Thinking about a new cell phone? Thinking of Verizon??

[Pikeman]

What are the reports on the "Brigade" phone? I am very rough on my phones and really don't need a "smart" phone. I mainly use tons of texts and minutes and almost never use any internet. I do like having the email function/ capabilities. I just wish Verizon was more affordable.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

That phone is awesome in terms or durability. So is the Ravine. No internet requires but you can get 75mb for $10 a month.

Verizon isn't the cheapest, but they will have the best coverage. AT&T is almost identicle in pricing yet doesn't have unlimited data. Yes I know......rollover minutes. *Sigh* I never understood it myself. If you don't use the minutes, they "rollover" into the next month and keep stock piling. Well.......if you aren't using them to begin with what does it matter? and after 12 months you lose them anyway.

 

[broncosi]

Verizon isn't the cheapest, but they will have the best coverage.

Hmm, I'm pretty sure AT&T buying out T-mobile to create AT&T-mobile will have the best nationwide coverage.

AT&T is almost identicle in pricing yet doesn't have unlimited data.

I didn't think Verizon offered unlimited data anymore, I thought it was a bait and switch to get customers in for the iPhone 4/

 

[Clemsonfan15]

I don't think AT&T buying out T-Mobile will give them a lot more coverage. It's not like T-Mobile had a lot more coverage than AT&T.

Verizon still dominates. I'm wondering if people with iPhones will start to switch to Verizon after their contracts on AT&T run out.

 

[broncosi]

It will give them more coverage and better service but not by a whole lot. Also I doubt anyone will be switching over to Verizon with iPhones. AT&T offered unlimited data for the iPhone for a few years. Verizon offered it for a little over a month. So this means, there are at least 36 times the amount of unlimited data users on AT&T compared to Verizon. Now that it is not offered anymore, it is a valued item to have on your plan. My example, our entire family has unlimited data on all of our iPhones, if we switch, we lose that. I can't justify it.

My bottom line is that wherever AT&T slacks, Verizon picks up. Wherever Verizon slacks, AT&T picks up. You just have to pick and choose, but in the end, they are both pretty similar. The plans are very similar, both have the iPhone 4, both have so-so customer service.

 

[durrell]

AT&T isn't going to use T-Mobile to increase coverage. They're going to use T-Mobile's piece of the wireless spectrum to roll out their LTE network alongside their 3G network. That is, if they can get the merger through the FCC (which is looking increasingly unlikely).

It's kind of a lose/lose for consumers right now. With AT&T, if you have 3G you have blazing fast 3G. But their 3G network is much, much smaller than Verizon's. With Verizon, you have a large 3G network but depending on where you are it may be 3G with 2G speeds.

 

[broncosi]

Yes they are going to use it for LTE but inevitably it will give better service to major and rural areas meaning less dropped calls.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Got a question for 05 LTD. Is there any shortage of Iphones? I was thinking of getting my wife one for her B-day in a little over a month but I didn't know if I had to get on a waiting list or something. I thought I heard somewhere that apple products where getting hard to find due to the situation in Japan. I haven't been to a Verizon store yet, just thought I would ask. Any recommended accessories? Any apps that make it better?

 

[Thai]

iPhones are made in China, designed in USA.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

It will give them more coverage and better service but not by a whole lot. Also I doubt anyone will be switching over to Verizon with iPhones. AT&T offered unlimited data for the iPhone for a few years. Verizon offered it for a little over a month. So this means, there are at least 36 times the amount of unlimited data users on AT&T compared to Verizon. Now that it is not offered anymore, it is a valued item to have on your plan. My example, our entire family has unlimited data on all of our iPhones, if we switch, we lose that. I can't justify it.

My bottom line is that wherever AT&T slacks, Verizon picks up. Wherever Verizon slacks, AT&T picks up. You just have to pick and choose, but in the end, they are both pretty similar. The plans are very similar, both have the iPhone 4, both have so-so customer service.

Not sure where your info is coming from but its incorrect. Verizon still has unlimited data plans. In fact, its the only plan you can get for smart phones currently. AT&T hasn't adopted the LTE technology, yet. They say they'll start late this year or next. They are calling their HSPA+ network 4G, which it isn't, so technically their 4G doesn't exist. Kinda shady and they'll be in trouble for doing so. Read any one of the articles out there. PC world had a great one about how their true 4G device (Motorola Atrix) is actually slower than 3G devices on HSPA+. I will see if I can find it. Their HSPA+ is averaging 5-7mbps which is really good.....if you can get it.

And i'm not sure what its like where you're at, but Tmobile is horrible out here. So taking two different carriers with two crappy service areas doesn't really do a whole lot of good.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Got a question for 05 LTD. Is there any shortage of Iphones? I was thinking of getting my wife one for her B-day in a little over a month but I didn't know if I had to get on a waiting list or something. I thought I heard somewhere that apple products where getting hard to find due to the situation in Japan. I haven't been to a Verizon store yet, just thought I would ask. Any recommended accessories? Any apps that make it better?

No shortage of them any where around here thats for sure. Just makes sure she gets a case she likes and a screen protector. Look into Apple Care as well.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

AT&T isn't going to use T-Mobile to increase coverage. They're going to use T-Mobile's piece of the wireless spectrum to roll out their LTE network alongside their 3G network. That is, if they can get the merger through the FCC (which is looking increasingly unlikely).

It's kind of a lose/lose for consumers right now. With AT&T, if you have 3G you have blazing fast 3G. But their 3G network is much, much smaller than Verizon's. With Verizon, you have a large 3G network but depending on where you are it may be 3G with 2G speeds.

Neither are LTE networks. Its HSPA+

 

[gm350reratliff]

No shortage of them any where around here thats for sure. Just makes sure she gets a case she likes and a screen protector. Look into Apple Care as well.

Good to know, thanks for the tip!

 

[durrell]

Neither are LTE networks. Its HSPA+

My bad. I knew that. Suppose I should've said 4G. :moping:

 

[Thai]

Actually, NONE of the cell network in the USA is truly "4G." 4G is very very very fast...somewhere in Europe is a true 4G network...and the download speed is around 60-80 Mbps!!!

So, none of the network right now offer true 4G, including Sprint 4G Wimax and Verizon's LTE...and no way T-mobile and ATT. In a good article i read a few months ago, Verizon's LTE and Sprint 4G Wimax are the closest thing to 4G...call it "3.9G." ATT and T-mobile are HSPA+, which is like a supercharged 3G...call it "3.75G." So, ATT and TM will never approach the speeds of LTE and Wimax...until ATT get their true LTE service online.

The weird thing is that, in the future, there will be two distinct "4G" (or more accurately, 3.9G) networks in the US...LTE and Wimax...and they are NOT compatible with each other. Sprint CEO has said that Sprint and Clear will continue with Wimax development...but Sprint is also looking into LTE too. So, he said that future Sprint phones will be compatible with BOTH Wimax and LTE networks, which is neat IMO.

(Disclaimer: i am NOT an expert in cell phone technology and this is only based on my very primitive understanding of this stuff...so, please correct me if i am wrong!!!)

 

[durrell]

Thai, as far as I know the term "4G" in America is just a loose way of saying 4th generation technologies. 1G was analog, 2G was digital, 3G was data (sort of), and now 4G.

LTE is a true 4G technology, but Verizon's preliminary tests haven't shown speeds anywhere near what it's actually capable of. Then again, America's broadband speeds are still miles behind those found in Europe and some Asian countries.

I have the same disclaimer..this is just based on hours spent reading tech news everyday. IT guys tend to have a lot of downtime.

 

[Thai]

Thai, as far as I know the term "4G" in America is just a loose way of saying 4th generation technologies. 1G was analog, 2G was digital, 3G was data (sort of), and now 4G.

LTE is a true 4G technology, but Verizon's preliminary tests haven't shown speeds anywhere near what it's actually capable of. Then again, America's broadband speeds are still miles behind those found in Europe and some Asian countries.

I have the same disclaimer..this is just based on hours spent reading tech news everyday. IT guys tend to have a lot of downtime.

Ahh i see...well, LTE on Verizon knocks the crap out of Wimax on Sprint!

Still, being a long time Sprint customer, i sure hope Sprint gets the Iphone in the near future...crossing my fingers!

 

[durrell]

Yeah, the test results I've seen have Verizon kicking Sprint's booty all over the place. I wouldn't hold my breath on that Sprint iPhone if I was you, haha.

 

[J-money$$$]

Who wants a sprint Iphone. Their service is awful where I live. the 3g on my ipad from at&t seems to be pretty good in so cal. But my gf's droid x on verizon has really fast internet (3g)

 

[Thai]

Who wants a sprint Iphone. Their service is awful where I live. the 3g on my ipad from at&t seems to be pretty good in so cal. But my gf's droid x on verizon has really fast internet (3g)

Remember, what happens in socal does not automatically apply to everywhere else! Here near Houston Texas, Sprint works amazingly well...actually, where i work, Sprint rules! ATT is non-existant...forget Tmobile. Verizon is half decent. Since i have not been impress with Android stuff, i would love to have Iphone on Sprint....