What’s your iPhone strategy?
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple plans to begin producing this year a new iPhone that could allow U.S. phone carriers other than AT&T to sell the gadget.
The new iPhone would work on a type of wireless network called CDMA, the WSJ reports. CDMA is used by Verizon Wireless, AT&T’s main competitor, as well as Sprint Nextel.
Verizon declined to comment for the WSJ story.
But what do you say?
Will you wait for Verizon or another carrier before buying the iPhone?
AT&T has come under criticism because iPhone sales initially overwhelmed its network. But the company says it has been investing billions to beef it up and improve service.
If you’re with AT&T, have things improved? Will you bolt to another carrier if the iPhone becomes available?
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131 comments Add your comment
shakiza
March 30th, 2010
5:33 pm
iphones are for honky’s.
Relativist
March 30th, 2010
5:37 pm
Those Verizon map commercials are spot on—ATT service sucks in many parts of the country. Go with verizon or sprint. ATT is a dead company with bad service.
Michael
March 30th, 2010
5:38 pm
I was already with AT&T, so I’m still with them on iPhone No. 2. I got the original when it hit $250 refurbished and then got a 3GS for more speed and storage. AT&T’s network is fine almost everywhere I go. I have relatives in Alabama who can only use Verizon in the boondocks, so that’s about my only problem area. I’m not buying a new phone for that.
As for the first poster and others like him/her, a good many of us don’t use the device primarily for the phone capability. I use the iPod way more than anything else, and I use news apps like AP Mobile and NY Times to read news. I also have access to e-mail anywhere, and the Maps app lets me find stores or other nearby businesses. I might use 200 minutes of voice per month.
J. Harper
March 30th, 2010
8:45 pm
Just have to make a few statements for the record. First, people who mention that CDMA is old tech, and way outdated… you are WRONG. GSM has been around since 1987… I’ve heard many industry folk compare the differences between the two techs as processor iterations. Like GSM is a pentium 3 and CDMA is a pentium 4… sure, they’re both old and slow, but CDMA is NEWER and FASTER. Where did you people get this information? GSM is more of a world wide standard, but it’s slower. My EVDO Rev. A. connection with Sprint has been clocked as high as 3mbps, what about your GSM connection? Theoretically the max is 473kbps. for EDGE. Also, GSM has been hacked, what about CDMA? NOPE! Granted, it takes a couple of hours to hack, so it’s not like, “hey let’s instantaneously hack this call through GSM and see what they’re up to!” but it has been hacked, and CDMA hasn’t been hacked. CDMA is newer tech, and GSM has been making inroads in the U.S. only because it’s a world standard, and we’re a global economy. In other words, you can take your GSM phone with you around the world. But guess what? Even that’s silly… the charges for doing so are outrageous. I’ve traveled plenty, and I always just bring a GSM phone pop in a local pay as you go sim, and go about my business. I spent a year in Scotland, and I loved how cheap an option this was. Now… go do your research, and discover that I’m 100% correct about GSM vs. CDMA, and then go cry yourself to sleep for being duped by a powerful standards agency into believing the old tech was the better tech. Meanwhile, I’ll be enjoying my CDMA Rev. A connection, a WiMax 4G modem, and in a few months the first 4G phone in the United States.
ps. the iPhone 4G is the fourth generation iPhone… it’s going to run on a 3G network. It’s moniker has nothing to do with connection speed. It’ll be a lovely device, on a slower network. You should pray it becomes available on a CDMA Rev. A. connection. Either that, or on t-mobile’s HSPA+ network enhancement, which will feature speeds of up to 22mbps.
J. Harper
March 30th, 2010
8:52 pm
Ohh, one more thing, I didn’t spell it out in my last post. If Verizon gets the iPhone I may buy one for my girlfriend, who’s an Apple fan, but I’ll be sticking with my original plan of nabbing the HTC Evo 4G, which has a 30% larger screen, 8mp camera (rear), 1.3mp camera (front), 30k+ apps and counting, and a 4G network. The iPhone still has the better GPU, as in better graphics for games, but not by much… I think for a while Apple will still have the most elegant solution for average smart phone users. That lead is quickly diminishing though, which is good, because Apple can certainly push themselves more than they have.
J. Harper
March 30th, 2010
8:58 pm
Turns out I didn’t cite the latest iterations of GSM vs. CDMA tech.
GSM limits, 1.9mbps down 0.9mbps up.
CDMA limits, 3.1mbps down 1.8mbps up.
That’s still double the upload speed for CDMA, which does matter for picture messaging and e-mailing and the like, and 50%+ faster downloads. So… what’s the old tech?
J. Harper
March 30th, 2010
9:12 pm
Ugh… still reading all of these comments, and again… the errors are always the same in these arguments. Gotta have Verizon when heading to the backwoods, Sprint okay in the city, but for the full country coverage Verizon is the way to go… why is that exactly? Yep, there’s no denying that “there’s a map for that” and Verizon has the BEST coverage of any carrier in the U.S. I will not deny for a second that in the backwoods of Georgia you’ll find Verizon towers, where Sprint towers are absent. So, yeah, Verizon does have the coverage you need for backwoods Georgia. Except. Here’s the kicker… Sprint leases tower capacity from Verizon and since we’re both CDMA technologies I can roam on Verizon for up to 300mb of data in any given month, and up to like 800 minutes or something like that of voice. So, in a pinch, my network is identical to your more expensive network, and it doesn’t cost me anything extra to use that roaming capacity. In other words, I’m thrilled Verizon has such an expansive network that’s larger and better filled in than Sprints. Because I’m typically inside of Atlanta, and I rarely roam, but when I do roam on occasion, well, thanks for the loaner Verizon. Now I’ll continue to read through the comments for something else to write about.
Dave
March 30th, 2010
11:21 pm
Stay away from AT&T + iPhone… I fell into the trap after waiting for 2 years for iphone to become available with other carriers… In itself, iPhone is a great gadget, for me its more of a pda… wish the battery life was better.. drains really fast with 3G and bluetooth enabled ( all drained in 3-5 hrs)
cleve
March 31st, 2010
12:25 am
DAVID – well not really i had already seen that video and as i was reading some of the other comments i found that a lot of people were saying that att has great service in big cities , and that video poped in my mind cause when i watched it i remember thinking how wierd it was that the 3g service was so bad in a big city like san francisco.
gsteinum
April 1st, 2010
12:10 pm
since i don’t need an iphone, my “strategy” is not to use one.
Gary
April 1st, 2010
2:41 pm
I have an iPhone and I love it. I had Nextel/Sprint before and that sucked. I would have dropped calls while driving on I-20(metro) and on I-285. The iPhone has everything I need (and mouch more) at my fingertips.
My reading of other articles regarding the CDMA iPhone (for Verizon, etc) doesn’t say anything about the not selling the iPhone at AT&T, just providing the phone to additional carriers that supoprt the CDMA structure.
The other articles explained that the reason why it wasn’t previously available on the CDMA networks is that the network was not reliable and too slow. Apple choose to wait since they were assured that he upgrades to the newtwork would come soon. Well, they didn’t and Apple decided to make the phones anyway since they have maximized their massive growth with AT&T.
Since the network for CDMA has not been upgraded yet, they iPhone will not have the same level of service as it has on AT&T. Think about the AT&T commercials – the phone will not be able to talk at browse the internet, do MMS, etc on the CDMA networks until the upgrades are completed.
The iPhone is great, but what really makes it great is a network that allows the iPhone to work at it highest level. The AT&T network is the only one right now that allows talk and internet brosing at the same time, and the 3G network is faster than the CDMA 3G.
Gary
April 1st, 2010
2:43 pm
Also, I live in Covington, which appears to be the only area that is not 3G in the metro area. My service is still pretty good, though internet is pretty slow on the non-3G signal.
jami
April 1st, 2010
2:45 pm
I have learned my lesson and after being a Verizon customer for 3 years on my own and 8 years total with my family, I will not be renewing my contract with them! You can’t get service on the phone with the TN call center or in the store on Cobb Parkway (BB shopping center). I’ll be sticking to the BH location near the container store from now on & I can’t wait until Labor Day to move on!
All of these cell phone companies control the airwaves, charge way too much for phones that are made in China, then don’t offer low enough plans to people that are trying to stretch EVERY dollar!
I could not care LESS about Verizon getting an I Phone. All they care about is making revenue for the company, and paying celebrity endorsers such as that can’t sing,fake Ciara.Crazy! As much as those Luke Wilson AT&T commercials bore me I’d rather AT&T offer more competition because Sprint is lagging behind in 3rd place!
Shelly
April 1st, 2010
3:09 pm
Only reason I don’t have an i phone is the fact that I would have to go to AT&T. I have major iphoneitis and have for years. The droids are fine – but just aren’t an iphone. Most of the good apps are only iphone apps.
Q
April 1st, 2010
5:16 pm
J. Harper….
can you multitask (talk and surf) on CDMA??????
KP
April 1st, 2010
8:19 pm
I have had my iphone for 2 years and have not ever had any problems with the service! I am also amazed with at&t uverse and the cost savings with my bundled service. I think you are missing out if you do not have at&t!!
Chas
April 2nd, 2010
5:58 am
Mr Teacher Man – The no insurance is an Apple thing, not ATT. They will do the same thing no matter who sells the phone. Just got my iPhone and hopefully it will be the last phone I have to buy. Had a few service problems in Las Vegas but that was during March Madness opening weekend while at the airport. Other than that I love this phone and have not had any problems with CS on ATT.
MK
April 2nd, 2010
2:53 pm
TnGelding please tell me your responses were both a joke… Because if it wasn’t… WOW!! Technology and progress roll together…. Maybe if you got of your butt and stopped playing Second Life you have some friends to call and you would stop whining about your old a#s DSL… Really DSL?? Were do you live? And what year is it in your world…
WTF_VZW
April 2nd, 2010
3:37 pm
I switched from Verizon many years ago. I never had any issues with them, except for all of the surprises in my billing. I don’t love AT&T, but I do like the fact that if anything happens to my phone, I have all of my contacts on a sim card & I can switch phones painlessly without having to re-load my address book. If Verizon gets the iPhone, then I’d like to welcome all of the VZW users to the future, or to what has been available for AT&T users for years. I’m a Mac!!!
Arlo
April 2nd, 2010
3:50 pm
Wow, Sprint is still in business?
Brian
April 3rd, 2010
6:50 pm
I plan to get an iPhone soon. I mean, if the technology is available to us, I say we should use it. I admit, I won’t be getting those “useless” apps, I mean, a Lightsaber app? Seriously? If it were a real one, maybe. But I like having info at my fingertips. Some of these hicks call us “tech junkies” as if it were a bad thing. I’m proud of it! It’s time to move on from the telegraph, people. Welcome to the real world!
Devon
April 3rd, 2010
8:07 pm
Patiently waiting for the iPhone on Sprint. Love Sprint service and prices – when they get the iPhone 4G this summer, it will be a good thing and worth the wait.
Matt
April 3rd, 2010
9:20 pm
My AT&T service is rock solid.
JEM
April 3rd, 2010
9:56 pm
I love my iPhone and I have absolutely no problems with AT&T. Been with them for years (BellSouth Mobility – Cingular – AT&T) and lived in multiple places in the metro Atlanta area. No real issues at all. Not sure why everyone hates AT&T.
LVGRAMPS
April 4th, 2010
3:11 pm
VERIZON ROCKS, AT&T SUCKS
Gary
April 4th, 2010
3:20 pm
AT&T is the worst period. If you don’t think so call them and speak to a computer for 20 minutes. Then when you finally get a live person they transfer you to several departments only to get another computer. I dumped their land-line and DSL and got Time Warner cable for my Web. It is cheaper & 3 times faster… As soon as AT&T lose their IPhone exclusivity they are going down… Sell your stock now…. Thx GG
JDW
April 4th, 2010
9:56 pm
I would love to have an iPhone but I just bought a new Blackberry because of the ATT issues. I have heard way to many horror stories.
Deb
April 5th, 2010
9:30 am
Have had Vzw for years and love their coverage, especially in remote areas when we travel on vacation – I’m the only one in a group who has coverage on a mountain top or in remote areas out West. My phone probably drops as many calls as the next persons – I’m sure a sign of a co. trying to have their technology keep up with increasing demand. I will wait for the iPhone to come to Vzw and still may not get it. My understanding is that Apple offered the iPhone to Vzw first and Vzw turned them down – very shortsighted of them. As one viewer pointed out – Vzw very slow to bring technology to their customers. Also, Vzw needs to get their CDMA act together before they launch the iPhone or it will be a bust for them – multi-tasking is a necessity with this phone and CDMA defeats the purpose & the price of this phone. BTW, I HATE their new policy that you MUST purchase a date package with certain phones. With 5 family members, i.e. 5 phones – that’s $50 extra dollars per month!! I like these phones even w/o using data pkg. & I don’t allow my kids to access the internet with their phones. Now we’re being forced to pay for something we won’t use for the nicer phones we want to buy – i.e. – text msg. threading, visual voicemail, fullpage touch screen, better cameras, touch screen & qwerty keyboards, etc. What happened to freedom of choice??
md
April 9th, 2010
1:26 am
Verizon was born from AT&T
or did everyone forget about that already?
I just think it’s funny how Verizon users hate AT&T when their corporate legacy was completely dependent on AT&T’s existence. Kind of like…. biting the hand that fed.
Dee Mann
April 9th, 2010
2:38 pm
AT&T service since 1996. IPhone since 2008. All good here in ATL, also was in San Fran and used mapping and calling exstensively (simulataneos data and voice going on) and gues what NO ISSUES. It was pretty intense too as we were have to find meetings in a totally foreign city. The little tracker kept us right on point was we drove over the hills. So…just saying, works fine for me and I am a fairly heavy user.
Gewinne
May 16th, 2010
9:47 am
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