I’m trying to switch to Verizon this Friday for the iPhone 4S release. After being a loyal AT&T customer since my very first mobile phone in 2002 and after waiting in line in front of AT&T stores in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 for new iPhones I am finally going to switch to Verizon. The reason is that I don’t have service at my house. In fact, as soon as I get off the highway (6 miles from my house), my bars go away and don’t come back until I head to work the next day. I’ve gotten around this for the past 12 months by using Skype at my house. Google Voice rings my home Skype phone and my iPhone so, if I’m at home and you call me, you’re really calling my iMac but most people don’t know that.
It’s a frustrating situation and the main reason I kept AT&T for the past 12 months isn’t because their service is so affordable. It’s actually because I travel so often that I have to use a GSM carrier so I can get service in India and Western Europe. Well, now that the iPhone 4S has a GSM radio, I can travel and have service overseas and I’m saying goodbye to AT&T.
That’s not the entire story though. Last week, I was going to buy a new iPhone on AT&T because of one simple reason. The AT&T iPhone 4S uses a special radio that gives you 2x the speeds in USA than Verizon. Basically, The iPhone 4S on AT&T has data speeds that are twice as fast in metro areas than Verizon’s iPhone 4S. Skype works great at home so I decided to stick with AT&T. I go to their website to order my new iPhone and I’m greeted with an error after entering in my zip code of 03741.
We are expanding our coverage every day but unfortunately this is one of the few areas we haven’t reached yet. Please check back soon. If you think you may have entered the wrong ZIP, please re-enter and try again. (GEO002)
AT&T actually won’t let me purchase a new iPhone 4S so, now is the best time for me to finally leave AT&T, get service at my house via Verizon and still be free to travel the world without restrictions. My Verizon iPad functions GREAT at my house with full 3G. It’s great and I’m happy that my iPhone will finally have that ability.
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There’s a hitch. I owe AT&T $195 in early termination fees to drop their service and move to Verizon (Source). This is absolutely saddening. AT&T won’t let me buy a new 4S through them because they don’t offer coverage near my home yet won’t free me to switch carriers due to ETF restrictions. How disappointing and a nice way to kick a customer right in the ass on the way out the door after 9 years of loyalty.
Thanks AT&T.