consumer report

Komandt 16

CONSUMER REPORT ON

VERIZON WIRELESS SMARTPHONES

MANUFACTURED BY APPLE AND HTC

for

Michael Hricik

Technical Writing Instructor

Westmoreland County Community College

By

Doug Komandt

English 162

July 26, 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Informative Abstract……………………………………………………………………………... 3

Introduction……………………………………………………………………..……………….. 5

Discussion of Findings………………………………………………..…………………………. 7

Figure 1: Verizon Wireless Coverage Map……………………………………………………… 8

Summary of Findings………………………………………………………………...…………. 12

Conclusion and Recommendations…………………………………………………………..…. 14

Table 1: Summary of Findings…………………………………………………………………. 14

Works Cited…………………………………………………………..………………………… 16

INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT

After considering various options and conducting thorough research, I plan to purchase an iPhone 4 as my new smartphone in the very near future. Throughout this report, I will outline my research and process of selecting the iPhone 4 as my best choice. After reading this report, you will see how the iPhone 4 is the clear selection based on the criteria which I have deemed extremely important. My decision was based primarily on considerations of the following four factors:

· Data Speed Capabilities

· Battery Life

· Ease of Operation

· E-mail and Internet Capabilities

The iPhone 4 will most certainly suit my wants and more importantly meet my needs. With its fast, reliable 3G network, long lasting battery, easy-to-use setup, and compatibility with the Penn State email server, the iPhone 4 meets all of the criteria which are extremely important to me. In addition to these crucial qualities, the iPhone 4 also offers superior audio-visual technology for capturing, saving, and sharing all forms of media. I will be buying my new phone within the next few weeks, and I am excited to experience all of the iPhone’s great features and tools.

I also considered two other android smartphones: the ThunderBolt and the Droid Incredible 2, both manufactured by HTC. Each of these phones had many features to offer, however, they fell short in a few important categories. Specifically, neither android phone was directly compatible with the Penn State email domain, and the battery on each was not designed to suit my needs. When considering all my options, I first eliminated the Droid Incredible 2 because it had no outstanding features that were not available with my other two options. Though the ThunderBolt and iPhone both offered some desirable features, I finally chose the iPhone as my best option because it met and surpassed all of my criteria.

INTRODUCTION

In today’s world technology is everywhere: from cell phones and laptops to self-parking cars and EZ-Pass tolling systems. As a college student, it is expected and basically required that I have access to communication tools such as calling, texting, and email at all times. As technology advances, professors and others use email to send out important and often urgent messages to students, and students are expected to read and respond to these messages immediately. Although my current cell phone, the Envy 3, has excellent calling and texting capabilities, it does not provide me with on-the-go internet service. I need a phone which will enable me to access my email and to use the internet at all times. Therefore, I have decided that a smartphone is a necessary upgrade for me when it comes time to renew my contract with Verizon Wireless in August.

There are dozens upon dozens of cell phone and smartphone options that Verizon Wireless provides. With so many options, it can be difficult to choose which is exactly right for me. I narrowed my search down to the best three options: the iPhone 4, ThunderBolt, and Droid Incredible 2. I then used the following four criteria to assess and compare each of my options:

1. Data Speed Capabilities—I need my phone to provide 3G or 4G service that is fast and convenient, but most importantly, it must be reliable.

2. Battery Life—Since I am a very busy person, the battery life of my phone must be at least 16 hours (with average use) as I need a phone that will last me through the day, from the time I wake up until I go to sleep.

3. Ease of Operation—I need a phone that will be easy for me to use. I don’t want to have to spend days or weeks learning a new system and struggling to figure out how to use different phone functions.

4. E-mail/Internet Capabilities—I need a phone that will allow me to access my email accounts, specifically my Penn State email account, easily. I must be able to read, compose, and send email messages.

The sources I used to gather information for my report were primarily websites which provided me with consumer reviews and direct comparisons between each potential smartphone. I also conducted an in-store interview with a Verizon Wireless sales representative, and I found this information to be the most useful. My trip to the Verizon store allowed me to speak with a knowledgeable associate who was able to directly answer all of my questions. Additionally, I was able to have hands-on experience with each phone to test its functionality and see what I did and did not like about each. After approximately three hours of reading online discussions and articles, and an additional two hours in the Verizon store experimenting and gathering information on each phone, I have decided that the iPhone 4 will be the best phone for me. This report will detail the information which I gathered and used to make my informed decision based on my personal preferences and necessities.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

I began with one goal in mind: finding a smartphone for myself that would allow me to be connected on the go, by phone, texting, email, and the internet. With so many options available, I narrowed my search down to the three choices which are most prominent and recommended in the market today: the iPhone 4, ThunderBolt, and Droid Incredible 2. After selecting my top three choices, I gathered more information that would allow me to evaluate each phone based on the criteria which are important to me.

DATA SPEED CAPABILITIES

3G or 4G: which speed is for you? The 3G speed is common among all smartphones, but only select phones have the ability to work on the faster 4G network. According to the Verizon Wireless website, the iPhone 4 is equipped to operate on “America’s Largest Network,” the Verizon 3G network. Similarly, Verizon’s website states that the Droid Incredible 2 will operate on their 3G network around the country. On the other hand, Verizon points out the 4G network capabilities of the ThunderBolt as one of its greatest and most desirable features.

In addition to the phone capabilities, it is also important to consider the cellular service coverage areas, especially for the 4G service since it is limited at the present time. Looking at the coverage map (pictured below), I noted that 4G service is only available in locations with yellow dots, and it is expected to be available in locations with green stars in the next few years. There is 3G coverage, represented by the red shading, in all locations where I would need to use my phone. However, according to the map, 4G service, which is “up to 10X faster than 3G,” is currently in place in Pittsburgh and will be made available in State College within the next few years.

Figure 1: Verizon Wireless Coverage Map

In comparison, the ThunderBolt will likely offer me the best data speed capabilities at the current time. It will allow me to receive the faster 4G service at no extra cost, both at home and at college, which will allow me to browse the web and communicate more quickly and efficiently. While all three phone options offer adequate 3G coverage, the 4G data speed option for the ThunderBolt does make it very appealing.

BATTERY LIFE

As a student who is constantly on the go, I need my phone’s battery to last for a minimum of 16 hours without needing recharged. As noted by iphone-droid.com, “the iPhone 4 has the major advantage…with a whopping 7 hours of talk time…and standby time of up to 300 hours.” The battery in the iPhone 4 was designed to provide a reliable power source that will last users throughout the day. On the other hand, iphone-droid.com then notes that the Droid Incredible 2 only offers about 5 hours of usage time with only 146 hours of standby time. Finally, as I learned in my in-store Verizon interview, the ThunderBolt’s battery only lasts approximately 6-10 hours before needing recharged. As it was explained to me, this short battery life is due to the fact that the 4G network takes more energy to operate on, and thus the ThunderBolt needs recharged more often.

In comparison, both the iPhone 4 and Droid Incredible 2 have battery lives which would meet my daily needs. On the other hand, a phone such as the ThunderBolt where I would need to carry around my charger with me and be worried about my phone dying throughout the day does not meet my needs. I find the short battery life of the ThunderBolt very unattractive. As Fox 11 Online writer Nate Hoekstra observes, “it makes no difference how much faster 4G is than 3G… if the phone is dead and can’t do any of it.” Here, Hoekstra eloquently sums up the way I feel about battery life: it is basically the most important feature of the device since a dead phone is useless.

EASE OF OPERATION

While I do enjoy experimenting with and learning how to operate new, complex technological devices, my cell phone is not something I want to take months to figure out. As Hoekstra observes, “on the iPhone, a single tap gets you to where you need to go.” This simple operation would allow most users to easily transition to using an iPhone. On the other hand, Hoekstra states that “you’ll need to figure out what submenu of what submenu of what menu you need to find exactly what you want” with the ThunderBolt or Droid Incredible 2.

Comparing the options, the iPhone is much easier to get acclimated to than either the ThunderBolt or Droid Incredible 2. From experimenting with each device in the store, I too found this to be the case. As explained to me by the Verizon representative, all of my phone options are easy to use, it just takes longer to learn and become comfortable with some phones. Based on my findings, the iPhone 4 is certainly superior when it comes to easy operation and use.

EMAIL AND INTERNET CAPABILITIES

One of my main reasons for purchasing a smartphone at this time is to allow me to stay connected and to communicate with others through email and other online services while on the go. The ability for me to send and receive my Penn State emails on my phone is a necessary feature. According to the Penn State IST Department’s website, there is a list of 12 steps that an iPhone user must follow to set up Penn State email. Conversely, the IST Department provides no step-by-step instructions for setting up Penn State email on either the ThunderBolt or the Droid Incredible 2. I asked the Verizon representative about how I would go about using my Penn State email account on either of these two phones. He recommended that I set up a Gmail account, have my Penn State messages forwarded to that account, and then I could receive the messages through Gmail on my phone.

Comparatively speaking, the iPhone makes it very easy and simple to send and receive Penn State email messages. There is no “middle step” involving Gmail associated with the iPhone. Though both phones would allow me to use my Penn State email on the go, the convenience provided by the iPhone once again make it the best option when it comes to my wants and my needs.

After reviewing all of the information that I have gathered, I am ready to make an informed purchase of my new smartphone.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

All three of my smartphone options, the iPhone 4, ThunderBolt, and Droid Incredible 2, have some positive features and some negative ones. The phones were very different from each other, so it came down to deciding which features I feel are most important.

In terms of data speed capabilities, only the ThunderBolt has the ability to use the faster 4G network, though all three phones work on Verizon’s reliable 3G network. The 4G network is available in Pittsburgh and soon will be in State College, the two areas where I will use my phone most. In this category, the ThunderBolt is most desirable.

Battery life is likely the most important feature to me because I need my phone to last me through the day. Both the iPhone 4 and Droid Incredible 2 have batteries which would last long enough. On the other hand, the battery of the ThunderBolt is estimated to last only 6-10 hours between charging, due largely to the power requirements for the 4G network. In this category, the iPhone 4 or Droid Incredible 2 is most desirable.

An easy to use phone is something which I would prefer. The simple, one-touch design of the iPhone 4 makes it very easy to navigate and to use. Conversely, the ThunderBolt and Droid Incredible 2 bury various tools and applications in menus upon menus, making it difficult to navigate and use many features. Thus, the iPhone 4 is superior when it comes to ease of use.

I need to be able to send and receive Penn State Emails on my smartphone. The iPhone makes this process simple, while the ThunderBolt and Droid Incredible 2 require me to use a multi-step process involving Gmail to achieve my goal. Therefore, the iPhone 4 is the clear winner in this category.

At this point I have decided to eliminate the Droid Incredible 2 as one of my choices. While it offers many wonderful features, it does not offer anything that is not specifically available with one of my other two smartphone options. The Droid Incredible 2 was not the sole winner in any one of my four points of criteria, so I have chosen to eliminate it as an option.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the information and findings that I have previously detailed, I have concluded that the iPhone 4 is the best phone for me. Though it does not offer the 4G connection speed, it is the best when it comes to battery life, ease of use, and email and internet capabilities. Though I will have to settle for the slightly slower 3G connection speed, the iPhone 4 will certainly meet all of my absolute needs. Apple, the manufacturer of the iPhone 4, is known for its high quality products, and I expect that the iPhone 4 will be no exception. The key features of the iPhone 4 are as follows:

· 3G network coverage available across the United States

· 7 hours of talk time per charge

· 300 hours of standby time per battery charge

· Compatibility with Penn State Email

· One-touch menus for simple access to features

I used my initial criteria to create the following table to weigh my options once more to ensure that I am making the right decision.

Each criteria has a possible 5 points, 5 being the highest rating.

	iPhone 4	ThunderBolt	Droid Incredible 2
Data Speed	3	5	3
Battery Life	5	1	4
Ease of Use	5	3	3
Email/Web Capabilities	5	3	3
TOTAL:	18	12	13

Table 1: Summary of Findings

As can be seen in the above table, the iPhone 4 is definitely the best option for me based on my criteria. The iPhone ranked significantly higher than the others with a score of 18 out of 20. Throughout this report, I have been able to use data, customer review, and personal in-store research to make an educated decision about which phone will be the best for me.

The iPhone will definitely meet all of my specified needs, including reliable data coverage, long lasting battery life, easy to use setup, and compatibility with the Penn State email domain. I am positive that my new iPhone 4 will be a worthwhile investment that will meet and surpass my needs and expectations over the next few years. I look forward to visiting the Verizon Wireless store very soon to purchase my new smartphone.

Works Cited

“HTC DROID Incredible 2 vs. HTC Thunderbolt.” Phone-vs-phone.org. Phone vs. Phone, 29 April 2011. Web. 14 July 2011. <http://www.phone-vs-phone.org/2011/04/29/htc-droid-incredible-2-vs-htc-thunderbolt/>.

Colin, Matt. “Comparisons of the iPhone 4 and DROID Incredible.” Iphone-droid.com. iPhone-Droid, 7 June 2011. Web. 14 July 2011. <http://www.iphone-droid.com/iphone-4g-vs-droid-incredible.aspx>.

Hoekstra, Nate. “Review: iPhone 4 vs. Thunderbolt.” Fox11online.com. Fox 11, 20 June 2011. Web. 14 July 2011. <http://www.fox11online.com/dpps/entertainment/consumer_tech/review-iphone-4-vs-thunderbolt_3837819>.

ITS Knowledge Base. Penn State University. Web. 14 July 2011. <http://kb.its.psu.edu/>.

Verizon Wireless Online. Verizon Wireless. Web. 15 July 2011. <http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/index.html>.

Wills, Jason. Personal interview. 15 July 2011.