“First and foremost, it will be on Verizon’s network, which Verizon loyalists and iPhone holdouts certainly hope will mean better calls,” Fried writes. “Of course, the Verizon iPhone may also benefit from lessons learned from the iPhone 4 and that makes an improved antenna more likely.”
Fried writes, “Less likely, but still possible is that the Verizon iPhone might have the ability to act as a portable hotspot… Also of note will be to see which networks the Verizon iPhone supports.”
Read more in the full article, whence, by the way, the parenthetical “Besides Being Able to Make Calls” headline addendum derives, here.
MacDailyNews Take: The strange experiment of having the world’s best smartphone stuck on one of the world’s worst networks can’t end soon enough. The sound of milk hitting Rice Crispies on most every call with at least one drop during every third one for over three years now; the bills kept coming, but relief never did. We’re beyond tired of having to call people back only to hear them say, “oh, you must have an iPhone” as if it’s Apple’s fault. AT&T early termination fee, here we come!
Have at it, AT&T astroturfers.
I hate AT&T, but not because of the cellular service, but because of the customer (dis)service. They never fail to anger me.
I have one AT&T iPhone off contract and one soon-to-be. Verizon, here I come! Unfortunately, I’m still deeply in debt on three iPhone 4s, but nothing about $900 can’t fix. I might just ride them out though and see how good Verizon’s network ACTUALLY is.
Dear MDN,
When Apple decided to go Xingular for the iPhone; I said here that the decision was HORRIBLE! Ma Bell has never looked out for its customers and never will. I am glad y’all finally see the light after so many years.
just my $0.02
I used to be with Verizon. There customer support was terrible. I have been with AT&T for almost 10 years now, except for that brief period that I went to Verizon. I left Verizon early and came back to AT&T. If Verizon had been the first company to have the iPhone, they would have had similar problems to AT&T. Verizon has learned a lot from the AT&T experience. But the question still remains, will they be able to handle all of the users when they get flooded with iPhones? Probably not!!!
mdn get over your self BOTH companies SUCK both asked me what was my 3 story apt building made of and i said the whole friggin neigborhood was built in 1902 what the hell they didnt build a network that could penatrate your standard buiding materials of wood and brick the wall arent even thick its not like these slabs of concrete and glass buildings or concrete blocks its 110 year old brick and wood gimme a break and its not like their are big buildings blocking me the while friggin neigborhood is compriesed of the same damn buidlings so the iPhone could go to every network that wont affect my phone user experience.
I’m with the other Texans on good ATT reception.
I now live in Arkansas and my iPhone does as good if not better than my company issued Samsung from Verizon.
Matter of fact, I had a company ATT Samsung that worked fine until we switched to Verizon. Hmmm…..
I forgot to mention… How can MDN complain about AT&T when MDN’s App on the iPhone is terrible. Most times you can’t get the articles or index. I have written to them and they keep saying, “Better days are ahead!” Still waiting on you MDN, and quit knocking AT&T.
I know Verizon has a better network than AT & T but when you have a voice connection and AT & T does not drop it I find that the AT & T call is clearer than Verizon, at least that has been my experience when I compare it to my work Verizon phone.
Verizon will get a version of the 4th gen iPhone and AT&T will get the iPhone 5 in July, so don’t get locked into a Verizon contract just yet.
Add me to the ones who have zero problems with calls on ATT.
Add me to the ones who have had experience with Verizon trying to rip me off on every other bill.
Typical MDN: Root for the winning team until their score slips, then start rooting for the other team. Hey Mr. MDN, did you happen to iCal any of your “Verizon Better Than ATT Is Myth” takes?
Nothing broken with AT&T for me.
Fact is, Verizon turned their nose up to the iPhone. So, I don’t care how superior their network is. They’re an ignorant, spineless bunch of visionless sops. Good riddance to anyone bitching about AT&T.
I’m bringing a honking-ass bag of pennies for my cancellation fee.
I’ll be wearing a big-ass smirk every second watching them count it.
@ LynnW,
iPhone 4 is not 4G. There is no such thing as an ignorant question, just ignorant answers, bitch.
LynnW
No, the iPhone 4 (as it existts today) is not “4G” but there really is no 4G available anyway, the “4G” some networks are touting is basically good 3G, the rest is all marketing. Real 4G is not available in the US (and not likely to be for some time)
http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/01/technology/4g_myth/index.htm
I don’t hate AT&T. Their service has gotten pretty good in our area. But, there just isn’t the coverage once you get into rural areas. It’s all area specific. We took a trip down to Orlando during Thanksgiving. AT&T coverage there was spotty.
I just hope the VZ iPhone is a world phone. Because I’m jumping ship!! Goodbye AT&T
@Lynn W
The iPhone 4 on AT&T is the fourth generation iPhone. That’s the reason why the numeral 4 was appended to it. It’s really a GSM phone on 3G service which is to say the third generation of the GSM standard.
What differentiates 2G from 3G in the GSM network is the rate of data transfer. This is asymmetrical meaning that download speeds are higher than upload speeds.
Using the fastest HSDPA protocol (high speed downlink packet access) to measure speeds available to the iPhone 4 you get 7.2Mbps which is the theoretical maximum. Factors such as cell density, congestion at certain times of the day, subscriber penetration have an impact on actual speeds. Under normal usage you should get about 1.2Mbps but since it’s a mobile device anything above 300Kbps should be acceptable.
4G networks on the other hand refer to fourth generation GSM/WCDMA networks which the ITU defines as capable of achieving 100Mbps. The current state of technological development falls far short of this standard.
What is meant by 4G is really 3.5G which utilizes the HSDPA+ protocol with reputed speed improvements in the order of 200% from 3G. Again these are theoretical maximums only.
Correction,
the “4G” some networks are touting is basically good 3G
Should have read:
the “4G” networks some carriers are touting are basically on par with good 3G
And for all of the idiots that keep saying that “Apple will never come out with a phone that doesn’t do voice and data at the same time”. Let me introduce you to the first generation iPhone that ran only on Edge back in 2007.
My phone makes calls fine on AT&T. If Verizon works for you, fine and dandy. But the continued grass is greener mentality is ridiculous.
I kind of hope Verizon implodes just as badly as AT&T did in the beginning, just to shut you people up. Verizon never had to deal with the demands of iPhone on its system.
MDN so obviously planted their bait in their take (“Have at it, AT&T astroturfers.”), and apparently almost everyone here happily took it!
I for one will continue to be doubtful of this Verizon iPhone until it comes. Long-timers here may remember that I’ve been one of the persistent resident skeptics, recalling the AT&T 5-year exclusivity agreement.
If that Verizon iPhone really does come soon (i.e. before this year ends), I’ll be the first one to admit I was wrong.
I’ll make the switch to Verizon when my contract is up. Haven’t had any major problems with the carrier and have been with Cingular/AT&T for six years now but Verizon has better 3G coverage.
There has been areas, small towns that my friend who has Verizon has 3G. In my hometown of 7,000 when I go home on vacation no 3G! But all my buddies on Verizon get 3G in my little town.
I live in Co Springs and it works great most of the time. Haven’t had major problems just want better 3G coverage, and that’s something Verizon’s network is strong.
I’ve switched at least 3 people in LA and Seattle because I was getting service with my AT&T iPhone in their houses where they could not get service on their Verizon phones… That’s, at least, 4 of us that will not be switching. I welcome people to switch though… That’ll free up the data highway on AT&T for those of us that stay
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I love how people here tout the Apple Vision, and mock Android and Microsoft for not taking chances,
but then are so ready to jump ship from ATT, the company that took the risk many years ago. Where’s the loyalty when you jump to Verizon, the gutless, nickel-and-diming bottom feeders who now want the product they were dissing a year ago?
Any company can only thrive when customers are loyal and reward innovation. Otherwise we might as well all be using Acer laptops and talking on “get one free” Razers.
Look guys, when the iPhone first came out, AT&T was hammered. I had drop calls almost daily. Now, I can’t remember when I had a drop call.
Verizon has the advantage of looking good here. They have had years to prepare, so its really not a fair comparison.
@MacTony – amen. I’m using the 1st Gen iPhone (EDGE network) and it does not do voice+data simultaneously. Just one of many big disappointments in that original iPhone rollout.