Why a Droid vs iPhone? Why Verizon instead of AT&T? Sell me. (Update -got my iPhone!

[beaucoup]

I really want a smartphone. I have an iPod Touch with some specialty apps I've paid for. I have an AT&T Pay-As-You-Go phone and don't have problems with coverage.

My DH has a Verizon Blackberry provided by work, and he does have dead zones on his commute home and in other areas.

Whenever I mention I want an iPhone (AT&T), people look at me weird and tell me I should go with Verizon. Usually followed with I should get a Droid.

Yet no one ever tells me WHY?

I tried my niece's Droid yesterday at our house, on apps like Facebook, and it was soooo slow compared to my iPod Touch using house wifi. It appeared the Droid app was really just a way to access the http page in the browser. You could watch and wait while the page loaded. If that's the case, I don't like! AT ALL!

UPDATE: Got my AT&T iPhone today.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I think if you're just looking at coverage, it's going to depend on where you live. I don't know of any problems with either service where I live. DH does have a new Blackberry Torch, and it is just as big of a piece of crap as his last BlackBerry. He's been fighting getting an iPhone because he likes the full keyboard. I imagine that is what the pro-Droid users would like to sell you on as well. I personally my iPhone, and I'm still on the "old: 3GS. I just don't think that there is any phone out there that compares App wise, even though the Droid is trying.

People hate ATT and the iPhone because they don't like how Apple makes smart business decisions and protects their phone and their software. They want free reign of their product. To each their own. I have zero complaints about my iPhone.

 

[ICF]

I've had ATT for 10+ years and never really had any coverage issues.....

We live in Indiana, but the phone has gone from here to Disney, California, New York and spots in between with minimal issues.

I've had an iphone for about 9 months and love it too!

 

[mrodgers]

I tried my niece's Droid yesterday at our house, on apps like Facebook, and it was soooo slow compared to my iPod Touch using house wifi. It appeared the Droid app was really just a way to access the http page in the browser. You could watch and wait while the page loaded. If that's the case, I don't like! AT ALL!

Connect the Droid up to your wifi as well and compare the speed. I would bet it is comparable now.

Then take your Touch and the Droid out into the middle of the woods and try to connect to the web. I'd bet the Touch isn't going to connect and the Droid will.

You can connect the smartphones to wifi. Everyone I know who has a smartphone says that when they are at home, they connect to their wifi and use it that way rather than through the cell service.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I have a Droid Incredible and I think it's awesome!!! I've used many friends iphones and I think the Droid is sooooo much better. Plus, the coverage for me, is much better than AT&T.
Why?
1. I love being able to fully run ANY app I want at the same time.
2. I can put those apps, or anything really, on the home screen.
3. You can choose the phone you want. At Verizon, there are 4(?) phones for the Droid. If you don't like one, you can choose another.
4. You can sync everything (fb, flickr, gmail...) seamlessly and at the same time. 5. I think Droid has a better app store. It has less (but not by much) apps but better ones once you get past some of the most popular.
6. Better camera.

 

[vettechick99]

Go with the carrier that has best coverage. I have VW and can't talk to anyone from inside my home. It's very annoying.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

I think if you're just looking at coverage, it's going to depend on where you live. I don't know of any problems with either service where I live. DH does have a new Blackberry Torch, and it is just as big of a piece of crap as his last BlackBerry. He's been fighting getting an iPhone because he likes the full keyboard. I imagine that is what the pro-Droid users would like to sell you on as well. I personally my iPhone, and I'm still on the "old: 3GS. I just don't think that there is any phone out there that compares App wise, even though the Droid is trying.

People hate ATT and the iPhone because they don't like how Apple makes smart business decisions and protects their phone and their software. They want free reign of their product. To each their own. I have zero complaints about my iPhone.

I fully agree with the last part. DH owns an audio/video production company, so we have a macpro, 3 G5's, macpro laptop, regular mac laptop, and an old G3 that still runs! We also have an IPad and a second generation IPhone. Love love love my macs!

HOWEVER......... DH is fighting the urge to switch to Droid and trying to hold off until the AT&T contract expires with IPhone. IMHO, there are very few companies as evil as AT&T. I have never had anything but horrible customer service. Regardless of coverage, I am a customer service kinda gal. And they absolutely rank at the bottom of the list. Right there along with Time Warner Cable. I truly see AT&T as a company that still knows that it doesn't matter if they give crappy service or not, they will still make money. We also have the pay-as-you-go service on IPhone, and we are just trying hard to bide our time so that we can switch to another company.

 

[LoraJ]

I would definitely go with the one you feel will give you the best coverage. Everyone I know that has an iphone around here complains about the coverage. I have a Droid Incredible and I love it! When my two years is u, I might switch to an iphone if Verizon begins carrying it, but the only reason would be so I could sync my movies with it. Can't do it with the Droid at this point. But I have barely touched my ipod Touch since I have had my Droid phone.

 

[LBAK]

I had a Blackberry with Verizon and I had nothing but problems with Verizon. I think they have nasty customer service by me.
Switched to AT&T and got the iphone and love the service and the phone. Mine was based on what I experienced.

 

[beaucoup]

Another question. What kind of customer service are you all in need of? I've had my pay-as-you-go phone for something like 4 yrs and I've never needed customer service. I bought it at an AT&T booth & that was the only time I've ever needed to talk to them. I add money to the phone online.

What kind of problems have you had with AT&T or Verizon that you needed to talk to them?

 

[ChrisFL]

I had an Iphone 3G, currently have an Iphone 4, never had any trouble with AT&T, either with connection or with customer service, but HAVE had trouble with Verizon in the past on home phone service.

So as far as that goes, your mileage may vary.

As far as apps, Iphone has 300,000+, Android has 100,000+ right now.

I would like to have an Android also just to play with, but am not going to pay that money for another phone.

Since you already own an Ipod touch, I think you'd be fine getting an Android phone of some kind and there are MANY out there these days on all the major networks, you don't have to get Verizon

 

[Anne MN]

I have an iphone and love it.
I waited to switch with AT&T to a contract- waited till my old phone was almost dead and waited till you could keep your phone # regardless of carrier!

I have soo many people who have my specific # all over the world

the thing that I like about AT&T vs Verizon- with AT&T if your phone dies or you walk into the ocean with it (one of my kids did this) you can pull the chip and switch phones... Verizon you have to get a phone from them- if you are not in your upgrade window or I think have insurance, you will pay to get a new phone.
we have 3 extra go phones, so if a phone dies- still have a phone that works and same #
had very bad cust service with Verizon- AT&T has been great- I have called a few time about question on the bill

 

[arminnie]

. IMHO, there are very few companies as evil as AT&T. I have never had anything but horrible customer service. Regardless of coverage, I am a customer service kinda gal. And they absolutely rank at the bottom of the list.

I totally agree with you and could not wait to get rid of AT&T - my iphone was a gift from a family member where I really could not refuse it.

Guess what Verizon is 100 times worse!!!!!!! I ended up going back to AT&T. I didn't know any company could be worse but Verizon is.

 

[crazelion]

Verizon is getting the Iphone4 in 2011.

I throw out another option and be the unpopluar one. I have thought about getting a quick-messaging phone from ATT and installing operamini. I am able to surf full websites with that browser. I love it. I have a LG Prime is a java phone it is pay as go. I switch sim cards from my contract sim into.

Another option since have ATT is buy unlocked phone. If go that route I would go with Nokia smartphones.

 

[tvguy]

The I-Phone in general is a great phone, the issue has been sooo many people got them, and are using them so much, A-T & T hasn't been able to keep up with enough network capacity. A great phone is a paper weight if you can't get service because the network is jammed.
Now, I am speaking of the 3G phones, not the 4G. Apple still has a HUGE antenna issue with the 4G's. I just don't understand why they are dragging their feet on redesigning the antennas, and replacing, for free, all the 4 G's already sold.

 

[MoniqueU]

For great customer service and a great phone I reccomend Sptint. I have been with them for like 11 years and they have helped me, waived contract dates in order to get a upgrade to a new phone, given me an employee discount rate due to a glich with an employee telling me one thing and then it not happening.
My son has the droid epic that he got on launch day. He has had a touch and played with other peoples iphones and says the epic absolutely blows anything out of the water. I have a blackberry for font size but would get a droid if I could see the tiny font. My son is hooked on pandora a free music service. I have to go in the sprint store and get it hooked up on my blackberry as well as something went wrong when my son tried it. I would never pick Verizon as a cell phone carrior and for what I pay for 5 phones with unlimited everything and unlimited mobile to any other mobile carrier the math with att doesn't make sense at all. You just get more bang fot your buck with sprint IMHO.

 

[ChrisFL]

The I-Phone in general is a great phone, the issue has been sooo many people got them, and are using them so much, A-T & T hasn't been able to keep up with enough network capacity. A great phone is a paper weight if you can't get service because the network is jammed.
Now, I am speaking of the 3G phones, not the 4G. Apple still has a HUGE antenna issue with the 4G's. I just don't understand why they are dragging their feet on redesigning the antennas, and replacing, for free, all the 4 G's already sold.

Just to clarify, there is no such thing as a 4G Iphone...there's the Iphone 4, but it is not a 4G network phone like Sprint has. AT&T doesn't offer 4G service yet I don't believe.

 

[JuneChickie]

bump

 

[golfgal]

I think a lot of it comes down to coverage/service area. Around here AT&T isn't very good. Last summer we were at a marching band competition at the U of M Stadium when a severe thunderstorm decided to change everyone's plans. We were all herded into the bathrooms, parents and kids were not sitting by each other and ended up in different areas. The only phones that were connecting were the Verizon phones, no one else could get calls OR text messages to go through. We have had AMAZING service from Verizon.

I have a Droid X and LOVE the phone. It is by far the best phone I have ever had. I have zero issues with speed-heck, often it is faster then my laptop.

 

[wdwmom2]

I think a lot of it comes down to coverage/service area. Around here AT&T isn't very good. Last summer we were at a marching band competition at the U of M Stadium when a severe thunderstorm decided to change everyone's plans. We were all herded into the bathrooms, parents and kids were not sitting by each other and ended up in different areas. The only phones that were connecting were the Verizon phones, no one else could get calls OR text messages to go through. We have had AMAZING service from Verizon.

I have a Droid X and LOVE the phone. It is by far the best phone I have ever had. I have zero issues with speed-heck, often it is faster then my laptop.

What Golfgal said!!!! DH has the Droid X, and it has been wonderful!!!! I jokingly call it, "the other woman"!!

We have been with Verizon for about 10 years and never have we had an issue with them. The customer service reps that we have spoken with on occasion have always been pleasant and helpful. My one co-worker just switched from Verizon to AT&T due to a dead spot in her home. On Verizon, she had service at her home except for the rooms she primarily uses. She didn't want to leave Verizon, said she loved their customer service, but wanted service in all areas of her home.

As far as coverage, there are areas that are dead zones for my DS who has AT&T, as there are dead zones for my DH and I who have Verizon. We may have service and DS doesn't, and visa versa. But they are few and far inbetween. Just the way it is.

DH and I jokingly say, as long as we have cell service when we are out in the woods sitting in our deer stands, all is good!!! So, yes, we have service out in the middle of nowhere!