Report: AT&T continues to ride the iPhone wave

Apple's iPhone continues to drive customers to AT&T, two years after its release, according to a report from research firm ChangeWave.

Thirteen percent of the over 4,000 consumers surveyed by ChangeWave in March said they are "very or somewhat likely" to switch wireless carriers in the next six months. Thirty-three percent of those customers said they would go to AT&T, a move ChangeWave said it believes is directly related to consumers' desire for the iPhone.

It will probably come as no surprise that AT&T's main competition in the wireless market is from Verizon. In fact, ChangeWave's survey rates Verizon's customer satisfaction higher than AT&T and the number of dropped calls on Verizon lower than AT&T.

However, despite rumored talks between the companies, a Verizon iPhone is not likely under the company's current network configuration. Verizon uses a CDMA network, which is not compatible with the more popular GSM network that the iPhone uses.

Having said that, Verizon's work on its 4G network, which is based on the GSM standard, has kept speculation alive that Apple will add the company to its list of U.S. carriers.

The move to a GSM-based network would open the door for Verizon to welcome an iPhone into its arsenal of wireless devices and perhaps stem the tide of customers moving to AT&T.

AT&T is said to be negotiating with Apple to extend its exclusivity deal until 2011, but at the same time Apple is reportedly in talks with Verizon to bring an iPhone to that company.

[deric_raymond]

Please, please Verizon hurry up with your network so iPhone can get off of the rubbish AT&T network.

[debber1212]

Listen I don't know what you're talking about with AT&T having a rubbish network. I had Verizon for 4 years and had 0 Bars in my basement. After switching to AT&T For iPhone I have 5 full bars 100% of the time. Everywhere I go I have service that I never had before with Verizon.

Plus, whenever I have an issue with AT&T they take care of it ASAP, and then offer me a price reduction the month after for the troubles. I had to fight with Verizon to get discounts when they screwed something up.

Stop drinking the cool aid, pony up, and get on AT&T. Verizon deal isn't going to happen. CDMA SUCKS.

[deric_raymond]

Oh, I have 2 iPhones, one on AT&T and one on Tmobile. so I already "pony'd up" you tool. I could care less if your experience was fantastic. Did you see what happened in Austin at the SXSW show? A nightmare, AT&T couldn't handle the network load. I've had AT&T for years with various phones in various parts of the country, every corner and in between. It's flakey, and I know people will disagree. Verizon has a more developed network that can handle a more consistent data flow in more places. No question. Besides, I hate the fact that the iPhone is tied to one US company. AT&T would be far worse off if it wasn't for the iPhone.

[ewelch]

My main problem with Verizon is crippling phones so you have to move files between the phone and the computer using minutes rather than a bluetooth connection. Is that still true? My second objection is their overpriced plans compared to the competition.

Plus, I'm happy with AT&T. In six months using my iPhone I probably have had two dropped calls, and that was when I was in areas that have bad signals (which are pretty rare in this part of Southern California). Never in my apartment.

[FearNo1]

Another bad aspect of verizon is that they remove the wifi capabilities of phones (e.g. storm) to force you to only use data plan which is much slower than wifi.

[bluemist9999]

I heard from a Verizon representative that Apple is bringing the iPhone to Verizon within a year.

Obviously, AT&T is fighting tooth and nail to keep the iPhone exclusive, since it is driving a lot of business their way.

Personally, I'd love to see the iPhone on Verizon, T-Mobile or some other carrier besides AT&T. Competition is always good for consumers in the long run.

[dave75]

Loved my iPhone. Had it for 8 months before I got sick of calls being dropped, shoddy 3G service, sub-standard customer service. I even stuck with Verizon for a year after iPhone 1G because I had nothing short of an excellent experience with them and was hoping they'd come out with a comparable phone. Alas, the best they came up with was the Storm (which I returned within 2 days of purchasing.)

Oh well, Palm Pre here I come!!! I've decided to give Sprint a try since both Palm and Sprint really need this to be a win. The phone will definitely be an iPhone killer so long as all promises are kept.

[Rafeekey28]

well it palm pre is comming to at&t so idk wut 2 tell you. lol

[mclaurin10]

Couldnt apple just make a phone htat would support verizons current network? I dont see the big issue if a deal is in place between Apple and Verizon.

[Hellcat]

So when Verizon switches to LTE it'll be a GSM network? In this case Sprint will be the only CDMA network? Unless Sprint gets on the bandwagon (or by that time someone buys them). Hmmmm interesting.

As for the iphone, if Verizon gets it then there will be more dropped calls on Verizon because its the iphones construction thats some what at fault for dropped calls. I have a friend who is a non-iphone AT&T subscriber and he has far less dropped calls than our friend (who lives not far from him) who does have the iphone.

[Rafeekey28]

well verizon wont be completli gsm. it will still be part cdma. jusz like how with at&t were there are areas with out 3g it jumps to 3g (EDGE) with verizon in areas were it doesnt have 4g it will jump back to EVDO or w.e cdma networks call their 3g and 2g networks. lol

[mattacrazy]

you poor americans,
i live in australia and we have multiple carriers for the iphone

[Cirothe]

I hope AT&T keeps the iPhone for as long as they can. I have been, and probably will always be with AT&T, and there's no doubt it was the iPhone that made AT&T better.

And I think it's the Apple that keeps people from buying the iPhone more than AT&T's service does. I've heard more people say they don't like the iPhone because of features it lacks (like MMS, video recording, etc.) than I've heard people say they won't get the iPhone because they don't like AT&T. But that should change this summer. ;]