Verizon iPhone, No Thanks!

[cababah]

If you read over all the pro-Apple journalists (like Mossberg) who reviewed and trashed all the Verizon iphone killers --- none of them actually mentioned this "weakness" (therefore it's largely an academic issue that has no real relevence to real life usage).

I don't need to read another person's opinion to know what I value as important when using my smartphone. "Real life" usage varies from person to person and my real life usage happens to be frequently accessing data while on my phone calls.

I see full bars everywhere I go too, but I still get dropped calls. I would happily give up my ability to browse the internet while in a call to not have dropped calls anymore. Especially because I would gain the ability to use the Internet and make calls on the metro (not just a select few stops) here.

I guess I should have clarified that I have had one or two dropped calls now and then but not nearly enough to warrant a major issue for me or conflict with my productivity of using data/voice at the same time.

 

[fid]

I think there would've been a GSM model even if Verizon had said yes to Apple, so you'd still have your choice.

You may be correct, but I think Apple benefits from the single carrier relationship (here in the US) as much as AT&T does.

Additionally, If I had to obtain one from overseas, it wouldn't have been worth it. We both know that carriers don't give discounts to plans (other than contract flexibility) if you provide your own.

No, I'd be back on Verizon with my new iPhone...

 

[battleonmac]

uhh i hope they make a verizon iphone...i am soo tired of my call quality....arent u guys?

 

[sidewinder]

uhh i hope they make a verizon iphone...i am soo tired of my call quality....arent u guys?

Why do you assume there is an endemic call quality problem with AT&T. I know people constantly have problems with Verizon phone call quality. Should I ask if all Verizon customers are so tired of their call quality?

My call quality on AT&T has been just fine thank you. When I had a Verizon phone it wasn't any better.

S-

 

[tedley]

Why do you assume there is an endemic call quality problem with AT&T. I know people constantly have problems with Verizon phone call quality. Should I ask if all Verizon customers are so tired of their call quality?

I completely agree. I dropped Verizon because I was getting crappy reception around town and calling inside my house was near impossible. Switched to at&t and now I have 4-5 bars throughout the city where I live and have 5 bars in my house. Couldn't be happier with at&t service. It will be a cold day in h**l before I go back to Verizon. Both services can be good or bad depending on where you live.

 

[samab]

I don't need to read another person's opinion to know what I value as important when using my smartphone. "Real life" usage varies from person to person and my real life usage happens to be frequently accessing data while on my phone calls.

You are also talking about millions of Verizon customers that have ev-do phones --- that's real life usage --- and they ain't complaining.

The complaints have always been in the context of someone who have never used a Verizon ev-do phone --- and talking about potential theoretical problems.

Don't you find it strange that millions of people who use ev-do phones regularly --- never complains about it. And the people who complains about it --- have never even tried it before complaining about it.

 

[sidewinder]

You are also talking about millions of Verizon customers that have ev-do phones --- that's real life usage --- and they ain't complaining.

The complaints have always been in the context of someone who have never used a Verizon ev-do phone --- and talking about potential theoretical problems.

Don't you find it strange that millions of people who use ev-do phones regularly --- never complains about it. And the people who complains about it --- have never even tried it before complaining about it.

How can you complain about not having a feature until you realize it exists and you don't have it?

S-

 

[nateo200]

I think there would've been a GSM model even if Verizon had said yes to Apple, so you'd still have your choice.

Yeah I think so too. But I think it would have been GSM for only Europeans...similar to how many of HTC's smartphones have quad band GSM but only 2100/900Mhz UMTS not supporting North American 3G bands. Still I would have gotten it.

Why do you assume there is an endemic call quality problem with AT&T. I know people constantly have problems with Verizon phone call quality. Should I ask if all Verizon customers are so tired of their call quality?

My call quality on AT&T has been just fine thank you. When I had a Verizon phone it wasn't any better.

S-

I seriously have had ONE dropped call on verizon it was when I was in the Midwest in a market blanketed in US Cellular coverage and Verizon only had a 1900Mhz liscence and I happened to be in an area full of trees...I get awesome voice quality even on one bar of 1xRTT.

 

[cababah]

You are also talking about millions of Verizon customers that have ev-do phones --- that's real life usage --- and they ain't complaining.

The complaints have always been in the context of someone who have never used a Verizon ev-do phone --- and talking about potential theoretical problems.

Don't you find it strange that millions of people who use ev-do phones regularly --- never complains about it. And the people who complains about it --- have never even tried it before complaining about it.

Once again, I am not making the claim that most people are bothered by this, I strictly stated my opinion in the original post. You fail to realize that "real life" usage varies from user to user.

How many of those people using the ev-do phones came from using an iPhone? Not many. They can't complain about something they have never grown accustomed to using. Your logic makes no sense. And in case you say something like "Tons of people on Verizon switched from AT&T and their GSM service" Let me say that very, very few switched from using a device such as the iPhone which is arguably the best smartphone when it comes to navigating the mobile web.

That is like me saying I like cruise control in my car and use it a lot on road trips and do not want a car without it. Then you say something like "It is not a big deal not to have cruise control, all the thousands of people in older cars without it are not complaining."

 

[smithrh]

Right you are. Therefore I wouldn't have brought up SVDO and a timeframe without having some facts to base a guess on.

The change to the towers is a plug-in card. They're predicted to be available en masse by mid-2010.

Well, no. That's what Qualcomm would have people believe, but it's not actually the case.

The change to the handsets is a chip with SVDO support. Those are shipping soon.

Same thing as above. Chipset availability is of course a part of the QC salespitch, but reiterating, they don't ship gear to operators, the vendors (handsets, infrastructure) do.

From what I've read, going to 1X Advanced and adding SVDO is worthwhile if the CDMA network is going to be in place at least five years.

Since Verizon's said they're keeping CDMA for at least voice for another decade, it's likely that they would upgrade their equipment along the way, just as ATT is upgrading their 3G even while thinking of adding LTE.

The payback analysis isn't quite that cut and dried. To actually realize value, you need to have good handset penetration that can take advantage of the improved functionality. That takes years to build.

Good points, but no different from moving to 3G or LTE.

Qualcomm is pushing for handsets to include SVDO capability starting ASAP, so that devices would be in place.

Yes, Qualcomm pushes. But they may be pushing a rope.

Consider this: there are 3 infrastructure vendors that Verizon uses for CDMA/DO. Unless all 3 vendors see a business model for going forward, they won't proceed, and therefore Verizon wouldn't be able to proceed either. Verizon won't make any such move like this without having it available everywhere.

Also consider that Verizon is very much curtailing investment on CDMA and DO and shifting it to LTE.