Android overtakes iOS in U.S. smartphone subscribers, sets target on RIM.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by pholy

...So you can leave (I don't think Canada requires a passport for entry), but you can't go back.

Great idea!

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Would you really want a phone that will only work in the US? Don't you ever visit other countries?

It is always possible that Verizon's iPhone will be one of their "global phones". Meaning it would have a multi band antenna and SIM slot (preloaded with a Vodafone SIM).

Originally Posted by HarryT

I agree; data roaming charges are crazy. Best thing to do is to buy a local SIM and put it into your phone, but of course you can't do that with a CDMA phone .

Perhaps I'm way off base here, but isn't CDMA a dying technology? I was under the (very possibly mistaken) impression that GSM and its successors had taken over now?

Verizon is beginning to transition to LTE. Though it won't happen overnight. I mean god, they haven't even transitioned their entire network to 3G (though they have done a better job than AT&T).

Originally Posted by HarryT

Oh yes, I know that Verizon are still a CDMA network . What I meant was why would someone sign up with Verizon when world+dog is now GSM? Is it simply that they have better coverage than GSM providers in some areas of the US?

Specifically Verizon has coverage in areas that AT&T doesn't at all, period. Like where I was living until a couple months ago. Technically there was T-mobile coverage up there, but T-mobile doesn't have remotely as many US subscribers as big V.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Oh yes, I know that Verizon are still a CDMA network . What I meant was why would someone sign up with Verizon when world+dog is now GSM? Is it simply that they have better coverage than GSM providers in some areas of the US?

CDMA does have better coverage in parts of the US (although not where I live). It is also used in Canada, Latin America, China, India, Japan, and a few other places in Asia. Although GSM is still the global leader by a large margin.

Another problem with GSM is (or used to be) that even the American phones might have GSM, they broadcast on different frequencies than in Europe and other places. Thus when I went to South Africa a few years ago (when I had a T-Mobile phone), I still had to rent a global phone because even though my phone was GSM and S. Africa also used GSM, my phone couldn't communicate because of the frequency difference.

I can use my iPhone in Europe with no problem - except that I need to turn off data or I'll get killed with charges..

[rdfry]

T-moble USA uses the same bands as Europe. Just unlock your phone and put in a different sim card and you are good to go.

[RockdaMan]

I just wish data plans were not so high for the newer phones (You can get a unlimited everything but only on an older smartphone for <$50 a month). Or that there was a iPod touch with the screen size of a Droid. Or that there were many price-competitive Android-based versions of the iPod Touch.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by rdfry

T-moble USA uses the same bands as Europe. Just unlock your phone and put in a different sim card and you are good to go.

They didn't in 2003...

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

They didn't in 2003...

And they still do not. The USA uses 800MHZ and 1900MHZ for GSM, and Europe uses 900MHZ and 1800MHZ for GSM. Most recent phones can be either automatically or manually switched between the USA or European radio frequencies. UMTS adds even more possible radio frequencies into the mix.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

And they still do not. The USA uses 800MHZ and 1900MHZ for GSM, and Europe uses 900MHZ and 1900MHZ for GSM. Most recent phones can be either automatically or manually switched between the USA or European radio frequencies. UMTS adds even more possible radio frequencies into the mix.

Virtually all phones now are either triple- or quad-frequency, meaning they'll work world-wide. You'll struggle to find a single-frequency handset these days. All the major handset manufacturers sell world-wide, and it's easier for them to make phones that can be sold anywhere in the world.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

I just wish data plans were not so high for the newer phones (You can get a unlimited everything but only on an older smartphone for <$50 a month). Or that there was a iPod touch with the screen size of a Droid. Or that there were many price-competitive Android-based versions of the iPod Touch.

I'm not sure, though, that there are many people who need "unlimited" data. I have a contract for 1GB/month on my iPhone. I use it all day, every day, as a mobile internet device, and I've never yet hit 300MB in a month; in a typical month I'll use around 200-250MB. Mind you, having said that, I don't use sites like YouTube; perhaps it's sites like that which eat data allowances!

[vaughnmr]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure, though, that there are many people who need "unlimited" data. I have a contract for 1GB/month on my iPhone. I use it all day, every day, as a mobile internet device, and I've never yet hit 300MB in a month; in a typical month I'll use around 200-250MB. Mind you, having said that, I don't use sites like YouTube; perhaps it's sites like that which eat data allowances!

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/20...hone-users.ars

The "rumour" is that Verizon will offer an unlimited data plan for the new iPhone tomorrow.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure, though, that there are many people who need "unlimited" data. I have a contract for 1GB/month on my iPhone. I use it all day, every day, as a mobile internet device, and I've never yet hit 300MB in a month; in a typical month I'll use around 200-250MB. Mind you, having said that, I don't use sites like YouTube; perhaps it's sites like that which eat data allowances!

I think what eats data allowances is streaming Pandora eight hours a day. I use my iPhone for mobile internet a lot, maybe look at one or two youtube videos per day, and will tether my netbook once or twice per month for an hour or so - but I still don't go much over 300 MB, and I'm typically at 200-250, too.

[kennyc]

Or watching internet video...

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure, though, that there are many people who need "unlimited" data. I have a contract for 1GB/month on my iPhone. I use it all day, every day, as a mobile internet device, and I've never yet hit 300MB in a month; in a typical month I'll use around 200-250MB. Mind you, having said that, I don't use sites like YouTube; perhaps it's sites like that which eat data allowances!

I use a lot of data e-mailing photos from my phone to friends and family, especially while traveling. Snap, add a brief caption and send. An instant digital postcard. My sister-in-law sends snaps of her kids. I love that I get to see goofy moments of the little buggers immediately. It makes for moments of feeling connected even when continents apart.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I use a lot of data e-mailing photos from my phone to friends and family, especially while traveling. Snap, add a brief caption and send. An instant digital postcard. My sister-in-law sends snaps of her kids. I love that I get to see goofy moments of the little buggers immediately. It makes for moments of feeling connected even when continents apart.

And how much data do you use in a typical month, Maggie? You'd need to send one heck of a lot of photographs to use even a fraction of a GB

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by HarryT

And how much data do you use in a typical month, Maggie? You'd need to send one heck of a lot of photographs to use even a fraction of a GB

I use several GBs a month. I dunno how many photos I send and receive. Data-wise, I don't use my phone for much else other than photos, e-mail and a few YouTubes of the kids. I use GPS-based apps for searching stuff, but I usually use my iPad for the Web.

I don't track usage much. I bought unlimited data so I don't have to. I have unlimited data on both devices. I won't switch to any carrier unless I can get unlimited for near what I'm paying under grandfathered rates in the U.S. Overseas, I buy unlimited data without a contract.