Feature Wars: Verizon iPhone vs AT&T iPhone

Now that Verizon has informed the world that the iPhone will be coming to the Verizon 3G network, people are wondering: what will the iPhone have on Verizon that will make it better than on AT&T's network?

Scouring the web, I have compiled articles thousands of words long to bring a short and concise feature comparison that will matter when you make the choice between an iPhone on Verizon or on AT&T.

First here is a little summary of the difference in 3G networks between AT&T and Verizon (4G networks, which are only starting to become prevalent are based on the same technology for both providers, so there is only a difference in the 3G network).

AT&T uses the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network technology infrastructure, which is capable of handling both voice and data at the same time, but is only able to connect to one tower at a time, which means there is a "hard handoff" from tower to tower. This increases the number of dropped calls and reduces the stability of the voice network when on phone calls.

Verizon uses a type of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network, which allows multiple tower connections for "soft handoff" between towers so that your phone can connect to two or more towers at the same time and switch from one to another incrementally. This leads to less frequent dropped calls, but the CDMA network cannot handle voice and data at the same time.

Keeping this in mind, here are the major differences:

• The AT&T iPhone can support surfing the Internet and talking on the phone at the same time. The Verizon iPhone can only do one or the other.

• The Verizon iPhone doesn't have the famous signal issue when holding the phone a certain way; this has been tested by trying to cover the corners of the phone, and it has been proven that there is virtually no signal loss. Verizon is likely to have a more stable call connection with less frequent drops, due to its more stable voice network technology.

• The Verizon iPhone will support Wi-Fi hotspots for iPhone; the AT&T network supports no Wi-Fi hotspot.

• AT&T actually has a faster network, and it is pretty certain that Internet browsing and network activity will be faster on the AT&T iPhone than on the Verizon iPhone.

In Summary:

Article Author: Justin Germino

Justin Germino is a Technology and Entertainment blogger who has written for 14 online blogs and networks over the past three years. You can find more articles on my technology blog as well as more information about me on the personal diary of Justin …

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