Any iPhone users switch to Verizon?

[Saab2000]

Worth it? Is it all it's cracked up to be?

I am an AT&T iPhone user and basically about 95% satisfied (the 5% is related to dropped calls, etc.) but I can get a slightly better corporate discount with Verizon.

If I go to a Verizon or Apple store and get set up, I bring my phone home and plug it in to my MacBook and sync it, will I have all my apps and settings the same? What is the story there?

Looking to have as seamless a transition as possible if I make that switch.

[caleb]

I am an AT&T iPhone user and basically about 95% satisfied (the 5% is related to dropped calls, etc.) but I can get a slightly better corporate discount with Verizon.

I'm in the same boat, but I'm far less satisfied. I've been using the iPhone with AT&T since 09/09 and my service has gotten progressively worse. My phone slowed way, way down when the 4G update came out. I brought it to the Apple store in Uptown. Their answer was that I had an "old" phone so service was going to be slow with the "standard" software. At that time the phone was just over a year old and I was under contract to continue using it for almost another year.

I wasn't impressed with Apple's response then and I remain unimpressed with the service. If I'm signing a two year contract for service, I expect the quality of that service to remain constant for the duration of the contract or else be offered a remedy. Apple/AT&T have provided less and less service while charging the same amount of money. That, in my book, is bogus.

The day my contract is up I'm jumping ship from both Apple and AT&T. I'm grabbing a Blackberry and hooking up with the cheapest unlimited data plan available. The iPhone is cool, but not cool enough to justify putting up with the crap they've pulled. If I had a great corporate discount like you I might consider staying, but I'm paying full pop.

[Saab2000]

My iPhone 3G slowed WAY down too with the '4' update. Then there was a fix for that and it's pretty much back to the way it was. Is your software totally up to date?

Mine works pretty well to be honest.

If I switch from the iPhone it'll be to a Motorola I think. If you want the cheapest unlimited everything try Boost Wireless. A friend has it and it's not bad. But you can't keep your number..... And that is kind of a biggie for me.

[maunahaole]

If you are switching from att to verizon but keeping your existing phone, you should be able to keep all your apps and contacts, as they live on both your mac and your phone. you will be changing the sim which has the carrier info on it but probably has contacts as well, so you will need to re-sync your sim. Ask @ the apple or verizon store, they will probably have someone there who knows what all the issues are. I would ask people how the service is on verizon in the places that you go. You have about a dozen home towns so that complicates matters some. I'm on ATT, it is good on voice, but my 3G service downtown for me at work has been degrading pretty steadily over the past few months. I like the iphone and all, but I also like my streaming audio bandwidth hogging apps, which dont seem to work too well lately. Here, at least, folks seem happy with verizon.

[critpix]

Switched from 3GS to 4 on VZW, partially because I get a corp. discount on Verizon service. So far, so good. Existing apps and settings transfer over if you set up your new phone as a backup of your previous one.

[caleb]

My iPhone 3G slowed WAY down too with the '4' update. Then there was a fix for that and it's pretty much back to the way it was. Is your software totally up to date?

Mine works pretty well to be honest.

If I switch from the iPhone it'll be to a Motorola I think. If you want the cheapest unlimited everything try Boost Wireless. A friend has it and it's not bad. But you can't keep your number..... And that is kind of a biggie for me.

Yeah, I'm running the latest software. There was an update that helped, but it's still not at the speed when I started out. My (limited) understanding of the situation (dependent entirely on the NYTimes tech column) is that while the software issues have been gradually fixed, the network is so overburdened that service will remain slow for the foreseeable future. Sounds to me like Verizon is the way to go if you want to have an iPhone, assuming they don't also get bogged down over time.

I'll look into Boost. I know the "budget" wireless carriers are getting better. My hope is to find an unlimited data plan with two lines and decent speed for under $100/mo, including two Blackberries.

[lavi]

I staying put. I don't really have many, if any, issues where I live. Once a bunch of folks jump over to Verizon, ATT will only get faster due to less users.

PLUS Verizon phones do NOT work in Europe. They operate on a different digital network that isn't used in Europe.

[Saab2000]

If you are switching from att to verizon but keeping your existing phone, you should be able to keep all your apps and contacts, as they live on both your mac and your phone. you will be changing the sim which has the carrier info on it but probably has contacts as well, so you will need to re-sync your sim. Ask @ the apple or verizon store, they will probably have someone there who knows what all the issues are. I would ask people how the service is on verizon in the places that you go. You have about a dozen home towns so that complicates matters some. I'm on ATT, it is good on voice, but my 3G service downtown for me at work has been degrading pretty steadily over the past few months. I like the iphone and all, but I also like my streaming audio bandwidth hogging apps, which dont seem to work too well lately. Here, at least, folks seem happy with verizon.

First of all, if you change to Verizon you must change phones. They use a different technology and the hardware is not compatible. So a new phone is required. As to my usage, I'm not really a hog. I use Facebook a lot (like everyone else my my business) and weather radar but that's about it. I don't stream video much at all. Occasionally a bit of Youtube but nothing else.

My biggest issue has been dropped calls and spotty service where it sounds like talking in a dumpster into a tin can connected with a piece of string to someone who is in a similar situation. But mostly it works OK. But that 5% of the time is VERY frustrating. I've had dropped calls when talking to my folks at work regarding maintenance or scheduling and it's a huge PITA to reconnect and go through the whole menu and get the right person. Really sucks. But I'm in that group that's hoping to see AT&T improve.

We'll see. I do get a good signal at home and as to whether or not a new one will work in the places I spend time? AT&T is notoriously bad in New York and Washington, both places I spend a lot of time. Verizon is better by reputation.

[maunahaole]

The other wrinkle to consider on this is that iphone 5 is supposed to be released this summer. The big plus on the 5 will be the 4G data capability, which is significantly faster than the 3G that iphone uses now as well as better display and faster processor. How quickly att rolls 4G out and to to what areas are still unanswered questions. The big problem with switching carriers would be knowing that your phone will be obsoleted in a few months - if changing carriers, I would want a sweetheart deal on a handset upgrade when the new one comes out. 4G probably wont do squat for your voice call issues though, which seems like the big problem for you.

[lavi]

I've said this before, but the best way to stop dropped calls is to turn OFF the 3G. Instantly, no more issues. For texting, email, etc...you will see no slowdown. For web browsing and google maps (still works pretty good though), yeah it's slower.

I had a phone call today where the other guy on his iPhone dropped our call 3 times (he was here in Portland too). I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a dropped call: I don't use the 3G network unless I have to in order to surf some porn.

[critpix]

I wouldn't count on 4G being on the iPhone 5. It could happen, but there's the chicken/egg problem of needing LTE rolled out to enough customers to make it worthwhile. AFAIK, Verizon only has LTE in ~30 metro markets right now, and AT&T's not really going to have their LTE stuff in place until next year-ish.

[gt6267a]

Before switching to ATT for the itoy, I was very happy with sprint. Any word on the Sprint iphone and available speeds?