Anyone had an iPhone and switched to a different phone?

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I''m near the end of my two year contract with AT&T, and honestly I''m just so frustrated with AT&T''s crappy coverage that I''m planning on leaving and going back to Verizon. As it is, I barely use the voice plan since I always use BF''s Verizon phone to make calls in our apt. (where I get no signal half the time on my iPhone). I do use the data plan a lot when I''m out, but I''m just tired of this.

Obviously if I move back to Verizon, I won''t have the iPhone (who knows if Verizon will actually get the iPhone this year). I''ll most likely get a Droid Incredible or a Blackberry Curve or Bold when the Bold comes to Verizon (hopefully later this month).

So I''m just wondering - has anyone had an iPhone and switched to something else? If so, how does your new phone compare? I''m afraid that I''ll just be disappointed after having had the iPhone and the great data/web experience.

 

[cellentani]

Hey BEG, I haven''t tried an iPhone, but I currently use a BB curve. I find the data/web process to be a bit slow and cumbersome, and the small screen doesn''t help. DH now has a BB Bold (on AT&T), and he thinks the web stuff is a little faster. The optics are better too, but the tradeoff is that the battery doesn''t last as long. I''m sure he could recalibrate to optimize battery life though. Verizon has better coverage in my area too, and that''s why I''ve held off on the iPhone. Like you, I''m waiting for it to come to Verizon - then I''m all over it!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

BEG, I''ve never had an iPhone either, but I can tell you about the phones and providers we use. We have the following three phones in our household:

1. HTC Hero - Sprint (my phone)
2. Samsung Moment - Sprint (DH''s phone)
3. Blackberry Curve - Verizon (DH''s work phone)

I''ve used all three, and I definitely like mine the best! I think it works a lot like an iPhone, if that''s what you''re used to. When I got my Hero, I wanted an iPhone, but I didn''t want to switch to AT&T due to their lousy coverage in our area. So I was looking for something similar to the iPhone, but on Sprint''s network. After doing a lot of research online and asking around here on PS, I decided on the Hero and I love it!

DH''s Moment is a little harder to use. The touch screen is nowhere near as responsive as my Hero''s is, and that frustrates DH to no end. The one thing he really likes about the Moment is that it has a slide-out keyboard, which is easier for him to use. (My Hero has a touch screen keyboard, which I don''t mind at all, and you probably wouldn''t mind it either since you''re used to an iPhone.)

DH doesn''t love his Blackberry. He says it''s OK, but he just doesn''t find it to be as user-friendly as the Moment or the Hero. BTW, both the Moment and the Hero are Android phones. I really love Android! It''s so easy to use!

If you''re looking to switch providers, I would recommend Sprint. We''ve had them for years and we''ve been very happy with them. When we got our current phones back in February, we were open to switching providers if we could find one that we liked as well as Sprint and that had prices comparable to Sprint''s. No other provider even came close, so we stuck with Sprint.

Hope this was helpful! Good luck, and let us know what you get!

 

[AprilBaby]

Nothing could make me give up my iphone.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

HTC Eris or an HTC imagio

Amazing smartphones with so many apps, maps, gps, and an excellent on screen keyboard. I had the G1 with Tmobile (would never go back to them - fyi) and now have the Eris with Verizon - I loved both the phones

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I have sprint and I''m looking to change phones in June, thanks so much for the summary/review IG, I was considering the hero but then all the other droid phones started coming out and I got really really confused. I REALLY want an iPhone, but I don''t want Verizon and I refuse to buy an aftermarket unlocked phone because I want insurance on it and I can''t get that unless it''s a Sprint phone. I did hear a rumor that Apple was trying to get the iPhone onto the sprint network this year as well, but I doubt it will be in time for me to get it.

 

[that_someone_special]

My brother switched from his iphone to a BB curve and every time I see him and I''m playing with my phone he says he wishes he never switched. The BB just can''t do as many cool things.

I agree on the AT&T service.

Hopefully it will improve soon. I am guessing that when other carries get the iPhone and their coverage is better than AT&T''s that ATT will have to step it up or lose a ton of customers.

If you stay with the iphone, I believe a new one is coming out this summer (june?) so I would wait until then to get an upgrade.

 

[firebird]

Hi! I switched from an IPhone 3Gs with ATT to a Motorola Droid with Verizon for the same reason. I LOVE my Droid, and it''s soo nice having Verizon''s awesome reception!! It''s so much easier to customize than iphone (one of the things I found frustrating about the phone). There are some things about it that were lacking, but i found plenty of apps to help fix the issues, since unlike the Iphone, the droid allows for apps to run in the background. The only ones I can think of (which were fixed with apps) was that the touchscreen sensitivity was a bit higher and caused me to cheek dial/cheek-hang-up on people when I was talking on the phone. but I installed two apps to fix the problem and no more issues! One other thing is the stock browser isn''t as good as Iphone''s.. But I installed a browser called Dolphin, which is sooo much better and faster. The camera is better than the Iphone''s too, because it''s 5 mp.

 

[that_someone_special]

firebird- there is an update coming out that will allow more than one app to run

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 5/13/2010 9:52:58 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
I have sprint and I''m looking to change phones in June, thanks so much for the summary/review IG, I was considering the hero but then all the other droid phones started coming out and I got really really confused. I REALLY want an iPhone, but I don''t want Verizon and I refuse to buy an aftermarket unlocked phone because I want insurance on it and I can''t get that unless it''s a Sprint phone. I did hear a rumor that Apple was trying to get the iPhone onto the sprint network this year as well, but I doubt it will be in time for me to get it.

No problem, HH! I really do love my Hero. I''ve played with my brother''s iPhone, and I think my Hero can do pretty much everything his iPhone can do. BUT, my Hero can actually carry a signal long enough to finish a phone call, which his iPhone CAN''T do! LOL! Also, I think the Android apps are very comparable to the iPhone apps, and many of them are free. Like I said, I really wanted an iPhone, but I wasn''t willing to switch to AT&T because of their awful service. I feel like the Hero is a great alternative to the iPhone. Even if/when the iPhone becomes available on Verizon, I doubt I''d be willing to switch . . . Sprint really gets WAY better reception in our area than any other provider (and Sprint''s prices are better, too). DH''s Blackberry is on Verizon, and his reception is AWFUL! His company used to have Sprint, but they recently switched to Verizon, and all of the employees are annoyed because Verizon sucks compared to Sprint (in our area, anyway).

I really have to thank Mia1181 for recommending the Hero to me! She gave me TONS of useful info and I''m so glad I went with the Hero! Here''s the thread I started when DH and I were looking to upgrade our phones. If you do get a Hero, I would definitely check out that thread . . . lots of great info in there!

Just FYI, here''s another reason we decided to stay with Sprint: Sprint gives you $150 toward a new phone every two years, and I don''t think any of the other providers do that. This is a big selling point for us, because DH is HARD on phones and he usually NEEDS a new one after two years . . . if not sooner!

 

[that_someone_special]

For people with android phones- how are the MAPS on the phone? That is one thing I can''t give up on my iphone. I like being able to map things directly from where i am (I get lost quickly hehe).

The only reason I would consider switching is if the maps were about the same.... so do you like the maps???

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 5/13/2010 10:52:45 AM
Author: swedish bean
For people with android phones- how are the MAPS on the phone? That is one thing I can''t give up on my iphone. I like being able to map things directly from where i am (I get lost quickly hehe).

The only reason I would consider switching is if the maps were about the same.... so do you like the maps???

I''ve never actually tried to map anything, but I do have GPS on my phone. I''ve only used it once so far, but it seemed to work great! It figured out where we were pretty quickly and then showed a map which progressed as we drove along and it also gave directions out loud, like an actual GPS would.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Thanks again IG, DH and I both have Sprint. Part of the changing of the phones is because we need to combine our plans into a family plan and my contract is up in June. How is the Hero in terms of size and functionality. DH has a Samsung phone with a touch screen and I''ve gotten used to it, but I''m not crazy about typing on it.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 5/13/2010 11:00:13 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Thanks again IG, DH and I both have Sprint. Part of the changing of the phones is because we need to combine our plans into a family plan and my contract is up in June. How is the Hero in terms of size and functionality. DH has a Samsung phone with a touch screen and I've gotten used to it, but I'm not crazy about typing on it.

I think the size of the Hero is good. It's not quite as big as an iPhone, but the screen size is still very generous. Also, it's very thin and not bulky at all, so it's easy to stick in your pocket/purse/wherever.

As far as functionality is concerned, I've had no problems. DH's Moment freezes up every once in a while, but my Hero never has. Also, it's very fast . . . no waiting for web pages or apps to load. And I love that you can have more than one app running at a time, which I don't think the iPhone allows you to do. Also, I love how easy it is to customize the phone. You can change the background, the layout, what appears on which screen, etc. Very cool!

ETA: Oh, and about typing on the touch screen . . . I don't think it's that bad. My old phone was a Palm Centro, which had a very small keypad. I think it's actually a little easier to type on my Hero than it was on my Palm! DH doesn't like the touchscreen keypad, but I think that's just because he has huge man-fingers! LOL!

 

[monkeyprincess]

HH, my fiance is on a Sprint plan, and he''s dying to get his hands on Sprint''s EVO, which will go on sale the first week of June. You might want to look into that one. He''s really into technology, and he thinks it will be a great phone. When my Verizon contract is up in July, I''m probably going to switch to Sprint and get on my fiance''s plan. If I wait until I start my new job in August, my law firm will pay for a new phone.

 

[firebird]

Swedish Bean - lol That's great for current IPhone users, but frankly, I had an IPhone 3G, and then a 3Gs and while I loved my 3Gs, I was sick of waiting for the updates to come whenever Apple felt like it! I like the whole open-source feel to the Android OS phones. In any case, to be fair the IPhone 3Gs did have its advantages - I think the biggest one I can think of at the moment is the touch keyboard/autocorrect. I'm constantly making typos using my droid because the keyboard seems a little smaller(?) or something. But I'm still getting used to it. The screen is still just as responsive, and the maps are AMAZING. I don't know where you live, but my iphone was constantly locating me in completely bogus places because 3G connection was lacking where I lived. Not so with Verizon. And as Irish Girl mentioned, the Maps have built-in GPS turn-by-turn directions... I love my Droid Maps.

One other thing you might find lacking in the Droid, though.. or other Android phones (not sure how the others measure up) ... the battery life is definitely shorter than on the IPhone. I'm not sure if it's because of the background apps constantly running, or because I'm just constantly on my phone, though.. lol... But then again I always used to use up the battery on my iphone, too, and then I'd be tethered to my car or the wall in my apartment waiting for the phone to charge back up. I plan to buy a backup replacement battery for the Droid so I can just pop a new one in when I use up one.



[edit] I forgot to mention about the keyboard on the Droid, though. You probably already know but it has a physical keyboard, which some people dont like. I personally love it because there's also this scrolling ... button thing on the right side of the keyboard that works kind of like a mouse/selecting button. It's quite handy.

 

[indecisive]

Date: 5/13/2010 10:26:54 AM
Author: firebird
Hi! I switched from an IPhone 3Gs with ATT to a Motorola Droid with Verizon for the same reason. I LOVE my Droid, and it''s soo nice having Verizon''s awesome reception!! It''s so much easier to customize than iphone (one of the things I found frustrating about the phone). There are some things about it that were lacking, but i found plenty of apps to help fix the issues, since unlike the Iphone, the droid allows for apps to run in the background. The only ones I can think of (which were fixed with apps) was that the touchscreen sensitivity was a bit higher and caused me to cheek dial/cheek-hang-up on people when I was talking on the phone. but I installed two apps to fix the problem and no more issues! One other thing is the stock browser isn''t as good as Iphone''s.. But I installed a browser called Dolphin, which is sooo much better and faster. The camera is better than the Iphone''s too, because it''s 5 mp.

What 2 apps did you install to keep from hanging up on people? My mom is having trouble with that!

 

[firebird]

Date: 5/13/2010 11:24:02 AM
Author: indecisive

Date: 5/13/2010 10:26:54 AM

Author: firebird

Hi! I switched from an IPhone 3Gs with ATT to a Motorola Droid with Verizon for the same reason. I LOVE my Droid, and it''s soo nice having Verizon''s awesome reception!! It''s so much easier to customize than iphone (one of the things I found frustrating about the phone). There are some things about it that were lacking, but i found plenty of apps to help fix the issues, since unlike the Iphone, the droid allows for apps to run in the background. The only ones I can think of (which were fixed with apps) was that the touchscreen sensitivity was a bit higher and caused me to cheek dial/cheek-hang-up on people when I was talking on the phone. but I installed two apps to fix the problem and no more issues! One other thing is the stock browser isn''t as good as Iphone''s.. But I installed a browser called Dolphin, which is sooo much better and faster. The camera is better than the Iphone''s too, because it''s 5 mp.

What 2 apps did you install to keep from hanging up on people? My mom is having trouble with that!

Oops, I guess I forgot that actually you only need one app to fix the cheek dialing problem: "Screebl". "Not Call Log" is also an awesome app if your mom has any trouble with pocket dialing from her phone.. lol..Not Call log allows you to change where the phone goes after you hang up a call. My phone used to dial the last call whenever I finished a call and then put it down on a hard surface. I guess it has something to do with the touch sensitivity, and Not Call Log fixes that by allowing you to choose where the phone goes after each call. I have it set to Home Screen so that if I put my phone down right away it doesn''t dial the last number.

The Screebl app detects when you''re on the phone and does a better job of controlling the screen than the native OS does(there''s a setting for turning the screen off when you have the phone to your ear). Another thing I love about Screebl is that before I installed it, if I was in a call and needed to look at something on my phone, sometimes the screen wouldn''t come on until I touched the standby button - but with Screebl if I take the phone off my ear it detects it and the screen automatically lights up. Quite handy.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Firebird ~ If you''re having battery life problems, try this: Go to the Android Market and download an app called "Advanced Task Killer." This keeps track of everything that''s running on your phone and lets you close the apps you''re not using, thereby increasing your battery life. As soon as I''m done making a call or doing whatever on my phone, right before I put my phone away, I always go into ATK (which is very easy to access from the bar at the top of the home screen) and shut down whatever I''m not using. It takes like two seconds and makes my battery last forever!

Also, I forgot to mention to HH or anyone else considering the HTC Hero: The touchscreen keyboard DOES do auto-correct, which is a lifesaver! As you''re typing, it gives you "suggestions" of which words it thinks you''re trying to type. Usually, you just have to type the first couple letters and then you can touch one of the "suggestions" and it fills that word in for you. I''m starting to wish my keyboard on my computer did that! LOL!

 

[that_someone_special]

firebird- that is one thing that really irks me about apple (all products). As soon as you get your item it''s out dated. Last year I bought a 3g! then the 3gs came out.. so I traded... and now less than a year later another phone?... and I don''t have an upgrade for another year after that? jeez.

When i bought my imac (24 inch) the new version with SC card slot came out like a month later, oh and the same price plus you got 3 more inches of screen. arg!

I love my iphone but I am willing to look at other phones in the future if there are comparable apps. So I am really enjoying this thread!

 

[firebird]

oh! I think I made it seem like Droid doesnt have autocorrect - it does, too. It''s just that for some reason IPhone was better at guessing the word I was typing for when you turn on the autocorrect function. I do use that option that Irishgirl mentioned.. and it''s awesome! Just taking some getting used to, since I have to actually look at the screen while typing. I''m not as fast at texting on the Droid as I was on IPhone. Another good thing about the Droid''s autocorrect, though, is if you''re not lazy (I''m lazy about this) you can go into the user dictionary and add words you frequently use, which will improve the autocorrect function. I don''t know if IPhone has this option but I don''t seem to remember it being there.

And thanks for the suggestion on the app killer, Irishgirl!! I do have that app but always forget to use it. I think it used to pop up at the notification bar, but it stopped doing that one day. Maybe I need to update the app.

Swedish Bean, I totally feel ya on the apple products thing! that was one of my pet peeves too, or I guess I should say.. IS, because I own a mac right now as well, and it''s most likely outdated since Apple''s constantly making "new" versions of its products that just adds ONE more thing of the billion things that apple users are always clamoring for. What can I say, though... I love my mac! I don''t think I can go back to PC... and a small part of me hates myself for saying that. lol.

 

[Porridge]

So you''d be changing phones...but to something that''s not an iPhone? So there''d be...wait, you''d end up with...no, hang on, the result would be...I mean, you''d have an iPhone...and then not have an iPhone? No...no iPhone at all? I...no, I''m sorry, I don''t understand the question

[I love my iPhone

]

 

[february2003bride]

Two weeks ago I did exactly what you are thinking of doing! I switched from AT&T with a iPhone & a BB (at different times during my contract) to Verizon with a BB Curve (the purple one

). Verizon is more expensive, no dropped calls, and I do miss the iPhone, but the BB is pretty decent. My BFF has the Droid and loves it.

 

[pennquaker09]

If I were going to switch, which I''m not because I love my iPhone and I can''t blame AT&T for the data hogs in the NYC area, it would be to Sprint.

I love all of this wishing for Verizon to get the iPhone. I kind of want it to happen so when Verizon''s network gets bombarded with millions of iPhones people will see what the issue really is.

 

[elle_chris]

I had the IPhone and had issues with my emails, dropped calls, phone freezing on me etc. (this is in nyc). Also had to turn off 3G because it was killing my battery life.
Then I broke it (think I did it on purpose), and just this morning got the BB bold.
So far, I LOVE IT! set up my home and work emails without any problems, no dropped calls, no freezing and it''s very simple to use. I did turn 3G off though after iphone left me paranoid about the battery.
I haven''t had time to check all it''s features yet but I will say that IPhones Safari is a much better browser, but as I don''t use the internet on my phone too much, i don''t see it being an issue. I needed a good work phone that doesn''t drop calls, where I can read and edit documents, and has excellent email capabilities. The Iphone fell short. So all in all, I think it depends on what you''re using it for.

 

[lightningbug]

No! I loathe AT&T but love my iPhone. You couldn''t pry it out of my cold, dead hand.

Although...somebody did pry it out of my warm, live hand 3 months ago in downtown SF. Then he ran away with it.

iPhone: the phone of choice for thieves.

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 5/12/2010 11:23:11 PM
Author:Brown.Eyed.Girl
I'm near the end of my two year contract with AT&T, and honestly I'm just so frustrated with AT&T's crappy coverage that I'm planning on leaving and going back to Verizon. As it is, I barely use the voice plan since I always use BF's Verizon phone to make calls in our apt. (where I get no signal half the time on my iPhone). I do use the data plan a lot when I'm out, but I'm just tired of this.


Obviously if I move back to Verizon, I won't have the iPhone (who knows if Verizon will actually get the iPhone this year). I'll most likely get a Droid Incredible or a Blackberry Curve or Bold when the Bold comes to Verizon (hopefully later this month).


So I'm just wondering - has anyone had an iPhone and switched to something else? If so, how does your new phone compare? I'm afraid that I'll just be disappointed after having had the iPhone and the great data/web experience.

I moved away from AT&T cause their service really suck$ major a$$ in my area...
I went from an Iphone to a ................ T-Mobile Sidekick ( yeah, they still exist! )
I LOVE THAT THING!!! lol

 

[Miss Sparkly]

Maps on the droid are excellent - and you can download an app. for turn by turn directions. There really is an app. for everything, including upgrading the camera functions

 

[MonkeyPie]

I have a BB Storm, and I really like it (despite the bad reception in my house - no phone works properly here). If you''re used to the touch keypad then you might like it as well. I loathe Sprint as a provider so I am a dedicated Verizon user.

 

[charbie]

I really like my motorola droid. In the beginning I had the issue of the phone muting on my cheek, but it has improved. I do have to hold the phone right to my ear when I talk into it, I can''t cradle it on my shoulder. But it has a lot of great apps, the maps/navigation is wonderful on it!!!! I just have to say, "navigate to (place)" and bam! The product recognition apps are really cool, and I think ps is pretty navigatable on it...I never use my computer anymore!