Sprint is the least attractive network for the iPhone 4S despite its offer of unlimited data, according to a study, suggesting consumers may be better off with AT&T or Verizon.
The iPhone’s top data speed on AT&T’s network was twice as fast the top speed it reached on Verizon and Sprint, according to a study done by Apple Insider. Meanwhile, Verizon proved to offer the best overall coverage on the device, providing service in the most areas.
Sprint, however, offered the slowest data speeds and worst overall coverage “by far” in the areas tested in the study.
No surprise really. To begin with, CDMA EVO is not going to match well provisioned HSPA or HSPA+. Plus with Sprint's network having issues, it is no surprise they are far behind. I have a 4S on Sprint courtesy of my employer. They did look at AT&T and Verizon but the cost increase in service was pretty high. I for one would not want to go with AT&T due to their iPhone unlock policy. Verizon is better with their 90 day service provision and Sprint sent mine to me unlocked.
If AT&T were a "better" consumer friendly company that actually cared about people and unlocked iPhone's for international use I might consider them. As it is, they are the last company I would want to deal with. If they were the only wireless company left, I would go back to wireline.
I had convinced a (die hard Verizon) friend of mine to try Sprint for his business when the 69.99 Any Mobile Data plans launched. He moved 28 lines from Verizon to Sprint for a significant reduction in monthly cost (it was somewhere around 450 a month) and was for the most part satisfied with the move. It was an assortment of smartphones including Blackberries, Androids and a couple of Windows based models.
Fast forward 2 years later and he got everyone iPhones. Then he got them all iPhones again a week later on Verizon.
In Consumer Reports’ most recent survey of wireless customers, AT&T once again came in at the bottom of carrier rankings. AT&T also scored last in Consumer Reports’ 2010 survey, while Sprint took the bottom spot in 2009.
The annual customer satisfaction survey, which polls 66,000 Consumer Reports subscribers, found that for 2011, consumers are most happy with Consumer Cellular, U.S. Cellular and Credo — three carriers with relatively scant name recognition nationwide.
Of the four most popular US wireless carriers, Verizon earned top consumer honors, followed closely by Sprint. T-Mobile ranked third, but still easily beat AT&T, which languished at the bottom of the poll.
Starting today "all iPhone 4S devices will have the SIM locked". The procedure will be done at activation and will be invisible to the user, also without the need of Sprint personnel intervention. This is what awaits you starting today but if you got an iPhone 4S from Sprint prior to November 11, this will not affect you at all.
The annual customer satisfaction survey, which polls 66,000 Consumer Reports subscribers,
While I'm always happy to see AT&T get some sand kicked on them, I'm not sure a survey of 66,000 Consumer Reports Subscribers is indicative of a the larger picture. Their additions tell a different story?
Also, the OP was refering to the iPhone and the report did state that "AT&T, by comparison, consistently provides the best data speeds — when coverage isn’t spotty."
While I'm always happy to see AT&T get some sand kicked on them, I'm not sure a survey of 66,000 Consumer Reports Subscribers is indicative of a the larger picture.
In your opinion, what should CR's sample size have been?
and it looks like Sprint and AT&T are selling the MOST iPhones.....
“IPhone 4S sales strength continues as distribution increases – Our November checks indicated iPhone sales remained strong in the US, particularly at AT&T and Sprint.
Something tells me Forbes didn't conduct research themselves, more like reprinting from what various blogs concluded without providing there sources for testing.
It all depends on where you are and what is available to you. Here in my small town in Oklahoma just 50 miles from Oklahoma City, Sprint is all there is that has the iPhone available. Neither AT&T nor Verizon offer service here, while Sprint blankets the entire state with 3G coverage. I am more than happy to support a company that provides good service, and Sprint is doing that here. Plus they have done their network upgrades and I am getting 2.2 Mbps with their 3G service.
haha yea, i bet most of that is an image problem...this is interesting:
They also stated that Sprint had some service issues.
There is another report that showed AT&T having less dropped calls than Sprint, and just a lil more than VZW.
This is similar to the elections. People 'believe' that AT&T sucks (as they sure have in the past), and many still believe that (if they haven't tried any other service since). I personally believe that VZW's customer service stinks. I haven't used it in 10 years because it was that bad. I still won't use it because I don't plan on going back - I wouldn't give money willingly to a company that attempted to screw with me.
Consumer Reports are based on ... consumers reporting.
AT&T has bad PR to boot:
First to kill unlimited data
First to hit on tethering
First to hit issues with iPhone speeds
First to have death grip
Thanks to the new iPhone, Verizon is expected to add 1.2 million postpaid subscribers during the fourth quarter, an increase from J.P. Morgan's earlier forecast of 1 million.
In comparison, AT&T is likely to add around 450,000 subscribers for the quarter and Sprint around 250,000. As the only U.S. carrier without the iPhone, T-Mobile USA is projected to lose around 400,000 postpaid subscribers for the year's final quarter.
Originally Posted by lennyj17
and it looks like Sprint and AT&T are selling the MOST iPhones.....
Something tells me Forbes didn't conduct research themselves, more like reprinting from what various blogs concluded without providing there sources for testing.
I found this little tid bit particularly interesting....
Consumer Reports’ survey also drills down into consumer satisfaction in specific U.S. metropolitan areas, ranking T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and U.S. Cellular (where applicable). According to consumers, Verizon is tops in most locales, including San Francisco, New York and Houston. Sprint tied Verizon for first place in a number of areas including Atlanta and Philadelphia, and T-Mobile was voted best in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Austin.
AT&T didn’t make the number-one spot in any of Consumer Reports’ 22 listed U.S. metropolitan areas.
Thanks to the new iPhone, Verizon is expected to add 1.2 million postpaid subscribers during the fourth quarter, an increase from J.P. Morgan's earlier forecast of 1 million.
In comparison, AT&T is likely to add around 450,000 subscribers for the quarter and Sprint around 250,000. As the only U.S. carrier without the iPhone, T-Mobile USA is projected to lose around 400,000 postpaid subscribers for the year's final quarter.
I doubt highly Sprint only adds 250k post paids....they added over 300K in the 3Q without the iphone, in a significantly slower Quarter than the 4th....
Sprints already projected to have sold well over 1million iphones..... Sprint probably the biggest benificiary of the bath TMO is taking for not having it.....
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Originally Posted by Evan702
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