iPhone Carrier Comparison

iPhone 4S pre-orders started today(sometime around 12:20 AM here in Utah).  If you are nerdy, you probably stayed up late to order your new iPhone 4S as soon as the page went live.  If you value sleep and aren't uptight about your phone, you most likely haven't ordered yet.  PCMag.com posted a very helpful  comparison chart of the three carriers and what you can expect to pay with each.

So as you can see, the prices are not wildly different between carriers. Each one, however, will leave a gnarly hole in your bank account after two years.  Welcome to the Age of Convenience, the Age of Cell Phone Carriers Have Way Too Much Control, the Age of Get Used to High Prices For Technology. 

Let me break down for you what I know:

AT&T

AT&T, as a common consensus, tends to have the fastest 3G internet speeds.  This may not be true in every instance or comparison but overall it tends to be true. AT&T, may also be the cheapest option if minutes are still important to you.  This is why.  When you sign up for the 450 minute $39.99 plan and then add unlimited text messaging, you also receive unlimited cell phone to cell phone calling.  This gives you 450 land line minutes.  Who calls land lines anymore anyway?  450 should be plenty. AT&T also has a $15 data option that the other carriers don't have, which is sufficient for users who use very little data consumption, like my parents.  If, for example, my parents were on Verizon, they would both be paying double what they currently are paying for data and not reaping any significant benefits since it isn't something they need or use.  AT&T tends to have pretty solid coverage along the Wasatch Front and is a good option for a lot of people. Simultaneous Talk and Surf exists.

Sprint

Sprint is the newest carrier to obtain access to the iPhone.  This is a big deal for Sprint.  In fact, had they stayed out of the iPhone game, it could have been devastating for the company.  Sprint is currently offering unlimited data on the iPhone, something both AT&T and Verizon once offered but have since gone away from.  As a user who is still grandfathered in to unlimited data on AT&T, I can say two things about it.  1)You probably don't need it.  Almost ALL users will be fine with 2GB of data.  I myself, am a heavy user, and have only gone over 2GB a few times. 2)With that being said, it is also really nice not having to every worry about data usage.  If I want to stream TV to my phone while away from a WiFi network, I can.  If I want to stream music from Rdio or Podcasts from Instacast while driving to work and back everyday, I can without worrying about my data consumption.  So with Sprint you get all the data you want, however, reports are saying that Sprint's 3G speeds are the slowest of the three carriers.  I personally cannot confirm or deny that claim.  As for coverage, Sprint appears to have even greater coverage than AT&T, at least here in Utah.  Sprint may not be a bad way to go. Simultaneous Talk and Surf does not work. 

Verizon

In regards to customer satisfaction and quality of network coverage, the usual consensus tends to give Verizon the advantage.  On a road trip from SLC to Las Vegas, I was in and out of 3G coverage whereas those in the vehicle with Verizon had more consistent data coverage.  Verizon tends to have a very solid voice network and great coverage here in Utah.  Rural area coverage is usually the best of the three as well.  Verizon tends to be the most expensive, getting less minutes and data for your dollar.  However, you may save money compared to AT&T if you only text occasionally, since Verizon offers tiered texting plans.  Verizon has the same Talk and Surf limitation that Sprint does.  If you are on a call and want to look up something online, you will have to be connected to WiFi or end the voice call.  AT&T is the only one of the group that allows you to do both.  This may or may not be an important feature to you.  Verizon is a great choice for many people. 

Is there a perfect carrier?  Most definitely not.  I really tend to dislike the cell phone companies.  They, unlike Apple, really aren't focused on customer experience.  They do however really want your money.  They also want to lock you in for life.  2 Year contracts bite but result in a savings of $450 on the cost of your iPhone.  That $450 is incentive enough for most people to make the commitment.  

Feel free to post any insight you may have in the comments section. 

Note: Family plans are not mentioned in the comparison chart nor discussed here in the post however they will almost always save you money over personal plans.  If you are on a family plan, it makes it more of a challenge to switch carriers since each phone may have a different contract termination date.  If you are starting new, configure away on AT&T, Sprint, Verizon to determine the best price for your family plan.

2nd Note: Sprint and Verizon both use CDMA technology whereas AT&T uses GSM.  GSM has come to be the international standard.   However, the new iPhone 4S is a "World Phone" so a Verizon iPhone 4S will be able to roam internationally now.  GSM phones use SIM cards, CDMA phones do not.

3rd Note: I will be posting later on which iPhone model to choose.

UPDATE: Engadget just launched a great article on this same topic.  Even better price breakdowns.  Check it here on Engadget!