Email isn't really the biggest use for simultaneous voice and data. One of the biggest features advertised on the Droid is the in car navigation, and it works great, UNLESS you are on a phone call. When I had a iPhone with a previous employer that used AT&T, it was not at all uncommon for me to pull up a map to a place being discussed on a phone call, or look up information in our CRM system using the web browser, or a hundred other things.
I like the Droid overall, but I was really surprised and disappointed by this limitation.
km4321 wrote:Email isn't really the biggest use for simultaneous voice and data. One of the biggest features advertised on the Droid is the in car navigation, and it works great, UNLESS you are on a phone call. When I had a iPhone with a previous employer that used AT&T, it was not at all uncommon for me to pull up a map to a place being discussed on a phone call, or look up information in our CRM system using the web browser, or a hundred other things.
I like the Droid overall, but I was really surprised and disappointed by this limitation.
As was previously posted, it is not a deficiency of the Droid or any of the other phones on VzW, it is the CDMA network that VzW uses. I think this will be remedied with the move to 4G (LTE?) that's currently being planned. Of course, that will mean having to get a new phone to work with it, I would imagine.
It makes me wonder if the simultaneous voice and data is one of the things clogging up the AT&T network and causing all of those dropped calls. Which would you rather have? The ability to check your email or a web page for some info while simultaneously talking to someone and have a 50-50 shot of dropping the call or dropping to Edge speed instead of 3G OR the ability to talk to some with a 90-10 shot at finishing the call and then checking your email, surfing the web, etc. with a pretty good shot at full 3G speed. Oh, and using the redial feature on the phone in case there was something in that email that was so important that needed to be addressed immediately.
Obviously, most all of us would rather have the simultaneous voice and data with our phones, but I personally would rather have confidence that I could use either one, most any place, than run the risk of needing one or the other and not seeing any bars at the top of my phone.
(Disclaimer: The percentages listed above are made-up, but based on personal experiences and those of others. No animals were harmed in the typing of this post. OK, one was, just a little, but that cat had it coming.)
PPC_Dude wrote:
Obviously, most all of us would rather have the simultaneous voice and data with our phones, but I personally would rather have confidence that I could use either one, most any place, than run the risk of needing one or the other and not seeing any bars at the top of my phone.
(Disclaimer: The percentages listed above are made-up, but based on personal experiences and those of others. No animals were harmed in the typing of this post. OK, one was, just a little, but that cat had it coming.)
I fully understand it's a limitation of the network, I just wish it wasn't an issue. I switched to Verizon because I know the network is better in most ways. With that said, I switched because most of my family and friends are on Verizon, so it was much cheaper for my specific use. I didn't personally have much problem with AT&T service.
As to confidence that it will work most any place, I guess it depends on your definition. I travel to Europe and Asia, where AT&T phones work, but my Verizon phone will not. Yes, Verizon will give me a loaner that works there, but that's quite a pain in itself. This isn't a complaint really, as I knew full well going in. I'm just saying that while the Verizon network is better in the US, we do ourselves a disservice if we don't point out where they can improve.
Try this on your droid.
Install pandora and listen to it in your car and see if you get any calls. Guess what they will go automaticly to voicemail because CDMA can't do voice and data at the same time.
On the iphone when I listen to pandora via my bluetooth enabled car stereo when a call comes in it fades out and I can answer the call, then when I am done it fades back in right where it left off..
There are other areas where this can bite you. If you plan on never talking on the phone, it's great.
snorkel wrote:Try this on your droid.
Install pandora and listen to it in your car and see if you get any calls. Guess what they will go automaticly to voicemail because CDMA can't do voice and data at the same time.
On the iphone when I listen to pandora via my bluetooth enabled car stereo when a call comes in it fades out and I can answer the call, then when I am done it fades back in right where it left off..
There are other areas where this can bite you. If you plan on never talking on the phone, it's great.
I wouldn't suggest talking while driving anyway, but hey that's just me. As it's already been established, the problem is the network.
There aren't many times where I find myself having to use both the internet and phone at the same time. It can be handy when I do, however, especially reading out an article to a friend who is on speaker phone. But, I gladly trade that off for a huge 3G network that goes at tremendously fast, fast speeds.
Then don't use Pandora!!!
I am using Droidlive radio and while I am listening to the radio I do get calls Droidlive stops, the phone rings I answer, when I am done I hang up and Droidlive resumes... I'm glad I picked Droidlive instead of Pandora...
I'd like to add, I am using the paid version.. I don't know if that makes any difference, but I have no trouble using DROIDLIVE and getting calls....
I am able to listen to Pandora on my Droid and still receive calls. Pandora pauses, the call comes through, when I am finished Pandora resumes!
momof2 wrote:I am able to listen to Pandora on my Droid and still receive calls. Pandora pauses, the call comes through, when I am finished Pandora resumes!
I was just about to say this. I listen to Pandora while I am driving all the time. Here is the deal with that. Don't confuse not being able to do data while on a call with not being able to get a call while in data. They are very much different. If you are using data, say you are on the web, or listening to pandora, or getting directions to your final destination or whatever any incomming call gets priority treatment the data goes to the background and the call comes through. If you are on a call while data comes through or you need to connect to something sorry unless you are within range of a wifi signal. Yep thats right if you happen to see a mcdonalds or starbucks (assuming you have access) or any one of about a million places with free wifi pull over connect and pull up the data you need. Obviously there are still times where that won't work. Like say the soccer game thing or whatever. Sorry but you have to get off look it up and call back. That is unfortunate. If you are on the phone with someone and you aren't near a wifi like you are stuck away from most civilization with no access to wifi and someone is sending you a diagram of how to fix the issue in your car then you have to get off the phone let the email download open the attachment and call them back to discuss it. Yes it is an inconvenience but a minor one in the end. It would be nice to do both but really I am glad I can't get e-mail while I am on a call. I get e-mail constantly all day long and it is nice to be able to talk without having ding ding ding in my ear all the time.
SO CDMA networks like Sprint and Verizon can't do data and voice at the same time but VOICE always gets priority so you won't miss an emergency call because you were surfing the web or listening to Pandora or whatever.
For the record, you can access anything on your Android phone while in a call, including email, as long as it's already downloaded. If you have a partial message, or a message with pictures, meaning additional data needs to be downloaded, you won't be able to get that additional data, and any new email won't come through.
HOWEVER, if you happen to have a WiFi connection active on the phone while on a call, it will use that for the data connection, and at that point you can be on a call and getting data at the same time. I know, because I've tried it. It's a limitation of the cellular network, not the device.
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