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Why the iPhone is Crippled on Verizon's Network

- By - Source : Tom's Guide US

Well actually, it's not just the iPhone on Verizon's network, it's any smartphone on Verizon's network.

The problem stems from the fact that Verizon's widespread CDMA network only supports a single session of either voice or data, but not both. This is an issue with any CDMA smartphone, not just the new iPhone.

Indeed, this issue does not exist on AT&T's network, which uses UMTS to handle both voice and data on a single session. AT&T has been touting this advantage over Verizon's network as of late, and with the new iPhone, this weakness on Verizon's side will show its ugly head even more publicly.

There was previously word that indicated Verizon would have a fix for this issue later this year, called SVDO, according to the CDMA Development Group. Unfortunately, Verizon made no mention of this during its iPhone unveiling today. There was also no indication that the Verizon iPhone would support SVDO, according to the CDMA Development Group, handsets will require hardware support for SVDO.

Our recommendation: wait for Apple's expected new iPhone announcement to happen early this summer.

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Anonymous 01/11/2011 7:32 PM
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Why the iphone is crippled on At&t............... it's At&t. Seriously is this article implying that AT&T is in any way better suited for the iphone? Grossly over priced plans, sub-par service, and sub-par coverage. All for a premium price. Oh wait! You can call and check your email at the same time. That makes it worth it. *rolls eyes*

jskilnyk 01/11/2011 7:35 PM
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From the sound of it AT&T is not too happy about Verizon getting the iPhone. I have Sprint and I like their service for the most part, but their phone selection sucks so I thought about switching carriers. But, I will never go to AT&T even if they have both voice and data at the same time. I know too many people who complain about their service(AT&T) versus the other 3 carriers. Besides, its the smartest move for Apple. It makes more sense business wise to go the carrier with the largest number of people or hell, all carriers for the matter.

Just my 2 cents.

greenskye 01/11/2011 7:43 PM
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Everyone will be different I'm sure, but I've only come across one time where I wanted to use data while on a call on my Droid. I'm sure that other people, particularly those with conference calls would find that a killer feature, but it's never been important to me.

If this is something you need, go with AT&T. If not, I highly suggest Verizon. Either way, it's good for both sides. This move effectively divides the iPhone population and more evenly distributes the network load.

As for me? I'm going with the Droid Bionic. Dual Core FTW!

hellwig 01/11/2011 7:45 PM
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For the longest time T-Mobile didn't seem to support simultaneous talk/data. Then one day, i got a call, and I noticed that the download that was in progress did not halt. That was cool. Still, I went a year and a half with my G1 without the ability to do both, and it didn't kill me. Plus, I live in the midwest, you know, that big vacant area on AT&T's 3G map. If I wanted an iPhone, Verizon would be the way to go.

jimmysmitty 01/11/2011 7:46 PM
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TBH, that's not a killer feature. My LG Ally handles that pretty well. I was updating a app and I got a call in the middle of it so the phone paused it, went to the call and when I was done switched back and finished it.

I doubt that many people actually use that ability that much on AT&T. Verizon has the largest network and serves the most customers for a reason.

Niva 01/11/2011 7:47 PM
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Happy At&t customer here in Houston Tx. Then again, only run a Nokia N95 still and only use internet on wireless hotspots or at home if I need to.

g00fysmiley 01/11/2011 7:49 PM
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who needs to call and make an email at the same time... geez people hav ebuisier lives than me if they do.. i never wanna be that buisy

besides as said... you can make a call and email/browse web IF you can get signal peiriod >_< when i went up to the UP of MI i got 4 bars of 3 g off of lake superios while my wife who is on at&t had.. you guessed it... zero bars , her uncle on verizon had 2 bars and voice only on his droid

foxikk 01/11/2011 7:53 PM
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I can do both at the same time.. talk and surf the web 'cause i have android phone on 4G network... thanks to sprint.
And I don't care about iPhone... on at&t or verizon network :)

scook9 01/11/2011 8:03 PM
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This has only been an issue for me when tethered with my Droid Incredible....and guess what....I survived!

"I lost 30 seconds of internet on my laptop OH NOSSS"

biggest joke of a marketing ploy I have ever seen

joebob2000 01/11/2011 8:06 PM
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Wait... My phone can't do that? OH GOD! ALL THESE YEARS, LIVING IN HELL!!!

Seriously, how many people even realize it's a limitation? I for one know about it, but have only perhaps once or twice ever wished my phone could talk-and-download at the same time. Certainly not nearly as many times as I have had the distinct privilege of actually having voice/data service in an area where "superior technology" didn't reach.

datawrecker 01/11/2011 8:09 PM
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....hmmm my Incredible lets me make calls and download at the same time. Looks like this SVDO fix is already implemented in some areas. This author is terribly misinformed.

Anomalyx 01/11/2011 8:36 PM
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Quote :Well actually, it's not just the iPhone on Verizon's network, it's any smartphone on Verizon's network.

Lies.
My Verizon Android phone does simultaneous voice and data perfectly. I've done it before. I've had someone on speakerphone while operating Google Maps to give them directions. Flawless. This claim being made against Verizon is absolutely false. It is, indeed, only the iPhone that is crippled. But then again, as everybody knows, the iPhone is crippled by definition.

ap3x 01/11/2011 8:39 PM
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I actually could use that feature. Which is why I can not move carriers just yet until a LTE version comes out. It would not kill me not to have it though but I do use it for business reasons. Sometimes while I am on a call using my headset I have to switch to mail to check a email that the person just sent me that has a attachment like a quote or something. It happens

joebob2000 01/11/2011 8:47 PM
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Anomalyx :
Lies.My Verizon Android phone does simultaneous voice and data perfectly. I've done it before. I've had someone on speakerphone while operating Google Maps to give them directions. Flawless. This claim being made against Verizon is absolutely false. It is, indeed, only the iPhone that is crippled. But then again, as everybody knows, the iPhone is crippled by definition.



Actually, sadly, no... they are right. Your phone did not have a data connection (unless you were connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot.) What probably happened was Google maps had the map you needed in it's cache and new data wasn't even necessary.

Simple11 01/11/2011 8:52 PM
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Rofl omg, kids on forums these days. Any sign of negative connotation against verizon, or possibly positive information about apple or AT&T causes you fanboys to rage like monkeys.

Anyways, I believe the problem is negated when your on wifi, which I believe Anamoly was on so he can do voice+data. And the iPhone is an amazing phone, with it's own drawbacks like any other phone. Drawbacks are subjective you jackasses and guess what Ive used data+voice more than I need to multitask. Does this make me a fanboy? No nor at all because my next phone is most likely gonna running Android.

falcompsx 01/11/2011 9:24 PM
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"crippled" is a strong word for such a minor feature. I've been on verizon for over a year and never once needed to do this. Also, when i was on AT&T before with a 3G iphone, having this feature never once provided benefit to me. AT&T's subpar coverage and network performance was the sole decision in changing to verizon and going to a droid phone instead of the phone i prefer. I think the iphone is a better device for how I use it, but dropped calls, failed connections, and these type of problems were not worth the hassle to have an iphone. now i can have both.

chick0n 01/11/2011 9:26 PM
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Go out and ask whoever u see on the street, just to see if they even know the difference between AT&T's network & Verizon. hell, most of them don't even know wtf is 4g not even 3g. they just gonna tell you "oh, its 4g, 4th generation so it must be better!"

jazn1337 01/11/2011 9:32 PM
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All I have to say is: has any droid user been bothered? No? Then I doubt the iPhone will be different. Tw great platforms on one great carrier.

eddieroolz 01/11/2011 9:39 PM
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Oh yeah, this limitation. I remember AT&T using this point to bash Verizon about a year or two ago in public commercials.

millerm84 01/11/2011 9:49 PM
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ultradodger :
Why the iphone is crippled on At&t............... it's At&t. Seriously is this article implying that AT&T is in any way better suited for the iphone? Grossly over priced plans, sub-par service, and sub-par coverage. All for a premium price. Oh wait! You can call and check your email at the same time. That makes it worth it. *rolls eyes*




Sure sure not being able to check email while talking is a minor inconvenience, however, I could really use this feature when on call for work. Using VNC to remote into my work pc while talking to a user would set me free from having to be near a pc/office when i'm on call. Honestly that's only one of 10 or so uses I could come up with for this feature just for work related tasks, never mind things i would do just for kicks.

stardude82 01/11/2011 9:50 PM
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You can't multitask (well) on an iPhone anyway, what's the issue here?

datawrecker 01/11/2011 9:57 PM
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Doesn't matter what network you are on if you don't hold it right...

TwoDigital 01/11/2011 10:05 PM
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I've owned phones here and at my office using Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T (no t-moble...) I can live with the "no data and voice at the same time" limits of current-generation CDMA if it also means I won't have the crappy TDMA (er, GSM) signal that I get here on AT&Ts network.

Anonymous 01/11/2011 10:41 PM
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I do not believe this article for a second. I am a long time verizon user ( have a droid X) and have first hand disproved the stated crippling effect. I have been on the phone driving while having my gps talk me through downtown Houston. No wifi available, just plain old 3G.

RADIO_ACTIVE 01/11/2011 11:08 PM
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It does happen every now and then where I am on a call and I need to look at an email that was sent to me or check if one was sent, or look up directions for someone, or get a phone number for someone of a business, so it does happen, maybe Im the only one that utilizes this feature...

ikefu 01/11/2011 11:19 PM
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If you live in Wyoming like I do then good luck getting an AT&T signal if you're not right in the middle of a city. As long as Verizon has the better rural coverage then I'll be sticking with them no matter if they can't do talk and data at the same time. Doesn't make a difference if you can't do either one at all.

Also, no iPhone for me until I see what the iPhone 5 has this summer. It'll be hard to pass up a dual-core droid if the new iPhone isn't dual-core as well.

belardo 01/11/2011 11:38 PM
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All cell phone companies suck... and it varies from place to place.

I've gotten good results with my Android phone with at&t and *I* do use voice and data at the same time.

2real 01/11/2011 11:45 PM
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it's toms hardware they report the controversy not the facts

Thilindi 01/11/2011 11:48 PM
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I have noticed a startling run of stories. A large number of "tech" sites and "tech" blogs are coming out with the same arguments for people not to buy a Verizon branded iPhone. Its a pretty constant message of, "Its crippled if it can't do simultaneous voice and data," and, "AT&T has HSPA! I need the speed!"

I am curious, since they are stating this now, at the same time, with the same message... Is AT&T paying these sites to publish this? Is AT&T guaranteeing ad's on these sites/blogs in exchange for these opinions?

The irony is that consumers and consumer sites should be happy that Big Red finally launched this thing. It means there is a choice for those with the need to be iBranded. Choice means both carriers have to step up their game/pricing in order to win the consumer dollar.

awii 01/12/2011 12:40 PM
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A few weeks ago there was an article about how the iPhone would cripple Verizon's network with increased data traffic. Now there is an article about how Verizon's network crippled the iPhone. The important question, given Verizon's past behavior, is: How Will Verizon Cripple the iPhone's Features?

sudz 01/12/2011 1:29 AM
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How is the iPhone cripping toms guide? The number of useless news bits regarding the iPhone is redonkulous. Give it up already Toms... Its half baked hardware that sucks a lot of data. We KNOW already.