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NEWBIE Want iphone, current Verizon user- need advice on my best options!

G

Greene23

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 26, 2009
30
0
I am sure you all have seen this post a million times, but I am brand new to MacRumors and am here because I am tired of stressing over my options alone! I need some advice from people who are more educated on this than I.

My contract with Verizon is done Mid-November. I have been wanting an iphone since the first ever came out on my birthday in 2006(?) I am playing with these options:

1) Stay on verizon, consider the Droid. Have in-calling with most family.
2) go to AT&T have crappy plan, with hardly any minutes and no unlimited texts but be a leigitimate iphone customer have lots of incalling with other iphoners- live in downtown Seattle- no real network problems
3) go to TMobile and unlock the iphone and have potential complications but better minute/text plans.
4) wait until the next iphone comes out? wait until it goes to another carrier?

I just dont know what to do! Any "in the know" folks have some good tips?

Thank you so so much!
Greene23
 
If it's more important for you to have the greatest gadget ever invented, then get an iPhone.
If it's more important for you to have a reliable cell phone, stay on Verizon and get whatever you like.

Sadly, you cannot have both right now.
 
I feel like i am going to have a seizure over this. Thanks for the response.
 
Getting a 3G S and going on T-Mobile would be anchored by EDGE as they utilize different 3G frequencies.

I'd say go to T-Mobile, get an Android phone and at least take advantage of a contract-free (probably cheaper than Verizon/AT&T plan) and just wait it out until the iPhone either comes to a carrier you like or AT&T lowers the plan price.
 
Do you want crappy service with a great phone? At&t
Do you want great service with a crappy phone? Verizon
Both have overpriced rate plans.
 
Roessnakhan said:
Getting a 3G S and going on T-Mobile would be anchored by EDGE as they utilize different 3G frequencies.

I'd say go to T-Mobile, get an Android phone and at least take advantage of a contract-free (probably cheaper than Verizon/AT&T plan) and just wait it out until the iPhone either comes to a carrier you like or AT&T lowers the plan price.
Click to expand...

I dont quite understand you Roessnakhan. I have a friend who uses the iphone on Tmobile and is happy. I am not a techie, so what do you mean by what you said? Thanks!
 
Greene23 said:
I dont quite understand you Roessnakhan. I have a friend who uses the iphone on Tmobile and is happy. I am not a techie, so what do you mean by what you said? Thanks!
Click to expand...

You won't be able to use 3G speeds of data. You will be stuck with edge and wifi.
 
megapopular said:
You should use the A-List, giving you 5 numbers to call/receive calls with unlimited minutes. That may help with your minutes.
Click to expand...

I saw the commericial for that recently, but am afraid of the catch. I am sure there is one. Like losing out on In calling or something?
 
megapopular said:
You should use the A-List, giving you 5 numbers to call/receive calls with unlimited minutes. That may help with your minutes.
Click to expand...

I wasn't talking about minutes at all. I was talking about data with t-mobile.

I assume you just accidentally quoted me?
 
Greene23 said:
I saw the commericial for that recently, but am afraid of the catch. I am sure there is one. Like losing out on In calling or something?
Click to expand...

No catch at all! Just add five numbers and go! You don't lose out on in calling at all!!
 
Greene23 said:
I am sure you all have seen this post a million times, but I am brand new to MacRumors and am here because I am tired of stressing over my options alone! I need some advice from people who are more educated on this than I.
Greene23
Click to expand...

I'll probably get flamed by somebody saying this will never happen, but if you seen the front page recently, it may be possible that Verizon will get a 4g iphone next wwdc, so another option is to do what I'm doing and wait until then before making any decisions.
 
nick1516 said:
I'll probably get flamed by somebody saying this will never happen, but if you seen the front page recently, it may be possible that Verizon will get a 4g iphone next wwdc, so another option is to do what I'm doing and wait until then before making any decisions.
Click to expand...

Verizons 4G footprint in 6 months will be slightly greater than your home wifi....lol not very realisitc.....

To OP; i would get a factory unlocked iPhone off of eBay and use it on T-Mobile. There coverage isn't half as bad as people make it out to be and God forbid you don't get service and MUST send a text you can roam on AT&T.
 
nateo200 said:
Verizons 4G footprint in 6 months will be slightly greater than your home wifi....lol not very realisitc.....

To OP; i would get a factory unlocked iPhone off of eBay and use it on T-Mobile. There coverage isn't half as bad as people make it out to be and God forbid you don't get service and MUST send a text you can roam on AT&T.
Click to expand...
I knew it would happen, what do I win :D
 
Greene23 said:
I am sure you all have seen this post a million times, but I am brand new to MacRumors and am here because I am tired of stressing over my options alone! I need some advice from people who are more educated on this than I.

My contract with Verizon is done Mid-November. I have been wanting an iphone since the first ever came out on my birthday in 2006(?) I am playing with these options:

1) Stay on verizon, consider the Droid. Have in-calling with most family.
2) go to AT&T have crappy plan, with hardly any minutes and no unlimited texts but be a leigitimate iphone customer have lots of incalling with other iphoners- live in downtown Seattle- no real network problems
3) go to TMobile and unlock the iphone and have potential complications but better minute/text plans.
4) wait until the next iphone comes out? wait until it goes to another carrier?

I just dont know what to do! Any "in the know" folks have some good tips?

Thank you so so much!
Greene23
Click to expand...

Depending on your work/school status you can get a discount by asking AT&T to add a FAN number to your account. This will take a small percentage off of your monthly bill. AT&T also has a reward program when someone "refers" you to them... You and the person who refers you get $25 credits on their accounts. Every bit helps!!
 
well i can tell you, ive had 4 friends recently switch from verizon to att with the iphone and they could not be happier...

i did sept of 08 from alltel (verizon now) and i wont look back...

service has been great....no complaints.
 
Get the iPhone 3GS and be happy. I had Verizon and AT&T at the same time. I was really impressed with AT&T so much that I switch fully over and brought some family with me. We ditched Verizon like a bad habit. No issues. Service is great everywhere I go. There are a couple spots that are dodgy but we had that issue with Verizon. Other than that could not be happier.

We had so many problems with Verizon phones and customer service it was a joke. Service was fine but that does not make up for everything else. Crap phones locked down and crappy customer service.. no thanks.

Also you have 30 days to decide so give it a whirl. If you're not happy, get rid of it. :)
 
Well, This would be my primary phone. I am really curious abotu unlocking it for Tmobile. Their plans are so much better. I wouldnt havea problem with them being in Seattle and I could support my local company! Doing the "A-List" on AT&T requires a more expenseive play- (min single user-$59.99, family- $89.99) well, when I do the math that is a lot if i were to have y husband on an iphone data plan too. yikes.

Anyone have the phone unlocked and on Tmobile? suggestions on how to get that going? Will I get in trouble!?

What do you think apple will come up with with the next iphone?
 
The way you're talking it sounds like you can't afford an iPhone. Not to sound all "greater-than-thou" or anything but it is an expensive device, not only to purchase but to maintain your service contract.

If you use the iPhone on T-Mobile you will be losing a lot of the functionality of it, and to be honest ... it wouldn't be worth the cost of the phone to do that. You will only be able to use the Edge data which is much slower than 3G since T-Mobile uses a different frequency for their 3G which the iPhone doesn't support. You also won't be able to use the Visual Voicemail which may not seem like much, but it is a wonderful feature on the iPhone.

Don't get me wrong, I love my iPhone and I am only marginally satisfied with AT&T, but being able to use the full functionality of the iPhone makes it worth it to me.

No matter what anyone else says, the iPhone is not going to Verizon anytime soon. Steve Jobs isn't quick to forget and Verizon is very clearly burning it's bridges with Apple. Even by Verizon saying the ball is in Apple's court makes it pretty obvious to me that Verizon is basically telling Apple that if they agree to Verizon's terms they are more than welcome to come to Verizon, and Apple will only work on their own terms. Simple as that.

As for the next generation iPhone, we just don't know. Apple plays their cards extremely close to their chest at all times, and we most likely we will only be seeing little hints of whats to come sometime next year.

My final suggestion would be, if you can afford to do the iPhone right ... then go for it. I switched from Sprint and I don't regret it at all. If you can't afford it though, I would recommend going with another option.
 
Greene23 said:
Well, This would be my primary phone. I am really curious abotu unlocking it for Tmobile. Their plans are so much better. I wouldnt havea problem with them being in Seattle and I could support my local company! Doing the "A-List" on AT&T requires a more expenseive play- (min single user-$59.99, family- $89.99) well, when I do the math that is a lot if i were to have y husband on an iphone data plan too. yikes.

Anyone have the phone unlocked and on Tmobile? suggestions on how to get that going? Will I get in trouble!?

What do you think apple will come up with with the next iphone?
Click to expand...

iPhone is $39.99 voice, $30.00 data, $5 for 200 txt. You are going to be at $89.99 roughly a month for one phone. If you can't afford a single iPhone on AT&T, not sure it's a device for you period. Tmobile will give you voice but if you can't fully utilize the device, why buy it? Get an iPod Touch instead.
 
xbuddycorex- Thank your for your in-depth response and insight. I actually can afford the phone, but as my momma says: "the Rich get Richer when they spend wisely." I just want to make the best decision for my wallet and knew people here would have opinions on that.

I really appreciate all the input I have received!
 
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