Royal Rumble: AT&T vs. Verizon

Verizon announced that they will have the iPhone on their network in early February. With all the hype surrounding this you’d think the iPhone is brand new and hasn’t been around since 2007.

But apparently AT&T users are ready to jump ship and join the Verizon bandwagon. So the question is, go to Verizon or just stick with AT&T?

One of the biggest factors is the amount of data you can use on each network. As an iPhone addict I can reassure you that if you buy an iPhone you will soon end up on an episode of “Intervention” due to Angry Birds.

Verizon is keeping their lips sealed as far as pricing goes; sources reveal that it will be offering their unlimited data plan for $29.99, but only for a limited time. Verizon reps did not state how long the plan will be available. If you do happen to get a much vied for unlimited plan it will stick with you until your contract ends.

AT&T on the other hand will continue to offer their unlimited $29.99 data plan for iPhone users who purchased the phone prior to June 2007. And even if you switch smartphones the plan will transfer over to your new phone.

The next issue is service. Ok, I’ll admit that my AT&T service isn’t exactly great. But considering that I spend more time texting than on the phone, does it really matter? This dilemma is more user-based as some customers use their phones for data and others for jibber jabbering.

Voice plans are similar on both networks, but their actual coverage may not be. Verizon boasts a 4G network, but AT&T announced plans to launch a 4G network sometime this year. Their coverage maps are similar, but AT&T has less coverage available in the Northwest United States (people really live there?!).

Both companies seem to be head to head in their offerings, so only time will tell how much the iPhone on the Verizon network will impact AT&T. If I were you, I’d consider getting an online electrical engineering degree and work for one of these companies; that’s one way to get a good discount!