Anyone else order a Verizon Iphone?

[BurningSkies]

Woke up to do it, what with rumors of them running out of the early run, and after about a 5 year wait. I also wanted to lock in a unlimited data package before they decide to remove it.

The site went down at about 2.45am, then 5 minutes later it went up with the order page. I was happy to find that service ends up being cheaper than I thought as well as them discounting an additional 50$, making the 32g phone 250$

Order processed 10 minutes before they were supposedly available...

...and yes, I've been an unrepentant Apple fanboy since the Apple II.

[Kwesi]

Sweetness! I considered waiting but I got a Droid X which I'm pretty happy with. It would be nice to consolidate my mobile devices (phone and ipod) into one but I'm always weary of first releases. Not saying that Verizon or Apple will screw up the iPhone for the service but I don't know exactly what to expect so I figure I can wait till my next update.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Sweetness! I considered waiting but I got a Droid X which I'm pretty happy with. It would be nice to consolidate my mobile devices (phone and ipod) into one but I'm always weary of first releases. Not saying that Verizon or Apple will screw up the iPhone for the service but I don't know exactly what to expect so I figure I can wait till my next update.

Media tests show way fewer dropped calls (nearly none), but slower download speeds (in the 50% range). That's acceptable to me because I've waited on a 'smartphone' until now, and about 90% of my time I'm near wifi anyway (work at a University).

I'm happy to be locked into the unlimited data package. I didn't spring for the tethering fee (20 a month)...while its cool, I'm almost always in reach of wifi for my MBP.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Media tests show way fewer dropped calls (nearly none), but slower download speeds (in the 50% range). That's acceptable to me because I've waited on a 'smartphone' until now, and about 90% of my time I'm near wifi anyway (work at a University).

I'm happy to be locked into the unlimited data package. I didn't spring for the tethering fee (20 a month)...while its cool, I'm almost always in reach of wifi for my MBP.

You might be able to tether if you jailbreak it . But, careful with the unlimited plan, it actually has a 5GB cap. Part of the reason I strongly considered waiting was because iPhones in general seem to be a lot quicker than Android phones currently. It's likely because Android phones have the widgets running full time as opposed to the less taxing apps but I don't want to give them up. iOS is lightning fast in almost all situations which I like a lot.

[Bob Clayton]

some highlights from early reviews:

Macworld
- "With a few minor variations, it looks, feels, and works just like the AT&T iPhone 4"
- iOS 4.2.6
- Good distance on mobile Hotspot
- "if you're using the Internet and your phone rings, your Internet connection immediately drops"

TechCrunch
- "This Verizon version of the iPhone 4 seems to have none of the same antenna issues [as the AT&T model]
- Much better with signal / lack of dropped calls than the AT&T model (in San Francisco)
- "the iPhone 4 can give you a solid 4 hours of hotspot/tethering time"

All Things D
- "the Verizon model did much, much better with voice calls"
- "AT&T's network averaged 46% faster at download speeds and 24% faster at upload speeds."

Engadget
- "Calls were consistently connected and uninterrupted, far more often than our AT&T calls in the same time period in similar locations."
- "data rates on the Verizon iPhone 4 we tested were dramatically slower than those on its AT&T counterpart."

MacWorld's second statement would be a deal breaker for me. Data+Voice at the same time is a must, I can't even count how often I use it. Plus with a new iPhone (presumably) being released in the summer that will hopefully (for verizon customers) be able to both at the same time, buying this one is a waste (imo). You've waited 5 years, what's another 5 months to to wait to get the full use of the phone, and at the discounted price.

AT&T has always been fine with me. just my opinion though, hope it works out for verizon customers.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by Bob Clayton

some highlights from early reviews:

Macworld
- "With a few minor variations, it looks, feels, and works just like the AT&T iPhone 4"
- iOS 4.2.6
- Good distance on mobile Hotspot
- "if you're using the Internet and your phone rings, your Internet connection immediately drops"

TechCrunch
- "This Verizon version of the iPhone 4 seems to have none of the same antenna issues [as the AT&T model]
- Much better with signal / lack of dropped calls than the AT&T model (in San Francisco)
- "the iPhone 4 can give you a solid 4 hours of hotspot/tethering time"

All Things D
- "the Verizon model did much, much better with voice calls"
- "AT&T's network averaged 46% faster at download speeds and 24% faster at upload speeds."

Engadget
- "Calls were consistently connected and uninterrupted, far more often than our AT&T calls in the same time period in similar locations."
- "data rates on the Verizon iPhone 4 we tested were dramatically slower than those on its AT&T counterpart."

MacWorld's second statement would be a deal breaker for me. Data+Voice at the same time is a must, I can't even count how often I use it. Plus with a new iPhone (presumably) being released in the summer that will hopefully (for verizon customers) be able to both at the same time, buying this one is a waste (imo). You've waited 5 years, what's another 5 months to to wait to get the full use of the phone, and at the discounted price.

AT&T has always been fine with me. just my opinion though, hope it works out for verizon customers.

They're suggesting the next real improvement will probably be 2012 for Verizon users, so really a year and a half before the G4 would make it a long wait...the data/voice thing doesn't really mean too much to me. As a 'regular' cell user for so long, this isn't going to change much for me, given I use the phone minimally anyway and most of my time is near wifi.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

You might be able to tether if you jailbreak it . But, careful with the unlimited plan, it actually has a 5GB cap. Part of the reason I strongly considered waiting was because iPhones in general seem to be a lot quicker than Android phones currently. It's likely because Android phones have the widgets running full time as opposed to the less taxing apps but I don't want to give them up. iOS is lightning fast in almost all situations which I like a lot.

You shouldn't have to tether with Verizon's mobile hotspot feature. Are you sure about the unlimited plan being capped at 5G? When I bought my Droid X, I was told that it was truly unlimited, and the lesser data plan capped at 5G.

[MJ5150]

Great device, but no thank you. Still sporting the OG Droid and it works perfectly.

-Mike

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

You shouldn't have to tether with Verizon's mobile hotspot feature. Are you sure about the unlimited plan being capped at 5G? When I bought my Droid X, I was told that it was truly unlimited, and the lesser data plan capped at 5G.

Yeah, any info I've read suggests that there's no 5G limit. I've also consulted the webpage and don't see anything. Not that I'm guessing I'll be using it for that much data anyway.

The way I read the 'hotspot' feature is that you do need a tethering plan, which they're happy to offer for 20$ a month. I believe this is probably so that people don't just cancel their home connections and 'tether' all the time for "free". I'd be happy to be proven otherwise on that.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Yeah, any info I've read suggests that there's no 5G limit. I've also consulted the webpage and don't see anything. Not that I'm guessing I'll be using it for that much data anyway.

The way I read the 'hotspot' feature is that you do need a tethering plan, which they're happy to offer for 20$ a month. I believe this is probably so that people don't just cancel their home connections and 'tether' all the time for "free". I'd be happy to be proven otherwise on that.

I use my mobile hotspot every now and then, and I'm pretty sure I'm not paying extra beyond the data plan and minutes (I'll have to check with my wife on that though).

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I use my mobile hotspot every now and then, and I'm pretty sure I'm not paying extra beyond the data plan and minutes (I'll have to check with my wife on that though).

Nope. Just checked again. 20$ tethering, with a 2G limit per month (not covered under unlimited data pan).

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Nope. Just checked again. 20$ tethering, with a 2G limit per month (not covered under unlimited data pan).

I wonder if they're charging me extra for me turning it on every now and then. I need to check the bill...

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Nope, not interested.

Never had a problem with AT&T, and CDMA is a dealbreaker, since I travel a lot and very few countries other than North America, the Caribbean and a few Far East countries use CDMA for their mobile networks - most of the rest of the world uses GSM.

I picked up my iPhone 4 in the UK, carrier-unlocked, so I can just insert a local, pay-as-you-go mini-SIM wherever I go in the world and have service.

[Kwesi]

I'm 95% positive that it's capped at 5GB. I got the unlimited plan too and I asked one of the reps if it was truly unlimited and they said that it was capped at 5GB.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by Rusty Chainsaw

Nope, not interested.

Never had a problem with AT&T, and CDMA is a dealbreaker, since I travel a lot and very few countries other than North America, the Caribbean and a few Far East countries use CDMA for their mobile networks - most of the rest of the world uses GSM.

I picked up my iPhone 4 in the UK, carrier-unlocked, so I can just insert a local, pay-as-you-go mini-SIM wherever I go in the world and have service.

That's cool. Obviously if AT&T works for you, there's no good reason to move. I've had a Verizon phone for about 10 years and never had a problem, and here in the north east, their coverage is king.

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I wonder if they're charging me extra for me turning it on every now and then. I need to check the bill...

I'd want to check.

It looks like rather than capping, Verizon is doing some other dubious stuff coming up:

http://www.9to5mac.com/50675/verizon...s-iphone-users

If you're a heavy data user, they'll throttle you down rather than cutting you off or making you pay more. Also, it looks like they're going to be using an image and video compression scheme to tighten up their data transmission, which kind of sucks. So you may have that nice 'retina' display or equivalent on your phone, but they'll be feeding you lower res stuff just to frustrate you.

Of course, no matter what, wireless companies are out to screw the end customer no matter who your carrier is...it's the nature of the beast.

[metallicafan18]

Does anyone think the $30 data plan would be enough to use one of these bad boys? i can't decide if I want to hold on to what I got for now, or get one of these.

[MJ5150]

You can log on to the Verizon website and view your data usage history. People are surprised both ways often at the results.

We use much less than I thought, but I have friends who use way more than they thought.

-Mike

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

If you're a heavy data user, they'll throttle you down rather than cutting you off or making you pay more. Also, it looks like they're going to be using an image and video compression scheme to tighten up their data transmission....

ISP's do this as well.

-Mike

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

ISP's do this as well.

-Mike

Throttle or compress?

In the end, the throttling thing probably won't hit me (much if at all) since I've got wifi both at home and work...and I also have a feeling that they're aiming at people who are doing a lot of downloading, streaming and torrenting. Or people who are using their devices as their main connection. Its also interesting to read that Android based devices are heavier data users than iPhones, etc. so it may effect them more.

I'm going to guess, though that the shakeout is that if they lose customers due to this, or don't get as many people jumping to them because of this, then they may change their policy. Really its one of those places where the market dictates what the company will do.

Of course if its too grievous, Maybe Chuck Schumer will get his friends together in DC and push back, like what he did with the cable companies.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

You can log on to the Verizon website and view your data usage history. People are surprised both ways often at the results.

We use much less than I thought, but I have friends who use way more than they thought.

-Mike

I started paying attention to this recently and found my usage (phone and text only) was way lower than I thought. Of course, having my closest of associates already on Verizon helps that tremendously. I'm currently 4 days from the end of my cycle, and I've use about 15% of my allotted time, and my texts haven't even registered, given almost all are to Verizon customers.