No I am Not Getting a Verizon iPhone

The big announcement today aside, I have no intention of getting a Verizon iPhone any time soon. Today's press event was all over the Web so I won't rehash that as you've no doubt seen it, but the short form is Verizon will start selling the iPhone 4 next month. It's pretty much the same as the AT&T iPhone adapted for the Verizon EVDO (CDMA) network. I'm not passing on Big Red's iPhone because there's little new in the phone, I'm passing because I don't need it.

I was a Verizon customer for years until last year, when I dropped the carrier and went all in with Sprint. The main reasons I made the change was the Sprint 4G (WiMAX) network that was at the time faster than Verizon's 3G network, and because I found the HTC EVO 4G Android phone to meet my needs.

I have also been an iPhone owner, having used an iPhone 3G for a good while on the famous AT&T network. I had nothing but trouble with the AT&T service, but was impressed with the iPhone 3G. Apple hit a winner with the iPhone, bringing smartphone capability to the masses in a form that is pleasing to use.

I am happy with my EVO 4G on the Sprint network, and have no reason to jump back to Verizon for the iPhone 4. I really like the iPhone, but I also really like the EVO. Android serves my needs just fine, and the truly unlimited 4G data plan from Sprint is as good as it gets. So I have no plan to grab an iPhone from Big Red, but can see why many will do so. It's a great phone on a good network, and the mobile hotspot feature that Verizon is offering is sending a raspberry to AT&T customers.

So no iPhone for me, simply because I don't need one. But if Apple and Verizon get together in the future and produce an iPhone that works on Verizon's 4G (LTE) network, all bets are off. Having spent some quality time with that network, it's a game changer.