iphone 3g

[Guest ryan2552]

I'm a Verizon Wireless customer and a admitted mobile phone geek. Since I felt it was missing some important features I didn't run out to buy the original iphone.

 

I stuck by 3 different phones during the past year Moto Q, Treo 700w and currently the Blackberry Pearl. btw The Pearl is a excellent smartphone.

 

My contract with VZW ended about a month ago and I have not renewed. I have been following the upcoming releases from the carrier and recently checked out the LG Dare. The much hyped Dare I found to be quite disappointing. The only phone on the VZW agenda of interest to me is the Blackberry Thunder due near the end of the year. This will be a multi-touch phone and the first touch from RIM.

 

So on to the iphone. I like the added features to the new release (July 11th) but not crazy about ATT and their call quality. ATT being GSM would have a hard to matching the quality of VZW's CDMA netowrk - Yes its "The Netowrk" However, the lure of the iphone will most likely have me headed to the Apple store on Friday.

 

Anyone currently own the iphone? Any comments about the phone and ATT netowrk's call quality?

[Rick Munroe]

Have you checked out Sprint's Instinct?

 

http://www.instinctthephone.com/

[Scorpio]

I currently have the LG Voyager that I purchased as an alternative the iphone because I didn't want to leave Verizon Wireless. I love the service but HATE the phone. Having had the opportunity over the weekend to demo a friends iphone; the Voyager's touch screen in no way compares to the iphone. So I too will probably be headed to the Apple store on Friday, even though it means paying a cancellation fee and giving up Verizon.

[Guest ryan2552]

>Have you checked out Sprint's Instinct?

>

>http://www.instinctthephone.com/

 

Rick I have checked this phone out. It actually is pretty cool but Sprint PCS network and customer service leave me uninterested. Had Verizon released this phone I would have resigned and stuck with The Network

 

btw I believe below the link will lead you to the best article or video I have seen on the iphone 3g. It appears to be very reasonable on both pros and cons.

 

http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20080708/newer-faster-cheaper-iphone-3g/

[Guest ryan2552]

> So I

>too will probably be headed to the Apple store on Friday, even

>though it means paying a cancellation fee and giving up

>Verizon.

 

Just a reminder the ETF are now pro-rated so it might not be as costly as you think. The amount is now based on how much of your contract you have used.

[EXPAT]

I'm a user of the iPhone. I bought it back in October of last year. It is by far the best smart phone I've ever owned. I've also been an AT&T customer for years and I have had no issues with their service. I would NEVER go with Sprint because of their global service or lack there of. So the Instinct is totally out for me.

 

The new iPhone does come with a catch. The service from AT&T is more expensive. So while the phone is cheaper, the service over 2.5 years evens out the expense with the old phone. The main difference in the service pricing is that AT&T will now charge $30 / month for unlimited data versus $20 per month for the EDGE network unlimited data. Now getting web pages and downloads 2.8x faster makes that worth it probably. But they are also not bundling any SMS Text messages anymore. Before you got 200 SMS text messages bundled with the $20 / month fee. Now you have to pay for packages for SMS texting.

 

I will most likely upgrade to the new iPhone, but not right away. I want to see and touch the new 3G network for myself before I upgrade.

 

But in general, I do more functions with this phone than I do with a laptop. So I have eliminated a laptop in my life and just go with my iPhone and my new iMAC. I did switch to an iMAC after my experience with my iPhone. I also got an AppleTV which is the greatest device I've ever had for movies. You can RENT HD movies. That is the way of the future and eliminates the need to buy DVDs or even have Blockbuster stores anymore. I also don't have to worry about the BluRay or whatever comes next technology stuff. Just rent from iTunes on your AppleTV.

 

I used to be a product manager for an intel based PC years ago and now I'm completely converted to Apple.

[twinkboylover28]

>> So I

>>too will probably be headed to the Apple store on Friday,

>even

>>though it means paying a cancellation fee and giving up

>>Verizon.

>

>Just a reminder the ETF are now pro-rated so it might not be

>as costly as you think. The amount is now based on how much of

>your contract you have used.

 

 

That's awesome! I remember Sprint & Verizon were charging around $200 ETF even if you only had a few months left. The new ETF policy is more fair.

[Guest ryan2552]

>The new iPhone does come with a catch. The service from

>AT&T is more expensive.

 

I actually pay more with my VZW Blackberry plan than my upcoming iphone plan.

 

>

>But in general, I do more functions with this phone than I do

>with a laptop. So I have eliminated a laptop in my life and

>just go with my iPhone and my new iMAC. I did switch to an

>iMAC after my experience with my iPhone.

 

Did you have any issues adjusting from a windows O/S to using the IMAC? My plan is to switch to the IMAC as well since I'm completely disappointed in Vista and all the problems with PCs in general.

[EXPAT]

Actually, not very many. You do have to figure out how to change the mouse settings so you can "right click". I was very used to doing that in the MS world. And most mac users are so used to using the command or control keys or function keys which I think is not very efficient. So I can now right click after changing the mouse settings and I'm happy.

 

Outside of that there are minor differences that were very easy to adjust to. It's so much more intuitive in general. I can't say enough good things about it. I also have a very popular escort for helping me make that decision too.

[Doe Be Doe]

I'm kind of a nerd when it comes to technology these days. However, I recently, and very sadly, lost my ipod. Also, I've dropped my cell phone one too many times, so it's time for a new one. I will buy the iphone only to have a new phone and a new ipod. Does that sound reasonable or would it be best to get two separate products? I'm not into text messaging that much. But it would be nice to have email when I'm away from home.

[Doe Be Doe]

I'm kind of a nerd when it comes to technology these days. However, I recently, and very sadly, lost my ipod. Also, I've dropped my cell phone one too many times, so it's time for a new one. I will buy the iphone only to have a new phone and a new ipod. Does that sound reasonable or would it be best to get two separate products? I'm not into text messaging that much. But it would be nice to have email when I'm away from home.

[Guest ryan2552]

> I will buy the iphone only to have a new phone and a

>new ipod. Does that sound reasonable or would it be best to

>get two separate products? I'm not into text messaging that

>much. But it would be nice to have email when I'm away from

>home.

 

I think it makes sense. You can spend nearly as much just for a ipod so might as well get the iphone.

 

For me anyway I find the less items I need to carry around the better:)

[Guest ryan2552]

> I will buy the iphone only to have a new phone and a

>new ipod. Does that sound reasonable or would it be best to

>get two separate products? I'm not into text messaging that

>much. But it would be nice to have email when I'm away from

>home.

 

I think it makes sense. You can spend nearly as much just for a ipod so might as well get the iphone.

 

For me anyway I find the less items I need to carry around the better:)

[Guest ryan2552]

The link is a good video that shows each carriers iphone alternative for those wanting something different. http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=8737427

 

OK I'm probably showing a little too mobile geekish obsession now so I'll stop

[J-Man]

I bought the first iPhone (8GB) in September. (They lowered the price a day before my birthday, so I figured it was "a sign.") I was very happy with it until January, when AT&T reception in my house deteriorated markedly. (I had used Verizon pre-iPhone, with great success.)

 

It turns out that AT&T had some sort of leasing arrangement in my area with T-Mobile (which also uses GSM) and it expired at the end of 2007. AT&T chose not to renew it, and my service went downhill almost immediately. So, while I like the iPhone, had I known then what I know now, I'd never buy one again. And I'm stuck with it until September 2009.

 

Caveat emptor-- before taking the plunge, check to see if AT&T has good service where you plan to use it most. I'm back to using my landline (and paying for long distance!) in my house.

 

Oh, and I'm also pissed off that they lowered the price yet again, and for a better phone. I'd never bought an Apple product before, but I guess I was temporarily sucked in to the "cult." But never again.

[Guest ryan2552]

>Caveat emptor-- before taking the plunge, check to see if

>AT&T has good service where you plan to use it most. I'm

>back to using my landline (and paying for long distance!) in

>my house.

>

>

 

Sorry about your experience. Can I suggest you change your landline to Vonage or your local cable company digital phone service. Doing so you can secure a flat monthly rate for unlimited local and long distance calls (within the states). I believe Vonage is only 29.99 and most cable phone service is approx. 40. Even ATT has an unlimited plan for approx 50. x month if you purchase it online. I just hate to see you pay long distance fees.

[Guest PWIT]

>Sorry about your experience. Can I suggest you change your

>landline to Vonage or your local cable company digital phone

>service.

 

To support, you will need hi-speed (DSL, cable, etc.) internet access. If you have the hi-speed network and a wifi router, couldn't you just use the iPhone that way and not need a VoIP phone service?

[EXPAT]

Actually T-Mobile now offers a service for VOIP for $10 a month for unlimited calls. You get a box and connect it to your broadband router then plug your home phone into it.

 

This will surely kill Vonage completely or force them to drop their price to $10 a month for unlimited calls.

[Guest ryan2552]

>Actually T-Mobile now offers a service for VOIP for $10 a

>month for unlimited calls. You get a box and connect it to

>your broadband router then plug your home phone into it.

>

>This will surely kill Vonage completely or force them to drop

>their price to $10 a month for unlimited calls.

 

EXPAT That rolled out in my area the other day. However,I believe you need to be a TMO mobile customer with a qualifying TMO mobile plan.

 

Meanwhile I didn't pick up the iphone yet. By the time I was out and about yesterday all the first day problem reports were on the news. So I decided to wait a few days and let them work out the bugs.

[Guest ryan2552]

> If you have the hi-speed network and a wifi router,

>couldn't you just use the iPhone that way and not need a VoIP

>phone service?

 

I don't believe ATT allows one to use the iphone as a modem for this nature. Just like you cannot use it for a notebook modem.

 

Maybe someone with more knowledge can let us know for certain.