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Verizon iPhone 4

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Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#91

Post by InclinedPlane »

mziulu wrote: post #87
brown9-2 wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"You can use it as a WiFi Hotspot" means that you can use the phone to broadcast a WiFi signal for nearby computers/devices to use to access the Internet. The phone acts as a WiFi access point, using the cellular network to relay the devices connected to it to the Internet.

Yeah, this is ok, but how does this iPhone behave differently than the usual here? Do the other phones (when acting as hotspot) keep broadcasting the WiFi signal when receiving data over the cellular network?

This is basically what is called "tethering", using the 3G internet connection of the phone for other devices (such as your laptop), except that the "tether" is no a physical connection but just a wifi connection. In other words, you put your phone into this mode and you can connect to it through wifi and have wireless internet anywhere you have 3G coverage. AT&T does not offer the same service.

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#92

Post by jonknee »

mziulu wrote: post #87
brown9-2 wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"You can use it as a WiFi Hotspot" means that you can use the phone to broadcast a WiFi signal for nearby computers/devices to use to access the Internet. The phone acts as a WiFi access point, using the cellular network to relay the devices connected to it to the Internet.

Yeah, this is ok, but how does this iPhone behave differently than the usual here? Do the other phones (when acting as hotspot) keep broadcasting the WiFi signal when receiving data over the cellular network?

It's a limitation to CDMA, so if the same feature were allowed by AT&T you wouldn't have a service interruption due to voice usage (GSM can do voice and data simultaneously).

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#93

Post by code_duck »

dpcan wrote: post #89

In my opinion, this will either slash the current price of Android phones or slow down Android growth considerably. I just can't help but to think, if I were a non-geek consumer, and it was the same price to walk out of the store with an iPhone over a Droid - I know I'd choose iPhone. Does the Droid have a silver-bullet marketing point that I'm missing, or is it all over for Android?

If people wanted an iPhone, they could have just gone to AT&T and bought an iPhone. While this will probably reduce sales of Android phones through Verizon, I certainly don't think it means it is 'all over'. I agree prices may drop on Android phones, and manufacturers may have to step up their game a bit more especially in terms of software.

With Android phones you have a choice of prices, different hardware configurations including physical keyboards, easily replacable batteries, expandable memories (i.e. buy a 32GB card for $50 vs. paying Apple an extra $100) and not least, the freedom to run whatever software you choose. While some nice things like game emulators are available for Android, though, it's true that iOS has a wider range of software for now. Another issues is that many people are turned off by the Apple brand, for one reason or another.

HTC, Samsung and Motorola have some impressive offerings of their own, hardware wise, and I'm sure they'll continue to sell plenty of phones.

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#94

Post by cstross »

dboyd wrote: post #39
rmc wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No I don't think so. Everwhere else on the world is GSM. That confused me when I first read about USA mobile phones, I wondered what this CDMA thing was.

Worldwide CDMA coverage: http://www.cdg.org/worldwide/

Looking at their map, it's highly misleading, implying there's CDMA 3G coverage in a bunch of places where there is no, or minimal coverage. (They're a trade body promoting CDMA -- what would you do in their shoes?)

CDMA2000 aka EV-DO isn't compatible with W-CDMA, aka UMTS -- the 3G standard used just about everywhere -- and has about 10% of the market worldwide:

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Comparison_of...

Here's a list of CDMA2000 operators. You'll notice a lot in the Americas, especially the USA, plus others scattered elsewhere:

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/List_of_CDMA2...

And here's the giant table of UMTS (aka W-CDMA) operators worldwide:

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/List_of_UMTS_...

If you're American and don't have a passport, then by all means get a Verizon iPhone 4. But if you expect to travel widely it'd be much more sensible to get a GSM/UMTS iPhone 4, even if it means putting up with AT&T at home. (More sensibly, buy an unlocked one from Apple on a trip to, say, the UK or Ireland: claim back the VAT and buy a micro-SIM on the network of your choice and you're golden.)

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#95

Post by [deleted] »

dpcan wrote: post #89

In my opinion, this will either slash the current price of Android phones or slow down Android growth considerably. I just can't help but to think, if I were a non-geek consumer, and it was the same price to walk out of the store with an iPhone over a Droid - I know I'd choose iPhone. Does the Droid have a silver-bullet marketing point that I'm missing, or is it all over for Android?

[deleted]

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#96

Post by barredo »

rmc wrote: post #31
listic wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is Verizon's CDMA network technically compatible with anywhere else in the world? (e.g. so that you can us the same phone in U.S and elsewhere, provided it is not locked) Specifically, which frequency band does U.S. CDMA use?

No I don't think so. Everwhere else on the world is GSM. That confused me when I first read about USA mobile phones, I wondered what this CDMA thing was.

No. CDMA is used also outside the US.

* KDDI, Japan's #2 carrier: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KDDI (20-21M users)

* China Telecom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Telecom (216M users)

Also others in India too. For instance.

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#98

Post by WesleyJohnson »

I'm seriously debating pre-ordering one on February 3rd as I'm an existing Verizon customer. My only hold-up is whether or not they'll release and LTE version in June. Assuming Apple does have the hardware ready by then, what's the likelyhood of Verizon having a substantial LTE presence by then as well?

Does anyone know what their LTE coverage looks like or how soon it'll match their 3G coverage? I'm under the impression LTE is only in major cities at the moment.

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#99

Post by enjo »

dpcan wrote: post #89

In my opinion, this will either slash the current price of Android phones or slow down Android growth considerably. I just can't help but to think, if I were a non-geek consumer, and it was the same price to walk out of the store with an iPhone over a Droid - I know I'd choose iPhone. Does the Droid have a silver-bullet marketing point that I'm missing, or is it all over for Android?

Android is perfectly capable of competing on it's own merits. The idea that the iPhone is the phone to end all phones is a very HN-centric idea.

Android has been competing quite favorably with the iPhone in hundreds of other markets that lack carrier exclusivity. I think they'll be just fine.

Don't forget that there are going to be LTE capable Android devices long before (apparently) we see an iPhone version.

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#100

Post by kbd »

ayb wrote: post #15

Since Apple normally releases new iPhones in June, does this mean the Verizon iPhone 4 will be obsolete in less than 6 months? It will be lame if Verizon has the iPhone 4 and then AT&T gets a new GSM-only iPhone 5 in June.

I would be very surprised if the iPhone 5 comes in GSM-specific and CDMA-specific models. I'd expect a unified model.

I only wonder whether it'll support LTE as well.

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