Being an apple user I have lusted over the iphone for the past year. Now that the kinks are being worked out with the new 3G phone, I am tempted to switch. I will make my final decision after the phones are out and the reviews are in.
I was with At&t a few years ago and was happy, I only switched because I could get a better discount through my employer. However they are now also offering equivalent discounts for AT&T.
My 2 year contract is going to be up around the time the new 3G iphone comes out 7/11/08. I priced plans out today and they are both similar on their pricing on their family share plans (I have 5 phones on my plan FYI). I would only pay $30 extra for the data service on the iphone. Not too bad in my book (well it could be cheaper)to carry the Internet around your the pocket (at least in the coverage areas, which are very good here in the DC area).
I have thought about aircards, but I don't want to lug a computer around with me etc.
It seems like AT&T has pretty good coverage, but not as good as Verizon's. I am just wondering if I will miss that. I never thought it was lacking before and would assume it is even better now. There is only one campground we go to where you cannot use an AT&T phone (Cunningham Falls in MD).
Yes I could get a Verizon phone like the LG Voyager with a data plan. But these phones just don't compare to the iphone IMHO. To me they are all wannabe compromises, at least for now (maybe you have a different opinion....would love to here about your experiences).
Curious as to your take.
,2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 Black EC D/A 4X4, REVOS Pwr. TT Mirrors, A.R.E. Cap, Equal-i-zer Hitch, Jordan Ultima
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I have had my iphone for almost a year now and love it. I'm not sure what bugs are worked out, as they will have the same software, the 3G just adds a GPS chip and the 3G radio for faster internet. I have not had a single issue with my iphone in the 11+ months I've owned it, nor has anyone else I know.
We are full-timers and I have been with Verizon for years.
We travel around the country in mostly rural locations and have found that Verizon has better coverage, but not by much.
I added the iphone and AT&T last year and have been very happy with both. I still think that Verizon has better rural coverage, so we kept a Verizon phone as well.
I'd go for it if I were you. I'm getting ready to get the iPhone myself now that it has 3G and full Microsoft Exchange support. I've been with AT&T since it was Cellular One and taken it all over the country using it tethered to my laptop. Just keeps getting better.
Dave
Life doesn't come with a safety fence around it... enjoy it anyway.
Enjoying the Lagniappe wrote: I have had my iphone for almost a year now and love it. I'm not sure what bugs are worked out, as they will have the same software, the 3G just adds a GPS chip and the 3G radio for faster internet. I have not had a single issue with my iphone in the 11+ months I've owned it, nor has anyone else I know.
We are full-timers and I have been with Verizon for years.
We travel around the country in mostly rural locations and have found that Verizon has better coverage, but not by much.
I added the iphone and AT&T last year and have been very happy with both. I still think that Verizon has better rural coverage, so we kept a Verizon phone as well.
Covering all the bases by having both AT&T and Verizon is a really good idea. If only I could fit doing the same into my budget. Maybe after I get my daughter through one more year of college.
I want to leave this earth quietly in my sleep like my grandfather and not like the hysterical, screaming passengers riding in granddad's RV just before the big crash.
Enjoying the Lagniappe wrote: Please note, that you cannot tether the iphone to your laptop.
With the iPhone there is no need to tether the phone to the laptop so it is a moot point. The iPhone does it all without the laptop.
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The new iPhone service is $30/mo vs $20/mo for the data coverage. What you need to be really careful about is checking the 3G coverage for the area you live in. This is what your data coverage billing will be based on. For those of us in the New Mexico area the 3G coverage is non-existent. Albuquerque is the only city with 3G right now. I live 25 miles east of Albuquerque but have to purchase the iPhone in Albuquerque. The reps at the AT&T store don't know if a cheaper plan will be offered to those of us who don't get 3G coverage.
I have a 4Gig iPhone (purchased when they discounted them) and absolutely love the phone. When I have Edge coverage or Wifi it is great on the road. However, even AT&T's Edge coverage is spotty in NM and vicinity. I'm going to wait for a month after the 3G release for all the wrinkles in sales strategy are ironed out before I decide if I'm going to upgrade. And I do love my Apple toys.
(Retired Senior Macintosh Support Tech for a large government facility in NM.)
Enjoying the Lagniappe wrote: Please note, that you cannot tether the iphone to your laptop.
With the iPhone there is no need to tether the phone to the laptop so it is a moot point. The iPhone does it all without the laptop.
Sorry RabbitMan as a current iPhone owner, developer, and Apple enthusiast I must tell you it does not "do it all". There's allot missing in the overall iPhone experience such as flash support, java, and tethering to name a few. Some of those may come with iPhone 2.0 but tethering wont. IMHO: The Blackberry remains the better choice.
I have the iPhone and Sprint Touch (with the hacked Rom for Rev A/GPS) and whilst the user experience on the iPhone is far better than the Touch - I could NEVER use the iPhone as a serious web device - and its lack of tether to a laptop is a major flaw IMO. The Touch can be connected to the laptop and gives Rev A speeds of Internet access.
The new iPhone will be an improvement over the current model, more so because of the new 2.0 software and the thousands of 3rd party apps that will be available, but the lack of tether is a serious annoyance, probably deliberate to protect the AT&T network.
RV Park Finder
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While I agree that lack of supported tethering is a BIG annoyance, I would like to point out that you can, for free, install Jailbreak (which allows 3rd party apps) and use an application that causes the iPhone to become a WiFi hotspot. You can then "tether" any WiFi computers to your iPhone and use Edge (or 3G on the new one).
J
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