It’s official, the iPhone 4 has landed at Verizon, and will be available on February 10th. Pre-ordering by current Verizon customers starts February 3rd.
There’s no doubt there are locations in the U.S. in which AT&T coverage is inferior to Verizon, so despite AT&T’s current edge in data speed, there will be many who have either waited for Verizon to have an iPhone available, or are current AT&T iPhone users who want to move to the Verizon iPhone for better coverage.
The Verizon iPhone 4 has the same basic feature set found on the AT&T version, less a missing feature, plus one important extra feature.
Like other phones on Verizon’s network, their iPhone includes their “Mobile WIFI Hotspot” feature, good for up to 5 devices (at a monthly charge, not yet public). On the AT&T iPhone 4, you can simultaneously talk on the iPhone, and use an app which pulls in data, but that feature is missing on the Verizon iPhone. On the Verizon CDMA network you can’t use email, browse the web, or use Google Maps while you’re on a voice call. Moreover, when you’re on a voice call using the Verizon iPhone, like other phones on their network, you can’t use the “Mobile WIFI Hotspot” feature.
As Apple COO Tim Cook said, “They [Verizon iPhone 4 users] will make those sorts of tradeoffs.”
Prices will start at $199 for the 16GB model, and $299 for the 32GB, both with a two-year contract, the same as AT&T.
Verizon is currently implementing a major data network upgrade, moving to its new ultra high speed LTE network. Unfortunately, Verizon’s iPhone isn’t LTE capable. iPhone users will have to settle for Verizon’s much slower 3G data network, which is slower than AT&T’s current 3G+ network used by their iPhone 4.
If you’ve been reading my columns for a while, you know that I’m an iPhone user on the AT&T network. I believe it’s a great smartphone for travelers. Here are some key points I believe travelers should consider before purchasing the Verizon iPhone.
• If you already have a contract with a cellular provider don’t forget the ETF (Early Termination Fee). For example, if you’re an existing AT&T iPhone customer and want to jump over to Verizon, the ETF will cost $325, minus $10 for each full month of your service commitment you’ve completed. Do the math. If you purchased the iPhone 4 in June, dumping AT&T now will cost you $265.
• As mentioned above, you can’t speak on the Verizon iPhone and pull in data simultaneously.
• If you’re an AT&T iPhone user who’s been happy with their data speed, don’t expect the same speed on the Verizon iPhone. It will be fast, but not as fast as AT&T. (Numerous independent companies have made tests across the U.S. and agree with that conclusion.)
• If you travel internationally, just like other CDMA only Verizon cell phones, your Verizon iPhone will not work in most countries outside the US and Canada. The AT&T iPhone works throughout most of the world where cell phone service is available.
• To purchase the Verizon iPhone 4 at the prices listed above, you’ll have to agree to a 2 year contract with Verizon, which is normal for expensive phones when their cost is being subsidized by cellular providers. If you’re already a heavy data user on an iPhone or other smartphone, you have to ask yourself a critical question. Do you want to lock yourself into a Verizon iPhone contract for the next 2 years, knowing you won’t be able to use the Verizon LTE network until 2013?
The last two points would be deal breakers for me. In fact, unless the upcoming iPhone 5 at AT&T works on AT&T’s new LTE network, which is just being implemented, I’m not going to upgrade to it, but will either wait, or possibly switch to another manufacturer’s phone which is LTE capable.
At this time, we don’t know if the AT&T version of the iPhone 5, expected by most industry watchers in June, will have LTE capability, though it is expected. We don’t know when Verizon might get their iPhone 5, and if it will be LTE capable. It’s unknown if Apple will synchronize the iPhones’ refresh cycles, or if Apple will continue to refresh the iPhone annually.
By June, we may or may not get answers to all or some of those questions.
If you decide to get the Verizon iPhone, choose your data plan carefully. Be aware that Verizon’s and AT&T’s iPhone data plans look to be significantly different.
AT&T charges $15 for 250MB and $25 for 2GB of data access. You can switch between the two plans without penalty each month. For most people, 250MB of data usage is plenty if they use WiFi where available, such as at home and office.
It looks like Verizon will charge $15 for 150MB of data and $30 for unlimited data. That will force many iPhone users to spend $30 per month even though they will rarely use more than 250MB of data in a month. That’s $180 per year more than at AT&T.
For heavier data users, the cost differential between AT&T and Verizon data charges diminish, and if you’re an insane data user like me, then Verizon’s unlimited data plan could really save you heartache (fortunately I’m grandparented in with unlimited data at AT&T), but cell phone data users like me are a small percentage of overall users.
If you opt for the new Verizon iPhone, use it in good health.
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
