iPhone 4 for Verizon - A Tech Dilemma

The iPhone 4 for Verizon has been announced and it causes a dilemma for me. Do not get me wrong, I am really happy that people now have the option of getting the iPhone for Verizon or AT&T. The dilemma it poses for me is to reserve one on February 3, 2011 and get it February 10, 2011, or wait until some day in July 2011 when the iPhone 5 is rumored to be released.

Here is the list of pros and cons to getting the iPhone 4 on Verizon in February and/or the Verizon iPhone 5 in July if it actually gets released.

Pros

1. I will no longer have to carry both my Motorola MOTO™ VU204 and my 2nd generation iPod Touch
2. The iPhone 4 has a much better camera than my cell phone and the 2nd generation iPod Touch does not have camera at all.
3. I can stay on Verizon where I have always received great voice service although prices for data plans do scare me a bit.
4. My employer has made the move to support iOS devices so that I can get my calendars and e-mail synchronized and have access to them on the go even away from a Wifi access point.

Cons

1. I will have to wait 6 more months to get the newest technology in the iPhone 5.
2. I have already waited many years to be able to call an iPhone my own.
3. The suspected data plan for unlimited data may be very expensive as my phone bill is only a little over $30 with no texts and $50 with moderate text messaging.
4. The iPhone 4 is a CDMA phone and will not work on Verizon's new LTE network which has been touted as having blazing 4G speed. The iPhone 5 will possibly have the ability to harness this speed.

There are some differences between the iPhone for AT&T and the one for Verizon. The Verizon iPhone can be used as a Wifi hot spot and thus have tethering abilities to up to 5 devices although it is unclear if Verizon will change extra for this feature. This does not really matter too much to me but I can understand it's usefulness for others. There is talk that with the upgrade to iOS 4.3, AT&T and Verizon iPhones will both have the hot spot/tethering capability. In a related note the Verizon version of the phone's software is 4.2.5 as opposed to the current AT&T version with iOS 4.2.1. The antenna notches have been moved which in turn caused a movement of a few of the iPhone buttons possibly making current iPhone cases to possibly block those buttons or not fit correctly. I will write more about the details and influences of my decision as I deal with them. Let me know what you think in the comments or use the social networking buttons below. Take care.