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How would you change the Verizon iPhone?
It's an iPhone 4... but not the original iPhone 4. Verizon Wireless became the first CDMA carrier in the States to call an Apple smartphone one of its own, and the resulting handset is eerily similar to the AT&T variant in most regards. That said, we're sure that a few of you folks would have done things differently if given the design credentials needed to do so, and this is place for you to vent. Would you have added any features to this guy not already found on the GSM iPhone 4? Offered a Big Red-exclusive color? Thrown an LTE radio in there? Changed up the antenna layout? Included a secondary display, Echo-style? Go on and get creative in comments below -- you never know what suggestions may shape the shape of the iPhone 5! (Or something like that.)
Survey suggests Verizon's iPhone customers more satisfied than AT&T's
A survey of the differences between AT&T and Verizon iPhone customers shows what we knew all along: many AT&T iPhone customers are quite fed up with the phone network. All the main points in the Mobclix survey of iPhone users (taken in February) reinforce the conclusion: The larger and more densely populated the city -- and hence the more overcrowded AT&T's network -- the more likely iPhone users are to have switched to Verizon. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, New York City and Boston have the highest Verizon iPhone usage. AT&T iPhone users resort to Wi-Fi 53% of the time, compared with just 38% for Verizon users. AT&T users do, however, get free automatic access to the company's 24,000 Wi-Fi hotspots included in their subscription. The top three reasons cited for switching to Verizon were reception issues, personal Wi-Fi hotspot availability on Verizon (only recently introduced by AT&T) and reputation. Most damning of all, a massive two-thirds of those switching from AT&T to Verizon were willing to pay the $325 early termination fee demanded by the iPhone's original network provider. A full 14% of iPhone 4 users are on the Verizon network now, but adding in users of earlier models brings this down to just 4% of iPhone users on Verizon. Of course, plenty of AT&T users are happy with the service they get on their iPhone, but it's clear that many couldn't wait for the day they could get an iPhone on Verizon. Perhaps this situation will change in a year or two if iPhone users on AT&T also get access to T-Mobile's network. Personally, I'm very happy to live in a country (France) where, by law, the iPhone is available on all mobile phone networks, and hence overcrowding simply isn't an issue. [Via TechCrunch]
AT&T's old $49 iPhone 3GS gets a new ad to sell it (video)
It looks like someone's realized that simultaneous voice and web will not be enough to keep kids away from the Verizon iPhone. But where technical details fail to entice, perhaps a good deal will. Because, really, what's better (or at least as good) as retaining your current customers? Well, if you ask AT&T it's bringing in a slew of new ones by advertising that bargain-basement $49 iPhone 3GS (8GB). Feel free to check out the latest commercial after the break -- as is usually the case, this one is a non-stop thrill ride.
Verizon iPhone 4 gets torn apart, Qualcomm MDM6600 chip found inside
Not exactly a huge surprise here, but the folks at iFixit have gotten their hands on a Verizon iPhone 4, and they've already torn it apart without even bothering to make a phone call. In addition to the expected differences, they found that the phone packs a slightly lighter battery than its counterpart (same capacity, though), that the mechanical vibrator has been redesigned and moved from the top right corner of the phone to the bottom left and, most notably, that it boasts a Qualcomm baseband chip, which lines up with what we've been hearing since last month. That's a Qualcomm MDM6600 chip, to be specific, which supports HSPA+ data rates up to 14.4 Mbps, and is the same chip used in the Droid Pro. Yes, that also means that the chip technically supports both GSM and CDMA, although Apple has apparently decided not to take advantage of that capability for one reason or another -- iFixit speculates that it may have been easier to design antennas for a CDMA-only phone. Hit up the link below for the complete teardown.
AAPL hits another all time high
Once again, Apple stock (AAPL) has hit a new intra-day high, and this time it's a really good one. This is the first time Apple has broken into the lofty US$350s. Things are moving quickly, but when I started this post, AAPL was up 6.66 points to $353.17 on moderately high volume of about ten million shares, and no one knows where it will wind up for the day. Although the market is having quite a good day, this would indicate to me that much of the bad news and emotion based on the medical leave of Steve Jobs has been filtered out. It might also have something to do with the first delivery of the Verizon iPhone 4. In other news, Philip Elmer-Dewitt of Fortune's Apple 2.0 has noted that Susquehanna has upped its target price for AAPL to $465. There seems to be a bandwagon mentality that analysts are jumping onto. He goes on to say that Charles Wolf of the Needem Funds raised his estimate to $450, a jump of $75. Meanwhile, Brian White of Ticonderoga kept firm on his price target of $550. This is most likely based on AAPL breaking out of a trading range with support at $326 and resistance at $345.60 causing everyone to reshuffle their estimates. [via TradersHuddle.com]
Verizon iPhone sales broke 500,000
Analysts estimate that Verizon sold over 500,000 iPhones in its first day of pre-order sales. Pre-ordering began at 3 AM ET and continued until 8:10 PM when the allotment set aside for pre-orders was depleted. Verizon confirmed in a press release that it set an all-time first day sales record in the first two hours of ordering, an accomplishment that even beats the high-profile, heavily advertised launch of the Motorola DROID. Available in November 2009, the DROID sold 200,000 units on its first weekend of sales and 300,000 by the end of its first week. This is only the beginning of the rise of the Verizon iPhone; analysts expect Apple and Verizon will sell over 11 million iPhones in 2011. Customers who were part of the pre-order should be receiving their handsets today if they ordered from Verizon or Tuesday if they ordered from Apple. At least one lucky customer was able to score his iPhone on Saturday and has enjoyed his status as one of the first iPhone owners on Verizon. Apple and Verizon will open pre-orders again starting February 9 at 3 AM. This time around the pre-orders will be available to all customers, including those ready to switch carriers. The handset will be available in Apple stores and Verizon Wireless stores starting February 10.
AT&T fires back with latest iPhone ad: simultaneous voice and web more important than you think (video)
We get it AT&T, your iPhone can do voice and data at the same time, and Verizon's can't. Big Red's Test Man proved that calls aren't always doomed to drop on the iPhone, but AT&T's firing right back and saying how you could be doomed in certain social situations, like forgetting to make a dinner reservation on your anniversary. Props for creativity here, but now that both sides have fired a shot across the other's bow, can't we all just get along? Yeah, probably not.
Verizon iPhone review
The Verizon iPhone 4 is an interesting product for Engadget to review. Firstly, it's not exactly a new device (not in any outwardly noticeable way). From design, down to its CPU, RAM, and even cost, this iPhone is the same as the AT&T model... save for that one small but really important thing: it's got a CDMA radio inside. The device is also somewhat tricky to review based on its software, since we've all been using (and even took a deep look at) iOS 4.2 for quite some time. So for us the task is to make clear the differences between these two devices and their networks. Now that's a little easier, because we're sure you have the same questions as us. What are calls like? How are the data rates? Is service notably improved or different than AT&T's? Most importantly, if you're currently a frustrated iPhone 4 owner, does it make sense to make the switch? We're going to answer all those queries (and more), so read on for a full review of the Verizon iPhone 4! %Gallery-115613%
Apple releases iTunes 10.1.2 with support for 'CDMA model' iPhone 4
The description in Software Update may only say that it brings a "number of important stability and performance improvements," but Apple's just-released iTunes 10.1.2 update also adds another fairly important feature: support for the Verizon iPhone 4. That detail is tucked away in the "before you install" document included when you download iTunes from Apple's website (rather than Software Update), and actually only refers to the "iPhone 4 (CDMA model)," which you can read into what you will.
Verizon ramps up trade-in, upgrade programs in advance of iPhone 4 launch
Not exactly a huge surprise here, but it looks like Verizon will be doing everything it can to pair folks with a new iPhone 4 when it launches on the carrier next month, even if they've just purchased a new phone on Verizon or another carrier. During an investor meeting this week, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo revealed that the carrier will be using its existing trade-in program (which launched in October) to lure would-be customers, with a Verizon rep further detailing that it will be "more actively" promoting the plan in the lead up to the iPhone 4 launch -- under that program, a 16GB iPhone 4 from AT&T will net you a $212 credit. In addition to that, Verizon is also rolling out a new "Special Upgrade Offer" that will let existing customers trade in a phone they've recently purchased for a Visa debit card ($200 for a smartphone trade-in, or $75 for a feature phone). Only those that have purchased a phone between November 26th, 2010 and January 10th, 2011 will be eligible, though, and you won't exactly get that cash right away -- you'll first have to first buy and activate your iPhone 4 at the full retail price, send in your trade-in phone within 30 days of activation, and then wait four to six weeks to receive the debit card.
Verizon iPhone first hands-on! (update: video)
We just got a look at the Verizon version of the iPhone 4. Guess what? It's just like an iPhone 4! There's no custom pre-loaded Verizon software (like VCAST or some such bloatware), just that mobile hotspot tweak in the settings menu. There's also no Verizon branding on the phone, though that's hardly a surprise given Apple's hatred of all logos that aren't its own. The only real physical difference we can find are those tweaked CDMA-compatible antennas running around the edge -- four in all, placed symmetrically and bumping down the volume / mute buttons. Interestingly, the phone is running iOS version 4.2.5, so perhaps that mobile hotspot functionality will make its way over to other iPhones when they sync up on iOS updates. We did try a speed test, clearing the cache and loading various sites simultaneously on the Verizon phone and our AT&T device, and while there were variations in the load times, there were too many external factors to really make a judgment call just yet. %Gallery-113856% %Gallery-113857%
Verizon iPhone 4 will have 3G mobile hotspot (update)
It'll probably be subject to an additional fee as usual, but Verizon and Apple have just revealed that the new CDMA iPhone 4 will act as a mobile WiFi connection for up to five devices. It'll come with an iOS-specific version of the Verizon 3G Mobile Hotspot that folks have been enjoying on their Droids for many moons now. That should allowing for laptops, tablets and the like to get online via iPhone without a pesky cord, and almost certainly make the long-verboten iPhone - iPad tethering connection finally attainable. Joy to the world! Update: Verizon called it an app, but getting hands-on we can see that's not the case at all -- Personal Hotspot is built right into the CDMA iPhone 4's build of iOS 4.2.5. Perhaps we'll see it migrate to other devices as well?
