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Seriously, AT&T people, be honest.

The real issue is not whether I need to be able to use the Internet while I'm on the phone, but whether I need to be able to get a call when you're using the Internet. It works both ways, you see. If I'm away from home streaming Pandora on my iPhone, I don't want that to mean every call I get is going to go to voicemail. Back when I only had Edge at work I was forever missing calls because I was on the Web or watching a video or even just because my phone was polling email. With 3G I no longer have this problem.
 
thelatinist said:
The real issue is not whether I need to be able to use the Internet while I'm on the phone, but whether I need to be able to get a call when you're using the Internet. It works both ways, you see. If I'm away from home streaming Pandora on my iPhone, I don't want that to mean every call I get is going to go to voicemail. Back when I only had Edge at work I was forever missing calls because I was on the Web or watching a video or even just because my phone was polling email. With 3G I no longer have this problem.
Click to expand...

On Verizon, calls have priority. Your calls wouldn't be forwarded.
 
thelatinist said:
The real issue is not whether I need to be able to use the Internet while I'm on the phone, but whether I need to be able to get a call when you're using the Internet. It works both ways, you see. If I'm away from home streaming Pandora on my iPhone, I don't want that to mean every call I get is going to go to voicemail. Back when I only had Edge at work I was forever missing calls because I was on the Web or watching a video or even just because my phone was polling email. With 3G I no longer have this problem.
Click to expand...
Exactly. I hardly ever use data while on a call, but if I'm streaming Netflix I don't want to miss calls. I don't know if that is a limitation or not with Verizon.
 
thelatinist said:
The real issue is not whether I need to be able to use the Internet while I'm on the phone, but whether I need to be able to get a call when you're using the Internet. It works both ways, you see. If I'm away from home streaming Pandora on my iPhone, I don't want that to mean every call I get is going to go to voicemail. Back when I only had Edge at work I was forever missing calls because I was on the Web or watching a video or even just because my phone was polling email. With 3G I no longer have this problem.
Click to expand...

I am not positive how the CDMA part of the iPhone is going to handle this, but I don't think this is an issue, with the original iphone that used Edge and it had similar limitation if you were using Data any incoming call would interrupt your data section. Voice stack have high priority.
 
stewart715 said:
If she's on the phone with you why is she emailing you?
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hahahaha, wow, I guess you've never worked in an office. There's these crazy things now called "attachments" that you can add to an email. something like a picture, a word document, a PDF. I know, it's seems crazy that you could be talking on the phone with someone and want to have them look at a letter draft, or a logo, or send a picture and ask them if that's what they were talking about or wanted. Things like that would certainly never happen during the work day, but seriously, check out this "file attachment" thing, it will blow your mind more than a Verizon iPhone.
 
Apparently,


At&t customers here, don't have a laptop / desktop at home and at work.
They are always talking ( when they can receive or make calls ) and browsing the web while walking or driving.
 
I use it all the time. I am talking with a user over the phone, and need to remote in to fix a issue over my tethered iphone with my laptop. Can't do that with Verizon without hanging up. It is very useful. With emails, if I get my work email going off and on a call, I can check it. :) Not so with Verizon.

stewart715 said:
Please honest answers only.

How often do you use voice and data simultaneously when you're NOT connected WiFi network? Think about it. Because 99% of my day, everyday I'm at work or home or a friends house and all three have WiFi.

I am on Verizon with a Droid X and I very comfortably use data and talk at the same time anytime I need to. The only time I'm not near a WiFi network is when I am driving and when I am driving, I am not surfing the web, especially when on a call.

AND to top it off, if you are an Optimum or Time Warner customer, it's likely there is free wifi for your entire county.

I do not think the lack of this feature is a big deal with WiFi literally everywhere. Especially a feature that isn't really used that often to begin with. Look at the commercials Apple has produced. NONE of them are real life situations.

Sorry, but AT&T has nothing but this one teeny thing on Verizon. And this teeny thing doesn't matter to many people, again, because of WiFi.
Click to expand...
 
I use this feature constantly. It is one of those things that I thought was not needed until I started using it (kind of liek visual voicemail). Now that I have had it and use it everyday, I don't think I could go without it.
 
I use it almost every time I'm on a call, to look up things that are talked about, or just to generally use the phone (many apps actually use data). I admit I'm probably not in the norm, but there's my honest answer for you.

Then again, I do most of my conversing via text message so I'm not on the phone all that often
 
I really don't understand why there is even an argument about this. If it's a feature you use a lot or need, then you have one choice in the US and that is to stay with AT&T.
If it's not a feature you use or need, then you have other options.
The back and forth about this is about as absurd as I've ever seen, even on MR! Bottom line is that I don't tell ANYONE how to use their phone and what features matter to them and don't expect anyone to tell me. I use my phone as I do because that's what works for me. Other people use their phones in ways that work for them. So how about we stop with the "well, I guess AT&T users don't own laptops" or "why is the boss e-mailing you something while talking with you on the phone?". etc., and the equally ridiculous things being said the other way.
And let me add one more rant while I am at it- if you think that EITHER AT&T or Verizon give a crap about you other than to make certain that your check clears, you live in a dream world...
 
stewart715 said:
The question was not do you use it. The question was, how often do you use it when you aren't connected to a WiFi network (i.e. home, work).
Click to expand...

Very, very often. Honest.

For example, my office uses a way-over protected wifi and they don't allow us to provision iPhones with the proper certs to connect. Stupid I know but that leaves me on 3G for data most of the day.

Also, much of my simultaneous use of voice/data happens on the open road when, um, my passenger uses my iPhone to check things while I'm on a BT call.
 
bmwhd said:
Very, very often. Honest.

For example, my office uses a way-over protected wifi and they don't allow us to provision iPhones with the proper certs to connect. Stupid I know but that leaves me on 3G for data most of the day.

Also, much of my simultaneous use of voice/data happens on the open road when, um, my passenger uses my iPhone to check things while I'm on a BT call.
Click to expand...

Good point.
 
I always use it. Especially when I'm out and about in the city. It's really useful.

I always thought it was a smartphone feature (iPhone was my first smartphone) rather than a technology capability.

I'm happy with AT&T's service. I'm happy for my Verizon friends, too! Everyone's a winner!




















Except for Blackberry users. Poor them.
 
bmwhd said:
Very, very often. Honest.

For example, my office uses a way-over protected wifi and they don't allow us to provision iPhones with the proper certs to connect. Stupid I know but that leaves me on 3G for data most of the day.

Also, much of my simultaneous use of voice/data happens on the open road when, um, my passenger uses my iPhone to check things while I'm on a BT call.
Click to expand...

Agreed with the over protected wifi at work.
I can't even stream my XM app at work.
 
Occasionally I'll looks something up while on a call... especially when on hold- to be honest, I wouldn't miss it if I couldn't... however, MISSING a call because I'm browsing on 3G, streaming Pandora or watching a video makes it a total deal breaker...

I use my phone to browse and stream A LOT! I still have my unlimited price-point because I end up using more then 2GB/mo when I travel... however, my phone is still primarily a phone and I'd prefer to maintain that order of importance...

that being said, I renewed with the iP4 so by the time my contract is up in 2012, I'm sure things'll be different. I'm pretty happy with AT&T (despite a handful of random no-signal zones in my area) I've had good experiences with their customer service and terrible experiences with Verizon's DSL so I'm not to anxious to make any switching.
 
stewart715 said:
No one, including you, is understanding the question. I use it all the time too. But do you ALWAYS use it when you're out and about and not near a WiFi point? Because I never had the need to.
Click to expand...

People often make the mistake of generalizing that their habits and usage equates to the general population. If there is literally wifi everywhere that means the entire world is blanketed with wifi. And btw, just because there is wifi, it doesn't mean that its free.
 
I don't have wifi at work. The campus has it but I work deep inside a wing that services federal customer...wireless isn't really conducive. I'd love it if I had access, but I don't.

Yes, I've used data and voice simultaneously and a lot. It's nice to be able to to it when I have to.
 
stewart715 said:
How often do you use voice and data simultaneously when you're NOT connected WiFi network? Think about it. Because 99% of my day, everyday I'm at work or home or a friends house and all three have WiFi.
Click to expand...
Probably about three times a week.

stewart715 said:
AND to top it off, if you are an Optimum or Time Warner customer, it's likely there is free wifi for your entire county.
Click to expand...
Err... :confused:

stewart715 said:
I do not think the lack of this feature is a big deal with WiFi literally everywhere. Especially a feature that isn't really used that often to begin with. Look at the commercials Apple has produced. NONE of them are real life situations.
Click to expand...
Sure they are! I think part of the reason behind the confusion here is that this feature is new, and people aren't used to it. Once it becomes convenient, for a person who isn't always at home and communicates with other people to make plans, it can become quite handy. It isn't a big deal like some people make it out to be, but it is a really great feature.

stewart715 said:
Sorry, but AT&T has nothing but this one teeny thing on Verizon. And this teeny thing doesn't matter to many people, again, because of WiFi.
Click to expand...
In some areas AT&T provides a better signal, in many areas they provide better data, there are many families who are on AT&T which makes mobile-to-mobile very important, and, well, AT&T devours a few less babies during their nightly rituals.

What it really boils down to is area and personal circumstance.
 
I don't use it that often but I do use it and it would be a consideration when choosing between the two.

But, I expect when my contract runs out (2012) Verizon might very well have this answered anyways (they are going to LTE I hear and they probably will have an LTE iphone by that time).

I prefer AT&T mostly cause I've never had issues with them and it's easier just to stay with them then change carriers.

But, when the time comes, I'd consider Verizon depending on a few factors:

Things that would influence my decision (and Verizon would have to have a definite edge over AT&T for me to switch)
1. Pricing - I don't want to pay more than I'm already paying AT&T now (I have unlimited and the cheapest voice plan. I don't even know if they offer the voice plan anymore honestly, we might be grandfathered in at that price). If they can't offer the same features + more for the same price (or maybe 5 dollars more), I probably won't switch. I'm cheap and I didn't pick Verizon when I picked cell phone plans the first time cause they were much more expensive at the time.

2. Would verizon let me tether for free (I don't want to jailbreak) on an "unlimited" plan. This would be a huge temptor. In fact they'd probably have to offer this to get me to change (they'd have to have something extra over AT&T for me to switch). I might still consider it if it ends up costing me only 5 dollars more than what I pay now with AT&T.

3. Who has the most updated iphone at the time (I suspect Verizon at best will have the same model but I am thinking they might have an outdated model... and that would influence my choice very negatively. It wouldn't be as negative on AT&T to tell the truth, once again Verizon has to overcome the too lazy to change carriers hurdle for me since I am happy enough with AT&T).

4. Data+voice at the same time (if Verizon still doesn't by then this may be a deal breaker but offering free tethering might be tempting enough for me to get over it).

5. If Verizon costs the same as I pay AT&T and I get texting thrown in, that might tempt me enough to consider them. It's not as big a temptor as allowing tethering though. I would like texting but I'm not willing to pay all that much more for it (which is why I don't have a texting plan now).

Basically part of the hurdle verizon will have to face is that I'm a longtime AT&T customer so my pricing might be cheaper than they can offer as I may be paying cheaper than even what AT&T offers now (voice plan plus I still have my unlimited).
 
I listen to streaming audio while driving. On my iPhone EDGE, this would cause any incoming call to go directly to voicemail. On my iPhone 4, the volume goes down and the phone rings. Nothing beats being able to fix an issue for the station I'm listening to, then going right back and continue listening. Also, without Voice and Data at the same time, you cannot use the GPS system (because of the loading of maps) while on the phone.

TEG
 
stewart715 said:
No one, including you, is understanding the question. I use it all the time too. But do you ALWAYS use it when you're out and about and not near a WiFi point? Because I never had the need to.
Click to expand...

If I'm near a WiFi connection, I'm most likely at a house or a friends house, so I can just use a laptop.

The bottom line here is that VZW's network isn't as good as AT&Ts. CDMA 3G is slower than GSM 3G, and it doesn't support simultaneous data and voice. That's 2 points for AT&T.

TEG right above me makes a good point. This makes apps like Pandora useless on the VZW iPhone. I use Pandora/Last.fm all the time hooked up to my stereo in my car. If I had the VZW phone, while I was using this, I wouldn't be able to receive phone calls.

The bottom line is, ignoring the fact that AT&T gives me better service in my area and up at my school, I'm still staying with AT&T. Their network is more advanced and just works better. And the fact that many people are going to jump ship to VZW should reduce the load on AT&Ts network a little bit, and will probably result in a minor improvement in speed.
 
TEG said:
Also, without Voice and Data at the same time, you cannot use the GPS system (because of the loading of maps) while on the phone.
Click to expand...

Not if you have an app that includes the maps (like Navigon or TomTom). Which, if you seriously want to use your phone as a GPS, I recommend. I know we tried using the phone to go around Mt. Rainier and that did become a problem (this was before I had Navigon).

There are places if you like to explore/travel a lot (and don't just drive inner city) that you will encounter no cellphone service and having a true GPS (which having the maps on your phone will ensure) is useful.
 
stewart715 said:
My point was not that I don't do something, it was that me and MANY people are almost always near a WiFi on NORMAL days.
Click to expand...

I don't think the average person sits at home/office all day. We go out and do things everyday. Whether it be errands or activities.
 
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