AT&T vs. Verizon - HELP!!!!

[gbrice75]

My contract with Verizon Wireless ends tomorrow. I've been wanting the iPhone forever, but obviously couldn't get it. Now's my opportunity, but I'm starting to get cold feet due to all the negative sh!t I continue to hear and read about AT&T's inferior network.

I don't want to wait indefinitely for Verizon to come out with the iPhone. Neither Apple nor Verizon has announced a release date, and until that happens there's no guarantee's as far as i'm concerned. That phone could be out in March, or I could be waiting 6-9 more months. I HATE my current phone and don't want it another day! What should I do???

I would love to hear feedback from AT&T customers, particularly ones who used to have Verizon but switched to AT&T for the same reason I'm thinking about doing it, for the iPhone. I realize people on this board are from all over the country/world, but that's fine - i'll still get a general idea. If anybody is from the NY/NJ area and can comment, all the better!

Please note i'm not looking for this to turn into an iPhone vs. Droid debate; i'd like to focus on the carrier's only, but if you do have anything legitimate to add about either phone, feel free. I just don't want the topic getting hijacked.

[swllce]

Take a look at myrateplan.com
Plug in your needs and wants,it will give you customised plans for data users.
At&t does have a inferior network.Speaking from 9 years of exp!

[Bigdog99]

OK now your really talking my business. My company helps build cell phone towers for ALL the carriers. My main area that I cover in NYC to VA. I see you are in NJ. AT&T's network is FAR behind the Verizon in this region. I know this for a Fact. They are not even close to lauching there LTE network (4G). Verizon is the Cadillac of Service providers. That being said Sprint is excellent in this area too.....and they have some very cool HTC phones now as well....not to mention there data plan is the cheapest. The I-Phone has overwhelmed ATT nextwork and it will be 1-2 years before it can truely handle the load.....and by that time something newer will be out. I would recomend Sprint to tell you the truth....go check out their HTC phones. I actually just got one 2 days ago....an HTC Touch Pro 2 for my work phone and I love it so far.

[DNoMac]

Have you tried Android or RIM? I would give them a shot before you commit yourself to ATT. Like Bigdog said, HTC puts out some pretty amazing devices. I personally have the Droid X on Verizon and am pretty impressed. The problem you're looking at now is bandwidth consumption. These smartphones are taxing the amount of data the carriers can handle, so it would be wise to let that weigh heavily on your decision.

If you are concerned about getting locked in for too long, sign a 1 year agreement and pay a little extra for the phone (you can probably make your money back selling it on ebay once your contract is up).

[gixxerboy1]

I had at&t for 10 years also living in the nj/ny area. I switched to verizon 6 months ago and regret it. I never had an issues with at&t. Verizon has been a nightmare. I cant wait till my contract is up

[Bigdog99]

I had at&t for 10 years also living in the nj/ny area. I switched to verizon 6 months ago and regret it. I never had an issues with at&t. Verizon has been a nightmare. I cant wait till my contract is up

Cell Phone coverage for ATT in NYC area is perfectly fine. But if you are using a PDA...ATT's network blows compared to VZW or even Sprint. Trust me....even the people I work with at ATT admit it.

[UberSteroids]

I am in Illinois and I have the iPhone. Works perfectly.

[VWbug66]

Iphone is coming to verizon in January...Apple already has them being built for verizons cdma network..so stay on verizon if you like verizon

[gixxerboy1]

i use a blackberry

[gbrice75]

Thank you all for your input. I think i'm going with AT&T and the iPhone for a few reasons:

1) I hardly use the phone to actually talk, so dropped calls isn't much of a concern for me. I mostly text. Yes, data usage is something I do need to be concerned with though on a saturated network

2) The fact that I can pay a higher price for the phone and get into a 1 year contract vs. a 2 year makes it more appealing. I can deal with suffering for 1 year. My decision on this will come down to how much more expensive the phone is on these terms

3) Regardless of a 1 year or 2 year contract, I can always get out of it if it's absolutely horrendous. It's not the end of the world. I pay a termination fee. For a 2 year contract, chalk it up to the additional $$$ I would have paid for the phone had I opted for a 1 year contract.

4) The final and biggest factor is that for whatever reason, Verizon has horrible service IN MY HOUSE. Not in my area, it's fine around here. But specifically in my house - it's a weird dead spot. I can go outside and talk, but not inside. For whatever reason, AT&T works fine inside my house. So really, what more do I need?

[gbrice75]

Iphone is coming to verizon in January...Apple already has them being built for verizons cdma network..so stay on verizon if you like verizon

Where did you hear January? I'd like to see that in print, because the most i've heard is 'early next year' which is pretty vague. I haven't even heard them narrow it down to '1st quarter', just early next year. That could mean May. I just don't want to potentially wait another 5+ months while still using this piece of sh!t LG Dare. Worst phone ever!!! 2 years ago I unwittingly opted to buy it over the 1st iPhone - BIG MISTAKE!

[Bigdog99]

Just so you know most carriers have signal boosters you can get too. I work from home in my basement office and had no signal. Sprint makes a product called an Airave which boosts the signal. I now have 5 bars....

Good luck with your purchase!

[DSM4Life]

They say its all in the network and you are right. I use to work for Verizon Wireless and i hate them just for their business practices and how they treat their employees but thats a whole other topic. When all is said and done its all about who has more coverage in your area. Ask your friends from ATT if they have a lot of drop calls issues. If not then the network doesn't matter, now move onto the phones. There are 10000 rumors Verizon is getting the iphone just because apple MIGHT be testing a CDMA (verizon network) type phone. A lot of people dont realize that sprint is also CDMA so just because Apple is testing a CDMA phone doesn't mean its going right to Verizon. Verizon has been sued many times because they insist on install their proprietary software on the phones they cover. Most verizon customers have heard of V-Cast, thats verizon software. Do you really think Apple is going to allow verzion to install software on their handset ? NOT A CHANCE. Another big issue if the iphone went to verizon, do you think that Apple is going to give up their Itunes ? Verzion sells music, Apple sells music , so whos music app is going on the phone ?


P.S

Had Verizon for years, their service was good but their phones SUCKED ! I am with ATT and i have the iphone4. After the iphone i will never go back to a "regular" phone again. I am 100% hooked on the iphone.

[Nooomoto]

I've had AT&T for a number of years...I hate it. Reception is garbage (I live in Miami...not in Boon****, Alabama), I'm constantly getting switched to EDGE from 3G. To make it all even sweeter every 5 or 6 months "something" happens with my bill...whether it be the unlimited texting option mysteriously disappearing, which has happened several times, or them failing to apply my rollover minutes, which has also happened several times. It always ends up with me having to spend at least 20 minutes of my day on the phone with them to get it resolved.

Not to mention AT&T is ridiculously expensive, which I wouldn't mind at all if the service was on par with the cost. Furthermore, AT&T hasn't even spoke of standing up 4G or LTE networks anywhere. Sprint, Tmobile and Verizon are all in the midst of conversion in many major markets around the country. WTF AT&T?

[DSM4Life]

I've had AT&T for a number of years...I hate it. Reception is garbage (I live in Miami...not in Boon****, Alabama), I'm constantly getting switched to EDGE from 3G. To make it all even sweeter every 5 or 6 months "something" happens with my bill...whether it be the unlimited texting option mysteriously disappearing, which has happened several times, or them failing to apply my rollover minutes, which has also happened several times. It always ends up with me having to spend at least 20 minutes of my day on the phone with them to get it resolved.

Not to mention AT&T is ridiculously expensive, which I wouldn't mind at all if the service was on par with the cost. Furthermore, AT&T hasn't even spoke of standing up 4G or LTE networks anywhere. Sprint, Tmobile and Verizon are all in the midst of conversion in many major markets around the country. WTF AT&T?

AT&T has announced that it is going to start offering LTE service in mid-2011, putting it behind rival Verizon in deploying a fourth-generation cellular-wireless network.
John Stankey, the chief of AT&T Operations, revealed his company's plans at a conference, He said part of the delay was making sure that its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, which is data only, will work well with this carrier's voice network.
By the end of next year, AT&T intends to be able to offer 4G service to 70-75 million people.
In the mean time, this carrier is continuing to deploy the 3.5G standard HSPA+, which Stankey says will give its customers real-world download speeds of 7 Mbps. Under ideal conditions, HSPA+ offers downloads at up to 21 Mbps.
LTE will offer 40-50 Mbps for downloads and 20-25 Mbps for uploads under ideal conditions.
Stankey did not say when AT&T intends to launch its first smartphones with 4G access. When introducing high-speed data networks, carriers typically offer wireless access cards for laptops with the new service before phones.

http://www.brighthand.com/default.as...+3.5G+LTE+HSPA

[DSM4Life]

If you’re among the many people waiting for an iPhone that works on Verizon’s network, the telecom company’s CEO, Ivan Seidenberg, offered nothing to soothe your nerves on Thursday.

“We would love to carry it, but we have to earn it,” he said at an investor conference, adding that he “can’t speak for Apple.” Verizon executives have echoed those comments repeatedly over the past months, but every little data point leaves the Verizon iPhone hopefuls scratching their heads.

On Wednesday, analysts at the Susquehanna Financial Group said checks of the supply chain indicated that Apple would begin production in December of an iPhone that works with CDMA — the technology Verizon uses. That would be in line with expectations for a launch early next year, they wrote.

The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Apple planned to produce such a phone this year, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that Verizon would carry it. CDMA also is used by Sprint Nextel and by a handful of operators in other countries, including South Korea and Japan. Most carriers, including AT&T, use the technology that is in the iPhone now, called GSM.

On Thursday, Seidenberg appeared to imply that a Verizon iPhone could be much further in the future. He told investors that he hopes Verizon’s move to 4G will spur suppliers, including Apple, to build products for the carrier, Dow Jones Newswires reported. Although Verizon is set to introduce its 4G network in some markets by the end of the year, it isn’t going to be available nationwide until 2012.

“At some point, Apple will get with the program,” he said, with more than a tinge of frustration.

But it’s not clear whether he meant Verizon won’t get an iPhone until the phone runs on 4G. He could be saying that 4G will spur Apple to work more closely with Verizon, which could happen with or without a CDMA phone.

At this point, it’s in Apple’s best interests to offer the iPhone on networks other than AT&T — as it has moved away from one-carrier deals in other countries. AT&T has been hit with criticism over reliability in areas like New York and San Francisco, although it is working to bring its system up to speed in those cities. More importantly, though, the lack of a Verizon iPhone has created a huge opportunity for phones running on Google’s Android operating system.

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/09/...ration-rumors/

[edgarr]

I live in southern WI and just switched to verizon from ATT and verizon sucks here but I work in Chicago where ATT sucks. I think I am going back as I want an IPhone

[gbrice75]

They say its all in the network and you are right. I use to work for Verizon Wireless and i hate them just for their business practices and how they treat their employees but thats a whole other topic. When all is said and done its all about who has more coverage in your area. Ask your friends from ATT if they have a lot of drop calls issues. If not then the network doesn't matter, now move onto the phones. There are 10000 rumors Verizon is getting the iphone just because apple MIGHT be testing a CDMA (verizon network) type phone. A lot of people dont realize that sprint is also CDMA so just because Apple is testing a CDMA phone doesn't mean its going right to Verizon. Verizon has been sued many times because they insist on install their proprietary software on the phones they cover. Most verizon customers have heard of V-Cast, thats verizon software. Do you really think Apple is going to allow verzion to install software on their handset ? NOT A CHANCE. Another big issue if the iphone went to verizon, do you think that Apple is going to give up their Itunes ? Verzion sells music, Apple sells music , so whos music app is going on the phone ?


P.S

Had Verizon for years, their service was good but their phones SUCKED ! I am with ATT and i have the iphone4. After the iphone i will never go back to a "regular" phone again. I am 100% hooked on the iphone.

Thanks bro, looking for this kind of feedback. I also used to work for VZW, back in the Bell Atlantic Mobile days. I actually worked there when they merged with Airtouch and GTE to form Verizon/VZW. I quit shortly thereafter.

Yea, Verizon is about the worst when it comes to customer service. Verizon core moreso then VZW in my experiences. They're awful!

[Bigdog99]

ATT is upgrading sites to LTE right now.....I am helping them build it. Major markets now----upgrading 1000 + sites NYC Metro. 800 sites Philly and 900 sites DC/Baltimore. ATT Edge network blows for data. It was thrown up half-assed several years ago. Other carriers are doing the same thing, just not as large of scale. Sprint is the only carrier right now with decent 4G coverage and a Phone to use it on (from HTC).

[gbrice75]

att is upgrading sites to lte right now.....i am helping them build it. Major markets now----upgrading 1000 + sites nyc metro. 800 sites philly and 900 sites dc/baltimore. Att edge network blows for data. It was thrown up half-assed several years ago. Other carriers are doing the same thing, just not as large of scale. Sprint is the only carrier right now with decent 4g coverage and a phone to use it on (from htc).

sweet!

[swllce]

Not to hijack this tread,but does anyone have any input on T mobile service for the east coast?Good or bad?

[Hazard]

Had verizon..... then got a work phone (iphone) and I fell in love with it. I hardly ever dropped calls either and i'm in northern NJ. Then my boss switched to the blackberry bold and verizon and I drop atleast 2 calls a day..... no fvckin lie. I hate verizon and their shitty phones.....

~Haz~

[VWbug66]

Where did you hear January? I'd like to see that in print, because the most i've heard is 'early next year' which is pretty vague. I haven't even heard them narrow it down to '1st quarter', just early next year. That could mean May. I just don't want to potentially wait another 5+ months while still using this piece of sh!t LG Dare. Worst phone ever!!! 2 years ago I unwittingly opted to buy it over the 1st iPhone - BIG MISTAKE!

i'm a big iphone enthusiast, ie- the jailbreak world..i'm always on this forum- sinfuliphone.com

somebody posted a what seemed to be official document that verizon placed the order for the iphone 4, since verizon is on a cdma network, the phone has to be reworked and what not.. anway, that forum is very useful for apple products, jailbreaking, customizing and just general Idevice help

[gbrice75]

Had verizon..... then got a work phone (iphone) and I fell in love with it. I hardly ever dropped calls either and i'm in northern NJ. Then my boss switched to the blackberry bold and verizon and I drop atleast 2 calls a day..... no fvckin lie. I hate verizon and their shitty phones.....

~Haz~

Haz, you're in Jersey? Train me! =P

So, I got the iPhone yesterday, and like everybody predicted, I fell in love. No, I mean fell in love, like I drilled a big hole (ok not THAT big) through the phone and violated it! Fvcking awesome!

Thanks to you all for your input. My only regret is not making the switch sooner. 3 - 5 bars in my house depending on what room i'm in. ZERO with Verizon, sometimes couldn't even get a text to go out.

When is the forum gonna get an app??!!

[DSM4Life]

Haz, you're in Jersey? Train me! =P

So, I got the iPhone yesterday, and like everybody predicted, I fell in love. No, I mean fell in love, like I drilled a big hole (ok not THAT big) through the phone and violated it! Fvcking awesome!

Thanks to you all for your input. My only regret is not making the switch sooner. 3 - 5 bars in my house depending on what room i'm in. ZERO with Verizon, sometimes couldn't even get a text to go out.

When is the forum gonna get an app??!!

You wont regret you choice. I wouldn't get hung up on counting bars all the time, either you can make a call or you can't.
Mapquest has a free navigation app with voice prompting
Google Earth has a neat little app
Flixster is good for looking up movies
myWireless is used for paying your phone bill on your phone/also viewing you plan/features/mins etc
Light is a app that turns your phone into a flashlight. I have used it one night drunk trying to get a key into a keyhole lol

[gbrice75]

Thx for the suggestions bro! I'm an iPhone newb, so any info on apps or whatever else you wanna share, i'm all ears!

Searched the Mapquest nav app but it was 99 cents to try for 30 days, then you have to buy a subscription. *shrug*

[DSM4Life]

Thx for the suggestions bro! I'm an iPhone newb, so any info on apps or whatever else you wanna share, i'm all ears!

Searched the Mapquest nav app but it was 99 cents to try for 30 days, then you have to buy a subscription. *shrug*

There are probably a few of them out there. This one is free. Its a green icon (if that helps).

[Hazard]

This thread prompted me to have a "talk" with my boss..... end story..... I'm still stuck with a blackberry

~Haz~

[DSM4Life]

This thread prompted me to have a "talk" with my boss..... end story..... I'm still stuck with a blackberry

~Haz~

Would this be the female boss? You need to lay the law down and show her who's boss !

[Hazard]

Would this be the female boss? You need to lay the law down and show her who's boss !

Nope..... it's a dude..... and he's immune to my advances..... lmao

~Haz~

[DSM4Life]

Nope..... it's a dude..... and he's immune to my advances..... lmao

~Haz~

See wouldn't you rather have me as a boss? I might settle for as little as a handjob before I allowed you to upgrade.

[LGM]

Shazam, google voice, pandora are also useful applications to have.

[Hazard]

See wouldn't you rather have me as a boss? I might settle for as little as a handjob before I allowed you to upgrade.

LMAO

The whole reason we switched was because he called the ATT people and wanted to switch plans. They didn't tell him there was a $1500 fee for switching mid month. He got his bill in and freaked the fvck out ahaha - then he let his GF pick out the verizon phones and I ended up with the blackberry bold..... fvckin pos. He even hates the phone but wont go back to ATT out of principle. Maybe once the Iphone comes to verizon.....

~Haz~

[gbrice75]

There are probably a few of them out there. This one is free. Its a green icon (if that helps).

Found it, thanks again bro. Have a wedding to go to this weekend 2 hours away too, so this is like perfect timing!

See wouldn't you rather have me as a boss? I might settle for as little as a handjob before I allowed you to upgrade.

ROFL

Shazam, google voice, pandora are also useful applications to have.

Got Shazam and Pandora, will check out google voice. Is that the app that you can basically browse google w/ voice commands?

[DSM4Life]

LMAO

The whole reason we switched was because he called the ATT people and wanted to switch plans. They didn't tell him there was a $1500 fee for switching mid month. He got his bill in and freaked the fvck out ahaha - then he let his GF pick out the verizon phones and I ended up with the blackberry bold..... fvckin pos. He even hates the phone but wont go back to ATT out of principle. Maybe once the Iphone comes to verizon.....

~Haz~

He should have called ATT. Business accounts get whatever they want. I am sure they would have refunded the chargers with no problems at all.

[DSM4Life]

Found it, thanks again bro. Have a wedding to go to this weekend 2 hours away too, so this is like perfect timing!



ROFL



Got Shazam and Pandora, will check out google voice. Is that the app that you can basically browse google w/ voice commands?

Just make sure you have a car charger when using this for long periods of time. Having the phone on and navigating the entire time drains the battery.

[lovbyts]

I have Verizon for Personal and AT&T through my work so I am familiar with both. I have been with Verizon FOREVER. I have also had AT&T off and on over many years. When my work use to use Verizon I used my work phone mostly. Now that they switched to AT&T I dont use my work phone hardly at all. I HATE the service. Almost every call I make in AT&T I will have it drop if I am driving/traveling. My Verizon almost never drops. I have been MANY places in the US and outside of the US where with my AT&T I have NO service and my Verizon works great.

[gbrice75]

Just make sure you have a car charger when using this for long periods of time. Having the phone on and navigating the entire time drains the battery.

Yea, I have to say i'm a little disappointed in the battery life. Particularly after reading and hearing about how amazing the battery life is on the iphone4. Granted, I realize there is a HUGE load on the battery between the illumination, apps, constant communication with networks (wifi, GPS, etc) but that's why I think it's insane that Apple won't all the batteries to be easily swapped like every other phone in the world. It's the one major drawback IMO, that you can't have a spare battery.

[DSM4Life]

Yea, I have to say i'm a little disappointed in the battery life. Particularly after reading and hearing about how amazing the battery life is on the iphone4. Granted, I realize there is a HUGE load on the battery between the illumination, apps, constant communication with networks (wifi, GPS, etc) but that's why I think it's insane that Apple won't all the batteries to be easily swapped like every other phone in the world. It's the one major drawback IMO, that you can't have a spare battery.

They do sell aftermarket batteries now. They are cases that have batteries built into them http://www.iphonebatterypack.com/index.php
My iphone4 was the same when i first bought it , i was playing with the damn thing non-stop and killing it every day. Now that i am use to the phone i am not on it every min it's fine. I charge my phone everynight and have no issues with it dying unless i watch southpark on it for 8 hrs straight at work lol.

[MuscleScience]

I've had AT&T for a number of years...I hate it. Reception is garbage (I live in Miami...not in Boon****, Alabama), I'm constantly getting switched to EDGE from 3G. To make it all even sweeter every 5 or 6 months "something" happens with my bill...whether it be the unlimited texting option mysteriously disappearing, which has happened several times, or them failing to apply my rollover minutes, which has also happened several times. It always ends up with me having to spend at least 20 minutes of my day on the phone with them to get it resolved.

Not to mention AT&T is ridiculously expensive, which I wouldn't mind at all if the service was on par with the cost. Furthermore, AT&T hasn't even spoke of standing up 4G or LTE networks anywhere. Sprint, Tmobile and Verizon are all in the midst of conversion in many major markets around the country. WTF AT&T?

I have had the same problems with ATT and billing. About 8 months ago, I got a text from ATT that I needed to contact them or they would shut my phone off because I hadnt paid my bill. I have had them on EFT payments for 7 years at the time. The customer service rep says he had no record of me having had any payments further back than 4 months. He tells me that as a one time courtesy that he will wave the late fee. I had not changed a thing on my account for over a year because I was still under my two year contract. Then again three months ago, I get the same text saying I need to contact them ASAP because they have not received payment. I again set up my Online bill pay.

I think I will switch here when my contract is up to someone. I pay way to much for my phone plan as it is.