I hope that doesn't happen, purely out of my own greed because I only have one more week to decide if I want to keep my Omnia or not.
Also I wonder if the Verizon Iphone would have picture messaging?
Tell me how you like your Omnia? I am looking at a new Smart phone some time soon. From my research the Omnis has better performance / speed than the Storm. Although i have a freind that loves his Storm.
i found this very interesting that an Iphone is alot faster on the Verizon Network then the ATT network... i really hope verizon and iphone come to an agreement for 2010 on getting an iphone for verizon
What it's like to use the iPhone 3G on Verizon's network
i3g,jpgLast week, when Apple introduced its new iPhone 3GS smartphone, it highlighted by omission what many feel is the product's weakest link - that, in the U.S., it's only available on the AT&T network.
When Apple listed the providers who'd be offering tethering and multimedia messaging when the phone is available on Friday, AT&T was noticeably absent. In fact, when the wireless provider was mentioned during the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference keynote, the audience reaction ranged from snickering to outright boos.
Indeed, AT&T is the ubiquitous wireless provider you love to hate. iPhone users complain its data network is slow and congested, that its voice service drops calls frequently, and that its 3G coverage is too limited. As I've written before, I hear all the time from people who wish they could use the iPhone on Verizon, which has a reputation for a speedy, reliable and extensive data network.
Tales of an iPhone on Verizon's network have been around even before the phone was released. Tech legend has it that Apple initially approached Verizon to be the iPhone's exclusive provider, but the carrier turned its nose up at the new device.
So what would an iPhone on Verizon's network be like? Would it be as zippy and reliable at transferring data as iPhone fans hope?
I had a chance last week to find out. Verizon sent me a MiFi 2200, a device made by Novatel that combines a cellular modem with a Wi-Fi router. It connects to Verizon's 3G EVDO network in the same way as the air cards used with personal computers. It then allows up to 5 devices to connect to its 802.11g router. It's tiny - about 2.3-by-3.5 inches and less than half an inch thick - and easily fits in your pocket.
mifionmacbook
It's a nifty product, particularly for traveling. You can use it to provide everyone in a car with a Wi-Fi connection, turning your vehicle into a 70-mph hotspot.
And that's exactly what I did late last week. We drove to Missouri for my daughter's college orientation, and brought the MiFi along. I used it with my iPhone, and the results were very interesting.
In a major city such as Houston, I found the two networks performed about the same much of the time. AT&T's network could be noticeably slower at peak times, such as during rush hours. But on a Sunday night, when network traffic was light, the two networks performed similarly.
Here's a screen grab from the Speedtest iPhone app from Xtreme Labs. The results on the left are from AT&T; on the right, Verizon. This was typical of what I saw during off hours.
att3goniphone verizononiphone
I didn't take screenshots during peak hours, but performance was often - but not always - noticeably slower on AT&T's network. Verizon's network was predictably fast almost all the time.
The major exception to that was in rural areas. On the way to Missouri, we passed through north Texas and eastern Oklahoma, where AT&T has no 3G, and sometimes even the older EDGE network was nowhere to be found. In some of these areas, Verizon's data network was MIA as well. The MiFi often connected to roaming networks (its power button turns blue to signal this) and data transfers then were as slow as on AT&T's EDGE network.
In other words, forget about smoking marijuana or taking trips on LSD. We don't do wireless broadband outside Muskogee, Okla., USA, either.
Of course, there are many variables here. Using the MiFi, I was going through a Wi-Fi connection to get to Verizon's network, but theoretically the 802.11g protocol has plenty of throughput to handle what's coming from the 3G modem. There could be interference for both Wi-Fi and 3G signals. The number of other users on either 3G network is also a variable.
But overall, performance was more reliable on Verizon's network with the iPhone going through Wi-Fi, than on AT&T's network talking directly to 3G.
Still, I don't think frustrated iPhone users can see a version of their phone on Verizon's network as a panacea. However, the coming of next-generation data networks -- and AT&T's plans to increase the speeds of its current 3G network -- hold out some hope for the future. In the meantime, iPhone users will just have to grit their teeth and bear it.
The MiFi, by the way, sells for $99 online, but requires a two-year service contract for a broadband connection that costs $60 a month with a 5-GB cap. If that's too rich for your blood, there's a $40 a month plan with a measly 250-MB cap. You can also buy it with no contract for $270 and pay $15 for individual day usage. None of those plans, frankly, are a good deal.
Tales of an iPhone on Verizon's network have been around even before the phone was released. Tech legend has it that Apple initially approached Verizon to be the iPhone's exclusive provider, but the carrier turned its nose up at the new device.
It was more like iStore vs. GIN, and neither would budge. I doubt that would change much today.
It was more like iStore vs. GIN, and neither would budge. I doubt that would change much today.
My smartphone doesn't have GIN. Actually I don't think that any of the smartphones have GIN. So maybe after seeing how the Iphone took off with AT&T even with the crappy coverage and data network, they'll change their minds on that. I AM IN NO WAY SAYING THE IPHONE IS A SMARTPHONE. I'd much rather have my smartphone ANY DAY than an Iphone. But seeing as how they are noticing how much money they are losing on data plans, they might let the GIN thing go.
If you want an iPhone so bad, go to AT&T. If it comes to Big Red then good, if not then oh well. Personally I have no interest in it and will stick to a Blackberry no matter what.
The other times this was brought up it always talked about tethering to another VZW phone with bluetooth, which seemed a little ridiculous. Now the MiFi makes it seem more reasonable. Just buy one and a used iPhone, jailbreak it, and put Skype on it. I'm pretty sure there's software out there to send unlimited SMS via data too, so you get 5GB per month of voice, text, and data for $60. Sure leaving WiFi on will kill your battery, but you could always just buy a second battery and swa...
Motorola Droid, Blackberry Storm, Voyager LGVX1000S, LG VX10000, LG VX8500 LG VX8550 (All retired)
Motorola E815, Motorola V710 (retired)
Carriers
Verizon Wireless (04"-Present)
Nextel (02"-04")
Feedback Score
0
Originally Posted by red014
The other times this was brought up it always talked about tethering to another VZW phone with bluetooth, which seemed a little ridiculous. Now the MiFi makes it seem more reasonable. Just buy one and a used iPhone, jailbreak it, and put Skype on it. I'm pretty sure there's software out there to send unlimited SMS via data too, so you get 5GB per month of voice, text, and data for $60. Sure leaving WiFi on will kill your battery, but you could always just buy a second battery and swa...
Today I spoke with both AT&T and Verizon customer service. I also spoke to AT&T and Verizon reps at their individual stores.
Here's what I got.....
When telling Verizon rep I needed my full account number to port one phone number out of 3 Family Shares over to AT&T for an iPhone, he said that he "was not allowed to discuss iPhones". He said that as far as he knew, Apple did not renew their exclusivity agreement with AT&T this past week. Although he wouldn't give out any more info, he did keep repeating that i should "wait until August", before I port my number over to AT&T for the iPhone. There was a nudge, nudge, hint, hint in his tone.
When delaing with the rep at the Verizon store, she also told me that she "was not allowed to discuss iPhones". I told her I wouldn't ask her to answer any more questions, but that I would "read her eyes"
She basically answered me that she believed Verizon was going to get an iPhone, but she thought it was going to be differnet than what is currently out there, and that it would be similar to those pics floating around that show a much smaller cased version. Her opinion was that it would be available around this coming new year (2010). I was surprised, but she also informed me that AT&T's network was better than Verizon's in my area. This was unexpected as she was saying the competition's network was better.
When i spoke with the AT&T rep at the store (a store that does not sell iPhones, so he had nothing to lose by not pushing one on me), he informed me that he also believed that Apple did not renew the exclusivity agreement with AT&T. He stated that "it appears that Apple is pissed at AT&T". He informed me that he too had some kind of info that Verizon was getting the iPhone. I was surprised that any of these persons would say good things about their competitors, but they did....
I don't know if any of the above can be disproved, and if this info is bogus. I'm just trying to report my conversations with reps from both networks.
Originally Posted by matrix2004
http://forums.crackberry.com/f99/iph...ml#post2739339
Good one.
Bookmarks