Okay Geek Farm
AT&T vs. Verizon: Why I'm Not Switching
Nick Mahar
Congrats to everyone who wanted iPhone on Verizon. I guess if you keep talking about it and saying it long enough then eventually it will happen, right? But y’know what I’m most happy about? I’m thrilled, not for the fact that iPhone is no longer exclusive to AT&T, but because I don’t have to listen to all those people demanding for it on their network anymore. But I digress. Anyway, the main point I want to make here is that I will not be switching to Verizon, and here’s why.
1. I’m not paying to get out of my contract.
There is no way I’m going to spend over $300 to end my contract so I can spend more money to get the same phone! I’m not rich, and even if I was, that would be a huge waste of money all for what — The Nation’s Most Reliable Network?
2. You can’t use data while making phone calls.
I must say that this was a huge shocker for me. I knew that Verizon’s network was different and more inferior, but I didn’t think it would cripple the iPhone from doing some of the main things an iPhone is advertised to do.
Many people have been saying they don’t use their data while on a call, and I’m wondering to myself how the heck do they not? I’m constantly looking up directions while talking to someone on speaker, or searching something online while talking. To have to hang up the call, look up directions, call back and try to remember the directions is not only hard but completely unnecessary in this modern age.
3. I still have unlimited data.
Why would I want to possibly downgrade? If I ever wanted to switch back to AT&T I wouldn’t be able browse and consume the web the way I live my life — without limits. I need every last MB and GB I can get, especially since more data consuming apps continue to be the trend; Netflix and Skype video calls just to name a couple.
4. There’s a new iPhone releasing this summer.
Why spend all the money of buying the iPhone 4 when I already have it? Not to mention that Apple is inevitably going to be releasing the iPhone 5 as per their usual iYearly (trademark that) cycle.
5. The need for speed!
Sure, Verizon has a more reliable and blanketed network but AT&T’s has been proven to be much faster. Go ahead and look it up yourself, the results are a mystery — AT&T speed tests consistently have always clocked in higher than Verizon. I use a lot of data so I can’t give it up.
6. Just Because you have problems doesn’t mean I do.
Everyone complains about having problems with AT&T. Yes, I get the occasional dropped call or two, but when it comes down to it it works just fine where I live. In terms of data, AT&T has said on occasion their network is being overloaded by iPhone users because of how much strain it causes. With Facebook and other popular online applications, people are using data like they never have before and AT&T was not ready for it. When it comes to actual calls, I have great reception, so it’s not me who’s complaining.
Verizon has had time to prepare for it but even testing can’t truly prepare for the unavoidable hit their network is going to take. So when the phone actual launches with them, within the first two weeks we’ll then begin to see if it was actually the network or the phone causing the issues.
I live my life just fine with iPhone on AT&T. And for the meantime I’m excited at the possibility that my network might clear up. I’m excited that people will be leaving! And while this may have been more of a rant than anything else, I hope I gave you a few good reasons why you should stay, or at least wait a while.
