I’ve been watching the Apple trend very closely. While I think that Apple breaking their 4-year iPhone monopoly with AT&T is a great thing, I also think there are several reasons why smartphone aficionados might want to hold off on getting the first generation iPhone available from Verizon as soon as it is released.

1. The iPhone 4 is a 3G device and cannot take full advantage of the enhanced speed of Verizon’s 4G cellular network.
2. Verizon’s iPhone is a CDMA phone and not a GSM phone, so you cannot place a call and access the Internet at the same time.
3. Apple revises their products every year and by the time the Verizon iPhone comes out in February, it will be over 6 months old. Rumors have already started surfacing about the next generation Apple iPhone. Before you sign a two-year contract on Verizon’s iPhone, you may want to wait a few months and see what the new model has to offer.
4. The 3.5-inch screen is considered small now that most other smartphones have 4-inch screens. This feature may or may not be addressed in future models.
5. Consumer Reports questions whether Verizon will be able to handle the massive data usage of a huge influx of iPhone users. Even compared to other smartphones, iPhone users consume much more bandwidth.   Verizon claims that it will not be a problem, but no one will know for sure until after the iPhone is available on their network.
6. International travelers may find it nearly impossible to get reception in Europe or South America because of Verizon’s limited coverage there.
7. Verizon recently changed their service plan structure and, as of this writing, has not announced what plans will be available for the iPhone.
8. The iPhone has an infamous reputation for dropped calls on AT&T’s network and it is not clear if this will be as big an issue on Verizon’s network or not.
9. Verizon recently ended their plan that gives users a discount on new phones every two years, so if you are unhappy with your iPhone or want a newer model, you will have to pay full price for the phone.
10. It is questionable how successful Verizon’s version of the iPhone will be, but what is certain is that buyers have to sign a two-year-contract to get one. If you decide to end your contract early, you will face steep early cancellation penalties plus the cost of a new phone.

Verizon’s iPhone does offer some advantages over AT&T’s, such as the ability to provide Wi-Fi connectivity for up to five devices while AT&T’s iPhone only supports one through Bluetooth. However, there are still a lot of questions and issues that Verizon has not publicly addressed, including the fact that AT&T iPhones won’t work on Verizon’s network. Most experts agree that consumers should wait and see how things go during the first few months. It is very likely that the next generation iPhone will have features better suited to Verizon’s network.

What do you think?

====

About the Author: Deborah Dera is a professional writer focused on finance, credit loans,   bankruptcy, technology, writing, search engine optimization, and more. She is the founder of Write on the Edge and offers unique content creation solutions to businesses looking to enhance their online brands.