macnn/electronista
08/25/2008, 1:10pm, EDT
Monday, August 25thVerizon disseminating anti-iPhone tract?
Verizon Wireless is distributing a guide to sales agents in a bid to retain customers tempted by an iPhone 3G, a leak claims. The sheet, labeled "3G iPhone Myths," attempts to challenge key selling points of the iPhone, which in the US is carried only by AT&T. The guide notes, for instance, that AT&T's HSPA (3G) network covers "only 40-50%" of Americans, approximately half the amount handled by Verizon's EVDO Rev. A technology. Similarly, while it is now cheaper to buy the actual iPhone hardware, Verizon observes that the extra $10 per month on data plans from AT&T means that, by the end of a two-year contract, the 3G iPhone ultimately costs more than the original 2.5G model, without even the benefit of text messages.
Verizon further comments that the iPhone cannot do MMS messaging, vocal turn-by-turn navigation, or music downloads via 3G as well as Wi-Fi.
The guide provides a somewhat distorted picture however, as EVDO Rev. A is typically somewhat slower than HSPA, and it is believed that Apple may be able to add turn-by-turn GPS through a software update. Verizon's Premium data plans also include unlimited text messaging, but cost $10 more per month than the new iPhone 3G plans, which have the option of fixed-quantity texting bundles.
Filed under: iPhone
Other story tags: AT&T, Verizon, GPS, HSPA, EVDO
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Verizon twice coverage?
Is it true that Verizon's EVDO network has twice the coverage of AT&T's 3G HSPA network?
Pic Messaging
One major point is that the iPhone can't send a Pic Text message. That is a feature I commonly use and the iPhone can't even do that (and yes, I have verified this) -- you can only send pictures over e-mail... but not to other phones.
Well...
They are right you know. I dont see them handing out any lies - i think...
Not sure
about Verizon's EVVDO vs AT&T's 3G HSPA network, but myths aside, there is one blaring reality and that is, Verizon's management blundered when they told Apple 'thanks, but no thanks!'
Instead of publishing "myths about the iPhone" pamphlets and pushing weak imitators, Verizon could have had the REAL thing!
twice the margin
Between 40-50% is a margin of 10% but if you double it you get a margin of 80-100% which is a margin of 20%. But...if AT&T's coverage is truly the higher 50% and Verizon's coverage is the lower 80%, then the difference between them is 30% or, put another way Verizon's coverage is 60% greater than AT&T's but not double. See, you can get figures to say just about whatever you like. If you take AT&T at 40% and Verizon at 100% then Verizon have 150% more coverage than AT&T or 2.5 times the coverage. Moral? Work it out for yourself!
Basic math
40 to 50 percent is the same ratio difference as 80 to 100 percent. They both represent 20 percent less coverage for the lower percentage.
As an aside, Verizon is not talking about geographic coverage, but the number of customers with EVDO access.
LOL
I thought this was funny....let's all ignore the big white elephant in the room (iPhone) and pretend it's not there. Let's face it...the iPhone is the buzzword in cellular right now, and is causing churn amongst the carriers. When I got my iPhone, the guy at the Apple store said it was his 12th T-Mobile port that day (July 11th). When I asked who else he ported, he said a few VZWs and a lot of Sprint.
Certainly not a scientific or accurate poll, but it's what I heard when I got my iPhone.
The real question...
is not which (or for that matter how many) OTHER folks have coverage, but whether YOU have coverage. Unless you travel a great deal and go to remote locations the question should be am I covered in MY home town.
Just wait
When AT&T's exclusive deal runs out and (hopefully) Apple can sell the iPhone through any carrier, let's hear what Verizon has to say about it then. I bet they'll be singing its praises!
They're right
Well, Verizon isn't saying anything untrue. I've got an iphone 3G in the NYC area and I can't connect to the internet--ever--over 3G. I'm not gonna pay $30 for nothing. Verizon has the best service but no iphone--sigh.