Contact Us   Site Map
Airline Mismanagement

Due to both marketing and practical reasons, Apple's much desired iPhone has only been available with AT&T service in the US.

In most other countries, you can buy iPhones from multiple wireless providers.

A contractual period of exclusivity with AT&T in the US has now expired, and on January 11, 2011, Verizon announced they would start selling iPhones too, effective February 10.

 
 
Travel Planning and Assistance
Road Warrior resources
Noise Reducing Headphones
International Cell Phone Service
GSM cell phone unlocking FAQs
Portable MP3 Players
GPS series of articles
Should you choose an iPhone or Android series
Apple iPhone review series
iPhone 3G/3GS Battery replacement
Third Rail iPhone 4/4S External Battery
Apple iPad review series
iPad/Tablet Buying Guide
Google Nexus 7 review
Netflix Streaming Video
Sharing Internet Access series
Microsoft OneNote review
T-mobile/Google G1 phone review series
Blackberry review and user tips
Palm Tungsten T3
Motorola V3 Razr cell phone review
Motorola V600 cell phone review
Nokia 3650 cell phone review
SIM Saver GSM Phone Backup and Copy Device
Clipper Gear Micro Light
Amazon's Wand review
Amazon's new (Sep '11) Kindles and Fire review
Review of the Kindle Fire
Amazon Kindle eBook reader review
Amazon Kindle 2 preview
Sony PRS-500 eBook reader review
Audible Digital Talking Books review
Home Security Video Monitoring
Quik Pod review
Joby Gorillapod review
Satellite Radio Service
Satellite Phone Service
All About Speech Recognition Software
2005 Best Travel Technology Awards
How to connect to the Internet when away from home/office
Bluetooth wireless networking
How to Choose a Bluetooth Headset
Logitech Squeezebox Duet
Packet 8 VoIP phone service
Sugarsynch software review
iTwin remote access device
Barracuda Spam Firewall review
Cell Phone Emergency Power Recharger series
First Class Sleeper
Roboform Password Manager review
Securikey USB Computer Protection Key review
Steripen UV Water Purifiers
ScanGaugeII OBDII review
SafeDriver review
Expandable Bags for Traveling Convenience
USB Flash Drive
Vonage VoIP phone service
Laptop Screen Privacy Filter
AViiQ Laptop Stands
Aviator Laptop Computer Stand
No Luggage Worries
Pack-a-Cone roadside safety flashing cone
Emergency Self charging Radio
Evac-U8 Emergency Escape Smoke Hood
MyTag Luggage Tags
Beware of Checked Baggage Xray Machines
SearchAlert TSA approved lock
Boostaroo Portable Amplifier and splitter
Dry Pak protective pouch
Boom Noise Canceling Headset
Ety-Com Noise Canceling Headset
Nectar Blueclip BT headset holders
Skullcandy Link Headset Mixer
Lingo Pacifica 10 language talking translator
Nexcell NiMH rechargeable battery kit
Jet Lag Causes and Cures
SuddenStop License Frame
CoolIT USB Beverage cooler
Travel ID and Document Pouches
Protect Yourself Against Document Loss
Personal Radio Service
PicoPad Wallet Notes
Times Electronic Crossword Puzzles
Slim Cam 300 micro digital camera review
Stopping Spam
BottleWise Bottle Carrier review
The End of the Internet as We Know it?
How to Book and Buy Travel
Scary, Silly and Stupid Security Stories
Airline Reviews
Airline (Mis)!Management
Miscellaneous Features
Reference Materials
About the Travel Insider
 
Search
Looking for something else? Search over two million words of free information on our site.
Custom Search
 
Free Newsletter

In addition to our feature articles, we offer you a free weekly newsletter with a mix of news and opinions on travel related topics.

 

 View Sample
Privacy Policy

 
Help this Site
Thank you for your interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your travel experiences in other, non-cash ways. Click for more information
 
Reader's Replies

If you'd like to add your own commentary, send me a note.

 

 

The Verizon iPhone 4 - Strengths and Weaknesses part 1 of 2

Is it better than the regular/AT&T iPhone?
 

Externally, Verizon's model of the iPhone is almost indistinguishable from the model sold by everyone else.  But there are important differences 'under the hood'.

Part of a series on the Apple iPhone - please also visit the other articles listed on the right.

 

 

After years of rumors and wild hopes, Apple's revolutionary iPhone has now been released in a version compatible with Verizon's different CDMA type phone network in the US.

The Verizon version of Apple's iPhone 4 looks very similar externally to the AT&T/GSM/global version of the iPhone 4, and the pricing is very similar too.  But these appearances can be deceiving.

There are important differences internally, making the two phones different in capabilities.  You need to consider not just your preferred wireless service provider, but also the uses you plan for your iPhone before choosing the AT&T or Verizon version.

Verizon Finally Releases an iPhone Too

The original iPhone first went on sale in 2007, and for the last three and a half years, there have been nonstop rumors (aka wishful thinking) that Verizon would be bringing out a version of the iPhone too.

Urban legend (which actually might be true) has it that Apple first approached Verizon asking them to partner with them for the development and sale of the iPhone, and Verizon turned them down, causing Apple to then work with AT&T instead.

Although it might seem to be a simple issue to simply agree with Verizon and allow them to also sell iPhones, this is not the case.  Verizon uses an uncommon type of wireless service - CDMA.  AT&T and most of the rest of the world use GSM wireless service, and the two methods are completely incompatible (similar to how an FM radio can't receive AM and vice versa).

So for Apple to release a CDMA version of the iPhone, they would need to completely replace the GSM circuitry with a CDMA equivalent - a non-trivial process.  In addition, even if they wanted to, it appears they signed an exclusive agreement with AT&T preventing them from releasing iPhone models to other wireless services in the US for the first few years the iPhone was available.

The situation was different in other countries for two reasons.  Apple didn't so much need a launch partner, and so did not need to give exclusive rights to their phone to only one carrier.  Secondly, because in most other countries, all the wireless providers use the same GSM type of service, no changes to the phone itself needed to be made to allow multiple companies to sell it.

Problems Releasing Competing iPhone Models in the US

The situation in the US is more complex than in other countries.

Not only are there two completely different types of wireless service - GSM and CDMA - but the two companies that provide GSM service (AT&T and T-Mobile) offer their 3G data service on different frequencies.  This meant that even if Apple would agree to allow T-Mobile to sell iPhones, they wouldn't work on T-Mobile's fast 3G data network, only on their voice service (and the related, very slow, EDGE and GPRS data services that use the voice service for connection).

So there the situation languished for several years, with the US uniquely being the one country where iPhones were only available from a single source.

Behind the scenes, from 2008 forward, it seems that Apple and Verizon were secretly working on developing a CDMA version of the iPhone.  Occasional leaks filtered out causing bursts of intense excitement (among Verizon customers), only to die away again when nothing further transpired.  It also seems that the model iPhone now being released by Verizon was in testing for the better part of a year, which hopefully suggests the technology has any bugs well shaken out of it.

And so, and at last, effective as of 11 January, Verizon has now officially announced that they are about to start selling a CDMA version of the iPhone, with effect from Thursday 10 February.

External Appearance and Differences

The Verizon iPhone is a model iPhone 4, appearing very similar externally to the AT&T/global version of the iPhone 4.

As with all other iPhones, there is no external branding or logo showing the Verizon name (although when the phone is on, the top of the screen will show in tiny letters 'Verizon' as the name of the wireless provider it is connected to.

There is one subtle but significant difference.  Due to the Verizon iPhone working on different CDMA frequencies to the AT&T/rest of the world iPhone which uses GSM frequencies, it has slightly different external antennas around the edge.

This resulted in a very slight repositioning of the mute switch and two volume buttons on the left hand side, meaning that most wrap-around ‘bumper’ protective cases that are already available for regular iPhones will not fit the new Verizon iPhone.

Pricing

The cost to buy a Verizon style iPhone is the same as to buy an AT&T style one - $200 for the 16GB version or $300 for the 32GB version, with a requirement to sign up for a standard two year contract with Verizon.

But AT&T also offer the earlier model 3GS for a mere $49, and have refurbished iPhone 4 models on sale for a $100 or better discount compared to new ones, too.

In terms of purchase price, this gives perhaps a very slight advantage to AT&T for having more models including discounted refurbished ones.

Voice Service Costs

It is not known if the voice plans will be the same as Verizon offers for their other phones, or different; but currently the Verizon website seems to imply that voice plans will be the same as available for regular phones, and this seems a reasonable assumption to accept.

This means you have a choice between $40, $60 or $70 a month for a single line of service, giving you either 450, 900 or unlimited minutes of talk time. Adding a package of 250 messages (SMS, MMS or voicemail) is an extra $5/month.

This compares with AT&T which offers almost identical voice service pricing (what a surprise!) with the main difference being that AT&T has roll-over minutes, allowing minutes unused one month to be carried forward to the next month.

AT&T’s message package contains 200 messages (rather than 250) for $5.  Both companies also offer options for greatly increased numbers of messages if you should wish them.

In terms of voice plan costs, maybe AT&T has a very slight advantage due to its roll-over minutes feature.

Data Service Costs

Verizon, the same as AT&T, insists that you must sign up for both a voice and a data package when buying an iPhone.

Verizon hasn’t yet released any iPhone specific service packages and whereas it is reasonable to assume their voice packages will be the same as for other phones, it is not quite such a certainty that their data packages will be identical.

It is possible that their current $30/month for unlimited data option (the amounts for data service are of course additional to the amounts you pay for voice service) offered on most other phones will not be made available for the iPhone, due to people with iPhones typically using more data than people with other phones.  But if it was retained, that would be better than AT&T’s $25/month for 2GB of data.

At the low end of the usage scale, AT&T offers a $15/month plan for 200MB of data usage – which is often enough for most users, especially if you have Wi-Fi at home and work – whereas Verizon charges the same $15 for a lesser 150MB on its present data plans, which is more likely to be sometimes insufficient.

Until Verizon announce the exact details of the data plans they will offer for iPhones, we can't rate them compared to AT&T.

Upgrading to an iPhone Now

AT&T had offered an early upgrade feature allowing clients who were one year in their two year contract the option to upgrade to the iPhone 4 at no cost penalty when they released their iPhone 4 last year.

Alas, Verizon is not offering this same 12 month option (they are thought to offer this to people who are 20 months in to the contract).

So if you are already a Verizon customer, you’ll either have to wait until you’ve finished your present two year contract, or alternatively, buy a new iPhone at full retail price (believed to be a staggering $450 more than the subsidized $200/$300 price with a new two year contract) to substitute for your present phone, or pay an early termination fee to break your present contract and start a new contract.

Depending on how far into your two year contract you are, it will probably be better to pay the early termination fee than to buy a phone at the ridiculous 'full retail price' of $650 or $750.

An Extra Feature on Verizon iPhones

The Verizon version of the iPhone has one very appealing new feature – the ability to create a ‘personal hot spot’ – a small Wi-Fi network, which rebroadcasts the 3G data signal onto a Wi-Fi signal.  This allows you to share your phone’s 3G data service with up to five users and devices (such as an iPad, for example, or a laptop/netbook/whatever else - even another phone).

This feature is simply a software upgrade which is expected to be released for all regular iPhones too when the new version 4.3 of iOS is released.  But that is not the same as confirming that AT&T will support this function - AT&T say they are currently 'evaluating' the feature (which probably means it is waiting to see how much Verizon will charge for it).

So, until iOS 4.3 comes out and AT&T completes its 'evaluation', AT&T iPhones are limited to a single wired ('tethered') connection to a single computer, which is not nearly as flexible as being able to rebroadcast the data through a personal Wi-Fi hotspot to multiple devices.

One almost certain issue with running this personal hotspot service is that it will drain the battery quickly.  No information has been offered, but we'll guess that it will drain the battery twice as quickly than being connected to 3G data, because you are simultaneously sending/receiving 3G data and also sending/receiving Wi-Fi signals.  We'd expect less than 3 hours of battery life while using the phone in this mode.

By the way - this extra feature will almost certainly cost you extra money if you wish to avail yourself of it.

Please read on to part two of this article for details of what is omitted from Verizon's iPhone and other limitations of the Verizon iPhone, and the future of iPhones for Verizon, AT&T, and possibly other companies too.

Related Articles, etc

If so, please donate to keep the website free and fund the addition of more articles like this. Any help is most appreciated - simply click below to securely send a contribution through a credit card and Paypal.

 

Originally published 11 Jan 2011, last update 21 Jul 2020

You may freely reproduce or distribute this article for noncommercial purposes as long as you give credit to me as original writer.

 
 
Related Articles
About the Apple iPhone in general
Using the iPhone
iPhone limitations and should you buy one
The iPhone 3G - what's new and different
Verizon's iPhone 4 part 1
Verizon's iPhone 4 part 2
Competitors to the iPhone
Should you choose an iPhone or Android phone series

How to Choose extra Apps for your iPhone
Adding Apps to your iPhone
Things to beware and aware of when choosing iPhone Apps

Unlock your iPhone

G1 phone review (the first HTC/T-mobile/Google Android phone)

Permanent international GSM SIM
SIM Saver GSM phone backup reader/copier
iSkin Cerulean RX review
Third Rail iPhone External Battery
Clipper Emergency Cellphone Recharger
Xingtone Ringtone Maker
Satellite Phone Service
How to get International Cell Phone Service
About Bluetooth
How to Choose a Bluetooth Headset


 


Your Feedback

How Would You Rate this Article

Poor
Average
Good

Was the Article Length and Coverage

Too short/simplistic
About right 
Too long/complex

Would You Like More Articles on this Subject

No
Maybe
Yes

Back to Top