It wasn�t long after the iPhone hit on AT&T that the pining began: When can we get
one on Verizon?
I won�t even re-hash the reasons people wanted it on any network
other than AT&T � that bitching is part of the American technology fabric at this
point.
But now that it�s here, you might not want to avoid it.
Here are five reasons
that don�t even include masochism or contrarianism:
#5: It doesn�t do voice and at the same time.
Sad but true, AT&T�s GMS technology
has it all over Verizon�s CDMA network in this respect: AT&T iPhones can do data
and voice at the same time.
Well, that is, if you can get their damned network to
function at all.
Ahh, I said I wouldn�t do that.
Bear in mind that the folks behind the
CDMA technology promise a network upgrade to allow dual mode operation late
this year, but that�s still iffy.
#4: Good luck overseas.
Verizon�s CDMA technology is mixed bag for global use.
You can roam mostly in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Asia � but not Europe,
Russia, Brazil.
And that�s roaming, with all those lovely fees that�ll make your eyes
water.
No chip in a CDMA phone so you can�t just buy a cheapo SIM when you land
in country and be up and running.
#3: It�s a retool.
iPhone 4 on Verizon was sort of a mid-season refresh, with CDMA
innards but not designed from the ground up � as far as we know � to be a CDMA
phone.
I have this nagging feeling there just have to be some shortcomings around
that.
As we know from Antennagate, nothing�s ever wrong with an Apple product �
it�s you that�s broken � so Apple will never let on what�s really going on inside the
Verizon 4.
#2: Not 4G.
And that�s the biggest thing going on in cell phone networks the next 2
years that you�ll be locked in.
And you will be sitting there on your 3G iPhone 4,
deciding between talking and checking email, watching all your fellow Verizon
customers with their hotsie, dual core, 8MP, Android 4G phones thinking that
damned Apple � they got me!
Another reason you have to rethink the iPhone on Verizon is that you
should just plain think twice about the iphone.
Check out the list of non-Apple
smartphones we love on Verizon, now and coming.
You can find them on CNET�s
cell phone section.
#1: Is Verizon the next AT&T.
This is the big question: Will Verizon�s network drag
to a crawl as a flood of AT&T defectors and waiting-for-Verizon sideliners hammer
their network?
AT&T�s 3G network is technically faster, maybe it just needs to lose
a few million customers to show it.
And Verizon�s going to offer tube-clogging
unlimited data to new iPhone customers TFN � something AT&T put the brakes on
some time ago.
So there you might be on Verizon for 2 years with your single-
tasking, not really global, sure as hell not 4G iPhone on Verizon with a potentially
bonking network!
The smart money says give it 6 months.
Our complete comparisons and coverage of both flavors of iPhone is always up to
day at CNET�s cell phone section.
I am Brian Cooley, Thanks for watching.
