Did anyone notice that Apple and Verizon finally released the Verizon-compatable version of the iPhone last week? Yeah, didn’t think so. Despite all of last year’s speculation over whether there would ever be an iPhone for Verizon, its debut was a little less eventful than Heidi Montag’s fifteen minutes of fame. Could this be a sign of the end of the world as we know it? Probably not, it just means that if it isn’t a totally new gadget for us to play with, no one is interested.
The Verizon iPhone has all of the same features as the iPhone on AT&T, with only minor outside differences that are barely noticeable. The only real change is the network itself. AT&T uses a network system called GSM, while Verizon uses a different system called CDMA. GSM and CDMA aren’t compatible, so the Verizon iPhone had to be adapted to fit the company’s network. So that means if you have the AT&T version of the phone, you can’t switch networks without getting a new phone. One advantage of the Verizon iPhone is its “Personal Hotspot” feature that lets you share its 3G connection with five other devices, for $20 a month, unlike the one computer currently allowed by AT&T.
Since the iPhone was introduced in 2009, there have been many complaints levied at AT&T and its service’s inability to handle the large volume of bandwidth that iPhone users consume. Many speculated that Verizon’s highly touted network would be a better fit for the iPhone. However, according to a Wired report, “the reported AT&T iPhone transfer rates were roughly two times faster than the Verizon iPhone’s.” Verizon always boasts that it has more coverage than its rival, but when it comes to speed AT&T takes the prize. It’s still too early to predict whether the Verizon phone will have the same issues that reportedly plague AT&T’s version, like dropped calls, but for the now the main shocker has been its lackluster sales debut.
What explains this? My bet is that had the iPhone been revamped for Verizon, we might be telling a different story. Sales would have skyrocketed if Verizon had offered the iPhone 4 when it was first introduced seven months ago. But in a testament to our insatiable appetite for all things new, it looks Verizon missed the mark on cashing in on one of the best gadgets out there. Until Apple releases its iPhone 5 – or whatever Steve Jobs can invent in 2011 – Verizon will have to keep cranking out those flashy commercials to keep the customers coming in.
Have you seen Verizon iPhones at BU? Do you own one? Tweet a screen-cap (tap home and lock simultaneously) or picture @buquad or reply in the comments section.
