…And so do I, but there some things you might not know about this long awaited miracle day in the cellular telephone world and so here I am to break it down for you.
Verizon Wireless announced recently that they would be getting the iPhone FINALLY after years of exclusivity with AT&T. It will be available for order to current customers on Feb 3 and released to the public on Feb 10. Aesthetics of the phones are virtually identical across service providers BUT there are a few fundamental differences the networks aren’t broadcasting as much as they should. For one, Verizon’s network lacks the ability to multi-task like the AT&T iphone in that while you’re on a call, don’t expect to be able to browse the web. You head me right folks, while your call may remain in tact (unlike the shotty AT&T service), you will not be able to search for the nearest sushi joint, look up reviews and make a reservation as the old commercial suggests. If you already have an iPhone and are sick and tired of not being able to to use it as a phone but have grown accustomed to this feature, it might be a tough switch.
These negatives being said, Verizon just announced a $30 unlimited data plan while AT&T offers 2GB of data for $25/mo. Further, AT&T customers still need to pay $20/mo for tethering (when the iPhone can be used as a wireless modem for a computer) while Verizon iPhones can act as a hub for up to 5 phones (pricing is still TBD).
Personally, I want an iPhone but worry about the Verizon Network’s ability to handle the traffic. Will they encounter the same problems as AT&T with the addition of this wondrous smart phone? If a phone can’t walk and chew gum at the same time, is it really a smart phone? As much as I want it STAT, I might be inclined to wait out the bugs that come with Feb 10. Also, there are rumors circulating regarding 4G’s launch for iPhone this summer and that’s certainly a silver lining on the tech horizon.
In closing here’s a few fun stats for you:
-Over 50% of US citizens will have a smart phone by 2011.
-91% of the US is mobile.
-38 is the median age of a texter.
-By 2013, mobile traffic will surpass online web surfing.
We’re heading in the mobile direction. Are you coming with?