Do you WiFi (on your phone)?
The official announcement of the Blackberry Storm for the Verizon and Vodafone networks confirmed the phone’s lack of WiFi. This has some folks condemning RIM’s decision to exclude WiFi as a connectivity option on the phone with some even saying it’s a deal-breaker. This got me to thinking about WiFi on phones in general and the more I evaluated my own usage patterns the more I came to realize that I don’t really care about WiFi on the Storm, or any other phone for that matter.
Don’t get me wrong, I too think that the more options for getting online that a phone has the better. In this day and age mobile web usage is rampant and the easier to do that the better. But I came to realize that I have been using a number of phones the past couple of years that do in fact have WiFi integrated but I also realize that I rarely use it. Phones with true 3G connectivity provide bandwidth that is good enough for me and as a result I find I rarely enable the WiFi. WiFi is a big battery drain on phones and with 3G speeds being what they are I have always found that they are quite good enough.
Having WiFi on the iPhone is certainly a good thing, when I first got it I had it turned on all the time. This was due to the 3G problems that the iPhone 3G had when released as I found out when Apple updated the firmware. Now I find that 3G connectivity is seamless and I rarely turn WiFi on as a result. So for me at least I don’t find the lack of WiFi on the Storm to be that big of a deal. Verizon’s EV-DO Rev. A network is blazing fast and I’m confident that this is as good as WiFi for most people in a coverage area. The lack of WiFI will certainly play a role for those in areas lacking 3G coverage but for me that’s not the case.
So do you use WiFi on your phone? If so why? Would you forego it if you had good 3G coverage? Bear in mind that 3G connectivity is much safer from a security standpoint than most public hotspots.
I have wifi on my VX6700 on Verizon – and I use the wifi because I refuse to pay the $45/month for a data plan. Give me a $15/month plan (like Sprint) and I’ll do it … otherwise, no.
Having said that – I recently picked up an iPod Touch, and use the wifi on that more now instead of my VX6700. If there was a EV-DO chip in there with Unlimited Data for $15/month, I’d jump on that in a heartbeat.
……… how do you have wifi on the verizon phone if the wifi option is removed by them……?….. im trying to get this to work on my vx6900… and there is no wifi option…..if you can email me to give me the instruction on how to set this up i would be forever in your debt….s j o h n v @ a o l
Having Wifi is great for frequnt traverller. Far cheaper than 3G roaming.
It also works great with Wifirouter to connect with my UMPC which is stupidly equip without internal SIM slot.
I use wifi on my T-Mobile blackberry curve, but its rare. I would probably use it more if the transition from using edge to wifi was more seamless. It seems like overkill for me to have to update my browser settings when I’m on wifi vs edge, but thats neither here nor there. It did come in handy once when I was in a hotel where I couldn’t pick a T-Mobile signal in my room. I turned on the wifi and connected through the hotel wireless network and was able to use my phone through T-Mobile UMA. Other than that I use it at home but that only lasts a couple of minutes when you have full featured computers around. Ultimately, I think its always good to have the option though.
As I mentioned in my recent blog entry on the Storm, I need a strong data connection in my basement. Can’t get that with 3G. However, because I did not want to detract from the topic device, I purposely left out the iPhone-specific things I do with wifi, which consist primarily of controlling my computer via my iPhone. But again, those are specific to that device. If I were using another 3G phone, wifi wouldn’t be as critical to me.
WiFi on my WinMo Touch Cruise gets used a lot: both on the home and work networks. Accessing network shares, Orb access and remote controlling various bits of local kit are very common usage patterns.
No WiFi is a definite deal breaker for me and quite a blatant omission from RIM given the plethora of devices that have it these days.
I use wifi on the iPhone quite a bit at home but rarely anywhere else. Also, if I am in reach of a wifi signal then I can use my netbook and dont need the phone.
I turn on WiFi on my Samsung i730 at night to download any new podcasts, such as MobileTechRoundup. Its faster then EVDO Rev 0, and with all the podcasts that I download, it won’t count against my 2GB limit with Verizon.
On the road I don’t use the wi-fi because it sucks down the battery too quickly.
I use WiFi on my Nokia N82 for posting pictures on Flickr, surfing the web, and VOIP. I do worry about security while away from home, so I would prefer 3G instead, but I would still need WiFi for VOIP at home since I get poor cell service there.
First, I think if you pay the premium for a high end 3G phone you should get a discount on the service.
Now that many of the carriers are capping their “unlimited” plans, I find myself using wifi much more often. Of course, I don’t have as great coverage as I would with 3G but XX$ a month for capped “unlimited” is bogus. I see the elimination of the wifi as a push to get more people to go with the more profitable 3G services.
David
I leave WiFi turned off most of the time in my T-Mobile Dash. I do all of my networking from the phone over edge.
I occasionally turn on WiFi just to find out what networks are around me, to make a decision if it’s worth pulling my laptop out of the bag. It’s an expensive wifi detector, but since it reports security status and ssids it is a pretty good one. Plus it’s not one more thing in my bag.
For me it’s not about jumping on open WiFi hotspot, its about jumping on private networks that I manage and using the phone for accessing equipment I have to support.
I don’t want to punch a hole in my firewalls every time I want to check the status of a server, or modify a settings.
For the IT pro, WiFi is a must have.
I use an AT&T Blackberry Curve now. I like the phone. I don’t have 3G coverage now and where I live, Edge is only 2-3 bars. So I am shopping for a new WM6.1 phone with both WiFi for use at home, and 3G when I can use it. Verizon’s EVDO network does cover my house, but I would prefer to stick with a SIM phone. T-Mobile bought SunCom in the Carolinas, and is now pushing their services. However, their 3G is just rolling out in big cities, and as we know, not compatable with AT&T’s 3G.
So I am interested in the Treo Pro, Touch Pro or the Black Jack replacement on AT&T.
WolfMan K, Do you use VPN on your phone to connect to work systems? I havent used VPN on my phone, interested to hear how well it works.
I find WiFi (mostly) redundant on 3G phones. The exception being while traveling overseas (without a laptop).
I don’t use WiFi much on my Touch Diamond but when I do, it’s because I want to connect to something of mine. Be it to test an internal website at the office or to use GRemote on my computer.
You can always disable WiFi if the capability is there. It’s pretty tough to add the capability in once the device is in your hands!
I use WiFi all the time when at home. My iPhone 3G is set up to connect to my home network automatically when it’s in range; it lets me save on data plan charges when it’s unnecessary, plus access certain functions that require WiFi (like using Bookshelf to transfer files). Plus, since I’m at home, the phone is plugged in, so battery drain isn’t an issue.
In my opinion WiFi is essential.
The first, is because the cost of roaming data is ridiculous. I travel a lot between London and New York city, and while I have access to WiFi at either end, I certainly do not have cheap 3G data.
The second is so that retired devices can be reappropriated for other uses even when there is no SIM card installed. One of my old Pocket PCs uses WiFi to download podcasts to a memory card, and I can then play the podcasts back via the attached speakers. It also makes a great internet radio.
Another Pocker PC has been reconfigured to be an email machine. It sits next to the house phone and gets emails pushed to it so that my partner, who doesn’t have a data plan or indeed an email capable phone, can check his mail without booting up the PC.
I never use wifi on my Verizon xv6800. First reason is because I’m pretty sure it drains the snot out of the battery. Lastly, the browser on the phone is horrible and I don’t have any other apps I’d use with wifi. Opera on the phone didn’t seem to be intuitive or work well.
OUr iphone data plans are meagre (Australia) compared to many other places. So wifi, when available, is almost a must have if you want to do serious browsing of surf the app store or itunes. My phone just bounces back and forwards between wifi and 3g. I don’t even notice it.
My old phone had wifi but I never used it as the device just didn’t allow comfortable browsing or email handling.
Like others I only use wifi to access home stuff (like bringing down TiVo movies to my HTC Advantage).
no wifi, no voip on my iPhone. Plus great for int’l travel and surfing from the couch. Strange that a mobile geek would not want wifi…
I hate 3g and love wifi. Especially on my touch.
I listen to BBC radio 2 on my phone through wifi, especially when cooking. I’ve turned off 3G on my E90 because all it does is eat the battery. In fact, I’ve never found a use for 3G. I can send and receive phone calls, SMS, MMS without it, so what’s the big deal?
I used wifi, ever night when I arrived at home. Mainly for messenger, as the data coverage at my house drops from 3G to 2G then back again constantly and it plays havoc with internet connected applications.
If the data coverage was good enough to support constant 3G, I’ll still probably use wifi, because when it comes to a little internet radio or downloading a new application, you can beat the speed and reliability of the home broadband connection.
Here in the Philippines, where 3G coverage is very spotty and expensive I cant live w/o wifi on my phone. Having wifi on my phone while traveling to other countries gave me some saving because roaming is very expensive.
if (when) Celio comes out with drivers for the Redfly for the Iphone or blackberry, I think wifi will be more useful.
of course i use it! its freaking expensive to get a data plan and i’m a poor college student. not everyone that reads this has money to throw around.
Wifi is very useful, especially if you have Skype or other VoIP software on your phone. Not having wifi is a major controlling thing for the carriers – witness the many devices introduced by AT&T, Sprint and VZW that have had their wifi disabled.
Im a little confused with wifi
I understand that you cannot always get service so with the verizon plan if I do not currently have internet on my phone plan but am looking at a phone with wifi how much will it be? Or is it like the itouch so since its wifi itll be free?
If someone could please explain it thanks
Im a little confused with wifi
I understand that you cannot always get service so with the verizon plan if I do not currently have internet on my phone plan but am looking at a phone with wifi how much will it be? Or is it like the itouch so since its wifi itll be free?
If someone could please explain it thanks