I have to admit, they're cute. What's really got Verizon execs losing sleep at night is how, AT&T being the shitty carrier that they are, they manage to grab 3 million New iphone customers in just 1 quarter. #3g
Verizon uses EV-DO Rev A for data, which is the 3rd generation of CDMA. It's not even a true 3g technology, 3g is defined as wcdma, or UMTS. It allows download speeds of 600 kbit/s to 1.4 Mbit/s and uploading speeds of 500-800 kbit/s.
AT&T uses UMTS, a.k.a. WCDMA, and allows download speeds of 7.2 Mbit/s, with theoritical speeds of 21mbits/s. This is the network shown on the ad's in question and is in most major metro area's right now and still growing.
If you do not have a 3G connection with AT&T you're on the EDGE network. The EDGE network allows download speeds of 400kbit/s to 1.0 mbit/s which is available in over 1.75 million square miles and reaches 256 million people in the united states.
So, in short:
Verizon: 600kb to 1.4mb almost everywhere in the US
AT&T: 400kb to 1.0 mb almost everywhere in the US and 7.2mb UMTS HSPDA 3G in most major cities. And, with AT&T you can simultaneously do data and voice while in 3g coverage. With Verizon you cannot.
So Verizon is slamming AT&T trying to compare a "3G technology" to AT&T's "3G Network" when Verizon's "3G" data rate speeds is only 200kb to 400kb faster than AT&T's "2G" network?"
interestingly enough, i've been using a first gen (2g) iphone since it came out and i've been browsing the web and using the cell connectivity to be productive online. but all of a sudden it's 3g or nothing? screw you verizon, i'll take 2g coverage over your customer service, gouging prices, and excessive bloatware and branding. and most importantly, i'll be using the device i want to use instead of some half-assed ripoff just because your misleading ads about coverage tried to scare me away from at&t.
@alek2407: 3G has nothing to do with 7+Mbps or not.
A. Thats just one form of HSDPA. Its all a 3G technology. By that logic T-mobile must be rolling out 4G with their 21Mbps coverage.
B. Find me in the real world where you're actually getting the theoretical limits. EV-DO Rev. A tops out (theoretically) at 3.1 which is the same as 3.1's theoretical max. BGR did a (decisively non-scientific) study a while back and found that most aren't getting anywhere near the theoretical limits. VZW's EV-DO rev A. hit 701kbps and AT&T got 933. A difference but not really a major one. #3g
@tande04: With that logic you could say edge counts as '3g' as it officially is ([en.wikipedia.org]). This would be like att calling edge 3g, as it technically is. Verizon's evdo is as '3g' as edge which commonly is considered 2g because of it's slow speed not technology.
Now im pretty sure if the T rolls out 21Mbps it will be considered as 4g by most (hell its twice as fast as my computer!!!!) #3g
I have an idea... Use a cell phone for voice and occasional text messages, and better suited devices for web surfing and stop whining about coverage forever? #3g
@nukee: Yeah... never find wi-fi at hotels, airports, fast food joints, coffee shops, book stores, or 1,000's of other places on the road...for free or cheap and reliable. #3g
@grok666: And what about the countless other places that don't have WiFi? You might not have a use for 3G wireless but clearly plenty of other people do.
@nukee: Fair enuf... But if I'm in Bumfuck Egypt I don't expect my cell phone to work either... Not a lot of reasons for a cell company to put a tower in the middle of 200 sq miles of cornfield. #3g
As an unapologetic Apple fan (and iPhone lover), I say keep giving AT&T hell. Their coverage and dropped call rate in Cincinnati is outrageous. The second the iPhone is available on Verizon (or the Android improves to near iPhone quality/security), I'm jumping. #3g
I was a long term Verizon customer (for over 15 years) before I finally said enough with their crappy hardware. I moved to AT&T for the iPhone 3G & it was (is) amazing. No doubt that Verizon has a better network. No doubt that I have dropped more calls in the year & half I have been with AT&T than the combined 15 years with Verizon. But I love the iPhone & I couldn't imagine using anything else. See, we use phones way more than just making calls! I use my phone as a micro computer & contact friends & colleagues via email, Facebook, text, twitter, and web. There is an app for everything on the iPhone.
I live in LA & the coverage here is pretty good. If the rumors are correct & Apple & Verizon will make nice with a new iPhone in late 2010, then I will be back. If not, what good is the best network if they have garbage hardware?
@joebinotto: Thats the overall point of the ads though. We're moving into an era where everyone is using their phones for more web based services. It doesn't matter as much where you can make calls as it matters where you have high speed data. #3g
@tande04: That only really matters if you can stand to use the data features of your phone. The new android based phones fall into that category, but pretty much none of the Verizon phones I looked at when I went into their store in July would have even been worth buying the data plan for. #3g
@Stetrain: Yep, thats actually why I left VZW too.
That said, I'm kinda kicking myself now. They're making a big push in the right direction now. Both the droid phones are pretty decent and the future promises are flat out amazing. You haven't even seen them push a dumbphone lately. Even 6 months ago the chocolate touch would of been greeted with fanfare by VZW, now its launching without a peep. #3g
If they put up a map comparison of world coverage, the contrast would be just as bad in AT&T's favor.
AT&T has a bit of a point in their lawsuit. Verizon should be forced to have the fast talking announcer mumble something at the end about "3G maps do not reflect all voice coverage". The bullshit small type they have in the current version of the add is too small to meet the criteria for honest advertising in my opinion. #3g
@Ilo: Actually, it is still in Verizon's favor if you're using a dual mode device (Tour, 8830, Storm). Vodafone is actually a majority owner of Verizon Wireless, I would imagine they get better roaming deals overseas. Besides, usually international roaming costs so much, you're better off going prepaid. #3g
@tande04: Yes, actually. You probably don't really care but I worked for both companies (corporate retail stores, not independent like Parrot) which is why I am even commenting. With Verizon, unless you purchase a Blackberry 8830 world phone or some other bland world phone, you have to "rent" a world phone, which costs an arm and a leg and is completely inconvenient and not practical. If I want to take my iPhone to Belgium and make a call, I can. Try taking your LG Chocolate over there.
Not trying to be rude, just making a point. Verizon's "solution" to world wide coverage is not practical for most consumers. #3g
@LessthanZach: Which is why its not necessarily. Their flagship and most popular (though certainly not the best) phone over the last year is a world phone. Just like AT&T all you need to do is pop in a sim card and you're good to go. #3g
Verizon is obviously hoping they can regain iPhone customers because of the Droids which is far behind the iPhone in capability and features. Not gonna happen Verizon.
@istuptinosil: You've got a slight typo there. You obviously meant iPhone is behind the Droid in capability and features, cause well, it is.
Thats not to say that there aren't some areas where the iPhone is better but flat out features and capability from a hardware standpoint isn't one. #3g
Isn't this map still inaccurate? I thought the Verizon one showed all their network, and the AT&T one showed all their 3G speeds only, excluding EDGE speeds. #3g
@tande04: IMT 2000 standard... EDGE is a 3G technology... The sad part is this. Most VzW phones are Rev O (capped at Rev O speed) which is the same speed as EDGE. Rev A is only now being tapped and if your looking at it EDGE might aswell be apart of the solution... #3g
@lolipopjones: Yeah I was going to put a little aside in there about EDGE being a "3G" tech but didn't want to bother. Most of the world and even AT&T mention it as 2.5G (which there really isn't)
Plus I don't know of a single phone that comes on VZW as only Rev 0 anymore. #3g
@lolipopjones: Yeah. I guess its just different views on what that means. I thought for at least the last year a EV-DO rev O handset was the exception not the rule. #3g
11/09/09
All I want is for att to invest some capital into its network, but what's the point, they'll have to come up with something faster in the near future.
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"Here's what that ad does not tell you.
Verizon uses EV-DO Rev A for data, which is the 3rd generation of CDMA. It's not even a true 3g technology, 3g is defined as wcdma, or UMTS. It allows download speeds of 600 kbit/s to 1.4 Mbit/s and uploading speeds of 500-800 kbit/s.
AT&T uses UMTS, a.k.a. WCDMA, and allows download speeds of 7.2 Mbit/s, with theoritical speeds of 21mbits/s. This is the network shown on the ad's in question and is in most major metro area's right now and still growing.
If you do not have a 3G connection with AT&T you're on the EDGE network. The EDGE network allows download speeds of 400kbit/s to 1.0 mbit/s which is available in over 1.75 million square miles and reaches 256 million people in the united states.
So, in short:
Verizon: 600kb to 1.4mb almost everywhere in the US
AT&T: 400kb to 1.0 mb almost everywhere in the US and 7.2mb UMTS HSPDA 3G in most major cities. And, with AT&T you can simultaneously do data and voice while in 3g coverage. With Verizon you cannot.
So Verizon is slamming AT&T trying to compare a "3G technology" to AT&T's "3G Network" when Verizon's "3G" data rate speeds is only 200kb to 400kb faster than AT&T's "2G" network?"
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They have pretend 3g, verizon 3g is about as good as the 2g your getting (you get 1Mbps, they get 3Mbps).
Att 2g coverage is about equal to verizon '3g'. While true 3g (at 7+Mbps) is limited as it is very new to america #3g
11/08/09
A. Thats just one form of HSDPA. Its all a 3G technology. By that logic T-mobile must be rolling out 4G with their 21Mbps coverage.
B. Find me in the real world where you're actually getting the theoretical limits. EV-DO Rev. A tops out (theoretically) at 3.1 which is the same as 3.1's theoretical max. BGR did a (decisively non-scientific) study a while back and found that most aren't getting anywhere near the theoretical limits. VZW's EV-DO rev A. hit 701kbps and AT&T got 933. A difference but not really a major one. #3g
11/09/09
Now im pretty sure if the T rolls out 21Mbps it will be considered as 4g by most (hell its twice as fast as my computer!!!!) #3g
11/08/09
Someone in Verizon's Marketing dept. is getting some coal this year. And by coal I mean huge fraking bonus. #3g
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none the less this is a shity ultimatum... nice phone or good signal. ill be with the one to deliver both. that is as soon as my 2 year contract ends.
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I live in LA & the coverage here is pretty good. If the rumors are correct & Apple & Verizon will make nice with a new iPhone in late 2010, then I will be back. If not, what good is the best network if they have garbage hardware?
btw, I love these ads!
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That said, I'm kinda kicking myself now. They're making a big push in the right direction now. Both the droid phones are pretty decent and the future promises are flat out amazing. You haven't even seen them push a dumbphone lately. Even 6 months ago the chocolate touch would of been greeted with fanfare by VZW, now its launching without a peep. #3g
11/08/09
AT&T has a bit of a point in their lawsuit. Verizon should be forced to have the fast talking announcer mumble something at the end about "3G maps do not reflect all voice coverage". The bullshit small type they have in the current version of the add is too small to meet the criteria for honest advertising in my opinion. #3g
11/08/09
You know where AT&T's network coverage extends outside of the US? Nowhere.
There are other carriers outside of the US that may use the same frequencies as AT&T but that doesn't make them AT&T.
By that argument I could just point out that depending on the phone their maps would look exactly the same. #3g
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Not trying to be rude, just making a point. Verizon's "solution" to world wide coverage is not practical for most consumers. #3g
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Microsoft certainly couldn't pull it off. #3g
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Thats not to say that there aren't some areas where the iPhone is better but flat out features and capability from a hardware standpoint isn't one. #3g
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The VZW one shows their 3G areas and the AT&T one only shows 3G areas (excluding EDGE since its not 3G). #3g
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Plus I don't know of a single phone that comes on VZW as only Rev 0 anymore. #3g
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