Why the Verizon iPhone Matters (And Why I Won't Buy It)

When I first heard the iPhone 4 was coming to Verizon, I was rather unimpressed. First of all, like anyone else who reads Gizmodo or engadget at least once a week knows, the Verizon iPhone was something that's been theorized about for like FOREVER, like an alien, and for the most part, it was as real as them too.


But on January 11th, Apple made the big announcement. The iPhone was coming to Verizon. Nerds shrieked in delight, and tons of people went to Twitter boasting "This is the end for AT&T" and all that junk. It suddenly became newer and hipper than the Thunderbolt, or Atrix, or pretty much CES 2011 itself. But really, the Verizon iPhone is almost identical to the AT&T iPhone. Same screen, same CPU, and perhaps even same deathgrip. The only big change was a CDMA Radio.


But really, it's more symbolic. And now, here's why I think its more important than we think:

1. Openness - Apple didn't need to stick the iPhone on Verizon. They've made quite a lot of money off of it on AT&T, and it has ultimately become one of the hottest phones. All time. But this move shows that Apple cares about consumers, and it is willing to adjust for more market space. It means Apple is ready to evolve and change strategies, something Palm has failed to do (and for that matter, Nokia). The big question this leaves me with is: Can we get it on T-Mobile too? (okay, maybe that was just pure wishful thinking)
2. Marketing - Apple's been known to be great for marketing. Sure, the advertisements are minimalistic and pale in terms of man-hours compared to the bulk of those Droid ads, but they get the message through. And Apple has used promotions carefully to get Mac users to use iOS products, vice versa. And that marketing applies here. Call it a scheme if you must, but this whole thing is designed so that Apple will make a whole bunch of sales, Verizon will also make a bunch of sales, and AT&T will get a lot of money from Early Termination fees. Everyone's happy (except Sprint).
3. Freedom - Of all these points, I think Freedom is the most relative. Some people think that AT&T has held back the full potential of the iPhone for the last 4 or 5 years, I for one think it's a bit more about free decision between carriers. So here's both arguments: Potential - The main thing that the iPhone on Verizon offers is tethering. It was rumored a while back that the iPhone 4 would support this, and it's evident that it has the capability, but yes, AT&T has held this back. Another point is that Verizon does have better coverage than AT&T. Choice - This is really basic. You get to choose between Verizon and AT&T. Do I need to say more?
4. Reception - This isn't a revolutionary change that reinvents the market. Think of it like the iPhone 3G or the myTouch, it's just kind of like the second iPhone 4. But it doesn't matter. The iPhone 4 came up just a LITTLE short, especially with antennagate, but in theory that's been fixed. And also, the little change from AT&T coverage to Verizon coverage is a big change. If you look at the reviews, its big enough to convince industry-leading experts that you should jump ship and pay the termination fee. Believe me, that means a lot.
5. Competition - Some argue that this is AT&T's last stand. Others say that T-Mobile and Sprint will get hurt, and some people just think that nothing will change. As for my opinion, I would definitely consider Verizon the biggest gainer here. I mean, regardless of how you look at it, getting the hottest device is something. And really, Verizon is the only one that gains ground. And as for who takes the bullet, I actually would say Sprint over AT&T. Sure, AT&T is going to lose customers, but think of three things that happen consequently: 1) Early Termination Money 2) Long-Needed Shift of Market Strategies 3) Bandwidth Frees Up - Faster Speeds. Sprint, on the other hand, has become that refuge for nerds-who-don't-want-an-AT&T-iPhone because of its cheap prices, decent coverage, and offering of devices like the EVO 4G and the Epic 4G that edge out the Droid line. But when the iPhone comes to Verizon, they're going to jump and run the fence. And Sprint won't get anything back.

So there you have it, why I think it matters. And yet, I'm going to pass on it. Here are the reasons why:

1. It IS the iPhone 4 - Whether it is more free or not, it's pretty much the same darn iPhone you could've bought last July. And besides, everyone knows that the iPhone 5 is only months away. And with rumored features like dual-core processor and some much needed improvements (*cough* antenna *cough*), I'd hate to be that idiot that has a shiny new iPhone 4 when I could've had an even shinier, newer, iPhone 5.
2. Freedom Wants to Break The Bank - Verizon is expensive. Okay, so maybe with all the deals and bargaining it can come down to about where AT&T is, even AT&T is a bit far up. While I've been considering switching to AT&T when my contract expires, that's a bit of a financial stretch from T-Mobile. And anyway, I'm not sure if I want to pay $200 for my next phone. After paying for the data plan and everything, I actually consider taking a look at those MOTOBLUR devices... I'm not kidding.
3. I Still Don't Care 100% - Okay, so maybe my attitude has changed to accept the Verizon iPhone 4 as significant rather than deceiving. But I still don't care. It's the iPhone, and it basically evens out with the AT&T one in terms of functionality. In the end, it comes down to whoever offers me the best offer.
4. Android, Phone 7, webOS - This is something probably completely unrelated to how the Verizon iPhone is good and bad, but it's still important when it comes down to the decision on my next phone. I've seen plenty of great Android devices in the last couple of months. There's the Atrix with the laptop stand, and even a few standouts for Verizon (Bionic, Thunderbolt). And in the end, these phones have better hardware (maybe not software, but def. hardware) than the iPhone, including 4G Data, camera, and even build. Most importantly, if I decide NOT to break the bank up front and go bankrupt while using my phone, Android devices can get more in the budget friendly. As for Phone 7, it's something that's light and simple, and it goes back to revolutionary and intuitive like iOS 1.0 was, not 4.2.whatever-it-is. And webOS? Well, the Pre 3 has a solid keyboard, and I like keyboards. My old phone had a vertical keyboard. Okay, maybe this is me being weird.
5. Talk and Surf - This isn't a deciding factor, but it's still a strike against. I'd hate to have to reload Google Maps because my mom accidentally called me instead of my brother. And this is also me being that guy who actually liked AT&T and sticking up for something that not to many people care about. Whatever. It's a feature.

Do the cons balance out the pros? For me, not really, because my wallet comes first, but for a user that has the money and is looking for a good new device, the Verizon iPhone 4 deserves a nod.