About Time!

Finally!

After 4 years, AT&T has finally ended its exclusive reign of the iPhone in the US, and is now available on Verizon as well. I didn't think Apple would manufacture a second type of handset just to run on Verizon's CDMA network, but they did. I imagined that it would not be cost efficient to have 2 types of hardware co-existing on different networks, and that it would make more economical sense to have a single type of hardware on the market. Well, I guess I was wrong.

Apple will start offering the iPhone 4 on Verizon as of February 10, and I can't wait, for several reasons. First, I am very eager to see how well the iPhone will perform on a completely different type of network, and whether Verizon's network will out-perform AT&T. Although there is the issue of CDMA networks not being able to simultaneously support voice and data, this may not be an issue for most average users. Sure, I might not be able to chat with my friends while looking up directions, but I don't think that will be a major concern. Will this mean the end of those frequently dropped calls such as those on the AT&T network? Will the iPhone perform its most basic function more efficiently now, as it does in most other countries? Will data speeds now be much faster and consistent? Will the CDMA iPhone be less energy efficient and thereby have a shorter battery life?

I am also very eager to see what type of competition this will bring about across the 2 carriers. Already, Verizon is promising the option of using the iPhone as a mobile hotspot, something which is not available on AT&T. However, there is also talk of iOS 4.3 allowing this as a standard option, subject to carrier participation, which means that it might eventually be available on AT&T as well. When this happens, AT&T is going to have to find ways to make themselves attractive to existing and future iPhone subscribers. Will this bring about cheaper voice and data plans, or other perks? Will they somehow improve their network performance? We shall just have to wait and see. I can't wait!