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Analyst: 40% of AT&T customers may head to Verizon if there's a vPhone

If the rumors are true and Verizon does eventually get to carry the iPhone, AT&T's CEO should probably be a little more worried than he is. Analyst Drake Johnstone says that if Verizon does carry Apple's smartphone, 40% of its customers are likely ready to jump ship for another carrier. That's 6 million of AT&T's estimated 15 million customers, all yearning to break free of their bonds to AT&T.

That sounds high to me, and indeed, Johnstone admits that, as time goes on, that number will probably be much lower. Not only are AT&T's plans tough to get out of (and therefore not really worth the trouble to switch), but even if you do, they've just upped their termination fees, which will put another roadblock in the way. And Johnstone also says that AT&T's coverage is getting better by the day, so by the time Verizon does have the iPhone, AT&T's technical problems might not be so bad.

Even if the number isn't quite as high as 40%, iPhone exclusivity has been a huge boon for AT&T in the past, and losing it won't be good for the company. If Apple announces a Verizon deal later this year, investors will be keeping a huge watch on what AT&T ends up dealing with.

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If the rumors are true and Verizon does eventually get to carry the iPhone, AT&T's CEO should probably be a little more worried than he...
 

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Jay Sanchez

Live right down dab center of San Francisco. Bars??? Zero! 3g Internet? Zero! L8r att.

May 27 2010 at 10:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jay Sanchez's comment
lrkeene25

when other cos start using smart phones every one will run

May 31 2010 at 12:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kupua

You unhappy 40% AT&T peps, please go. I decided I'm going to stay. Go to big V, use their slower network. They say they their working on a voice and simultaneous data solution. So good luck wish u well

I'm going to be looking forward to being on the faster network and more bs for my phone calls!

May 26 2010 at 10:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mkvirt

"AT&T's coverage is improving day by day"? in which country? Not in NYC. Not in Jersey City. my iPhone 3GS plan costs approximately $1200 annually. If it costs me $380 to switch, it's still worth it to get a decent signal in Manhattan.

May 26 2010 at 9:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
hedbluntincharge

i had crapizon for about 6-7 years before i went on cingular / at&t. while at&t has been atrocious verizon was 10000x worse. i lived in 5 different houses between philadelphia and arizona and no matter where i lived i had 0 bars (and i didnt live in the middle of nowhere either time) itll be a cold day in hell before verizon ever gets a dime from me again.

May 26 2010 at 6:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
transconjohn

I pray that ANYONE gets the iPhone soon. It would be interesting to see a website where people could post pics of all the failed call front screens they had. I would bet the site would host ore pics than PhotoBucket.

My contracts are up Aug 6th. I will take them to Verizon, T Mobile or even Sprint if I am able to. Until then I will be getting a prepaid flip phone and waiting.

I did a little research into my past accounts with AT&T and have had a total of $575 dollar worth of credits from AT&T over the two years on two phones thanks to all the bad service.

Not bad for a few minutes of complaining and documenting!

May 26 2010 at 6:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tcahill2

Free tethering wold make me stay. Otherwise, I will look at what V has to offer. I'm in Pittsburgh and the service here has been ok. I didn't notice a big difference between ATT and V when I switched.

May 26 2010 at 5:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
faslane

Not for me. I'm not (like the article says) paying yet another HUGE termination fee or deposit to any of these companies. Once my ATT contract is up I'm month to month. Besides many of my peeps have iPhones and we call for free (mobile to mobile) so unless they all switch there is no reason for me personally to do so. I welcome VZW to the table (might help ATT knock prices down a bit) IF... VZW offers a cheaper plan, maybe not though too....time will tell....my 2 cents

May 26 2010 at 4:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jwfnla

I'm letting my contract run out in a couple of months and will be using a temporary option until the phone is carried on Verizon. AT&T lost goodwill with me when they didn't offer an upgrade on my current 3G to the 3Gs. That will not be forgiven, and their spotty service certainly seals my position.

May 26 2010 at 3:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Felix

I do have to ask.. Let's say, we all do make the merge over to Verizon, are they really prepared to take on such a MASSIVE toll on their network? I live in San Francisco and service does NOT get any worst than here. I'm just curious if Verizon can really back up their lip service.

May 26 2010 at 2:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Felix's comment
Ed Husar

I bet Des Moines, IA is worse that San Fran. 3 out of 5 calls drop in my house. Terrible. Have to walk outside to not drop calls.

May 26 2010 at 2:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Digi

@Husar I'm in Montana where we "supposedly" don't have ATT Towers (I get ATT Signal). I have had very few dropped calls, and EDGE is actually at a tolerable speed for me. San Fran is probably sucky coverage because its right near Silicon Valley and everyone and their grandmother is using 3g. When I worked in Sacramento I had excellent service.

May 26 2010 at 7:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
WacoChili

I have been an AT&T 'customer/whipping boy/indentured servant for going on 7 years now (cell + more recently, U-Verse). I carried two cellular contracts for just over a year (the other being Verizon) and was a Verizon only(cellular) customer for 5 years prior to that. For most of these years, I lived in Los Angeles, and for the last 3.5 years I have lived in the greater Chicagoland area (soon to be downtown). It is with some authority I can distinguish who wins the battle of coverage, reliability, customer service, and price. The competition is easy to judge and Verizon trounces AT&T in ALL areas. Simple. No exclamation points and angry emoji. I am spent on this issue and have even moved past the point of frustration and can now only laugh at the folly that is AT&T; and, I can not wait to jump ship. ¡Viva Verizon!

May 26 2010 at 2:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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