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Worth switching to AT&T in NY metro area?

Folks,

I am seriously considering switching from my Moto RAZR on Verizon (not to mention my 3rd-gen iPod and Palm Zire) to the iPhone.

My biggest concern: horror stories I've heard about how much worse AT&T's network is than Verizon's.

I work in New York City and live in a New Jersey suburb. Can anyone out there provide any insight about AT&T's coverage in these areas, using the iPhone?

Many thanks in advance.

Mac Mini Mac OS X (10.4.8) iBook G4 (10.3.9); AirPort Extreme; AirPort Express (range extender)

Posted on Jul 13, 2007 10:19 AM

Best reply

rkny

Level 1

91 points

Posted on Jul 13, 2007 10:32 AM

No idea about NJ. I'm in Manhattan. I was on T-Mobile previously. I had almost no signal in my apt. (Gramercy area). Now I get full bars. However, I have a friend who can't get a signal in his midtown office. Point being, it all depends on where you plan to use the phone and what your proximity to a tower is. Out and around on the streets, I've pretty much got a full signal all the time.

I think it's pretty safe to say Verizon has NYC covered better than AT&T in many places. But you don't get an iPhone with Verizon. 😉

Here's what I would do if you really want to switch. Go to an AT&T store, ask them if they have any free phones with 2 year activation. Sign up, get the free phone, DON'T port your number from Verizon. Try the phone out for a few days in the places you'll be talking most.

If you like the service, go back and get yourself an iPhone, then port your number from Verizon. The free phone will be yours to keep (many folks, including myself have verified this).

If you don't like the service, you have 30 days to cancel the contract and return the free phone.

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27 replies

flyxsol

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2007 2:54 PM in response to Justin Schack1

Justin, I just switched from Verizon to the iphone, leaving behind 3 of my family members with Verizon. I live in the suburbs of NJ, northern new jersey that is, and I'm going to be attending college in NYC this fall. So far, I'm very impressed with AT&T's service. I get better reception in my home than I did with my LG VX8700 (i liked that phone) and get good reception everywhere else I've been so far. If you're at all worried about the speed of the Edge network, don't be. It's definitely slower than WiFi, but I would have to say that it's as fast, if not faster, than Dial-Up, which is very respectable. The iphone is a great phone and I'm sure you'll love it. Don't test the network, just get it haha

Jul 17, 2007 10:19 AM in response to flyxsol

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Being that it's been another week or so since I first started this thread, I figured I'd post again to see if there's anyone who bought the iPhone since then and can comment on phone reception with AT&T in the New York City metro area. Or maybe those who already have commented might have more information to share based on the additional usage.

Thanks again -- I know there are tons of people in this area weighing whether to take the plunge, and cell network quality/reliability is perhaps the biggest potential dealbreaker.

DanH

Level 5

4,372 points

Jul 17, 2007 3:56 PM in response to Justin Schack1

I was in NYC and Brooklyn this past weekend with my iPhone and it was a rare situation indeed that I got less than 5 bars. Upper West Side, Central Park, mid-town, Williamsburg, all 4-5 bars even in buildings.

In one restaurant on Upper West side it dropped to 2 bars at the back of the room. In general, EDGE speeds were quite good and of course there are numerous open Wifi opportunities.

-dan

jamien

Level 1

0 points

Jul 17, 2007 4:10 PM in response to Justin Schack1

I'm on the border of Morris/Essex/Union county and I've had 5 dropped calls in my house today. That hasn't happened in 3 years of being on Verizon. I'm not too happy with that. On the flip side, I was down the shore for the past week and reception was great, as well as all along the Parkway. All depends I guess.

jlsills

Level 1

5 points

Jul 17, 2007 4:41 PM in response to Justin Schack1

I love the iPhone; however, I have had more "failed calls" and "dropped calls" with AT&T in the past 2 weeks than I had in 10 years with Verizon.

I get 5 bars in Manhattan but 0 to 4 bars (which fluctuate) in parts of Queens and Eastern Long Island. AT&T has checked tower sites where I have had the problems and said their coverage was good.

I hope to find a work around for my problems since I enjoy the iPhone.

Jul 17, 2007 6:54 PM in response to Justin Schack1

I have had Verizon in nyc for several years (mostly downtown). No way does AT&T measure up. Verizon is far superior in voice quality which is something alot of folks here don't seem to mention. I know people here have complained about voice volume being low on the iphone which is indeed true, but the quality of the voice is worse with AT&T. Had several calls with echos in the back ground, and defnitely not that land line feel you get with Verizon. Having said that, I get reception in as many places as Verizon all around. And had phone since day one and no dropped calls. What I tell people is, do you want better voice quality with Verizon, or do you want an iphone? I wanted an iphone, and have no regrets. But if AT&T doesn't improve, in 5 years or so when verizon finally does get the iphone, I will jump ship immediately.

leeferna

Level 1

10 points

Jul 17, 2007 7:27 PM in response to Justin Schack1

Live in Brooklyn, commute to NYC. Just switched from Verizon. Sorry, ATT is awful. I get dropped 3 or 4 times a day. Also, there is a steady background hiss when calling other ATT phones. Strangely, calling Verizon phones from my iPhone is quiet and clear. This noise gets worse when you're driving (its almost unbearable). I've tried 4 different DSP Bluetooth headsets to no avail. I'm probably going to switch back at the end of this week when the 14 days are up.

Jul 17, 2007 8:16 PM in response to Gabriel Garay1

i don't think verizon will get the iPhone anytime soon, even after the contract with ATT is up. i don't think apple will want to make a different model (ATT runs on GSM, Verizon doesn't). sorry, don't want to start a fight or anything, just mentioning it.

OeRtKiD

Level 1

55 points

Jul 17, 2007 9:53 PM in response to GBH

Verizons service is amazing all over..but they are dirt bags about it and rip people off. I have Sprint and ATT and I would say Sprint is better here in the NY metro area over ATT.

I have noticed dropped calls in some very populated areas (staten island) with my iphone. My Sprint Blackberry never drops calls in this area.

Jul 19, 2007 7:56 AM in response to rkny

So I took RKNY's advice about testing out AT&T's network and now have a free AT&T phone and a 2-year contract. I've had it less than 24 hours but thought some following this thread might be interested in my experience thus far.

In the town where I live (northern central nj) the results are very good. The downtown section is known as a bit of a cell service dead spot -- even my Verizon service mysteriously drops out quite often -- and I got a great signal with my AT&T phone. No problems in my house, either (though I notice that the GSM signal interferes at times with my desktop computer's external speakers and our baby monitor, when the phone is close to them; Verizon/CDMA doesn't present this problem, but it's a minor issue).

At work, in the Union Square area, the signal is great both on the streets and in my building (even in the elevator). No difference from Verizon.

I've used the phone for a mix of short and long calls and so far none have been dropped. There was only a brief interlude where I couldn't hear my friend for about 5 seconds or so during a conversation last night. Sometimes I hear a bit of background hiss, but it doesn't interfere with being able to conduct a conversation.

So far the only problem is no reception in the NJ Transit tunnel under the Hudson River into Manhattan (though the signal was strong for the rest of my train trip). I'll have to think that one over, and continue to test the service for at least a few more days, but on the whole I'd say right now I'm leaning toward taking the plunge and upgrading to an iPhone.

Hope this helps anyone else who may also be trying to decide about switching to AT&T for the iPhone.

Mac Mini Mac OS X (10.4.8) iBook G4 (10.3.9); AirPort Extreme; AirPort Express (range extender)

Jul 25, 2007 8:24 AM in response to rkny

Just want to say thanks again to rkny and everyone who posted helpful information in this thread. I took rkny's advice and got a free at&t phone with 2-year activation to test the service. After a week I was satisfied with the network performance and yesterday bought (at the Apple store) and activated an iPhone. I still have the free phone as a backup (for when the iPhone needs to be sent for replacement -- quite handy) and will be visiting an at&t store tomorrow to port my verizon number over to the iPhone (I have read in various forums online that this is the easiest way to port). I love my iPhone!!!

nosidam

Level 1

135 points

Jul 25, 2007 9:05 AM in response to AppleLuver201

I'll bet you you're wrong. Apple wants to sell the iPhone to as many people that are willing to buy it. Not making a CDMA version would be shutting out potential buyers...those who can't or won't switch from VZW/Sprint. It also shuts out other countries that are using CDMA. I'll be you they're testing CDMA in other countries if not now, then soon.

Remember, what did Apple do that really made the iPod take off? Make it compatible with Windows. Same thing.

Worth switching to AT&T in NY metro area?