Has Anyone Held Out For Years Waiting For it to Come To VERIZON?

[Applejuiced]

I know, last quarter was tough for Verizon.

For their wireless division, they only added 2.2 million new customers, and their revenues for Q4 2009 were only up 22.4% over Q4 2008. Their churn was a staggering 1.06%. Poor guys, I feel sorry for them doing so badly.

Who said anything about their Q4 or that they're doing badly?
They would be doing alot better by having the iphone on their network thats for sure. Maybe thats why they keep saying that its up to Apple and that they are open for talk.
But Apple just ignores them. And this summer when the new iphone is released more and more people from many networks will be switching to AT&T just for the iphone.
They can only lie to their customers for so long telling them to wait we are getting the iphone untill they finally jump ship after 3 years.

 

[thetexan]

All we can do is make assumptions about what Verizon is thinking. Considering neither of us are on Verizon's executive team neither of us knows exactly how Verizon feels about the iPhone.

The iPhone users in the US is what, 11 million? Perhaps Apple wanted too much of a subsidy so the cost of gaining 11 million customers was too much for Verizon. There is a such thing as too much growth, and the iPhone growth has killed AT&T's reputation much like AOL's growth killed them in the mid-90s when they offered unlimited dialup and their reliability died. Perhaps to Verizon the reputation of their network is more important to them than 11 million customers. Verizon has invested a lot into the network over the past few years, and are just now starting to release data-intensive phones. Maybe Verizon saw past the short term and decided to play it safe and work on their network before getting such a data-intensive phone.

Maybe you're right, and there is a boardroom of angry Verizon members and a crying CEO. My whole point is neither of us know, but there's way more to business than the simple perspective of "we need as much growth and money as fast as we can get it". It's that turtle vs rabbit in a race story that we actually discussed in an entrepreneurship course I took.

By the way I'm no Verizon fanboy. Right now their phone offering (Droid) and their network and price suit me best. Rest assured once my contract is up in December I'll take a look at everyone and change if I feel like it. My loyalty with any cell phone company or network provider exists only as long as I don't get bored and it financially makes sense for me to move.

 

[Applejuiced]

I agree, noone knows what went on behind closed doors.
I know where you're comming from and I also care mostly about coverage and phone combo. If AT&T sucked in my location I'd probably go with another carrier and maybe another device. Its not mostly about the money situation, I can afford the monthly bill. If it was just price I'd go with metro pcs or boost mobile or something
We all know that every place in the US is not going to be the same for everyone, Im just glad I can enjoy fast and reliable 3G and also a great phone.

 

[icyfire]

I'll be very interested in seeing Apple's move when Verizon unleashes their LTE network. Of course, AT&T will be years behind with their LTE deployment, as usual. It would be interesting to see how Apple will deal with a situation where AT&T can't claim to have the nation's fastest 3G network or the only carrier with simultaneous talk and surf.

 

[yg17]

I'll be very interested in seeing Apple's move when Verizon unleashes their LTE network. Of course, AT&T will be years behind with their LTE deployment, as usual. It would be interesting to see how Apple will deal with a situation where AT&T can't claim to have the nation's fastest 3G network or the only carrier with simultaneous talk and surf.

Verizon is rushing LTE because they're basically maxed out at speeds EvDo can offer. AT&T still has room to grow their 3G network as faster iterations of HSPA keep coming out. It could very well get to the point where AT&T's 3G network is faster than whatever 4G Verizon has to offer, especially if Verizon doesn't upgrade backhaul enough to handle 4G speeds. But of course, Verizon has more Gs, that must automatically mean it's better, right?

 

[MacTouch786]

Verizon is rushing LTE because they're basically maxed out at speeds EvDo can offer. AT&T still has room to grow their 3G network as faster iterations of HSPA keep coming out. It could very well get to the point where AT&T's 3G network is faster than whatever 4G Verizon has to offer, especially if Verizon doesn't upgrade backhaul enough to handle 4G speeds. But of course, Verizon has more Gs, that must automatically mean it's better, right?

Then why is AT&T trying to get LTE out by 2011?

And Verizon's LTE network won't even be completed until 2013 or 2014 for talking and web surfing on phones. Launches in 2010, LTE phones in 2011, slow rollout throughout the country until 2013 or 2014.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

If that ever happens, and by the looks of things right now, you are in for a long wait. Also, Verizon's all so powerful network is all the fanboy hype, there is no magic in and it will not stand the iPhone's traffic for even a day.

No, it's not all hype. Sitting here right now, I can name over two dozen experiences where my AT&T phone lost complete service while my friends on Verizon never skipped a beat. If I started writing all these moments down, the list could get much longer.

And I'm not referring to only one USA region. I've had this happen on the east coast, west coast, upper midwest, deep south... these experiences happen across the country.

 

[Applejuiced]

No, it's not all hype. Sitting here right now, I can name over two dozen experiences where my AT&T phone lost complete service while my friends on Verizon never skipped a beat. If I started writing all these moments down, the list could get much longer.

And I'm not referring to only one USA region. I've had this happen on the east coast, west coast, upper midwest, deep south... these experiences happen across the country.

Yep, AT&T is terrible everywhere.
That's why it's the 2nd largest wireless provider in the US not far behind verizon in subscriber base.
They don't get service anywhere, all these millions of customers paying them for nothing....

 

[jav6454]

A rather overly dramatic version of events

First, there's been no story that Jobs himself ever approached Verizon.

And it wasn't all decided in one meeting. According to various articles, Apple talked to Verizon off and on for months, until Apple finally gave up. By all accounts, they were friendly meetings.

Verizon stated back when the iPhone was announced that they had nothing against it or Apple, they just couldn't come to terms.

In more recent comments (which could be just sour grapes), Verizon said they never thought Apple was serious. Apparently Verizon thought Apple was just trying to drive a harder bargain with ATT.

Yes over dramatic, but that's what literally happened. Also, even if they didn't tell Steve himself no, telling an Apple employee is he same thing. You are saying no to the company.

No one knows what type of meetings there were. All we know is what Steve said in the keynotes, where he said he approached the big 4 carriers.

Obviously Verizon was going to say it didn't come to terms, that's a PR stunt. They are not going to admit they turned down Apple blatantly. That would have been or is a hit for them on the eyes of the fanboy base.

Verizon never saw future in the iPhone because of Apple (big mistake). Simple as that. AT&T said, ok, I'll give you time and present me something sorta finished. AT&T gained a lot with that gamble, after all it was a huge gamble in that stage.

Also, AT&T has huge resources to bargain with, where as Verizon, not.

 

[MacTouch786]

AT&T did have the most subscribers before Verizon acquired Alltell.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

Yep, AT&T is terrible everywhere.
That's why it's the 2nd largest wireless provider in the US not far behind verizon in subscriber base.
They don't get service anywhere, all these millions of customers paying them for nothing....

I'm posting in reference to real, repeated experiences across the nation. You respond with sarcasm. Get back with me when you have something to actually dispute the numerous claims of AT&T shortcomings.

 

[Applejuiced]

I'm posting in reference to real, repeated experiences across the nation. You respond with sarcasm. Get back with me when you have something to actually dispute the numerous claims of AT&T shortcomings.

Your supposedly claim of "repeat exprerience" means absolutelly nothing.
Get back to me when you do some real proven studies with backing data and results.

 

[thetexan]

AT&T gained a lot with that gamble, after all it was a huge gamble in that stage.

Did they really gain a lot though? That's my argument earlier in the thread. Yea, AT&T gained some subscribers but at what cost? Due to the iPhone and putting it on a network not able to handle it their reputation for quality is poor and it'll be that way for years after they actually improve it. I know AT&T took a financial hit with subsidies and the iPhone, and the cost to acquire a new iPhone customer was much higher than the cost to acquire a non-iPhone customer.

Their tarnished reputation will hurt, and the iPhone gravy train will come to a halt sometime. Either AT&T releases the phone on other networks, people get bored with it, or a combination and then what?

Sprint today has great customer service that's much improved over years ago and a fantastic network at a price much less than Verizon yet their reputation due to poor performance in the past has them nearly running out of money. I wish Apple would strike a deal with Sprint over Verizon to be honest.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

Your supposedly claim of "repeat exprerience" means absolutelly nothing.
Get back to me when you do some real proven studies with backing data and results.

I'm sorry, but real experience means everything. I'm just one person with a stack of AT&T network issue experiences. Are you overlooking the multitude of problems numerous people report about their AT&T service? Get your head out of the ground.

I'm not a statistical data tracker. I'm just someone looking down at his iPhone while in the lobby of a Hyatt hotel in downtown Chicago off Wacker Drive and seeing absolutely no service, but looking up to see numerous other people walking around on their cells with no problem. I had to stand by an exterior window with a few other iPhone users to get a phone conversation, in downtown ****ing Chicago.

Or the time I was at Pemaquid Point in Maine and lost my ride. I would have easily called them, except, wait, my phone had absolutely no service. I borrowed a Verizon phone to call the driver except, problem was, they were using AT&T too, so no cell coverage which resulted in an hour delay.

How about when Monroe, Louisiana, a 3G region, lost AT&T cell coverage. Standing outside of the AT&T store, no calls would go through. People were packed inside the store trying to figure out why, suddenly, they couldn't make any phone calls. Switching from 3G to Edge let about 10% of the calls take place.

Let's go back to Maine, this time in Camden, where all AT&T service ceases to exist if you step inside of any building. Bar, restaurant, movie theater. I worked with a photographer from New York while there, who needed to be in easy contact with me for the duration of our time there. He specifically asked me if I had AT&T, and groaned when I told him yes.

Or there was a train trip through central midwest, USA. Calls were constantly dropped. I grew accustomed to seeing my phone on 1 or no bars. Meanwhile, a guy in front of me was watching Netflix on his computer with his mifi.

Eros, Louisiana, in a house inside of what AT&T considers "good" coverage. No reception unless you place your phone in one of four 1 square foot zones. The only way to reach people inside of it is texting them and hope and wait that it will eventually work itself out. But then I used a Verizon phone. Walked all through the house while carrying on a conversation. Constant five bars of 3G.

Go back to Chicago. Wicker Park. We go to a bar to get some food and grab some drinks. There are at least five iPhone users sitting at the table, all with no service. It became a topic of conversation, as one guy sitting at the table raised his Verizon phone and pointed out that he had full service, while we had to walk next to the glass door to outside in order to send or receive anything.


So, do you have a solution to the continuous pathetic cell network that AT&T has cobbled together? It is quite obvious you do not use this company outside of your local bubble. But for others who do travel and have to depend on a cell phone as their connection point, being stuck with AT&T in order to use the iPhone is a mind-numbing experience of sacrifices.

 

[Plutonius]

I'm posting in reference to real, repeated experiences across the nation. You respond with sarcasm. Get back with me when you have something to actually dispute the numerous claims of AT&T shortcomings.

I think his problem with your statements is that you make is sound like most AT+T customers have problems with their connections. Based on network satisfaction surveys and such, I would agree that the Verizon network seems better then the AT+T network but, what percentage of people are actually having problems ? If it's .1% of Verizon users vs even 10% of AT+T users, you are still talking 90% of AT+T users are happy with the service even though the 10% unhappy people numerically are a large number. Statistically, AT+T would be losing most of their customers to Verizon's network / smartphones (the Droid is arguably as good as or better then the current iPhone) if the AT+T network was as bad as you claimed. The truth is that no provider is the best in all areas and you should go with the provider that works best for you.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

I think his problem with your statements is that you make is sound like most AT+T customers have problems with their connections. Based on network satisfaction surveys and such, I would agree that the Verizon network seems better then the AT+T network but, what percentage of people are actually having problems ? If it's .1% of Verizon users vs even 10% of AT+T users, you are still talking 90% of AT+T users are happy with the service even though the 10% unhappy people numerically are a large number. Statistically, AT+T would be losing most of their customers to Verizon's network / smartphones (the Droid is arguably as good as or better then the current iPhone) if the AT+T network was as bad as you claimed. The truth is that no provider is the best in all areas and you should go with the provider that works best for you.

Never did I say "most." From the first post, I referred to my own experiences...

No, it's not all hype. Sitting here right now, I can name over two dozen experiences where my AT&T phone lost complete service while my friends on Verizon never skipped a beat. If I started writing all these moments down, the list could get much longer.

And I'm not referring to only one USA region. I've had this happen on the east coast, west coast, upper midwest, deep south... these experiences happen across the country.

In the next response, I again referred to my own experiences across the country with AT&T. I do travel. I don't have to take someone else's word. I can speak firsthand of AT&T problems throughout the nation.

For the numerous claims, the statement is opening up and one can simply look at this one thread for other problems people are having...

I'm posting in reference to real, repeated experiences across the nation. You respond with sarcasm. Get back with me when you have something to actually dispute the numerous claims of AT&T shortcomings.

If you really want to see which network people prefer, see what happens when Apple opens up the iPhone to other carriers (like how it is in so many other countries). I'd be interested in seeing how the percentage breaks apart and how many were on AT&T only due to their preference for a phone that integrates perfectly with their computer. How many will jump ship and finally be able to use it on a network that is more reliable and dependable for them. I haven't seen anyone asking for AT&T to lose the iPhone. Only that people can use it on Verizon (or such and such other carrier).

 

[Applejuiced]

I'm sorry, but real experience means everything. I'm just one person with a stack of AT&T network issue experiences. Are you overlooking the multitude of problems numerous people report about their AT&T service? Get your head out of the ground.

I'm not a statistical data tracker. I'm just someone looking down at his iPhone while in the lobby of a Hyatt hotel in downtown Chicago off Wacker Drive and seeing absolutely no service, but looking up to see numerous other people walking around on their cells with no problem. I had to stand by an exterior window with a few other iPhone users to get a phone conversation, in downtown ****ing Chicago.

Or the time I was at Pemaquid Point in Maine and lost my ride. I would have easily called them, except, wait, my phone had absolutely no service. I borrowed a Verizon phone to call the driver except, problem was, they were using AT&T too, so no cell coverage which resulted in an hour delay.

How about when Monroe, Louisiana, a 3G region, lost AT&T cell coverage. Standing outside of the AT&T store, no calls would go through. People were packed inside the store trying to figure out why, suddenly, they couldn't make any phone calls. Switching from 3G to Edge let about 10% of the calls take place.

Let's go back to Maine, this time in Camden, where all AT&T service ceases to exist if you step inside of any building. Bar, restaurant, movie theater. I worked with a photographer from New York while there, who needed to be in easy contact with me for the duration of our time there. He specifically asked me if I had AT&T, and groaned when I told him yes.

Or there was a train trip through central midwest, USA. Calls were constantly dropped. I grew accustomed to seeing my phone on 1 or no bars. Meanwhile, a guy in front of me was watching Netflix on his computer with his mifi.

Eros, Louisiana, in a house inside of what AT&T considers "good" coverage. No reception unless you place your phone in one of four 1 square foot zones. The only way to reach people inside of it is texting them and hope and wait that it will eventually work itself out. But then I used a Verizon phone. Walked all through the house while carrying on a conversation. Constant five bars of 3G.

Go back to Chicago. Wicker Park. We go to a bar to get some food and grab some drinks. There are at least five iPhone users sitting at the table, all with no service. It became a topic of conversation, as one guy sitting at the table raised his Verizon phone and pointed out that he had full service, while we had to walk next to the glass door to outside in order to send or receive anything.


So, do you have a solution to the continuous pathetic cell network that AT&T has cobbled together? It is quite obvious you do not use this company outside of your local bubble. But for others who do travel and have to depend on a cell phone as their connection point, being stuck with AT&T in order to use the iPhone is a mind-numbing experience of sacrifices.

Yeah ok fanboy.
Your pathetic continuous bashing of AT&T shows where you're comming from. AT&T has great US coverage and in some areas better than Verizons.
Get over it.
Im sure you traveled throut the US with a phone from each carrier to test out who got better signal and who got the most dropped calls
Your biased posts mean zero in real world experience.

 

[mreg376]

Yeah ok fanboy.
Your pathetic continuous bashing of AT&T shows where you're comming from. AT&T has great US coverage and in some areas better than Verizons.
Get over it.
Im sure you traveled throut the US with a phone from each carrier to test out who got better signal and who got the most dropped calls
Your biased posts mean zero in real world experience.

Who's the fanboy? You may want to take a look at the national surveys over the past decade, especially since the iPhone appeared, and especially the most recent surveys, showing AT&T users constantly bashing AT&T's poor service and coverage. Wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[Applejuiced]

Who's the fanboy? You may want to take a look at the national surveys over the past decade, especially since the iPhone appeared, and especially the most recent surveys, showing AT&T users constantly bashing AT&T's poor service and coverage. Wake up and smell the coffee.

AT&T has posted its 2009 Q4 numbers and is experiencing a healthy boost in wireless subscribers. For the quarter, AT&T's wireless subscribers grew 2.7 million bringing the total subscribers in service to 85.1 million. Just a little below Verizon that stands at 91.2 million.
I guess they all have bad service then and stay on AT&T because of Luke Wilson.
Wireless data services generated $3.9 billion in revenue, a 26.3% increase from last year's fourth quarter.
This is the third consecutive quarter with a increase in consolidated revenues for AT&T.
I traveled thru many places in the US and never had any problems with my AT&T service and coverage. To name a few like Florida, Georgia, California LA area, Las Vegas, Boston and more.
I can care less about what some survey states.

 

[mreg376]

AT&T has posted its 2009 Q4 numbers and is experiencing a healthy boost in wireless subscribers. For the quarter, AT&T's wireless subscribers grew 2.7 million bringing the total subscribers in service to 85.1 million. Just a little below Verizon that stands at 91.2 million.
I guess they all have bad service then and stay on AT&T because of Luke Wilson.
Wireless data services generated $3.9 billion in revenue, a 26.3% increase from last year's fourth quarter.
This is the third consecutive quarter with a increase in consolidated revenues for AT&T.
I traveled thru many places in the US and never had any problems with my AT&T service and coverage. To name a few like Florida, Georgia, California LA area, Las Vegas, Boston and more.
I can care less on what some surveys state.

Just be sure to come back spewing the numbers when iPhone users are no longer imprisoned at AT&T.

 

[Applejuiced]

Just be sure to come back spewing the numbers when iPhone users are no longer imprisoned at AT&T.

Yep, Im sure its 85 Million iphone users

 

[yg17]

I'm posting in reference to real, repeated experiences across the nation. You respond with sarcasm. Get back with me when you have something to actually dispute the numerous claims of AT&T shortcomings.

And I've never had any problems with AT&T and know many people who have never had problems and are satisfied customers, whether it's with an iPhone or any of AT&T's other phones.

I'm sorry, but real experience means everything. I'm just one person with a stack of AT&T network issue experiences. Are you overlooking the multitude of problems numerous people report about their AT&T service? Get your head out of the ground.

I'm sorry, but real experience means everything. I'm just one person with a stack of AT&T network success experiences. Are you overlooking the multitude of satisfaction people report about their AT&T service? Get your head out of the ground.

 

[jav6454]

... snip ....

Raving Verizon fanboy... I can tell from afar. I also enjoy your tears at watching Apple do business with AT&T over over-hyped Verizon... yes, they are delicious....


Serious note. One market where AT&T is crap != entire network. Down here, all you hear from Verizon is "Garble, garble, fzzt *screesh* fzzt, fzzt... *fax tones* and then click" I for one could say Verizon sucks network wide, but that is blatant lie.

Same AT&T deal, NY network != entire network.

 

[SongtotheKing]

Did they really gain a lot though? That's my argument earlier in the thread. Yea, AT&T gained some subscribers but at what cost? Due to the iPhone and putting it on a network not able to handle it their reputation for quality is poor and it'll be that way for years after they actually improve it. I know AT&T took a financial hit with subsidies and the iPhone, and the cost to acquire a new iPhone customer was much higher than the cost to acquire a non-iPhone customer.

Their tarnished reputation will hurt, and the iPhone gravy train will come to a halt sometime. Either AT&T releases the phone on other networks, people get bored with it, or a combination and then what?

Sprint today has great customer service that's much improved over years ago and a fantastic network at a price much less than Verizon yet their reputation due to poor performance in the past has them nearly running out of money. I wish Apple would strike a deal with Sprint over Verizon to be honest.

i agree for the most part. Sprint would really need to up their 3g speeds, though... (4g... sorry)

 

[SongtotheKing]

it would really seem like a lot of people here seem to be taking sides..... i dont really care which side ur on... facts are more important. Yes, big scary V has 5x more coverage. But, At&t does have faster 3g... i dont think i know anyone that has really complained about at&t where i live (south jersey) but there may be some.

the only thing i wish would change with at&t is their prices. A little high... but i will stick with it cause they have the iPhone. THAT DOES NOT MEAN that i would go with verizon if they ever get it. At&T still has better 3g. I am not gonna pass up speed for a small price tag.

I currently have sprint.... i have a pretty good phone (treo). Not really too many apps for it (which is why i want an iphone) but if they would speed up their 3g and got thei iPhone, that would prob be the best deal. $99 for unlimited talk/text/data? too good to be tru!!!

But i also trust Apple's judgement... so if they say AT&T, its AT&T for me!