[faithfulfrank]

Hello folks!
I know some of you good folks have an iphone down in Florida, so I have a few questions. I will be ready soon to upgrade to a smartphone with a data plan. I will need this for the business I plan on starting once I move down there.

I am a huge Apple fanboy and have been waiting for an iphone for years. Up here in NY, Verizon is king and has a near 100% market share. I do know one or two folks who do have an iphone up here, and they say they are happy with it through ATT.

As you probably know, Verizon will finally have a version of the iphone. It will be a CMDA version, not the GSM version ATT has.

ATT has some better features....rollover minutes, voice & data, etc. Also, comparing the different plans I have learned that ATT offers me better discounts as a Gov't employee then Verizon does.

SO.....how is ATT down there? Ironic that I've waited so long for an iphone, and I may just go with ATT now. I will do it before I move there just before I retire I think. I want to see what happens next month with how Verizon handles things.....also, the rumor is out there that the iphone 5 may be out by July.

I"m told by Verizon that the lack of voice & Data is not a big deal....but ATT folks say it is like power windows on a car, once you have them, you do not want to go back.

My Verizon reception when I am down there has not been the best. It also irks me that for years Verizon has put down the iphone whenever I go into their store, saying "We would not want it", "Too closed" "Droids are better", "Antenna problems", etc,etc......now that they are getting it that are changing their tune big time.

I know folks in NYC, etc have not been happy with dropped calls, etc with ATT, but as long as it is good in central Florida that is all I care about.

I welcome your opinions and input.

Thanks! Frank (currently freezing in NY)


Any thoughts?

Frank

[l2ridehd]

I have AT&T on my blackberry and coverage has been excellent all around the area. THe only problem I have and my wife has the exact same problem with her Verizon service is we get a VM with no ring. Different phones, one AT&T and one Verizon and the exact same problem. Be walking along and the beep saying I got a VM comes on but there was no ring. So not sure why that is. I have even called people there and they have the same thing happen. They will call me back and say it never rang.

But back to AT&T vs Verizon. If you travel out of the US at all, there are significant advantages to GSM. My AT&T phone works every where I have traveled in the world except Japan. And neither service works there. I also will upgrade to an iphone when I retire and I will stay with AT&T and my wife is planning to move to AT&T as well. Some people have complained about AT&T coverage in TV, but I have never had a coverage issue, and usually have a better signal then my wife with her Verizon service. Might be the phone itself.

[Pookirgirl]

Just went to upgrade my ancient LG phone (AT&T). Looked at the new Iphones..on sale for ONLY $49.00! The covers run $35.00 and you then need a pack of 3 snap ons to protect the phone at a price of $15.00. Then the salesman tells me there is an additional fee of $15.00 a month...I forget what he called it and an additional $5.00 a month for 200 texting units. I don't have that now and feel technologically challenged by all the stuff I don't know or do. I really didn't want to add on to my monthly expenses so I decided to keep my antique phone for a while longer. My AT&T service here in TV has been fine..very few dropped calls in the 9 months we've been here. The only problem I had was from Winter Garden where I had a problem calling out.

[Snowbirdtobe]

We both have iPhones and they both work in SS, LSL and around TV.
We don't spend much time South of LSL so I have no idea of the coverage.
We have had iPhones since day 1 and plan to get the iPhone 5 when it arrives.
I would only change to get a better rate or free features.

[faithfulfrank]

I've been researching a lot more now and I'm very much leaning to switching to ATT. That seems ironic because folks on the verizon plans, like I've had for over 12 years are now drooling for the CMDA Verizon iphone.

I'm leaning to ATT because it seems like ATT works fine down in central Florida. They also have rollover minutes, simultaneous voice and data, a better discount for state employees, etc.

So basically I need to switch before I retire for the discount.....by that time, perhaps July, the iphone 5 might be out.

Frank

[ijusluvit]

Hey Frank,

I've had an I-phone G3 for several years, and whenever and wherever I am here (from home in Buffalo), my ATT service is perfect. Check out getting an I-phone right now. I've heard something about ATT "grandfathering" all subscribers to an unlimited data plan if they were on board before Verizon starts (Feb 10). I'm sure it's not all that simple but probably worth checking since you have nothing else to do except shovel.

[Bob45]

Frank,
I have an iPhone with AT&T and my reception is bad at home. I'm lucky to get 1 bar in the house. I'm in Hemingway, just north of Havana CC. My phone works well in other areas of TV. My suggestion would be to wait till you get here before you get locked into a contract. Check different carriers in your home to see who's best. I an thinking of switching back to Verizon.
Bob

[faithfulfrank]

Thanks guys!
I do have one friend who lives in a community just up the road who has an iphone3......I should have him come over to our house and see how it works there.
I appreciate all of the good info....!!

Frank

[faithfulfrank]

Could anyone tell me the most popular phone exchanges, (The 3 digit number) for the area code down there...352...?
When I switch, I'll want a good local number. Thanks!

Frank

[saratogaman]

I don't have an iPhone (but I do have Verizon). Several friends have iPhone/ATT and complain about dropped calls. I have never had a dropped call w/Verizon except when I call or are called by iPhone/ATT friends.
Methinks ATT did not develop enough capacity for the large number of people who went with them for the iPhone. It remains to be seen if Verizon has developed the capacity for a swelling of subscribers.
While I do a ton of stuff on the computer, I'm not really interested in dealing with the relatively small screen of any of the phones. Admittedly, it would be different if I was working.
What I do on the internet can wait until I get home. Cell phones, to me, are still just phones and that is enough to meet my needs.

[Bob45]

Frank,
TV has 7 prefixes.
Bob

http://www.area-codes.com/city/city....y=THE+VILLAGES

[champion6]

Frank, use this site to determine all numbers that are local: www.localcallingguide.com