Verizon brings iPhone 4 to new several states

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Some customers in Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska are getting their first taste of Apple's revolutionary iPhone, which has only finally become a viable option there now that Verizon Wireless is carrying it.



New York and San Francisco are often cited as cities with poor AT&T coverage, but while the 147,042 square miles of Montana, the fourth largest state behind California, Texas and Alaska, has a slightly higher population than the 49 square mile city of San Francisco, it can't boast nearly as good of coverage by what used to be the exclusive carrier of iPhone.



Along with its neighboring states, the largely rural region of the north central West and Midwest US is now getting its first taste of the iPhone, and certainly its first opportunity to connect an iOS device to a functional 3G network.



While AT&T's coverage map suggests the carrier blankets at least the majority of the populated corridors of these and other rural states, that's only for 2G GSM service, and as with the carrier's map for San Francisco, it takes some liberties with its definition of coverage.



There is no 3G AT&T service at all in most of these states, with the company only claiming service hot spots in two cities in Nebraska and four urban centers in Minnesota. Other Western states, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah, similarly only have small pockets of 3G service in their urban centers, as was highlighted for dramatic effect in Verizon's "there's a map for that" ads last year.







I've got friends in low (population) places



A report by the Associated Press profiled "Apple devotees in states largely disregarded under a formerly exclusive deal to distribute the iPhone," who it said "rushed to stores to snap up the gadget early Thursday as Verizon Wireless entered the fray."



It noted a Verizon retail store in Baxter, Minnesota that opened today at 7 AM, three hours earlier than normal to greet dozens of people, despite wintery weather dipping well below zero degrees Fahrenheit.



In Fargo, North Dakota, 20 year old Madison Bratz described her old Android phone as the "next best thing in Fargo," and said, smiling, "I totally spent my whole paycheck but I don't care. I have waited so long for this. So long."



Robert Swope, the manager of the Verizon store in Fargo's mall, braced for an even greater turnout than appeared to materialized, calling all 24 employes in to work to greet only about as many customers in line. "I figure we're going to stay pretty busy throughout the weekend," he added.



Barry Stall, the manager of a second Fargo Verizon store, said in the report, "the demand is definitely there. A lot of people have been waiting a long time."



Apple eating everyone's launch



The Verizon launch of iPhone 4, a nearly year old model simply finding a new carrier in one country, appears set to easily surpass the global launch of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 last fall, in addition to the Nexus One launch in the spring of 2010 and the Palm Pre launch in 2009.



Verizon reported that within two hours of pre-order sales, iPhone 4 had already surpassed its own records set by the BlackBerry Storm and Android-based Motorola Droid launches, calling the event "unprecedented."



It's possible that the Verizon iPhone 4 launch on Verizon may even surpass last year's launch on AT&T, at least in its initial surge of pre-order sales.



Are long lines a thing of the past?



The long lines associated with previous iPhone launches worldwide haven't turned up for Verizon's launch in the US however, in part because existing Verizon customers were able to pre-order the phone last week for launch-day delivery.



At last year's US iPhone 4 launch, AT&T's pre-ordering system completely melted down almost immediately, forcing most customers to head to retail stores on launch day, creating lines that wrapped around the block of Apple Stores such as the one in downtown San Francisco, where many users waited an unbelievable 8 hours or more to get the new phone.



There were much shorter lines at AT&T's own retail stores, in part because Apple seems to prioritize inventory to stock its own outlets first. Today, Verizon is also launching in a large number of markets across the country where there are no Apple Stores, and there are more Verizon outlets to choose between, spreading the load around and minimizing waiting lines.



Apple has concentrated the build-out of its retail outlets in markets where there are large existing bases of Apple users. In the north central US, there are no Apple Stores between Spokane and Boise in the west to Omaha and Minneapolis to the east. That may change if Verizon helps the company to establish more customers throughout the region.



Last year, a report by Android ringtone and wallpaper provider Myxer graphically presented that Android phone use was strongest in areas where AT&T doesn't have good coverage.



Among the strongest areas for Android were the same western states virtually new to the iPhone. Even so, the firm reported that across Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and New Mexico, Android was only ahead of iPhone in its figures by about 1,000 additional users per state.



Comments

  • Reply 1 of 17
    I've had the ATT version for a few months in NE, and the only thing I really don't like is the lack of an unlimited data plan.
  • Reply 2 of 17
    bwikbwik Posts: 565member
    In rural Minnesota, there is only one phone company -- Verizon. So, it is essentially an emerging market for iPhone. Verizon covers these states whole, while ATT sticks to population centers and even fails there routinely.
  • Reply 3 of 17
    "Verizon brings iPhone 4 to several new states"



    We have new states? Damn, and I just bought a warehouse full of US flags.
  • Reply 4 of 17
    There were 12 people in line in Fargo this morning for the iPhone. Not what I was expecting. But I'm sure there were tons of pre orders, this was probably the case for many Verizon stores. Can't wait for my Big Red upgrade in March!



    Does anyone know if the new iPhone refresh in June will be for Verizon too? Or should I just get the iPhone 4 and not wait for a chance on the new one?
  • Reply 5 of 17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iPad999 View Post


    There were 12 people in line in Fargo this morning for the iPhone. Not what I was expecting. But I'm sure there were tons of pre orders, this was probably the case for many Verizon stores. Can't wait for my Big Red upgrade in March!



    Does anyone know if the new iPhone refresh in June will be for Verizon too? Or should I just get the iPhone 4 and not wait for a chance on the new one?



    My Apple stock says buy iphone4 now for yourself and all your friends; who knows what the future holds!
  • Reply 6 of 17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by David Andersen View Post


    My Apple stock says buy iphone4 now for yourself and all your friends; who knows what the future holds!



    Haha yeah that helps a lot
  • Reply 7 of 17
    Can't wait to see some hard numbers on VZ iPhone sales/activations, then some "real world" user reviews.
  • Reply 8 of 17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iPad999 View Post


    Does anyone know if the new iPhone refresh in June will be for Verizon too? Or should I just get the iPhone 4 and not wait for a chance on the new one?



    Apple hasn't officially announced an iPhone 5. It's just anticipated as they've refreshed the iPhone yearly in June/July since its original launch. Most people here on AI, myself included, think it's unlikely that Apple would play favorites among its carrier partners when it releases its next iPhone, but the specific details of Apple's contractual agreements with its carrier partners are obviously privileged. Also, whether the next iPhone will be a substantial upgrade over the iPhone 4, or a minor speed boost (like the iPhone 3Gs was over the iPhone 3G), is anyone's guess right now.



    You'll never get ahead of technological progress so it really comes down to your needs, both present and future. There are some anticipated hardware improvements that are expected to make their way into the next iPhone. Do your due diligence about them so you know what's in the pipeline, but don't hold your breath for any particular piece of tech. Apple incorporates and releases new tech on its own schedule.



    Regardless, the fact remains that, in the here and now, the iPhone 4 is an amazing product that will not disappoint you! It's fast, powerful, stylish, and (as the carriers continue to improve their networks) more reliable every day. And with frequent updates to iOS 4.x (arguably the best mobile UI on the market), and more apps than any other platform, the iPhone 4 will not only stave off obsolescence better than its contemporaries, but will also be competitive against any smartphones due to be released for the next couple of years (future iPhones included).



    My personal feeling is that the iPhone won't get a major overhaul in form or function until LTE hits the big time, both domestically and around the world.



    I say go get your iPhone 4 and start living the high life like the rest of us.



  • Reply 9 of 17
    sheffsheff Posts: 1,407member
    Awesome, IL is an iPhone state! I feel great about that.



    Living in Chicago I've never had a problem with any mobile service operator. Even T-Mobile has a perfect reception just about anywhere. I do feel the pain of the North Dakotans though, cause every time I drive to wisconsin I lose reception as soon as I get off the high way. Verizon people do not. So I guess thumbs up for Verizon for bringing iPhone to our rural friends.
  • Reply 10 of 17
    quinneyquinney Posts: 2,528member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    In Fargo, North Dakota, 20 year old Madison Bratz described her old Android phone as the "next best thing in Fargo," and said, smiling, "I totally spent my whole paycheck but I don't care. I have waited so long for this. So long."



    What is the first best thing? pancakes?
  • Reply 11 of 17
    Filmed at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUaFywhywjA
  • Reply 12 of 17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DanaCameron View Post


    I say go get your iPhone 4 and start living the high life like the rest of us.







    Can't wait to join current iPhone Comrades! Until then my 2nd gen iPod touch will have to keep me semi in the iOS loop! (Until they stop updating 2nd gen which they pretty much have. Since I have no multitasking, but at least my iPad does!)
  • Reply 13 of 17
    Well, good to see that CA, of all places, is an iPhone state. Makes me happy.



    Kinda wish I could get the verizon iPhone cuz AT&T's network is horrible for calls and coverage (data is ok tho). Sucks tho cuz I'm stuck wit em for 2 years... :/
  • Reply 14 of 17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sheff View Post


    Awesome, IL is an iPhone state! I feel great about that.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Avenged110 View Post


    Well, good to see that CA, of all places, is an iPhone state. Makes me happy.



    VA isn't. Makes me sad.
  • Reply 15 of 17
    llamallama Posts: 102member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DanaCameron View Post


    VA isn't. Makes me sad.



    Well, Northern VA is just fine.
  • Reply 16 of 17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iPad999 View Post


    There were 12 people in line in Fargo this morning for the iPhone. Not what I was expecting. But I'm sure there were tons of pre orders, this was probably the case for many Verizon stores. Can't wait for my Big Red upgrade in March!



    Does anyone know if the new iPhone refresh in June will be for Verizon too? Or should I just get the iPhone 4 and not wait for a chance on the new one?



    Unless you're incredibly unhappy with your current phone, wait.



    Keep in mind the Verizon 3g network is slower than AT&T's, and you can't talk and use the net at the same time. If the iPhone 5 is 4g (and it might be) it'll fix those issues.



    And in any case, don't forget this is essentially a v1.0 release - let somebody else find the bugs and headaches.
  • Reply 17 of 17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Llama View Post


    Well, Northern VA is just fine.



    I've had no problems with my iPhone 4 in central VA. I'm just sad that, according to the map, VA is considered a "swing" state rather than being solid iPhone.
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