Choosing an iPhone 5 carrier

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 18 September 2012 | 19.03

AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint will carry the Apple iPhone 5 with 4G LTE.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Now that CNET's verdict is in about the iPhone 5 and preorders are through the roof, you might want to consider how important a carrier is in terms of overall user experience, if you're even remotely eyeing the device for yourself.

While Cricket Wireless and the regional carrier, C Spire, will offer the iPhone 5 starting September 28, it'll be sold under the major carriers -- AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint -- starting September 21. Each of these three networks have different plans, prices, and bundles, with Sprint being the only one with a full unlimited plan. However, with all the little nuanced phone plans offered by these companies, it can get confusing for those of you who are free agents looking for a new carrier contract to sign.

To make it a bit clearer, we broke down some of the basic but important facts worth considering when shopping for the new iPhone. And if you have more questions about the device itself, be sure to check out our FAQ and our full iPhone 5review.

AT&T

  • 4G network coverage: Launched September 18, 2011. Currently available in 60 markets with 47 more by the end of 2012.

  • Unlimited or tiered data plans?: AT&T offers no unlimited data option for new users. Depending on your bundle, you can end up paying $10 per extra gigabyte.

  • Talk, text, and data plan price range (for Individual): $59 to $139 a month.

  • Monthly plan breakdown: If you're under 65 years of age, the cheapest nationwide talk plan is $39.99/month for 450 minutes. Unlimited talk is $69.99 a month. Adding data will be at least an extra $20/month for 300MB. The most expensive is $50/month for 5GB. For unlimited text messaging, that's an extra $20/month.

  • Overseas use: AT&T's GSM unit will function overseas, but we are waiting for confirmation from AT&T to know if customers will be able to unlock their SIMs.

  • Simultaneous voice and data: Just like AT&T's iPhone 4S, the company told CNET that customers will be able to talk and surf the Web at the same time on the 5.

  • FaceTime over cellular network: iPhone's video-calling service, FaceTime, will be able to work over a cellular connection with iOS 6. AT&T, however, stated that only those enrolled in its Mobile Share plan will be able to use it. All others can only use FaceTime over a Wi-Fi network.

  • Expected ship date: AT&T's site states that the iPhone 5 will ship in 14-21 business days, meaning the latest it could ship is October.

  • Other considerations: Though AT&T neophytes won't get an unlimited option, those who've been grandfathered in with its $30/month unlimited data plan a long, long time ago, will still be able to keep it when purchasing the iPhone 5. Just keep in mind that after reaching 5GB, you'll get throttled.

Verizon Wireless

  • 4G network coverage: Launched on December 5, 2010. Currently available in 371 markets with 29 more expected by the end of 2012.

  • Unlimited or tiered data plans?: Verizon doesn't offer an unlimited data plan for new customers. Depending on your bundle, you can end up paying $15 per extra gigabyte.

  • Talk, text, and data plan price range (for Individual): $80 to $190 a month.

  • Monthly plan breakdown: The cheapest rate is $80/month for unlimited talk and text with 300MB of data (the other options are $90/month for 1GB, $100/month for 2GB, and the most expensive is $190/month for 20GB).

  • Overseas use: In the U.S., Verizon users won't be able to switch to a GSM network, but they can overseas. In addition, the company will unlock global SIMs for customers who are in good standing and have stuck with the carrier for 60 days.

  • Simultaneous voice and data: Unfortunately, Verizon told CNET that customers need to be on Wi-Fi if they want to surf the Internet and place a call simultaneously. While there are plenty of Verizon 4G LTE phones that allow talk and data at the same time, Verizon's iPhone 5, however, won't be able to do this due to a lack of a third antenna.

  • FaceTime over cellular network: Unlike AT&T, Verizon will offer FaceTime over its cellular network for all data plans at no extra cost.

  • Expected ship date: Verizon said it'll deliver the handsets by September 28.

  • Other considerations: The Big Red is a little confusing with its unlimited plan for existing users, but here it is in a nutshell: Once upon a time, customers had unlimited data for $30/month. Users can keep this plan when shopping for new a phone only if they renew their contract and purchase said phone for the full, unsubsidized price. So if we go by the last model's pricing, then the iPhone 5 will probably cost you $649, $749, or $849 (depending if you want the 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB versions) if you want to keep your unlimited plan.

Sprint

  • 4G network coverage: Launched July 15, 2012. Currently available in 19 cities with 100 more "under way."

  • Unlimited or tiered data plans?: Sprint offers unlimited talk, data, and messaging for $109.99/month.

  • Talk, text, and data plan price range (for Individual): $79.99 to $109.99 a month.

  • Monthly plan breakdown: Sprint's most bare-bones plan is its "Basic" option, which offers 200 anytime minutes for $29.99/month (450 minutes and 900 minutes cost $39.99/month and $59.99/month, respectively). If you want unlimited messaging, that's an extra $10/month (though, there is no unlimited messaging option for just the 200-minute plan). If you're cool with these talk limitations but want unlimited data, that'll be an extra $30 a month stacked on top. That means if you start out with the 450 minutes a month plan, it'll be $79.99/month for unlimited text and data.

  • Overseas use: Similar to Verizon, Sprint users can't switch to a GSM network in the U.S., but can do so overseas. And if you've paid your bills on time and have been with Sprint for 90 days, it will unlock your SIM for global usage.

  • Simultaneous voice and data: Sprint confirmed that customers will not be able to access voice and data capabilities simultaneously. Similar to Verizon, this is because Sprint's iPhone 5 doesn't have a third antenna that would make this feature possible.

  • FaceTime over cellular network: There will be no restrictions on cellular usage for FaceTime over Sprint's network.

  • Expected ship date: Sprint users should expect their iPhone 5s on launch day, September 21.

  • Other considerations: One iPhone 5 feature that Apple touted during its presentation yesterday was wideband audio (or HD Voice), which lends to better call quality. Sprint offers HD Voice, but confirmed that it won't be available on the iPhone 5.

Leslie Katz 19 Sep, 2012


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