Why I’m switching to the Verizon iPhone: I need a phone

By on Jan 11, 2011 at 10:00 AM
mobile January 11, 2011

Yesterday, my cohorts weighed in on the question on countless iPhone owners’ minds right now — should I ditch AT&T and buy an iPhone from Verizon? The answer is going to be different for everyone, of course. Some people have a compulsive need to switch phones constantly, so they can’t use a CDMA carrier. Some people have a need for speed and Verizon’s 3G network doesn’t cut it. Well guess what? I have a need for a phone that actually works wherever and whenever I want it to. That need is way more important than any need I have to swap phones every day or download iTunes tracks at lightning-fast speeds. I want to make phone calls. I want to receive emails instantly. I want to load Web pages and refresh apps any time, anywhere. AT&T, fast as it might be, just can’t hang.

Before AT&T scored Apple’s iPhone exclusively in the U.S., its network was solid. Once tons of iPhones began hammering its airwaves constantly, however, things changed — especially in big cities. Calls dropped more frequently than they connected, data pipes were clogged, and the iPhone experience on AT&T pretty much became a disaster in many regions. Now, it wasn’t all AT&T’s fault. Reports emerged that Apple, which was new to the cell phone game, didn’t quite know how to make the most efficient use of cellular networks. Internationally, iPhone users on several other networks found themselves experiencing problems as well, but none were as bad as AT&T. To AT&T’s credit, things have improved a lot over the past six months or so, but I still drop calls constantly in Connecticut and in New York City, where I spend most of my time.

I don’t think we’ll see the same thing happen with Verizon Wireless. The nation’s top carrier has had over three years to prepare for the iPhone and I think it’s ready. Beyond that, a video showing what appears to be parts from the upcoming Verizon iPhone surfaced recently, and it looks like we may be in store for a redesigned antenna. Antennagate might not have affected iPhone sales much, much it definitely impacts the user experience. I don’t use a case and I’m sick of dropping calls every time I accidentally touch the black strip in the lower left corner of the phone. I think Apple spent a ton of time on this issue following the Antennagate affair, and I think the new model will definitely be improved.

There are obvious downsides to switching and I’m well aware of them. Verizon’s 3G is typically slower than AT&T’s network, battery life will probably be a tiny bit worse, and I’ll lose the ability to use voice and data at the same time unless Verizon shocks us with a workaround today. But you know what? I dropped five calls before 9:00AM this morning and I just can’t take it anymore. I’m someone who needs to be connected at all times, in all places, and I need to be able to rely on that connection because by business often depends on it. AT&T simply doesn’t seem to be up to the task — I really hope Verizon will succeed where AT&T continues to fail.

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  • Mashkaa

    “Some people have a compulsive need to switch phones constantly, so they can’t use a CDMA carrier.”

    People can switch phones constantly on CDMA. It is very easy, particularly when using VZW (try *228 or using the VZW website), so that should play no little or no part in carrier choice. And I’m guessing you know that…so why would you write this in your article?

  • http://euphemize.net jufemaiz

    Wherever + whenever? Ever travelled? ;)

  • Overheadcamm

    A funny thing happened to me a few months back. I was in a AT&T store for a promotional event. All of the employees had trouble making calls because the reception on their phones were 1 to 1.5 bars. I didn’t have the heart to show them my verizon BB had 3 bars.

  • Aarin

    Hey Jon, how bout you buy a case/bumper for your fone. There is NO REASON in the world why you can purchase a $500 fone and not buy the least bit of protection for it. Especially when reception was a known problem. Dont complain that you have X number of dropped calls and you havent even attempt to prevent it by simply putting a bumper on it; they were even FREE at one point dude. Pretty simple.

  • taylor

    Verizon 3g speeds are fine, I’m running faster speeds on my incredible ever since 4g has rolled out. The network isn’t limited to 1.4 megs, just ran my test and got 1.7 which is about the same speed as 3g w/ at&t. now HSPA+ is nice but its not 4g so when 4g LTE is out in my area and i get a 4g phone there isn’t any company who can beet verizons speeds. Some customers are gettings speeds of 14 megs

  • http://twitter.com/the_om3ga_man Omega Man

    You do know Jonathan that Verizon has OTHER excellent smart phones too?..Right?

  • Grn_white

    Or you could get a blackberry – a phone that just works – anywhere, anytime

  • Grn_white

    The amazing thing is how bad your networks are in the US. Up here, we have had a choice of 3 HSPA+ carriers all carrying the best phones (iphone, galaxy, BB) for a couple of years with great coverage. Bell is unrolling 42.2 MBPS speeds in Toronto now for data for tablets, netbooks, etc while the regular speeds are 21 MBPS. And your carriers are having a marketing war about “4G”??? – give me a break – Verizon EVDO?? – that was fast in 2005. Yes we pay more for phones and 3 years contracts – but no dropped calls and speed to burn. If your networks were better, you would never have dropped calls. But for you network deficient people, can I suggest a Blackberry – that is actually a phone!

  • Zach D

    I;m sick of hearing that AT&T is faster, here in Arizona every iphone I’ve tested is much slower than my Galaxy S, pulling up websites, downloading apps, every time I’ve tested it, it’s much faster. Lets just say I work for a cell phone company……

  • Josh

    i have a bold on att in nyc and rarely drop calls. perhaps once a month if even that match. I used to have a problem but that was 2 yrs ago living on the 2nd floor near an elevator of a 20 story apartment building in brooklyn. i live and work in nyc and never have a problem with dropped calls. maybe iphone users will soon realize – iphones drop calls, NOT att.

  • LDEBID

    Anyone out there just willing to provide some constructive advice/experiences between android and the iphone. I bought and returned a Droid X (holding out for the next best thing). Now with iphone on VZW not sure which route to take. Would appreciate some advice based on experience in reference to apps, interface, . . . . .! Fanboys of either can keep their BS to themselves though.

  • akri

    AT&T’s customer service sucks.. but as far as connectivity goes..they’re the best..I get calls even in elevators and inside buildings close to the airport.. Once people migrate to Verizon the problem should get better..the network should be alleviated some, I think.

  • David

    The dropped calls are definitely an AT&T problem. I have a blackberry and been using one for years. I never had a problem making phone calls with verizon. I switched to AT&T to join a family plan and I get dropped phone calls all the time. It’s a problem that never goes away. I’m thinking of switching back to Verizon but not necessarily to get an iphone either.

  • http://twitter.com/jimmiekain Jimmie

    I’m not an iphone guy but if I were, I would go with AT&T because the ability to talk and use data at the same time is pretty cool. This is something I’m only able to do if I’m connected to 4g or wifi while on my sprint evo. Plus I’m pretty sure that once a bunch of people leave att and go to vzw for the iphone the network wont be as bogged down and will be even better. However, I’m waiting until February for HTC and Sprint to make there “Industry first” announcement. If it doenst blow me away, I’m gonna switch to whatever carrier in the United States gets the LG Star Optimus 2x THAT THING IS A BEAST!!!

  • http://twitter.com/sullidop Stephen Sullivan

    The dropped calls is what put me over the edge too. There are only so many times you can drop a business call before the otherside thinks you’re incompetent.

  • Michelle Nichols

    Folks…some of you are clearly just AT&T haters. And that’s your prerogative. Bottom line – switch from your iPhone to another device (LG Quantum, anyone) and you’ll have an excellent voice experience on AT&T. It’s a device issue, not the network.

  • Nightfox111

    Get Blackberry… no dropped call!…. ok, now all you apple fan boys can yell @ me :) … but if your #1 use is phone? why not use a Blackberry which has the best call reception out there.

    Phone + email = blackberry
    Anything else = Android or IOS

    or IOS

  • http://www.alexbe.com Alex Bozinovic

    I’ve been on Verizon for about 6-7 years now. Prior to the last 6 months, I could count my dropped calls on one hand, and they usually came when I was in mountainous areas while road tripping. In the past few month, I’ve been averaging about two dropped calls. Now, I know, AT&T’ers probably have at least two a day. But to go from virtually no dropped calls, to now seeing even a few dropped calls so frequently, I’m a little worried.

    I’m up for an upgrade in a few weeks, I think I’m going to upgrade to an LTE phone. If dropping calls starts becoming a normal thing on big V, I might start looking at other options.

  • Brad

    Was switching phone hardware–not just the carrier–up for debate? I’m not saying that sticking with the iPhone was the wrong choice, but it’s sort of like going out of your way to drive on smooth roads because your car has crappy tires. Maybe the rest of the car makes up for the crappy tires, but the hardware *does* matter.

  • Yv1975

    i would love to see how he likes his Verizon iphone now. its not always greener on the other side.

  • JahoJAHO

    WHY NOT USE A FUCKING CASE YOU IDIOT

  • kuba

    Wow, sounds like you guys in USA are pretty f***d in terms of mobile networks… dropping calls, not able to use data and voice at the same time… you should come and visit europe sometimes… or maybe we should all go and visit japan :D

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