I agree that not having simultaneous voice and data would probably make me a safer driver, but I can't be without it. Also where I live, Houston, data speeds are very necessary since voice reliability is rock solid for me. I am skipping this next refresh this summer and seeing what summer 2012 brings me with a finished contract. At least I'll hopefully enjoy LTE before the world ends.
Simultaneous voice and data is one of those things that if you've never had it, you can't miss it. I can never imagine myself ever using speakerphone while also doing anything data-related on my phone.
I use it all the time. My girlfriend always calls me up to ask for directions, so I need to be able to use maps while I'm on the phone. I've also on occasion needed to look up something on the Internet while I was on the phone. However, I'm normally on WiFi, so it wouldn't be a huge deal to lose it.
In my building, 2 guys have ATT's iPhone 4! When they are in the room that faces the backyard, which is where my windows face, they MISS PHONE CALLS!!!! When they are in the rooms that face the FRONT of the building, the street, no problem!
That reminds me of a criticism of ATT I heard, ATT's Voice Calls don't go penetrate buildings as well as Verizon!!!
As to No Simultaneous Voice + Data on ATT vs. Coverage and Slower Speed on VZ - I hate making that choice, but, if I gotta be able to make CALLS, which is Job One for a Phone, before and Data stuff...
No Simultaneous Voice + Data on WiFi works only if the WiFi Network is Not Password Protected..., which often the case for me...
Lack of Rollover Minutes on VZ is a Rip-Off, a Trap for Overtime Charge!
VZ's Unlimited Data is a Temporary Promo... Soon they all will be Capped Data...
And we'll soon know how well VZ holds up under the New Traffic Load with iPhone 4!!!!
Someone please explain International Travel Implications difference between ATT & VZ...
The War of Ads and PR is on... Apple is the Winner either way!
I guess I still don't understand why not being able to use the web while on the phone isn't a deal breaker. I'm the only person who does that apparently.
I've used this feature quite often. One of the best examples of when it was useful for me was when a client called in an order; I was able to run her credit card and email her receipt while I had her on the phone.
Also, I'm in a well-serviced AT&T area (and in the middle of my contract) so I have no plans on jumping ship. By the end of my contract (July, 2012), I'm guessing AT&T's LTE network will have legs and Apple will release their iPhone LTE (iPhone 6?). I'll most likely upgrade at that time. Until then, I expect to remain perfectly happy with my AT&T iPhone 4. I absolutely love this thing! It's the best phone I've ever had!
More on topic: I'm glad the Verizon iPhone 4 performs well. I'm sure Apple will sell a bajillion of them and set new records (again), especially in light of these reviews. I still have my fingers crossed that Verizon's network doesn't melt from all the new iPhone voice and data traffic.
Have AT&T and since having an iPhone I can only think of one time I have done this. Honestly if your not used to it at all you won't miss anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hface119
Simultaneous voice and data is one of those things that if you've never had it, you can't miss it. I can never imagine myself ever using speakerphone while also doing anything data-related on my phone. Looking up a contact, or a memo that is stored in my phone, sure, but not using an app at the same time. Then again, I have ALWAYS been on Verizon. For the 290 million customers they have, it obviously won't affect them much.
I don't know how true that is - when I worked in a law firm most of the lawyers who chose VZW decided that the call coverage was more important than simultaneous voice/data. But they all complained that they couldn't get emails while on a long conference call with a client...
So it's a trade-off, but I wouldn't consider it a non-factor for VZW customers.
When I said I was using Google maps while talking, I am pretty safe about looking at stop lights/signs, then proceeding with eyes on the road. I definitely can't and don't walk, talk and browse at the same time. Walking and talking is enough for my brain to process.
I remember the very beginnings of cell phones (and the bagged phone I had). It's amazing where we've gotten to in such a short amount of time. Back then, cell service wasn't even handled by the majors, it was generally a specialty business service handled by business communications companies. I remember meeting with Walmart and my associate had his brick phone on the table so that we could call the factory to confirm delivery right then and there with the buyer. It was pretty cool to be able to do that back then - a time when you normally had to go out to use the bank of pay phones to call in to your office, before you could provide an answer.
I don't know how true that is - when I worked in a law firm most of the lawyers who chose VZW decided that the call coverage was more important than simultaneous voice/data. But they all complained that they couldn't get emails while on a long conference call with a client...
So it's a trade-off, but I wouldn't consider it a non-factor for VZW customers.
Yeah, it's amazing how the newfound ability to do something suddenly opens ones eyes to the DESIRE to do that thing.
I mean, the internet is such a pain, why would I want to use it more? Dial-up is plenty, thanks. All that waiting...
Once you have a phone that can do multiple things at the same time conveniently, you suddenly want to be able to do that. When you're using your crappy blackberry to email and text up a storm, you don't find yourself wonder why you can't browse the web while you talk, why you can't make a movie reservation while you're on the phone with your date, deciding on the movie, or dinner. But once you have an iPhone you do more often.
Yeah, it's amazing how the newfound ability to do something suddenly opens ones eyes to the DESIRE to do that thing.
I mean, the internet is such a pain, why would I want to use it more? Dial-up is plenty, thanks. All that waiting...
Once you have a phone that can do multiple things at the same time conveniently, you suddenly want to be able to do that. When you're using your crappy blackberry to email and text up a storm, you don't find yourself wonder why you can't browse the web while you talk, why you can't make a movie reservation while you're on the phone with your date, deciding on the movie, or dinner. But once you have an iPhone you do more often.
Most people want an iPhone that doesn't drop calls- it is a phone afterall.
Speed tests performed by reviewers show that AT&T's data services are slightly faster than those of Verizon...
...Scores of speed tests performed by Mossberg in various locations showed that AT&T averaged 46 percent faster download speeds and 24 percent faster upload speeds compared to Verizon. A similar test by Wired found that AT&T download rates in San Francisco are 62 percent faster, while AT&T upload rates are 38 percent faster...
um...WOW...so 46% and 62% qualify as "slightly faster"?
It's a nice feature, but in practice I've only used it a handful of times. 95% of the time that I'm on a call with my iPhone, I'm either at home/work where I have Wi-Fi or in the car using Bluetooth (so it's not like I'd be using 3G data anyway).
As long as you have a Wi-Fi connection, it doesn't matter anyway.
With the inclusion of my Jawbone Icon, I do it ALL the time. I feel that's what the phone is for, and if I didn't do it, there is no purpose in buying an iPhone, and I could just get a Nokia dumb phone and an iPad.
Then again, holding a call is what a phone is for, anyway. Like one of the reviewers said, he made a 45 minute call and completed it successfully on Verizon, something he was never able to do on his AT&T version. That would drive me INSANE if I had dropped calls like that. I realize it's not everywhere, but for those that do have that issue in their city, I personally wouldn't be able to stand it.
I live in NYC and originally, phone service and 3G data service on AT&T was intolerably bad. There were stretches of midtown Fifth Avenue where nothing on the phone would work and the phone also could not get a reliable signal in my apartment in Queens, whereas my Verizon phone never had a problem. I'd say 90% of calls got dropped.
But since then, I have to admit that things have improved considerably. Some cells were put up on the building across from mine in Queens and I have to believe those are AT&T cells. So my phone now works fine in my apartment (I no longer have to stand by the window) and I haven't had a dropped call in ages. And the phone works far better in midtown. I do sometimes hit spots where the Stock application won't refresh and in spite of a strong signal, the phone still doesn't work very well on the promenade in Battery Park City, but overall it works pretty well almost everywhere and I no longer feel the need to switch.
Even though I don't use generally need to use an app while I'm on a call, I don't want to lose that capability. Since Verizon 3G data speeds have been reported as being lower by the reviewers, I would be very disinclined to switch. I think this has less to do with the phone than with the service, as when I was in London, the phone worked amazingly well - it was like having a new model.
So I'm not switching. I'll look at it again when the iPhone5 is released.
Comments
If you can't make a call in the first place it kind of defeats the purpose of this feature.
Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg... hmm, Wall Street... where is that? New York? Who does he call? Some guy where? San Francisco?!
Tech Crunch... "But for whatever reason, in major cities like San Francisco and New York City, the situation has continued to deteriorate."
I guess you chose the wrong city to be in to use the ATT iPhone to make calls!
However, glad your long national nightmare is over!
Simultaneous voice and data is one of those things that if you've never had it, you can't miss it. I can never imagine myself ever using speakerphone while also doing anything data-related on my phone.
I use it all the time. My girlfriend always calls me up to ask for directions, so I need to be able to use maps while I'm on the phone. I've also on occasion needed to look up something on the Internet while I was on the phone. However, I'm normally on WiFi, so it wouldn't be a huge deal to lose it.
That reminds me of a criticism of ATT I heard, ATT's Voice Calls don't go penetrate buildings as well as Verizon!!!
As to No Simultaneous Voice + Data on ATT vs. Coverage and Slower Speed on VZ - I hate making that choice, but, if I gotta be able to make CALLS, which is Job One for a Phone, before and Data stuff...
No Simultaneous Voice + Data on WiFi works only if the WiFi Network is Not Password Protected..., which often the case for me...
Lack of Rollover Minutes on VZ is a Rip-Off, a Trap for Overtime Charge!
VZ's Unlimited Data is a Temporary Promo... Soon they all will be Capped Data...
And we'll soon know how well VZ holds up under the New Traffic Load with iPhone 4!!!!
Someone please explain International Travel Implications difference between ATT & VZ...
The War of Ads and PR is on... Apple is the Winner either way
Except that I can.
But if you can't then that is a dealbreaker for those people. Make sense?
Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg... hmm, Wall Street... where is that? New York? Who does he call? Some guy where? San Francisco?!
Tech Crunch... "But for whatever reason, in major cities like San Francisco and New York City, the situation has continued to deteriorate."
I guess you chose the wrong city to be in to use the ATT iPhone to make calls!
However, glad your long national nightmare is over!
Or Gruber in Philadelphia...
http://daringfireball.net/2011/02/verizon_iphone_4
Or me in Phoenix...
AT&T sucks in more places than NY and San Fran.
I guess I still don't understand why not being able to use the web while on the phone isn't a deal breaker. I'm the only person who does that apparently.
I've used this feature quite often. One of the best examples of when it was useful for me was when a client called in an order; I was able to run her credit card and email her receipt while I had her on the phone.
Also, I'm in a well-serviced AT&T area (and in the middle of my contract) so I have no plans on jumping ship. By the end of my contract (July, 2012), I'm guessing AT&T's LTE network will have legs and Apple will release their iPhone LTE (iPhone 6?). I'll most likely upgrade at that time. Until then, I expect to remain perfectly happy with my AT&T iPhone 4. I absolutely love this thing! It's the best phone I've ever had!
More on topic: I'm glad the Verizon iPhone 4 performs well. I'm sure Apple will sell a bajillion of them and set new records (again), especially in light of these reviews. I still have my fingers crossed that Verizon's network doesn't melt from all the new iPhone voice and data traffic.
Have AT&T and since having an iPhone I can only think of one time I have done this. Honestly if your not used to it at all you won't miss anything.
Simultaneous voice and data is one of those things that if you've never had it, you can't miss it. I can never imagine myself ever using speakerphone while also doing anything data-related on my phone. Looking up a contact, or a memo that is stored in my phone, sure, but not using an app at the same time. Then again, I have ALWAYS been on Verizon. For the 290 million customers they have, it obviously won't affect them much.
I don't know how true that is - when I worked in a law firm most of the lawyers who chose VZW decided that the call coverage was more important than simultaneous voice/data. But they all complained that they couldn't get emails while on a long conference call with a client...
So it's a trade-off, but I wouldn't consider it a non-factor for VZW customers.
So they didn't fix the proximity sensor and add another sensor?
For what?
Or the antenna deathgrip?
No, they didn't fix a problem that doesn't exist.
Or yellow screens?
A single batch of displays wouldn't still be showing up a half-year later.
I remember the very beginnings of cell phones (and the bagged phone I had). It's amazing where we've gotten to in such a short amount of time. Back then, cell service wasn't even handled by the majors, it was generally a specialty business service handled by business communications companies. I remember meeting with Walmart and my associate had his brick phone on the table so that we could call the factory to confirm delivery right then and there with the buyer. It was pretty cool to be able to do that back then - a time when you normally had to go out to use the bank of pay phones to call in to your office, before you could provide an answer.
I don't know how true that is - when I worked in a law firm most of the lawyers who chose VZW decided that the call coverage was more important than simultaneous voice/data. But they all complained that they couldn't get emails while on a long conference call with a client...
So it's a trade-off, but I wouldn't consider it a non-factor for VZW customers.
Yeah, it's amazing how the newfound ability to do something suddenly opens ones eyes to the DESIRE to do that thing.
I mean, the internet is such a pain, why would I want to use it more? Dial-up is plenty, thanks. All that waiting...
Once you have a phone that can do multiple things at the same time conveniently, you suddenly want to be able to do that. When you're using your crappy blackberry to email and text up a storm, you don't find yourself wonder why you can't browse the web while you talk, why you can't make a movie reservation while you're on the phone with your date, deciding on the movie, or dinner. But once you have an iPhone you do more often.
Yeah, it's amazing how the newfound ability to do something suddenly opens ones eyes to the DESIRE to do that thing.
I mean, the internet is such a pain, why would I want to use it more? Dial-up is plenty, thanks. All that waiting...
Once you have a phone that can do multiple things at the same time conveniently, you suddenly want to be able to do that. When you're using your crappy blackberry to email and text up a storm, you don't find yourself wonder why you can't browse the web while you talk, why you can't make a movie reservation while you're on the phone with your date, deciding on the movie, or dinner. But once you have an iPhone you do more often.
Most people want an iPhone that doesn't drop calls- it is a phone afterall.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/te...h/03pogue.html
Speed tests performed by reviewers show that AT&T's data services are slightly faster than those of Verizon...
...Scores of speed tests performed by Mossberg in various locations showed that AT&T averaged 46 percent faster download speeds and 24 percent faster upload speeds compared to Verizon. A similar test by Wired found that AT&T download rates in San Francisco are 62 percent faster, while AT&T upload rates are 38 percent faster...
um...WOW...so 46% and 62% qualify as "slightly faster"?
It's a nice feature, but in practice I've only used it a handful of times. 95% of the time that I'm on a call with my iPhone, I'm either at home/work where I have Wi-Fi or in the car using Bluetooth (so it's not like I'd be using 3G data anyway).
As long as you have a Wi-Fi connection, it doesn't matter anyway.
With the inclusion of my Jawbone Icon, I do it ALL the time. I feel that's what the phone is for, and if I didn't do it, there is no purpose in buying an iPhone, and I could just get a Nokia dumb phone and an iPad.
Most people want an iPhone that doesn't drop calls- it is a phone afterall.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/te...h/03pogue.html
+1... 5 bars this morning and dumped my streaming audio twice and lost my phone call 1 time..during my normal 1hr commute to work. Go AT&T!
"More bars in more places" must be a cosmetic thing.
Then again, holding a call is what a phone is for, anyway. Like one of the reviewers said, he made a 45 minute call and completed it successfully on Verizon, something he was never able to do on his AT&T version. That would drive me INSANE if I had dropped calls like that. I realize it's not everywhere, but for those that do have that issue in their city, I personally wouldn't be able to stand it.
I live in NYC and originally, phone service and 3G data service on AT&T was intolerably bad. There were stretches of midtown Fifth Avenue where nothing on the phone would work and the phone also could not get a reliable signal in my apartment in Queens, whereas my Verizon phone never had a problem. I'd say 90% of calls got dropped.
But since then, I have to admit that things have improved considerably. Some cells were put up on the building across from mine in Queens and I have to believe those are AT&T cells. So my phone now works fine in my apartment (I no longer have to stand by the window) and I haven't had a dropped call in ages. And the phone works far better in midtown. I do sometimes hit spots where the Stock application won't refresh and in spite of a strong signal, the phone still doesn't work very well on the promenade in Battery Park City, but overall it works pretty well almost everywhere and I no longer feel the need to switch.
Even though I don't use generally need to use an app while I'm on a call, I don't want to lose that capability. Since Verizon 3G data speeds have been reported as being lower by the reviewers, I would be very disinclined to switch. I think this has less to do with the phone than with the service, as when I was in London, the phone worked amazingly well - it was like having a new model.
So I'm not switching. I'll look at it again when the iPhone5 is released.
Or Gruber in Philadelphia...
http://daringfireball.net/2011/02/verizon_iphone_4
Or me in Phoenix...
AT&T sucks in more places than NY and San Fran.
I have never had an issue with my ATT iPhone in Philadelphia.