Analysis: Verizon Network Holds Up On iPhone Day

The first day of iPhone’s availability on the Verizon Wireless network brought with it fears in some quarters that the avalanche of new 3G data users on that network could choke or restrict mobile Internet access. From what we saw Thursday, it’s not a fear that was realized on Day 1.

We tested bandwidth speeds throughout the entire New York tri-state area on Thursday -- possibly Verizon’s most data-thirsty region in the U.S. -- and found that across three states, Verizon 3G access was solid and reliable.

Specifically, in ten different locations throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, we never once were unable to access the Verizon 3G network and not once did a connection ever break. At the same time, though, speeds were consistently a little slower than rival AT&T’s network -- although AT&T at times was only able to provide Edge access in certain locations.

Here’s what we did:

Taking a Palm Pixie running on the Verizon Wireless Network, we opened the Internet tethering feature at ten different locations in three states during Thursday afternoon. We then opened up a MacBook Air and connected through the Palm Pixie’s access point and measured latency, upload and download speeds using Speedtest.net’s online bandwidth benchmark. (We expected the tethered access would register a little slower on this benchmark than a direct test to a smart phone, but it also allowed us to try some “real world” notebook-based testing as well.)

Download speeds on using this method ranged from 2.06 Mbps (near Pelham Parkway in the Bronx) to 0.63 Mbps (in Plainview, N.Y. on Long Island.) On one stop, outside CNBC studios in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., download speed measured 1.14 Mbps -- about average from what we saw throughout the area yesterday - but the upload speed was 0.38 Mbps, which was the slowest we recorded. The highest upload speed we registered on the Verizon network was 0.77 Mbps, also in the Bronx.

While these weren't exactly T1 speeds, at each stop in the three-state area we were able to access the Web while tethered and easily browse on the MacBook Air. We were also able to check and send mail on Outlook, do some instant messaging and use a Mac weather app. In each case, it felt a little slower than using regular WiFi -- but not maddeningly slower. In the case of the weather app, it took a noticeably longer time to download data than when hooked up to the office WiFi, but it still worked.

What didn’t work? Skype calling on the notebook while tethered to Verizon 3G. We thought this could have gone either way, and were a little disappointed the bandwidth wasn’t there for Internet-based voice calls.

Overall: if the rush of Verizon iPhone users today hurt the network, we didn’t see it. Days 2, 3 and beyond may be a different story, but today it appeared to be business as usual for folks using the Verizon Wireless network.