AT&T Vs. Verizon Mobile Internet

Currently, both Verizon and AT&T; offer both 3G and 4G Internet. The newest AT&T; speeds deliver 6Mbps, which is faster than Verizon, but this is only available in some areas and will not be completed until 2013. When compared side by side, Verizon has shown faster speeds than AT&T.; The Post-Standard newspaper loaded a Web page in 24 seconds on AT&T; 3G, while the same Web page loaded in 16 seconds on Verizon.

AT&T; has the most coverage worldwide when it comes to voice service, and covers about 97 percent of the U.S. Verizon has less voice service coverage, at around 95 percent of the U.S., but has a much more extensive 3G and 4G network. Verizon has already set up 4G networks in over 38 cities, and started the process before AT&T;, which still lags behind. Verizon offers five times as much 3G coverage as AT&T; in the U.S. However, AT&T; has combined its voice and Internet service by allowing its customers to talk and surf the Web at the same time.

Verizon offers a different kind of mobile Internet, known as the Verizon Mi-Fi mobile hotspot. The Mi-Fi is a wireless device about the size of a credit card. This device connects to 3G or 4G service and can support up to five devices at once. Devices connect to Mi-Fi just like they would connect to any Wi-Fi router. Currently, Verizon offers several tiers, which allows for more data transfer per month. Their highest allows for 5 GB of transfer for $80 a month. AT&T; provides no such service.

You may also connect your mobile device to your computer through an included USB cable to use 3G or 4G Internet on your computer. This is known as tethering. Tethering costs extra fee per month with both AT&T; and Verizon. Verizon offers three tiers for their data plans: a 2GB, 5GB and 10GB plan. However, Verizon includes an extra 2GB of data per month with their tethering plan. AT&T; has three tiers as well, at 200MB, 2GB and 4GB. AT&T; customers can add tethering to any plan.