AT&T's iPhone Monopoly Busted, Verizon Version Announced

[Greg Tito]

AT&T's iPhone Monopoly Busted, Verizon Version Announced

All you iPhone freaks can stop complaining about AT&T's network now because you can switch to Verizon if you don't like it.

"Can you hear me now?"

I think I've heard just as many complaints about the reception that iPhone owners get from AT&T as much as I've heard unbridled praise for Apple's gadget. I get it. AT&T sucks, Steve Jobs is a genius, yada yada yada. Well, now I never want you Applephiles to complain ever again. After months (or is it years) of rumors and speculation, a version of the iPhone 4 that's compatible with Verizon's network has been officially announced and will be available on February 10th, 2011. The bad part is that it will ship using outdated technology instead of the 4G LTE Network that Verizon has been pimping recently.

"The first gen LTE chipsets force design changes we wouldn't make," said Tim Cook, COO of Apple. "And Verizon customers told us they want the iPhone now. I can't tell you the number of times we've been asked, 'when will it work on Verizon.'"

You can buy an iPhone in $199 - 16gb or $299 - 32gb varieties when you sign a two year contract with Verizon. That's on top of the monthly service cost and Verizon has yet to disclose just how much that's going to be.

The Verizon iPhone is pretty much the same as the AT&T version, with the ringer/mute switch slightly moved to accommodate the chip that makes it work with Verizon. That means that all after-market cases won't fit on the new units.

About the only feature that I'm impressed with is that the Verizon iPhone can act as a wifi hotspot, allowing you to run your laptop and up to four other devices off of the network connection supplied by Verizon's radio waves. Is the connection good enough to play WoW? We're going to have to wait until February 10th for some very important field-testing.

Of course, we'll have to use someone else's phone. There's no way I'm buying into the cult of Apple.

Source: Fox News [http://support.vzw.com/faqs/iphone/iphone_faq.html]

(Image [http://www.flickr.com/photos/marc-flores/5318056503/])

Permalink

 

[ranger19]

FINALLY IT'S HERE!

I've been hoping this would happen since forever. Verizon has always been the more convenient and cost-effective network for me, and since the iphone came out, I've been waiting for it to come to Verizon.

Though I can probably do a little bit more waiting. Maybe next year they'll release an updated version of the iphone with that new tech the article mentions, or maybe even the iphone 5 will be around the corner. Although I personally want an iphone now, I've been waiting for a long time, and I can wait a little bit longer.

But WOOHOO!!

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

You can't trust this!

It's from Faux News!

Seriously, I need to get a smartphone. My 4-year-old phone doesn't even have a fucking keyboard.

 

[Korten12]

Finally, now my brother will get this and I will get his iPod, I don't like Apple (espicialy Mac's) but the iPod is pretty cool.

 

[manythings]

Wait, aren't Verizon notoriously shitty? Is this good news?

 

[nadesico33]

After upgrading to an Android phone a few months ago, and subsequently almost forgetting about my iPod Touch in the process, I can honestly say that this news does not move me at all. Now if Samsung got off their collective a--es and put out the proper firmware updates for the Galaxy S phones (or got Nexus S on VZW...), then I would be ecstatic.

 

[Jonci]

If only this happened years ago when the iPhone was tempting. These days I'm deciding between what Android phone to get.

 

[Monshroud]

Yay for Verizon, because there are a lot of people out there that are waiting with baited breath to drop AT&T and switch over. Granted they will have to buy a new phone, but for some that will be a small price to pay.

Also I think this move will get AT&T standing behind Android a bit better which is good for everyone. Competition breeds better phones for the end consumer. I don't want Google or Apple to have a monopoly on the market.

 

[coil]

You neglected to point out that the Verizon iPhone will use CDMA tech - which means you cannot simultaneously use both the voice and data functions. Anyone who had the original AT&T Edge (G1) iPhone can tell you how much fun that is.

The Edge phone would actually miss calls that came in while you were using the data service, which I think CDMA handles more gracefully, but still - if you want to get to the Internet while you're on a call, you're SOL.

 

[Danpascooch]

My brother will be happy, sort of.

It's funny, I've been telling him for years Apple sucks, he never believed me.

Then he saw my Droid Incredible, and compared it to his IPhone, everything went downhill from there.

Two months later he sells his Macbook for a proper ASUS notebook, lol

The only reason he hasn't switched off the Iphone yet is that he can't afford to.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

I can say that Verizon will pick up a whole lot of customers, but not all of AT&T's customers. That, combined with the fact that Verizon's network is bigger, will mean that Verizon's network probably won't struggle with all the new customers like AT&T's still does.

This makes me sad, because I hate Verizon.

 

[Palademon]

You can't trust this!

It's from Faux News!

Seriously, I need to get a smartphone. My 4-year-old phone doesn't even have a fucking keyboard.

I got my phone for my 11th birthday. I'm 16, and my phone was old when I got it!
I'd like something newer but I hate the idea of apps and smartphones.
Also, I'd like a phone that looks unique, not having the same thing everyone else does :/

 

[Autofaux]

It's like Jonestown with Applephiles and Steve Jobs. Kool-Aid anyone?

 

[Cryo84R]

Que the condescending bigots who honestly can't fathom why people would make a personal preference choice different from the one they did.

 

[mjc0961]

Of course, we'll have to use someone else's phone. There's no way I'm buying into the cult of Apple.

Haha, perfect end to the article. My thoughts on why I would never get an iPhone have always been these two things in this specific order:

1. AT&T sucks around here.
2. It's still a shiny, overpriced Apple product.

That gets rid of 1, but then there is still #2... But okay, even without that, all smartphones have overpriced monthly bills anyway, so they can all dive under a tractor for now.

 

[ItsAPaul]

Do people really not jailbreak their iphones or something? No one I know with an iphone uses AT&T...

 

[Exort]

Wait, aren't Verizon notoriously shitty? Is this good news?

Pretty much very single company are notoriously shitty to some groups of people.

However I lived in Canada so I don't know about Verizon.

 

[SelectivelyEvil13]

The first gen LTE chipsets force design changes we wouldn't make. And Verizon customers told us they want the iPhone now. I can't tell you the number of times we've been asked, 'when will it work on Verizon.'

Wait a minute, are my eyes decieving me?!? Did he just say that part of the reasoning was because Version customers "wanted it now," they're just popping out any ol' iPhone that willll do, as in, the one with the now outdated 3G instead of a better 4G version?!?

Well if that's the case, then the Cult of Fly-Encrusted, Tossed Aside Fruit[footnote]Sugar, Water, and proprietary iStem.[/footnote] deserves the crap that they are going to be fed. What kind of impetuous fool would openly accept an electronic device because of name alone, essentially, despite the glaring sacrifice made to accommodate an ASAP release? AT&T may have the inferior network, but they still have that iPhone 4G that Verizon is going to ogle at with green eyes. With these devices, one is better off waiting until the right version is announced that may actually have all of the bugs worked out. Seeing the iPad[footnote]In no way related to feminine hygien, note-taking, or cushioning of any kind.[/footnote] was enough to give me a sickly feeling deep inside that something could go amiss with the Apple/Verizon thing.

The one good thing about the iPhone is that it is the only phone with that closed-in iOS, so we don't have more than one phone to avoid (or if you're into that sort of thing, gravitate towards).

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to wait for a 4G Android phone that I desire [sub]because there is at least more than one choice...[/sub]

 

[matrix3509]

HAHAHAHAHA! Oh man now even Verizon customers can settle for an iPhone. This is the part where I whore out my Droid X. It does everything the iPhone does plus some. And yes, my Droid's mobile hotspot can be used to play WoW on the go, as I've done it before.

/Droid Fanboy

 

[zehydra]

Wait, aren't Verizon notoriously shitty? Is this good news?

I dunno, I've had ATT for a while now, and they're not so great either.