Verizon is better NOW. I'm asking about in late 2011 after Android-based smartphones have proliferated on both networks, both have the iPhone, both have at least partly upgraded to LTE, and both have moved to metered plans from "unlimited data" plans.

2. Are Verizon phones still not usable outside of the US? Or will the gradual upgrade to LTE mean that Verizon is supplying US customers with multi-protocol phones that can be used overseas?

3. Any other considerations to making or not making the switch?

To be clear, this is a "ATT or Verizon" question. Not an "Android or iPhone" question.



I used to be with Verizon for voice and still have them for a datacard. I think the coverage and speed is good, the customer service and handset choice was poor. With ATT I find the coverage good but the speed spotty. It used to be good but as everyone knows the popularity of the iPhone has strained ATT's network.

[slakjaw]

They all suck.

[enzo1]

the iphone may not be going to Verizon.... T-Mobile will definitely be getting the iPhone soon - Los Angeles Gadgets | Examiner.com

[island911]

A few Verizon phones are usable outside of the US. --So called "World Phones." I have a couple; HTC Touch Pro 2 and the HTC Imagio

...a few Blackberries are also multi-network phones.

That said, I'll suggest that you just stay w/ at&t - since having an Apple phone seems to be of paramount importance to you.

...and if you start looking much at other options, your Apple bubble just might burst. We wouldn't want that.

[red-beard]

I've been looking at the same thing, but from T-Mobile. The issue I have is that I travel internationally and like being able to use my phone.

That said, I'm using my old phone with a local chip in Mexico, to save big bucks on the data charges. This makes the T-Mobile issue moot.

I guess the question is, does AT&T provide good service where you are and will be? Verizon seems to have the best coverage, though I don't know if that included high speed data.

The next question is, does Verizon have a phone which will do what you need it to do, that you also like. I like my 3.5G+ phone from T-Mobile, but I really hate the lack of a real keyboard.

[Icemaster]

It's a tossup. Google #attfail for some humor.

Remember that now, ATT and probably the rest of the service providers are going to start limiting data transfer and charging for overages. No more unlimited browsing or D/Ling.

If you're grandfathered in with ATT, you're still good on the $30/mo unlimited data plan.

If you switch, different story.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'm kind of in the same boat... ATT has (on paper) better coverage nationally. However in this part of the country, Verizon reigns supreme - they're the network of choice and coverage in this area is generally superior. Also add to it that I know for a fact that the wifi service on the trains I ride on is ATT and it totally sucks - spotty, irregular, intermittent, buggy, etc. Kind of like my cell service.

Wife's (5-year-old) phone just died. Mine is a couple of years old. Puts me in a dilemma as to whether to spend the $$$ and upgrade or not.

I hate cell phones. Seriously, I do. If anything, I'd prefer getting a blackberry to link to my e-mail accounts and occasionally do a little browsing, but there's no way I'm signing a 2-year contract with anyone. Sooooo I guess I'm sticking with ATT, although as someone rightly said above - they all suck.

[sammyg2]

I just checked, my ATT subscription also includes free access to espn3.com, live streaming games. Not sure if everyone else can get it too but I can, that is a gud thing.

This afternoon the Richmond spiders are playing Virginia at 6 pm EST and I really want to see that game. ESPN3.com is the only way I can see it.

Aaron Corp is the new starting QB at Richmond, he bailed on USC after getting totally screwed over by the (old) coaching staff.

Richmond won the NCAA Division I FCS national championship in 2008.

[Halm]

I have a buddy in Boston with an iPhone. He has been gripping about it for years, dropped calls, and what a terrible network ATT operates. I was visiting him a few weeks ago and my ATT Pure was just rocking along. I took a closer look at his problem and it turns out he had an original iPhone and had never hooked it to iTunes for an update. So, in his case the problem was not the network.

The answer is pretty much what James said. Get a phone on the carrier in your area that has the best coverage for your needs. For my needs it is ATT. YMMV

[jyl]

Well, I dropped my iPhone 3G about six feet to concrete tonight and it is kaput. Surprised, it's dropped before w/out ill effects, but I guess it was my time. So my hand may be forced before I'd wanted.

I'm really trying to figure out who will have the better coverage in 1 year. Not who has the better coverage now, that is pretty clear (VZ). ATT has up to HSPA now, VZ has up to EVDO. VZ is supposed to be rolling out LTE to 10 metros in 2010 and more in 2011, ATT is supposed to be rolling out LTE to initial metros in 2011. ATT network is overloaded with iPhones now, but if VZ gets the iPhone won't it get overloaded too and faster since all the Android phones are ramping quickly?

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Icemaster

If you're grandfathered in with ATT, you're still good on the $30/mo unlimited data plan.

Not so. I've had a Bellsouth/Cingular/ATT phone since `99. My plan included "Rollover Minutes for Life". It was advertised that you kept your RO minutes forever. I never changed plans but about 1.5 years ago they decided that "for life" really means "or until we decide to change it and you have no way to stop us". When I complained they tried 5 different excuses why they weren't obligated to keep their word (like saying I changed plans). I refuted all their flimsy excuses but in the final analysis they admitted that although I was right, they were still not keep their original contract. I could either like it or leave.

[enzo1]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Not so. I've had a Bellsouth/Cingular/ATT phone since `99. My plan included "Rollover Minutes for Life". It was advertised that you kept your RO minutes forever. I never changed plans but about 1.5 years ago they decided that "for life" really means "or until we decide to change it and you have no way to stop us". When I complained they tried 5 different excuses why they weren't obligated to keep their word (like saying I changed plans). I refuted all their flimsy excuses but in the final analysis they admitted that although I was right, they were still not keep their original contract. I could either like it or leave.

Same here, one of these days #$@#@$^&&

[Capt. Crunch]

ATT service in Los Angeles is lame. 99% of my friends jumped on the Iphone and switched to ATT when the phone came out on the market. They love the phone but the service is terrible. keep in mind this is in Metro Los Angeles.

I have Verizon service with the unlimited package and a Droid telephone. Excellent service 4 years and counting..

[red-beard]

I've been thinking of buying a Droid phone off ebay and seeing if I like it. I also have spotted the phone I want next, I just hope that T-Mobile picks it up. It is a WM7 phone with a built in keyboard.

[jyl]

I'm going to open up the iPhone today. Hopefully it is just a connector come loose.

[Icemaster]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Not so. I've had a Bellsouth/Cingular/ATT phone since `99. My plan included "Rollover Minutes for Life". It was advertised that you kept your RO minutes forever. I never changed plans but about 1.5 years ago they decided that "for life" really means "or until we decide to change it and you have no way to stop us". When I complained they tried 5 different excuses why they weren't obligated to keep their word (like saying I changed plans). I refuted all their flimsy excuses but in the final analysis they admitted that although I was right, they were still not keep their original contract. I could either like it or leave.

I'm talking data plan, not rollover minutes.

Your point is well taken though, they'll honor it up until it ceases to be convenient for them. Regardless, they all pretty much suck.

[jyl]

Opened the iPhone, all the flex cables seem to be in place, and screen is still white. Damn. Gonna cost me $200 for the new iPhone.

[Halm]

Replacement screen $25.00.

http://tinyurl.com/2u5bgmo

[jyl]

I ordered a replacement display and new battery. The glass is fine, and the touch panel appears to work since I can still control the iPhone using touch. The only problem is that the display shows all white. We'll see if this works, if yes then daughter will get the 3G. If not, I'll stick the new battery in the wife's iPhone 3G.

As for myself, I went down to Apple this AM and picked up an iPhone 4. I turned it on, held it in the "death grip", and my testicles fell off. What's with that?

[kanadary]

our company switched carriers from verizon to att a few years ago. i never got dropped calls from verizon now its a daily or sometimes multiple ocurence on telecons and such. with the black berry its not as bad but still get dropped calls or the message doesn't send... i would take verizon over att in a heart beat. i heard that the iphones in canada come unlocked so you can go with any carrier and their prices are the same as here.