The Verizon iPhone. It’s here! Everyone’s talking about it. Verizon is putting down a hard sell. But is it worth the hassle? Is it worth the money? Most importantly, is it worth your time? Let’s find out.
Let’s lay out the facts up front: this is the iPhone 4 with a CDMA radio, connected to Verizon’s network. That’s all, in terms of hardware. This isn’t 4G (LTE for Verizon), nor is it the “next” iPhone. The major points to talk through are as follows: voice, data, tethering and pricing.
Voice
The AT&T network is famous. For dropping calls. Let’s face it, there are people who call their iPhone a not-phone because it happens so frequently. The network’s propensity to drop calls has been the subject of countless jokes, and that doesn’t look to change anytime soon.
Enter Verizon. It steps in to offer a more reliable calling experience, and for the most part current Verizon users can attest to this.
There are definitely AT&T users who are considering jumping ship now that they have a way to keep their favorite phone but drop their least favorite service provider.
So breathe freely knowing that you can have an extended conversation without dreading your call being dropped.
Data
Verizon’s 3G network speeds have often been compared to AT&T’s network speeds. To put it bluntly, Verizon hasn’t come out ahead.
This does not change with the iPhone. I’ll spare you the detailed numbers, but the raw speeds are certainly consistently slower than AT&T’s offerings.
However, during normal phone data usage, it’s hard to notice a difference, short of slower loading time for YouTube videos.
This is an opportune time to mention tethering. Verizon is offering tethering for their iPhone for $20/month, which is the same deal as what it offers Android users. So if you are loading full images and websites, you will be certainly noticing the slower connection.
Personally, I have been feeling the reduction when I tether my Verizon Android, but it’s manageable. You certainly would not want it to be your only way online, but it serves as a backup.
There is one major caveat with this setup, however. Verizon’s CDMA network does not allow for voice and data to move at the same time. This means that when you are on a call with someone, you cannot access data.
As a result, you won’t be able to browse for that restaurant while on speakerphone with someone. But more importantly, you won’t be able to use the internet if you are tethered and receive a call until you hang up.
Pricing
Verizon is offering the same pricing model on the iPhone 4 as its other smartphones. For now, it’s $29.99/month for unlimited data (compared to the capped 5GB data on AT&T), an additional $20/month for tethering, and the cheapest nationwide calling plan with unlimited texting is $59/month.
That brings the total without tethering to $89.99/month, or $69.99/month if you drop the texting plan. AT&T’s capped data plans mean that you end up paying the same, but you also pay for capped data and dropped calls.
So is it worth it? Well, as is often the case, it depends. It depends on how you want to use your phone, whether you want a reliable connection that’s a bit slower or a fast connection that hops and skips on and off.
It depends on what network you are on right now, and whether your contract is done yet. Are there going to be more iPhones down the road? Almost certainly, but how bad is your current situation? So should you wait? Only you can answer that.
