SpawnPoint - Where Game Begins

What You Need to Know About the Verizon iPhone

Earlier this week it was announced that the iPhone 4 will finally be available on the Verizon Wireless network next month, ending years of AT&T exclusivity. Existing Verizon customers will have the opportunity to pre-order their iPhone 4 online starting February 3, and the phone will be available from Verizon and Apple’s website, stores and authorized resellers on February 10. If you’ve been thinking about making the switch, read on for some exclusive tips from an Apple insider.

Switching carriers? You can’t keep your old iPhone. While Verizon’s version of the iPhone 4 will offer most of the same features as that sold by AT&T, there are a few key differences worth noting. The single most important thing to know is that each carrier uses different technology to connect users to 3G. AT&T uses UMTS, an offshoot of the GSM standard that also supports EDGE. Verizon, meanwhile, employs CDMA. While devices on CDMA networks typically have a lower rate of dropped calls -- something that has dogged AT&T iPhone users from the start -- they also don’t use SIM cards, which makes it harder to switch devices when changing phones or traveling abroad.

Don’t buy in to the hype. Product manufacturers are gearing up for the launch with a dizzying array of “Verizon-only” accessories like cases, protective films, battery packs, and docking stands to hook new customers. But don’t be suckered, cautions my source: “With the exception of some cases and covers, most of the accessories currently on the market will work with the Verizon iPhone.”

You can’t talk and browse the Web at the same time. AT&T’s mobile broadband provides simultaneous voice and data capabilities. Verizon is working on a solution they hope to push out before the end of 2011, but CDMA just can’t do it yet. If you’re one of those multitaskers who absolutely needs to do both at the same time, you might want to wait.

Get your own personal mobile hotspot. With the Verizon-only Personal Hotspot (it’s like built-in MiFi), customers can use their phone to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices (like the Verizon iPad). There’s no word yet on how much this feature will cost you, but either way it blows AT&T’s pricy one-to-one tethering option out of the water.

Verizon’s iPhone has a better antenna. While no new product launch is ever totally seamless, at least with this one you won’t have to worry about Antennagate 2. With its redesigned CDMA antenna, Verizon scores another clear advantage over AT&T. Now you can death grip to your heart’s content!

Get ahead. “If you didn’t pre-order, don’t bother showing up at the store on launch day,” says our retail recon. And even if you’ve already reserved a phone online, count on spending several hours in line. During the initial iPhone 4 launch last year, some customers waited in line at Apple stores for more than twelve hours to purchase and activate their new phones. If you plan to join the masses, we strongly recommend you bring snacks, a comfy chair and something to read.

Good things come to those who wait. Industry experts predict that Apple will soon announce a new version of the iPhone. The iPhone 4 was announced last summer, and if you want to get your hands on an iPhone 5 from AT&T or Verizon this summer, it may be best to wait before you sign that new two-year agreement for the soon-to-be-obsolete iPhone 4. If you do decide to upgrade before the end of your contract, expect to pay the full retail price for your new device.