Comments on: Verizon and AT&T compete for wireless subscribers

The two biggest phone companies in the country are vying for new subscribers--and the battle looks to be heating up.

[phillynets]

Numbers are misleading

Is Verizon really number 2? If you could the number of current subscribers? Yes. But with significantly less subscribers, Verizon brought in more money than AT&T. What about "bottom line" dollars? There are some other numbers that are missing. Verizon has always maintained strong profitability, while AT&T is a company of former companies who routiney through about profits to boost sales.

The other number to look at is churn. Verizon maintains an excellent churn rate, while AT&T is losing more of their customers - even with the iPhone boost.

So, total sales go to Verizon; profitability goes to Verizon; and the one with the lower churn rate is Verizon... I'm sorry, but it sounds like AT&T is trying convince everybody that it's brand is what it used to be.

[georgiarat]

I agree

IMHO Verizon is the number one provider at the moment based
on every factor except total number of subscribers. However, I
also believe that Verizon's practice of sticking it to their
customers with poor data/service plans and crippled phones will
hurt them as customers become more savvy and want improved
data and phone/computer integration.

[robbtuck]

And profitability comes from....

...you! Thanks to you, they're raking in the dough.

[magnumfinger]

All is fair in ads and war! As Verizon stated on their counter affidavit: "We are just telling the truth and the truth hurts" Seeing the minced version of the 53 page statement of Verizon. I must say, I could be on the side of Verizon especially when the edge 2.5G of AT&T should not be really included on the map, because we are talking about 3G! not 2.5G! and the speed of EDGE vs 3G of Verizon is relatively slower

detailed review AT&T VS VERIZON: http://bit.ly/Verizon-is-just-telling-the-truth-and-the-truth-hurts

[mravichandran]

Satisfied with Verizon covg + Not cingular.

I had Cingular and moved into Fort Worth, TX. it was hell to get a connection going. Switched to verizon during the trial period. i was very relieved that i made that change.

if verizon gets competitive with its minutes, it can gobble up t-mobile and at&t customers in no time. the only reason i hear my friends say they want to stay with at&t or t-mobile is the fact that they get a bunch of more minutes than veriz.

i do not know whether veriz is cognizant of their less minutes for the buck problem.

my 2 cents worth.

regards
Ravi.

[JCPaynye1]

I can't stand VZ's phone hardware crippling practices

There's nothing I hate more than buying a phone and then finding out a provider like Verizon has crippled features of the technology... No thanks I'll stay away from Verizon.

[UnnDunn]

Same here

This is the same reason I'll never be caught dead with a Verizon cellphone, unless it's forced on me through a job or something.

[WJeansonne]

Verizon's Voice/Data Plans suck

They gouge the customer with high priced service that most don't neet. They should learn a thing or two from ATT/Cingular pricing plans which are incremental. Under ATT you can buy precisely what you need in the form of voice and data combinations of service for well under $89 bucks Verizon charges from the get go.

[k2dave]

Yes their plans cost more, a lot more, but the call goes through

I think their price is too high, but I have to admit that their coverage is much better then their competitors. I have been very tempted to switch over the years to lower price competitors but their coverage is just not the same (From friends who have other services), actually I would really like to switch.

It's a case that you get what you pay for, though they are really pushing that to the point that I may accept poorer service.

[smithdarrick]

Verizon Voice/Data Plans

I switched to Verizon after years with ATT/Cingular. Yes they are a more expensive but well worth it.
ATT's service is what sucks. I'll pay more for far fewer dropped calls, faster downloads, v-cast and intelligent customer service.

[drewbyh]

Switched to ATT because of Verizons crippled hardware

I've had enough of disabled features. I've had enough of look forward to a phone coming out and then not being able to use half of what it can do. I've just had enough!

[Sonny Lyon]

AT &T is slipping

I live in a rural oilfield area..until recently virtually no service...During the day cell usage increases 2000% because of workers and businesses.
Three small companies are in the process of completing towers and networks here. I am an AT & T advocate..won't switch. Just can't believe the lack of support from my phone co.

[telestarnext]

Oil Field

Us too. Switched 9 cells over to at&t and now sometimes (even close) we get brownouts. BUT in places Our clients cant get out, we can!

We need cheaper SAT phone services.

Coverage is dificult when u map things in long/lat/elevation.

[w5a5]

I have Unicel and I love it. I hate Verizon.

In my area there are there are three choices Unicel, Sprint, and
Verizon. Unicel is the best deal of them all. They offer free
incoming calls and messages of any kind or size for no extra
charge and from time to time they give their customers credits for
free ringtones and games. Verizon is awful overpriced with awful
phones. Sprint is OK but they don't have the best selection of
phones and their basic plans are over priced. Another downside to
Verizon and Sprint is they are CDMA.

[w5a5]

If Verizon takes over all is bad for Unicel customers.

If Verizon takes over they will not let Unicel subscribers keep their
phone number or their phones since Unicel is GSM and Verizon is
CDMA. Verizon will not honor contracts or any of the features
Unicel offers. Unicel subscribers will be stuck with any handset that
is given to them by Verizon. Verizon is only doing this to replace
lost money from Amp'd mobile. Unicel subscribers WILL be treaded
very poorly.