LITTLE ROCK — It’s very rare for me to return to a product for a second look. In fact, I can only recall one time, when a charger I tested didn’t work the first time, so I tested a replacement. This week, I’m returning to a product to test it again.
Well, sort of.
While the product is nearly identical to the one I tested previously, it has subtle changes, and the way it’s offered makes it worth another look.
It’s the iPhone 4, but instead of being on the AT&T network, it’s on Verizon Wireless. You may think it’s the same phone, but it has a few noteworthy differences, some good, some not so good.
Frankly, I have been tempted to move to Verizon, and I figured the iPhone would convince me. But one little difference is a big deterrent for me.
The phone has few changes. It’s still a great touch-screen phone, it still has hundreds of thousands of applicationsavailable to enhance its abilities, it still can surf the Internet, pull up your e-mail, allow you to chat and make phone calls.
The phone does have a couple of physical differences. First, the mute switch is slightly lower than on the AT&T phone. That makes absolutely no difference except with form-fitting cases. Some cases will cover up the newly moved switch. So naturally, there has been a flood of new cases just for the Verizon iPhone. Frankly, about half the cases I’ve tried had enough of a gap around the button that the new phone fitin it just fine.
The other thing that’s changed is the infamous antenna. You may notice the little black marks around the AT&T version are moved on Verizon’s. Apple says it’s to accommodate the chips for Verizon’s network, and not a quiet redesign of the antenna that so many complained about when the phone debuted. I can believe changes would have to be made, but it also wouldn’t surprise me if Apple took the opportunity to tweak the phone and eliminate the dropped calls that AT&T users complain of when the phone is held a certain way.
Whatever the reason for the adjustments to the antenna, they seem to have done the trick. Reception was excellent. I even managed to keep the call going through my notorious dead zone under an overpass. I’ve dropped calls on everything from iPhones to Droids to BlackBerrys under thatoverpass. I didn’t drop the call once on the Verizon iPhone. I was shocked and impressed.
So the phone part works well, but what about the data part? Well, that’s where I started to hit some snags.
Downloading data was a slow process compared to the speed of AT&T. Downloading the same apps takes several seconds longer on the Verizon phone. This is a network issue, not a phone issue. Those already on Verizon’s network probably won’t notice much change. Those switching from AT&T will definitely notice the slowdown.
I can deal with a few extra seconds to download data. I’m impatient, but not that impatient. There was one issue, however, that may be a deal killer for me, though others may not see it that way.
You may have heard about the Verizon network’s inability to have data and phone work at the same time. Well, unfortunately, it’s true. Attempt to pull up something that uses Verizon’s data network during a phone call and you get a message that tells you the data network is unavailable during phone calls.
That may not be a big deal for most people. If not, great, this is the phone for you. However, I use my data and voice capabilities simultaneously frequently. For example, when my dear mother calls and tells me to turn on a television show, then asks me who the obscure guest actor is and what she’s seen him in, I usually will keep her on the phone while I pull up my Internet Movie Database app and look up Mr. Obscure. I’ve also used it for business calls to call up and discuss emails or website information.
Granted, the loss of this feature would be a mere inconvenience, and perhaps only for a few like me. Still, it’s something I hope can be corrected with an upgrade.
In the end, the iPhone 4 for Verizon offers the same great basic design that has made the phone a best-seller. The improved reception is a huge plus, but the slower data network and the inability to mix data with voice may be a tough sell.
It’s worth it for Verizon users looking to upgrade their phones. If you’re looking to break a contract and make a switch, well, you’ll have to decide if the small sacrifice in speed and bigger sacrifice in simultaneous data and voice use are worth it.
Melissa L. Jones can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
Where it’s @
Apple iPhone 4 for Verizon Wireless retails for $199.99 for the 16GB model or $299.99 for the 32GB model with a two-year contract and Data Pak activation. More information is available at verizon.com.
Business, Pages 10 on 02/28/2011