Any reason to stick with Verizon?

[Algus]

It's not that I'm unhappy with the service or anything but I really don't care for the phone lineup. I've got my upgrade coming in August so I can wait a bit to see what is coming I suppose.

Is Verizon going to get an Android phone with a regular upgrade cycle? I've been on gingerbread since after it was old news and it's frustrating that I've been tied up with it. If I'm going to make a 2 year commitment, I'd like to have a decent device for that two years.

Sent from my Samsung Stratosphere using Tapatalk 2

 

[anonymous495876038576]

It's not that I'm unhappy with the service or anything but I really don't care for the phone lineup. I've got my upgrade coming in August so I can wait a bit to see what is coming I suppose.

Is Verizon going to get an Android phone with a regular upgrade cycle? I've been on gingerbread since after it was old news and it's frustrating that I've been tied up with it. If I'm going to make a 2 year commitment, I'd like to have a decent device for that two years.

Sent from my Samsung Stratosphere using Tapatalk 2

If you want to get upgardes guaranteed and want to stay with android then why don't you just pick up a nexus unlocked and move to T-Mobile or att. Do either of them have good service in your area? Have you thought about an iPhone? Or do you want to stay with android?


Sent from my Motorola Electrify 2

 

[johnriii]

when you say "regular upgrade" exactly what do you mean? if I'm not mistaken, updates can be withheld based on the specs of the phone you have...i.e your stratosphere probably can't handle anything other than gingerbread. if you're looking to get an updates each and every time one comes out (ICS, key lime pie, etc) then you need to have a phone that can handle that new upgrade, and a manufacturer who deems that phone "worthy" of that upgrade. if a particular phone's sales are subpar, then I would assume it would be less likely that it would get the updates. so my advice would be to get a verizon phone that is "future" proof as far as specs, and also one that has very good to excellent sales.

if you live in an area with good coverage on another carrier, then look into their pricing, but I personally wouldn't leave verizon just for "regular updates".

 

[Cares]

Well I'm assuming you're using a Samgsung Stratosphere based on your signature. That phone was never intended to get the newest updates. It's simply put - a budget phone. Any of the flagship phones on Verizon should be getting the latest updates for Android and if not you can always root and get it.

 

[Algus]

@HunterHeath

Was strongly thinking Nexus 4 (or its replacement) on T-Mobile and that is what prompted this topic. If I buy an unlocked phone I gotta start saving now.

@johnriii

I just like having the latest firmware if possible. Though I am tech-aware to get what you're saying

Cares you are right. This was my first smartphone and I didn't know exactly what I was getting. The Verizon rep that set me up actually talked me down from a more expensive phone.

Thanks for the responses all. My Strato kind of soured me from Samsung but I suppose it is my own fault for getting a budget phone as you say. I just didn't know if it was common practice for most handsets to stop receiving updates.

Sent from my Samsung Stratosphere using Tapatalk 2

 

[androidluvr2]

It's not that I'm unhappy with the service or anything but I really don't care for the phone lineup. I've got my upgrade coming in August so I can wait a bit to see what is coming I suppose.

Is Verizon going to get an Android phone with a regular upgrade cycle? I've been on gingerbread since after it was old news and it's frustrating that I've been tied up with it. If I'm going to make a 2 year commitment, I'd like to have a decent device for that two years.

Sent from my Samsung Stratosphere using Tapatalk 2

Do you have unlimited data? If so, there is no other network currently that compares to Verizon in terms of the depth of 4G LTE coverage and no other network that will let you have truly unlimited, unthrottled data. Whether either of those are important to you depends on where you live, how much you travel and how much data you use. Once you give up unlimited data on Verizon, you can never get it back. ATT no longer offers it and Tmobile and Sprint are way behind in building their 4G LTE networks. They will catch up, but not in the next 2 years.

As for the Nexus 4 - it is HSPA+ speeds only. Whether that is important to you or not depends on the Verizon 4G LTE speeds that are available to you where you live/travel. Where I live, my 4G LTE speeds rarely exceed HSPA+ speeds. The unlocked 8GB Nexus 4 is only $299 from the playstore but you need to research what the postpaid and prepaid options are for your area given the ATT and TMobile network where you live. You could end up saving a lot on your monthly wireless bill if TMobile has decent coverage where you live and you go with Straight Talk prepaid or if Net10's 1.5GB data limit on the ATT network works for you.

As long as Verizon uses CDMA technology, you will NEVER get android upgrades through Verizon that compare to what you can get with an unlocked GSM Nexus directly from Google. And Verizon obstructs the upgrades even if you have a CDMA Nexus on Verizon like the GNex. The plan is to eliminate CDMA from the Verizon network, but idk how long that will take, but I can't imagine it will happen in the next 2 years. And even when it happens, Verizon QA testing may still be a bottleneck to an update.

But if your upgrade isn't until August, the Nexus 5 (or whatever it will be called) may be on the horizon by then.

 

[androidluvr2]

Was strongly thinking Nexus 4 (or its replacement) on T-Mobile and that is what prompted this topic. If I buy an unlocked phone I gotta start saving now

If you are fine with 8GB of internal storage, you can get an unlocked Nexus 4 for $299 from the playstore. And if you go with TMobile prepaid through Straight Talk, it is $45/mo unlimited everything, although they do throttle at some point. Lots of posts on that on other forums.

 

[The Hustleman]

It's not that I'm unhappy with the service or anything but I really don't care for the phone lineup. I've got my upgrade coming in August so I can wait a bit to see what is coming I suppose.

Is Verizon going to get an Android phone with a regular upgrade cycle? I've been on gingerbread since after it was old news and it's frustrating that I've been tied up with it. If I'm going to make a 2 year commitment, I'd like to have a decent device for that two years.

Sent from my Samsung Stratosphere using Tapatalk 2

Verizon is getting all the best phones except the one and Nexus lines, but none of them hold a candle to the gs4

sent from the best smart phone (not phablet) on the worst network- the galaxy S III unfortunately on T-Mobile

 

[GS4Bob]

Planning on getting the SGS4 on Verizon....any reason not to do that?
I currently do not have a smart phone. Verizon has the best coverage and strength in my remote area. ATT is at 3rd place behind Sprint.

I will probably be on a 2 yr. contract to reduce the initial cost.

 

[rkeenan]

I would say T Mobile is probably the best carrier, with Verizon being second. I had Sprint before and they are awful. Atrocious data speeds abd horrible customer service. Omaha, NE was told by Sprint employees and customer service that it would recieve WiMax in 2010 but still has not recieved it. I would sign up for T Mobile but it is not available in my region, so I am stuck with Verizon until I move. I have considered ATT but I am not sold on them yet.

 

[Mooncatt]

I would say T Mobile is probably the best carrier, with Verizon being second. I had Sprint before and they are awful. Atrocious data speeds abd horrible customer service. Omaha, NE was told by Sprint employees and customer service that it would recieve WiMax in 2010 but still has not recieved it. I would sign up for T Mobile but it is not available in my region, so I am stuck with Verizon until I move. I have considered ATT but I am not sold on them yet.

When I was on Sprint and visited Omaha a few times, the 3G speeds were good (4G was still in its infancy and no one had much of it then), but you'll never see WiMax there. Sprint is going to 4G LTE now too and abandoning WiMax. If that's the kind of phone you have, I know that will suck.

 

[rkeenan]

When I was on Sprint and visited Omaha a few times, the 3G speeds were good (4G was still in its infancy and no one had much of it then), but you'll never see WiMax there. Sprint is going to 4G LTE now too and abandoning WiMax. If that's the kind of phone you have, I know that will suck.

Yes, I know that they are swapping to LTE. I left Sprint about a year ago. I was a customer from 2010-2012. The data speeds are really bad here.

 

[Kerafyrm]

If there's a flagship phone you really like, I wouldn't bother waiting on your subsidized upgrade - just buy it outright so you can keep your unlimited data. You can also do one of the many upgrade "tricks" to get a new phone at a subsidized price and keep the unlimited data, but you'll be hooked into another 2 year contract that way.

This thread should be indicative of what grandfathered unlimited 4G LTE really means:

Source: http://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon/228599-whats-most-data-youve-used-month.html

 

[Mellimel22]

Do you have unlimited data? If so, there is no other network currently that compares to Verizon in terms of the depth of 4G LTE coverage and no other network that will let you have truly unlimited, unthrottled data. Whether either of those are important to you depends on where you live, how much you travel and how much data you use. Once you give up unlimited data on Verizon, you can never get it back. ATT no longer offers it and Tmobile and Sprint are way behind in building their 4G LTE networks. They will catch up, but not in the next 2 years.

As for the Nexus 4 - it is HSPA+ speeds only. Whether that is important to you or not depends on the Verizon 4G LTE speeds that are available to you where you live/travel. Where I live, my 4G LTE speeds rarely exceed HSPA+ speeds. The unlocked 8GB Nexus 4 is only $299 from the playstore but you need to research what the postpaid and prepaid options are for your area given the ATT and TMobile network where you live. You could end up saving a lot on your monthly wireless bill if TMobile has decent coverage where you live and you go with Straight Talk prepaid or if Net10's 1.5GB data limit on the ATT network works for you.

As long as Verizon uses CDMA technology, you will NEVER get android upgrades through Verizon that compare to what you can get with an unlocked GSM Nexus directly from Google. And Verizon obstructs the upgrades even if you have a CDMA Nexus on Verizon like the GNex. The plan is to eliminate CDMA from the Verizon network, but idk how long that will take, but I can't imagine it will happen in the next 2 years. And even when it happens, Verizon QA testing may still be a bottleneck to an update.

But if your upgrade isn't until August, the Nexus 5 (or whatever it will be called) may be on the horizon by then.

Ummmmm

Sent from my Sprint Galaxy Nexus rockin 4.2.2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mellimel22]

And I'm unlimited bro lol.

Sent from my Sprint Galaxy Nexus rockin 4.2.2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mellimel22]

I would say T Mobile is probably the best carrier, with Verizon being second. I had Sprint before and they are awful. Atrocious data speeds abd horrible customer service. Omaha, NE was told by Sprint employees and customer service that it would recieve WiMax in 2010 but still has not recieved it. I would sign up for T Mobile but it is not available in my region, so I am stuck with Verizon until I move. I have considered ATT but I am not sold on them yet.

Omfg WIMAX wasn't sprint fault for not coming to your area. BLAME THE OLD CLEARWIRE. Sprint lte is in almost 70 markets now so I'll look at them also. I was with vzw and now I save at least 50-70 dollars a month in Chicago.

Sent from my Sprint Galaxy Nexus rockin 4.2.2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jneusch]

I am considering a switch to ATT from Verizon. My motivation is about the price plans. I am not on unlimited. VZ has some nice phone offerings, but I am tired of being nickeled and dimed. If there is a way for them to charge extra for something, they will.

I am in Omaha and AT&Ts LTE is twice as fast as VZ.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Android Central Forums

 

[Algus]

I don't actually have unlimited. If I did, this topic probably wouldn't exist lol. I do have 4 GB/mo for about $97/mo so I believe I am saving money over the current lineup of plans. I don't own any other devices with LTE so not being able to share data is a nonissue.

Posts here make me lean towards considering the Galaxy. My upgrade is only 4 months off so I don't mind waiting. I'm just not sure if I want to be in it for another two years. I suppose I should save and make that decision in 4 months.

Sent from my Samsung Stratosphere using Tapatalk 2

 

[The Hustleman]

I would say T Mobile is probably the best carrier, with Verizon being second. I had Sprint before and they are awful. Atrocious data speeds abd horrible customer service. Omaha, NE was told by Sprint employees and customer service that it would recieve WiMax in 2010 but still has not recieved it. I would sign up for T Mobile but it is not available in my region, so I am stuck with Verizon until I move. I have considered ATT but I am not sold on them yet.

Maybe where you are sure but here t_mobile is beyond garbage.

If you come to Atlanta you'll see how bad t mobile is

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[rkeenan]

Maybe where you are sure but here t_mobile is beyond garbage.

If you come to Atlanta you'll see how bad t mobile is

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

Read the whole post. I said it is not available in my region either. It is a good service in the certain markets.