Difference between Verizon iPhone and AT&T iPhone
While once a niche product that few people had access to, the iPhone has since exploded onto the marketplace with an impact that few other devices have managed to muster. There are now many different flavors of iPhones on the market, with the Verizon iPhone and the AT&T iPhone being two of the most popular. In this comparison article, we take a look at the key characteristics of each.
Network Features
The Verizon iPhone actually has identical features to the AT&T iPhone, although the latter does have a slight advantage. The main difference is in Verizon's network, which utilizes CDMA technology. This means that the Verizon iPhone carries voice and Internet over different tracks. The result is that Verizon customers aren't able to surf the Internet or use related apps while making a call. AT&T users have this ability, and the company claims that this feature is used more often than the video viewing or GPS capabilities of the AT&T iPhone.
On the other hand, the Verizon iPhone can be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot, with which the signal can be shared with as many as five more other devices. At present, the AT&T's iPhone can only be linked to one other device, and it uses the comparatively limited Bluetooth protocol.
Quality
The AT&T iPhone has been subject to numerous complaints with regard to its signal quality, although a lot of these complaints may be due to the particular area. In any case, the company has invested more than $2 billion in 2010 as a means of improving service. Whether this has resulted in better quality service for AT&T users is in dispute, since the percentage of dropped calls on the company's network actually increased to 5.8%, compared to only 2% for Verizon users.
Cost
The Verizon iPhone and the AT&T iPhone come with similar price tags, at least for the actual devices. Verizon offers its 16-gigabyte model for $200, and the 32-gigabyte model for $300. Where the two differ is in the charge for the monthly service. At present, Verizon charges $30 a month for unlimited service, with voice and text messages being charged an additional amount. AT&T on the other hand charges $5 less for unlimited service, with users allowed to download as much as 2 gigabytes of data every month.
It is also worthwhile to note that Verizon is supposedly set to offer users an unlimited data plan, while AT&T has ceased providing a similar plan recently in order to prevent heavy users from choking its network.
Compare and Contrast
Verizon iPhone
- Utilizes CDMA technology, which limits user ability to surf the Internet or use related apps while making a call
- Charges $30 a month for unlimited service
- Set to offer users an unlimited data plan
AT&T iPhone
- Can be used to surf the Web and make calls at the same time
- Charges $25 a month for unlimited service
- Ceased providing an unlimited data plan
