iPhone 4 users switching to Verizon not more than AT&T expected
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Analysts at Wells Fargo initially projected 225,000 AT&T iPhone 4 users jumping over to Verizon within the first quarter of 2011, but their estimates have gradually gone down to 150,000, which to them now is a more likely figure. Ralph de la Vega further explained, that it is still early to tell how much subscribers AT&T will lose, as the situation remains “volatile.” Unfortunately, no details were given regarding the number of Verizon subscribers after the introduction of the iPhone 4 for the carrier earlier in February. It was suggested that some AT&T customers may be simply waiting for their contracts to expire before they grab a Verizon iPhone 4 instead.
source: The Wall Street Journal via Boy Genius Report
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39 Comments
1. snowgator posted on 03 Mar 2011, 09:40 3 3
Be real interesting to see what iPhone users do when #5 comes out in the summer (?) and more contracts are up or at least in a position to be more cost effective to be terminated. I always felt that AT&T wouldn't lose a lot of iPhone users to Verizon, but that Droid/Blackberry/Feature phone users on Verizon would account for most of Big Reds iPhone buying public. Also interested to see how many new subscribers AT&T gets to offset what losses they do endure, with all their "4G" offerings coming out. Will be fun to watch.
2. WirelessCon posted on 03 Mar 2011, 10:16 6 1
In the end, the cheapest reliable data will win. Minutes are almost a thing of the past. Data will become king. The carriers need to get their networks to be competitive with land based internet providers, that's the goldmine, that's the integration and that's the innovation. Customers would love one bill for all communication/mobile/home entertainment. That simplicity is the only way for a carrier to survive into the next 20 years.
3. DJLegacy2k5 posted on 03 Mar 2011, 10:37 1 8
I love MARYLAND becuase Verizon is terrible here, I switch more Verizon customers to AT&T than even T-blow or Sprint.
This week alone I personally have switch 5 Verizon customers totalling 14 lines to AT&T...most of them buying the HTC Inspire, MOTO Atrix, or oddly enough the iPhone 4 (even tho I tell them not to).
I would love to see state by state numbers, because it seems everyone in MD is switching off of Verizon due to "coverage" issues and poor customer service.
6. iwebdroidberry7 posted on 03 Mar 2011, 14:31 4 1
Where do you live in Maryland? Because I live in the Rockville, Silver Spring area and Ive been just about all over the state an never any complaints...
25. taco50 posted on 04 Mar 2011, 20:54 0 0
Hahaha what a douche. You try to talk people out of the iPhone and yet they still buy it. Sounds like your customers are smarter than you.
4. JeffdaBeat posted on 03 Mar 2011, 12:36 4 4
Let's be real...most people signed up for the iPhone 4 back in June. Their ETF for leaving AT&T is about $235 right about now. AT&T prevented the mass exodus. What we should look for is people leaving at a steady rate once contracts are up next year. But who knows, maybe people won't hate AT&T so much now that they aren't the only iPhone provider.
5. DJLegacy2k5 posted on 03 Mar 2011, 13:35 1 8
I had a customer switch to AT&T the other day FROM a Verizon iPhone to an AT&T iphone their reason when I asked what was wrong with Verizon: "EVERYTHING, they are terrible!".
Verizon is like Apple, they make a perfect pair, both are over hyped and under performing and over priced lol
7. giantgnome posted on 03 Mar 2011, 14:46 4 1
Lol, right... ATT with their draconian 2GB data limit on a plan priced just as badly as the next carrier. I don't love Verizon at all but ATT is just downright abusive. ATT realizes how stupid and loyal their iphone customers are and no other company offers such a restricted data plan at such outrageous prices.
But since you work at ATT it's a given you'll simply be a company shill.
9. DJLegacy2k5 posted on 03 Mar 2011, 17:39 3 6
LMAO, only 2% of consumers on at&t use more than 2 gigs! There is no need for more...
They installed a cap because data abusive, poorly made phones such as the iPhone were data hogs and bogged down the network.
Just because Verizon says "Unlimited" (which in the fine print says 5gig cap, so nice lie) doesnt mean ANYONE needs 5 gigs of data, unelss you live your life out of wifi and on Pandora 24/7.
So let's be realistic, youre bitching about a feature that one\ly 2% of customers MAY have an issue with.
26. taco50 posted on 04 Mar 2011, 20:56 0 0
My god every post is dumber than the one before. Verizon and AT&T have the same exact voice plans and text plans. Only difference is data plans. How's Verizon over priced when they charge the same as AT&T?
8. zuno gyakusatsu posted on 03 Mar 2011, 16:15 5 0
how can you call VZW overpriced but not mention ATT? they mirror each other with pricing. everytime VZW changes something, ATT is following right along like a lost dog.
12. networkdood posted on 03 Mar 2011, 19:06 1 1
Verizon will soon get rid of the 30.00 unlimited data plan...mid summer
23. jherz6 posted on 04 Mar 2011, 20:52 1 0
only for new customers. current customers such as myself will not be effected.
30. Liz (unregistered) posted on 05 Mar 2011, 08:58 0 0
ATT is the same way also. Current users of unlimited data plans were allowed to keep their plans. Only new users are stuck with the 2GB cap.
10. DJLegacy2k5 posted on 03 Mar 2011, 17:41 3 4
AT&T offers mobile to mobile calling TO ANY CELL PHONE so there is NO NEED for an insane amount of minutes, plus roll over minutes. You still get more for your money with ATT than Verizon, BY FAR.
11. giantgnome posted on 03 Mar 2011, 18:21 1 1
Why would anyone with unlimited data, even if it was softcapped at 5gb, really need minutes? I barely touch mine, there are so many options available to avoid using minutes, Google Voice, Skype, and much more. Seriously, both ATT and Verizon suck, but now you're just sounding like an iphone fanboy would, albeit over ATT.
13. My coverage is larger than you (unregistered) posted on 03 Mar 2011, 21:23 4 0
@DJLegacy2K5: I find your comments amusing. I work in a high position within VZW in the WBV (Washington Baltimore Virginia) region. Ive held several positions within the region and now have the luxury of testing products even those of our competitors most notably AT&T. Coverage varies in all areas but we are very solid and smoke you guys in the WBV region. The port in ratio from AT&T customers is 3.1>1. So for every 1 customer AT&T gets from VZW, we get 3 of yours.
To clarify, the $29.99 Unlimited data plan for smartphones is just that. There are no 5GB caps. Years ago when we offered a $59.99 unlimited data for broadband cards, we did have a clause stating that if someone used over 5GB for three consecutive months, we reserved the right to cancel the contract. AT&T had the exact same clause in place years ago. Smartphone pricing may change in the future but it is truely unlimited as of now.
You speak of AT&T's calling plans as if they blow away what Verizon has to offer. You guys just started offering unlimited M2M to anyone while we offer our "friends & family" which allows you to pick up to 10 numbers of people you call the most and those are added to your unlimited minutes. Why don't you explain how the so called "rollover minutes" work. They do expire after 12 months, correct?
Lets talk about 4G networks for a bit.....Since 2007, VZW has been building out their 4G LTE network and finally making it public in Dec 2010 in roughly 1/3 of the U.S. population equivilant to 39 cities and roughly 60 airports. We will have full network 4G LTE coverage within our footprint by early 2013. AT&T on the other hand made the decision to go LTE in late 2008 which put them 12-18 months behind VZW. With the term "4G" being wztered down so much now you guys along with T-Mobile decided to say "what the hell, lets just call our HSPA+ a 4G network" When I secret shop AT&T employees I am constantly told that I can expect an average of 7mbps download speeds in major metro areas. Funny part is, the highest I can get is anywhere from 500k to 2mbps download speed. Keep in mind that this is inside of the major metro areas and if I travel 5-10 miles in either direction, get pushed down to the good old edge network. Not so 4G anymore. This has become a long ass post so allow me to summarize some key points
-AT&T 4G is a complete sham until they truely get things going roughly in late 2011/early 2012
-People can say what they want but AT&T live and died by the iPhone since 2007. This explains why they are jumping quick on the 4G bandwagon even though they cannot offer it. Be sure to look at the 1st quarter results for both companies in April. The truth will reveal itself then. There is a reason VZW has kept mum on actual iPhone sales until the actual results for 1st q are released. :-) I'm glad I work where I do.
18. blu-ant (unregistered) posted on 04 Mar 2011, 17:54 0 2
first of all, for someone that is high ranking you should know some exact facts about your competitor. your unlimited plan will be obesolete by the summer of this year, in which VZW will have tiered plans(looks like someone is following the leader). second of all of the rollover minutes do not expire in the orderly fashion that you claim, This way rollover works, each month has its own 12 month expiration date, in which minutes will acculate during the 2 year commitment.
Third, as a marketing idea againist t-mobile and with the approval of ITU marketing hspa+ as 4g, at&t made the jump. Yes, an average speed for HSPA+ when launched on march 13th will be 5-8mbps so that is true from your ( secret shopping) some areas in NYC around 4-5mbps on 3g. When LTE is launched with voice and data, speeds will be implemented between 15-21+. This is not including the addition VOIP on a GSM network.
VZW is a Sham for comparing 3g networks with at&t, and its a sham when VZW unlimited plan is a 5gb cap. what a great way to lie to your customers.
21. my coverage is larger than you (unregistered) posted on 04 Mar 2011, 20:36 1 0
@blu-ant. To clarify a few of your comments:
You stated that I should "know the facts" when it comes to unlimited smartphone plans. What I stated was that AS OF NOW we still offer unlimited data plans which is not a lie. I do have information about upcoming changes that will take place later in the year but I am not at liberty to discuss for the sake of my job. Point being, our data plans we offer our customers are and will continue to be very competitive during 2011 making it an easy choice for a customer to choose VZW over AT&T in areas where our service is roughly the same.
Point #2: You did a very good job at explaining the rollover minutes and also proves my point. Rollover minutes is not advertised very well with AT&T's marketing departmen
I secret shopped an in store employee, customer service rep, and an agent (best buy employee) all with supposed knowlege of AT&T products and services. I got 3 different answers about the rollover minutes and I also got 3 different answers about AT&T's supposed "4G" network. I was told I could expect download speeds between 7mbps and up to 30mbps and it would only get quicker once "4G LTE" got here. I asked the in store employee because I was quite amused with the breakdown he gave me. My question was what's the difference between this current phantom 4G service now and this futuristic 4G LTE service that was coming soon (insert sarcasm) I was told "sir, its a much quicker 4G service this LTE stuff" POINT BLANK, AT&T DOES NOT HAVE A TRUE 4G SERVICE YET SO WHO IS LYING TO CUSTOMERS.
Next, VZW does have a much much larger 3G coverage area than AT&T. Its proven facts. You guys tried to sue us in late 2009 only to be denied. I will say the overall 3G speeds when compared network to network in downtown metro areas, AT&T has a slight download advantage but nothing most customers would see as a noticeable difference. Allow me to post some of my recent results: (I'm using an ATT Atrix 4G vs. a Motorola Droid 2 Global 3G)
Baltimore, MD. ATT 1.9 down, 89k up
Baltimore, MD VZW 1.4 down 678k up
Traveing 17 miles to the west here is what I get:
ATT falls to good ole edge or better known as 2G
80K down, 7K up. Yes I am talking about kilobytes now
VZW 3G service remains.....
743K down 512K up
I did the speed tests 5 times and divide those numbers to ensure I get as accurate as possible
I have more results but I will not bore the fellow phonearena folks anymore as I'm sure you are already thinking this is way too damn long.
Ill end with this: ATT is gonna work in some areas where VZW doesn't work and vice versa although VZW will still smoke ATT on a national coverage basis. ATT may often have quicker 3G speeds than VZW in downtown metro cities and not even enough to see the speed difference in most cases (I'm sure there are exceptions) but they remain VERY INCONSISTANT on true 3G coverage throughout their footprint while VZW will give you 3G coverage whether you're downtown or in the middle of nowhere.
