Should You Get An iPhone From Verizon?

It’s official as of today, Verizon will offer the iPhone!

Should you get an iPhone from Verizon now? Well, that depends.

First, you can only PRE-order as of February 3rd, 2011. Not sure how long you will have to wait to get one in your hot little hands.

Second, the iPhone you get from Verizon will be a 3G iPhone, so you will not be on the latest and greatest speed network. The 4G iPhone 5 is expected to debut this summer but only on AT&T’s network. Verizon will have to wait until a year from now.

Does that really matter?

Do you REALLY get that much more speed, after all, how many locales actually have a fully functioning 4G network?

Verizon iPhone Pricing

Verizon isn’t exactly giving these things away, either. At $199 plus new contract for a 16GB iPhone and $299 for the 32GB model it’s a lot more expensive than picking up a nice Android phone.

Unlimited Data Plan

Besides, in most people’s opinion, having a better network than AT&T, Verizon is offering an unlimited data plan to iPhone customers the same as they have for the Androids.

Since AT&T limits your data, and with a smartphone you have no idea what you are using, lack of unlimited data is a deal breaker in my mind.

Just think of all the apps on your phone constantly looking for updates, phoning home, etc – all at the expense of you data allocation. If  that allocation is limited, who wants all this crap going out on the network without your approval?

For where I live, it’s a no brainer. If you want the ease of use and best camera that the iPhone offers, Verizon will be the way to go.

More Yet

One of my clients has a number of people who have been considering a new phone over the last few months. Here is the email I sent to them this morning:

Those with a Verizon phone who are eligible to switch phones (so many have asked me about this in the last few months that I am sending this to everyone as I cannot remember all who have asked me about this) will have the iPhone as an option.

I had told quite a few people that Verizon would either:

• Announce the iPhone in January
• Announce the iPhone in June
• Never get it

I was personally suspecting and hoping for January.

The OFFICIAL announcement came today, but you probably cannot have one in your hands for another month.

To reiterate my feeling on smartphones:

I personally have an Android based Droid X, that I am very happy with. I have never used an iPhone, but from what I have heard about the iPhone and what I know about the Android:

• The iPhone is probably easier to use for non-techies
• The iPhone is said to have the best camera, not most megapixels, but the best resulting photos
• Androids may ultimately have more things available to them since the market is more ‘open’
• Of the Androids, HTC phones have been said to have the easiest interface to use
• Keep in mind, new phones come out almost daily and these comments are based on what I know/think as of TODAY!

Hope that helps for all who have asked.