Study: iPhone owners believe iPhone 4, older Apple models ok with 4G service

A research group known as Retrevo recently completed a latest research that finds one-third (34 percent) of iPhone owners who believe on the compatibility of iPhone 4 and older Apple versions with 4G service.

Perhaps, it is the name “iPhone 4” that’s among the prime factors that triggers confusion on these respondents.

Meanwhile, 24 percent of Blackberry owners also have the same thought with the 34 percent of iPhone owners. This is despite the absence of 4G option from the RIM. In addition, 29 percent of Android owners likewise thought they already had a 4G smartphone – a thought that is more likely true because of the rapid roll-out of 4G-compatible models such as the HTC Sensation 4G and the Motorola Atrix 4G.

The next model of iPhone is rumored to be revealed in September, the model that 40 percent of iPhone owners would want to purchase, even if 4G service is not available. Twenty-one percent of the same demographic said they would consider buying the new phone.

This finding therefore implies that the absence of 4G service in Apple’s new and soon-to-be released iPhone devices does not seem to drastically affect its core audience.

Even Blackberry owners are planning to leave RIM in exchange for Apple. This is manifested by more than 40 percent of the respondents who seriously considering the next iPhone model.

However, Android users appeared to be more loyal as depicted by only 1 out of 5 respondents who are planning to make a switch to the latest iPhone gadget.

Many consumers also seemed to be confused on 4G service and do not comprehend the performance benefits.

The recent study also found out that 22 percent of smartphone owners do not think 4G performance is worth the price. Another thirty-percent of them think that the price of 4G data plans is very expensive while the other nineteen percent did not comprehend 4G enough, thus they are still undecided. This implies the need of cellular companies to do some means to further educate customers on 4G service.

In line with this, a bill called the “Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act” is introduced in California’s 14th district by a Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. The bill entails certain directive that is intended for companies like Verizon and AT&T, for them to press on elucidation to their subscribers as to what speeds they are actually getting from the service data package they are subscribing.