Verizon and Anything Apple

Verizon may claim to cover more of the United States with their "Red Map" when compared to AT&T's "Blue Map," but looks can be deceiving--especially for Apple users. First, Verizon has a 3G coverage area that arguably covers more cows, sheep, and free range pheasant than AT&T. However, I don't know about you, but my phone calls tend to go to people. Indeed, how many cows carry a cell phone? Verizon might as well be saying we cover more underwater fish than AT&T. Yes, and your point is?

Second, the nice thing about AT&T and the iPhone is "it just works," and that includes on AT&T's 3G network and on their numerous WiFi hotspots across the country. AT&T's 3G network is simply faster than Verizon's (and getting faster as they continue to roll out their 7MBs speed HSPA protocol). Indeed, in many cases, Verizon barely manages to outpace AT&T's EDGE. If you consider that, the Blue Map starts looking very similar to the Red Map.

Third, AT&T's network is designed to allow multiple simultaneous sessions, Verizon's is not. The result is that great Droid phone on Verizon may be able to multitask its heart out, but not if you are trying to make a phone call and surf the Internet. Verizon's network can't do it. While the iPhone can't multitask, it can manage a simultaneous phone call and allow the user to use the Internet (or any other application for that matter).

Fourth, the ancillary benefits of network choice is access to WiFi. Face it, while accessing content over 3G is nice, when you are within range of a WiFi hotspot, it is nice to be able to use it. AT&T provides free access to iPhone users for all their WiFi hotspots nationwide. This allows the user to have WiFi speeds at Starbucks, McDonald's, various bookstores and numerous other locations--free and it just works. Verizon offers free WiFi access to their users of their FiOS high-speed Internet service. Again, you can use any of their many hotspots, including many of the same Starbucks. So, as an iPhone user and a Verizon FiOS user, you would think I have the best of both worlds. But the truth lies in the fine print. Verizon doesn't support the iPhone, ...or the iPad, ... or virtually anything Apple. Could this be the reason Apple doesn't do business with Verizon? It sure can't help the conversation.

While Verizon does provide access to its hotspots, the fine print notes that, "Verizon Wi-Fi currently supports: Windows XP (32-bit only), Vista, and Windows 7." That's right, Verizon does not support ANY Apple operating system (or any UNIX or UNIX derivative such as Linux). I can't even access their WiFi with my Windows XP-64 installed on my MacBook Pro. So, even though you pay for Verizon hotspot services, Verizon has locked out Apple users.

Nice touch don't you think? So, this is the rest of the story about why AT&T got the iPad. Verizon can't handle it.

What say you?