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Switching to Verizon: It's About the Coverage
Analysts estimate sales of a Verizon iPhone to be from three to six million units per quarter, with a substantial number being sold to refugees from AT&T’s 3G network. Whether or not you want to flee AT&T will likely come down to coverage and cost, but that’s not all.

Coverage

The singular issue for iPhone users contemplating switching from AT&T to Verizon is network coverage and reliability. Survey after survey has shown AT&T lagging behind Verizon, most recently from Consumer Reports (via PC World). AT&T customers, half of them iPhone owners, rated AT&T as the worst in value and service. AT&T scored a dismal 60 out of 100, down six points from last year, and was rated worst in voice and data service, as well as customer support. Verizon was rated the second best carrier overall. As for coverage, the 3G maps don’t lie; Verizon wins.

Cost

Buying a new phone and terminating a contract is always expensive, but in switching from AT&T to Verizon there are a few caveats. Verizon iPhones start at $199, but that amount is easily recovered through the sale of a used AT&T iPhone on eBay. Regarding termination fees, for those who purchased an AT&T smartphone after June 1 2010, the early termination fee is $325, prorated at $10 per month of ownership. Those who bought phones before then pay $175, minus prorating, so iPhone 4 owners pay nearly twice as much as iPhone 3GS owners. However, in both cases there is, in my opinion, a hidden “fee” relating to network coverage.

As an AT&T customer, I don’t need to look at surveys or maps about coverage and reliability. All I need to do is try to make a phone call from home. Without an AT&T 3G MicroCell, I wouldn’t be able to. I had to pay $150 for that device, and there are additional fees for those wanting calling plans with it. In this case, coverage factors into switching cost, too.

Features

Features are really secondary to cost and coverage, but there are a few to consider. The biggest “loss” to switchers will be a lack of simultaneous voice and data. The question is how many people really use that. Unlike Dave, I can’t remember the last time I needed data access on a call. Likewise, not many people will probably use a Verizon iPhone with tethering capability for up to five devices, but for those who will, at least it’s there.

Button placement has shifted slightly on the Verizon iPhone, which may require the purchase of new accessories, especially cases, though the antenna redesign may make these less necessary. For data hogs, the Verizon iPhone could offer an unlimited data plan for $30 (unless they introduce iPhone-specific data pricing), just $5 more than the 2GB capped plan from AT&T. That would probably the best single Verizon-specific feature for prospective switchers besides coverage.

Within Reach

There’s always the choice to wait until June or July to switch and get the next generation of iPhone, too. If I were already on Verizon, that’s what I would do. However, for many suffering with AT&T, the question isn’t about hardware, but about putting up with the inferior coverage and reliability of AT&T’s network. That there’s an answer for that as of Feb. 10, and one that still represents the latest and greatest in smartphone tech that Apple has to offer, will be hard to pass up.

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Staying With AT&T: It's About Relationships
Now that Verizon has the iPhone, will I switch? No, for the simple reason that AT&T has done a good job of making sure that switching would be detrimental to a number of my relationships: with AT&T itself, with other iPhone users, and with business contacts.

Early Termination Fee (ETF)

The whole purpose of the ETF is to keep you as a customer, because the carrier is paying a portion of the phone in order to get your business for two years. $325 for each iPhone pro-rated at $10 each month is a hefty fee to pay just to switch networks. Having been on most networks at one time or another, the differences just don't seem that great to me where I use my phone, and certainly don’t justify a $325 cancellation fee plus another $200 or more for a new phone. Since I’m not eligible for any of the ETF workarounds, I'd rather wait out my contract and reevaluate at that time.

The exception would be if AT&T is particularly weak and you have directly confirmed that Verizon's coverage is particularly strong in areas where you use your phone the most. This is the case in a few large cities with high population density, but not in my region of the country.

Relationship With AT&T

Currently, most of my communication services are handled by AT&T through its U-Verse service. This allows me integrated voicemail for both mine and my wife’s accounts, and gives me leverage when I have a problem.

Overall, I've actually had very few problems over the years with AT&T, and when I have, it's generally been resolved pretty well, though more than once I had to tweet to @ATTcustomercare to get things fixed. Relationships with service providers are often prioritized for long-term customers, and the longer I stay with AT&T and the more services I have, the better customer service I’ll get (at least in theory).

Calling Circle

It's all about who you call. In spite of my iPhone usage growing each month, the minutes I use actually go down. Why? So many of my friends, family and business contacts now have iPhones. When I purchased my iPhone 4, I looked at my calling plan and noticed that over half my minutes were used for calling AT&T customers. Logically, then, a switch would incur additional costs for those minutes, though some might be offset by comparable Verizon programs.

AT&T wasn't dumb about this. The company’s head start on the iPhone party means a huge installed base of AT&T iPhone users. Unless large groups of friends and family switch en masse, isolated Verizon defectors will cost everyone money.

Internet and Voice at the Same Time

Who would want to "surf" and "talk" at the same time? Me! I use my phone for business and I don’t see the point of having a smartphone if it turns dumb whenever you make a cal l. In particular, when I'm on a long conference call or talking with my mother-in-law, time tends to drag. I'm not as much interested in finding out sports scores as I am in reading the emails, Twitter DMs, and MobileMe updates I'm missing. I also often need to look up something pertinent to the call I’m on while I’m on it, and would dearly miss this ability. Having to repeatedly jump off and call someone back just doesn’t cut it in the business world.

For the casual user, this limitation might be more of an annoyance than anything else (but could take a considerable toll if you and five friends are browsing using the personal hotspot feature when a call comes in). Apple and AT&T's commercials about being able to order flowers while on the phone are cute, but not compelling. However, as a serious business user who relies on their smartphone, I can't imagine losing this critical feature.

Who Will Bite?

The big winners today are existing Verizon customers. Those who’ve lusted after an iPhone since day one but settled for something else and now get to join the party. Until now, customers who wanted both iPhones and to stick with Verizon had to settle for something else. Now they have a real choice. I'd love to see the stats about how many existing Verizon customers switch from Android, Blackberry and Windows-based phones. But claims of an impending mass exodus are premature at best, in my opinion.

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CDMA-Compatible iPad Coming to Verizon
Verizon will soon be selling a CDMA-compatible version of the iPad, according to Verizon Communications CFO Francis Shammo (via Bloomberg). Users currently have to use a MiFi device to allow iPads to connect to Verizon’s network via Wi-Fi. The new version would be able to connect directly.

Shammo revealed that an embedded chip is on the way, but declined to comment on a timeframe for the introduction of the new version of the iPad. Apple announced the first generation iPad in Jan. 2010, and began selling the tablet in April. If it sticks to the one-year product upgrade cycle, as many analysts and industry watchers expect, Apple may wait until the introduction of the iPad 2 before it includes built-in CDMA capabilities.

Apple today introduced the Verizon iPhone 4, so a broadening of its partnership with the largest U.S. wireless network provider is a logical next step, especially now that it can easily leverage its CDMA know-how from the new iPhone. A CDMA iPad doesn’t need to worry about voice/data conflicts, and Verizon will also likely introduce the personal hotspot feature it unveiled for the iPhone 4 as well, which could give it a significant edge over AT&T. Plus, iPad data plans aren’t contract-based, so there are fewer barriers to switching. This could be the most substantial victory for Verizon stemming from today’s announcement, if the iPad continues to be such a success with consumers in 2011.

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How to Cancel Your AT&T Contract
Choice is now here when it comes to U.S. iPhone service providers, so if you’ve decided that you’ve had enough of AT&T, there are a few options available. But keep in mind that since AT&T put up some serious cash subsidizing the iPhone to get you to sign that two-year contract, it’ll probably do its best to get some of that investment back.

Avoiding the Early Termination Fee

In most cases, you will not be able to avoid paying AT&T the early termination fee (ETF) of $325 minus $10 for each full month of your Service Commitment that you’ve already completed. Before you do anything, be sure you read the terms of your agreement, as each situation is unique and options may be available to you that are not available to others. Limitations aside, there are some options:

Within the first 30 days. If you’re within the first thirty days of your contract, you can likely cancel the contract. You’ll still be liable for any usage and fees that were incurred during that time, but you won’t have to pay the ETF. You will have to pay an equipment fee if you don’t return the hardware.

Wait out the contract. It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to figure out that $10 a month over two years does not equal $325. Hardly a well-balanced, pro-rated formula. If you’re close to the end of your contract, just hang in there a little longer if you can.

Watch for an increase in rates. It’s unlikely that AT&T will be increasing its rates any time soon, but if they do (or have during the term of your contract), that gives you an out, since it allows you to exit early according to AT&T’s standard terms and conditions.

Move to a location without service. A bit extreme, but perhaps you were already moving for other reasons, or you already live somewhere without great coverage. If the area you are moving too does not have adequate coverage, then there is a chance you can terminate your contract without paying the ETF.

Sell the contract. According to the WSJ, sites like celltradeusa.com and cellswapper.com will charge you a fee to sell your contract to somebody else. This may work with your average cell phones, but I’m not sure how well it will work with today’s smartphones and their expensive data plans. It’s worth a try, in any case.

Sell your hardware to cover the ETF. You can still get a lot of money for an iPhone 4, even one locked to a carrier. On Gazelle.com, a site that lets people sell their old gadgets for cash, you can get $430 for a 32GB iPhone 4. On eBay or on Craigslist, you can probably also get more than the $325 ETF. You’ll have to fork over for a new device, but at least you won’t be paying for it twice.

Getting Out at All Costs

Lets face it, everyone knew this day was coming, including AT&T. Their customer service reps are all trained to keep you as a customer. They know all the tricks because they deal with them every day. It is therefore likely that the ETA will just be a reality that you will have to pay. If such is the case, you have only two options left:

Cancel the account directly with AT&T. If you wish to sever ties with AT&T, you can leave at any time. Targeting the end of your billing cycle is typically the best option. Contact AT&T Customer Service and inform them that you wish to terminate your account at the end of the current billing cycle. While this will avoid those prorated formulas that favor the carrier, it will limit your chances of being able to keep your phone number and you’ll still have to pay the ETF. When switching carriers, this is generally not the best way to go.

Transfer your existing phone number. Be sure to take a copy of your most recent cell phone bill with you when you decide which carrier you want to switch to. Your billing information must remain the same from your old carrier to the new. As per the FCC guidelines, cell phone carriers are required to transfer your wireless number, provided certain conditions are met. Typically it’s the new provider that issues the request to the old provider when transferring a number. If your phone number is not in active service, it cannot be transferred. In most cases, it takes between two and three hours for the transfer to complete.

And You’re Out

Once you’re out, you’ll be free to go ahead and throw your lot in with Verizon. Of course, you might want to hold off on that until Apple releases its next iPhone, or to see if other CDMA carriers follow in Verizon’s footsteps. Got any advice other than that already mentioned here? Please share in the comments.

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Don't Buy a Verizon iPhone — Yet
Now that the Verizon iPhone is here, you may be tempted to rush out and buy one, but there’s no good reason to, unless you’re extremely impatient or you don’t care that much about money. If neither of those descriptors applies to you, then you’re better off waiting.

The phone that Verizon is announcing today is nearly eight months old. That makes it a senior citizen given Apple’s established iPhone hardware upgrade cycle of 12 months. The next iPhone will almost certainly make its debut at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference in June, and should go on sale not long after that. There’s no reason to expect it not to be leaps and bounds better than its predecessor. More processing power, better battery life, and maybe even NFC all seem to be in the cards.

Judging by the images from the Verizon announcement earlier today, Apple has indeed redesigned the antenna system that forms the outside border of the iPhone 4 for this launch. Presumably, that’s to mitigate any potential antenna reception issues. It’s a nice touch if it works, but not nice enough to justify locking yourself into a two-year contract a scant few months before a complete hardware overhaul.

Verizon offers no advantage in pricing for the hardware; the 16 GB model will cost you $199 on a two-year contract, and the 32GB version is still $299. Verizon does allow the iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices to share its mobile network connection via Personal Hotspot capabilities. That’s a big advantage, but one that’s not going anywhere on next-generation devices. As for data pricing, that’s to be determined still, and could confer a slight advantage.

If you want an iPhone from Verizon, it must be awfully tempting now that it’s here. But remember that today’s announcement isn’t a limited-time only offer; it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. And if you’ve managed to survive this long with whatever alternative solution you have been using, you can make it a few more months. Trust me, once the excitement wears off, those who waited will be much better off.

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How to Back Up Your Gmail Using Apple Mail or Outlook
Living in the cloud isn’t without its risks. Gmail outages are rare, but they do happen. Your Gmail password could also get stolen or hacked. Before HTTPS was the default option in Gmail, that’s exactly what happened to me. I learned my lesson. Fancy options exist for Gmail backups, but I’ve got an incredibly simple way to do it that even comes with some bonus features.

Since Gmail supports POP, all you need is a POP email program to download your emails from the cloud while still keeping a copy out there on the server. Built into OS X is Apple Mail, but you can easily do this with Entourage/Outlook. Stick with a program that supports OS X’s built-in Spotlight search and indexing system, though, for reasons that I’ll describe below.
1. You’ll need to login to your Gmail as always and then go to “Settings” and then to “Forwarding and POP/IMAP.”
2. In the middle section will be “POP Download.” Click on the radio button next to “Enable POP for all mail.“
This will allow your mail program to download old and new mail as well as your sent items. In that same section are “Configuration Instructions” for supported programs, including Apple Mail and Outlook. If your program isn’t listed, like Entourage, check “other” for general configuration instructions that seem to work pretty well in general.

Each time your open up your desktop email program, all your emails since your last connection will be downloaded, while also leaving them intact on Google’s system. On average, I open that program once a month or so as part of regular maintenance . No need to keep the program running or actually use it for sending email — just leave it open long enough for it to download your recent messages.

Now that the emails are physically on your computer, you can then incorporate them into your backup routine with online backup services, Time Machine, or whatever other local backup option you choose. If you use a Spotlight-enabled email program, you can then search your Gmail and your desktop computer all with one search. I find this handy when I can’t remember when a date for an event is. A Spotlight search will look in my iCal and my previously-downloaded Gmails in one query.

Another added bonus of regularly downloaded Gmails is that should your Gmail get hacked and you are locked out, Google will sometimes ask you questions about recent emails or contacts. Having that information downloaded in your desktop program means you can easily answer their questions. When my account was hacked, the hacker deleted all sent emails to cover her/his tracks so my backup was incredibly helpful in this case.

Living in the cloud is great, but occasionally it’s a good idea to ground yourself and back up your important data. Luckily, with Gmail and your Mac, that’s incredibly easy to do.

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