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Verizon CTO Tony Melone
Verizon's CTO says that Windows Phone 7 isn't quite ready to take on the big boys

Perhaps Verizon still has a bad taste in its mouth after the Microsoft Kin debacle, but the company's chief technology officer isn't too keen on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 (WP7) platform.

Despite Microsoft and Nokia joining forces to create a powerful smartphone platform to take on the likes of Apple (iOS) and Google (Android), Verizon CTO Tony Melone is a bit apprehensive of WP7's chances of success in the smartphone market.

"I do want a strong third OS out there. It gives the carriers more flexibility and balances the interests of all the parties,” said Melone in an interview with CNET. “But I still have doubts whether Microsoft will get the traction they are hoping for with Windows Phone 7."

Melone went on to add that it has strong partnerships with devices makers like Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and Apple. Apple is Verizon's latest conquest, with the iPhone 4 recently making its debut on the company's CDMA network. 

With this strong portfolio, Melone continued, "I think it would take a really compelling device from Nokia or any new vendor to break in. It doesn't mean that it can't happen, but it would have to be really good. 

"I don't think Verizon needs the Nokia and Microsoft relationship. Right now the three OS players we see for our network are Android, Apple, and RIM. "

What seems so odd about this commentary is that Verizon will begin selling a WP7 device starting this spring. Talking negatively about an operating system that you will soon be selling doesn’t seem like a wise move, no matter how diplomatic the words being used are delivered.

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Its the one for me
By Ristogod on 2/15/2011 2:26:08 PM , Rating: 5
WP7 is the one phone OS that interests me to the most. I'm hoping the chance to eventually get one from my current provider.




RE: Its the one for me
By The Raven on 2/15/2011 3:28:17 PM , Rating: 2
Just like how Tony didn't offer much explanation why he doesn't like WP7's chances, you didn't really say why you are interested in it.

I personally am not attracted to it at all as I won't be getting a smartphone any time soon, but I am interested in what other people think of regarding tech stories :-)


RE: Its the one for me
By quiksilvr on 2/15/2011 3:39:38 PM , Rating: 3
Well it's not like he's saying its going to fail. He's just saying what he personally feels about the OS as it stands now, and I agree with him.

Right now its teetering towards Android 1.5 right now. The OS is great but still has a ways to go.


RE: Its the one for me
By mcnabney on 2/15/2011 4:14:58 PM , Rating: 2
Like maybe supporting an ARM processor that isn't Snapdragon.

The platform is going to die if we are going to have to wait on Microsoft to adjust the OS to suit every damn different iteration of ARM.


RE: Its the one for me
By Alexvrb on 2/15/2011 10:26:47 PM , Rating: 2
Wait, you're blaming MS for the hardware? They set minimum specs, not maximum specs. MS certainly isn't tied to Qualcomm. I think the phone makers are just focusing more on their Android offerings first. The same hardware will eventually end up in WP7 devices. For their sake, hopefully something like the new dual core OMAPs or a Tegra 2.


RE: Its the one for me
By piroroadkill on 2/16/2011 3:05:02 AM , Rating: 2
Huh, I thought it was currently only supported on specific Qualcomm SOC


RE: Its the one for me
By theapparition on 2/16/2011 10:10:08 AM , Rating: 2
MS specifically states in thier requirements that it must use a Qualcomm SoC.

So yes, as for now, MS has dictatated the use of Qualcomm and are tied to them. As of right now, no carrier can release a WinMo 7 phone on Tegra, OMAP, or Hummingbird.


RE: Its the one for me
By Alexvrb on 2/16/2011 7:01:11 PM , Rating: 2
Really? Damn, I hope they are already moving to greenlight other cores. Got a link?

Last time I dug around all I found was that they required 1Ghz, ARMv7, and either Scorpion (Snapdragon) or Cortex (A8?). On the GPU front they required DX9 level hardware acceleration, which the Snapdragons also meet (some better than others, and none of them are as fast as new Tegra 2 or SGX 540 implementations). I figured they all went with Snapdragon because at the time they were putting these phones together, Snapdragon was the best overall that fit the reqs.


RE: Its the one for me
By Wiggy Mcshades on 2/16/2011 12:36:06 AM , Rating: 2
Android 1.5 was buggy down to the menus. Literally, the list of applications running was the biggest struggle I've had with any electronic device. If you're working with a platform like android and you know the market you are developing software for isn't exactly tech savvy seeing the phone hardlock and reset when you try to scroll to your application to "suggest" that it closes isn't exactly a confidence builder. Things are quite different than they were when 1.5 was release, but windows mobile 6.5 wasn't even that bad. As it stands right now there are no major bugs that are OS related. The biggest problem WP7 has is it's missing copy and paste, which is coming soon. It's worse than iOs 4.xx or android 2.x when you compare bullet point features, but as far as stability, speed, and user experience it's pretty hard to say either of the 3 are significantly worse. There's one thing everyone is disregarding completely and that's the ease of development for applications. That's a feature that won't show up on the box, but you'll get the benefit from it almost every time you use the phone.


RE: Its the one for me
By MindParadox on 2/16/2011 12:59:17 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
The biggest problem WP7 has is it's missing copy and paste, which is coming soon


ya know, ive had this phone since december(it replaced an iphone) and i dont think ive ever missed copy and paste

course, i dont think i ever used it on my iphone either

id say the biggest problem WP7 has is the youtube and netflix streaming arent very good looking personally, since thats something i(and people i know) actually use

i DO know several people who like to point out that their iphones have copy/paste capability, but when ive asked them how often they use it, they get this funny look on their faces and go "well, we have it at least"

just sayin


RE: Its the one for me
By Belard on 2/16/2011 9:17:58 AM , Rating: 2
It looks like a clean design, which I hope that future versions of Android will kind of mimic... it does in some ways, but can be improved.

On my Android Home screen (there are 5 pages that can be customized) - It has minimal buttons (icons) - so I don't accidently press something I may not need. Things like Camera, messaging, clock is all I need there.

It should take the least amount of clicks to get some where.


RE: Its the one for me
By B3an on 2/16/2011 1:05:30 AM , Rating: 2
It's way ahead of Android 1.5.
In the feature checkbox it might have roughly the same amount of stuff. But it also has a VASTLY better OS interface, and GPU acceleration.

One of the main issues myself and other people have with Android is the choppiness of the OS - the scrolling/animations, even on the fastest hardware.
Android 2.3 finally fixes this with GPU acceleration, but MS have had GPU acceleration and done a better job of it on there first version of WP7. It's the smoothest OS out there.


RE: Its the one for me
By iluvdeal on 2/15/11, Rating: -1
RE: Its the one for me
By lagomorpha on 2/15/2011 11:57:59 PM , Rating: 1
Be nice...


RE: Its the one for me
By MindParadox on 2/16/2011 12:55:18 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Lemme guess, you also love using Bing as your search engine and hotmail as your email right?


actually, my WP7 phone had as a default a google mail tile and you can change the default search to google(or yahoo) if you want

and even before that, when i entered in my XBox Live account info, it never once mentioned hotmail

altho, if you want to, you CAN add it as an account, you just have to go into the "Other Accounts" section :)

try again, try harder!


RE: Its the one for me
By Da W on 2/16/2011 3:31:26 PM , Rating: 2
What's the point with hotmail? Used it for more than a decade, got 20 gig of space too and save my excel/word/powerpoint files in the cloud with it. Log in my Xbox live account and Zune account. It works with windows live mesh which syncs my work laptop with my home computer over the internet when we are 20 miles appart and saves important files in the clouds so i can access them anywhere. I can download a forgotten power point presentation on my phone from my hotmail account, i just need an HDMI output. Used to work with messenger too back in the days, you know when everybody was using that?

My gmail acount push notification is always buggy. I mostly use it to keep my google finance portfolio.


he had to
By kleinma on 2/15/2011 2:57:38 PM , Rating: 5
Part of the deal with Apple to sell the iPhone on Verizon was their CTO had to make negative comments about Microsoft. Oh and he has to wear black turtle necks for 1 year.




RE: he had to
By SirKronan on 2/15/2011 11:56:43 PM , Rating: 2
Your reason makes much more sense than his reason. Take a look:

quote:
With this strong portfolio, Melone continued, "I think it would take a really compelling device from Nokia or any new vendor to break in. It doesn't mean that it can't happen, but it would have to be really good.


The iPhone 4 would've been a more compelling device ... if it were released when AT&T released theirs. It was so late to the party that it lost some of its "compelling-ness" and has not sold as well as they were expecting.

The Bionic would be a compelling device ... if it wasn't being released several months AFTER the Atrix, with slightly reduced specifications, such as a larger screen (bulkier and less sharp!), half the RAM, no fingerprint scanner, and no dock accessories.

The Thunderbolt would be a compelling device ... if it had HDMI out (even the EVO, which is similar in shape and size, has this!), and perhaps a dual core processor, and better resolution than the WVA 4.3" screens we've already been enjoying for over a year.

The LG Revolution would be a compelling device as well, again, if it were dual core. Preliminary indications are that it is not. In fact, out of all the new LG phones on the horizon, Verizon appears to be getting the least compelling of all of them.

There ARE several Windows Phone 7 devices that are already compelling in their own right, and the OS itself has some things going for it that no other phone OS on the market has.

In fact, Verizon's roadmap so far for this year, including phones that have already been released, is one of the LEAST compelling I've seen. It's downright sad.

The lack of compelling phones heading to Verizon - partly because of late releases or reduced specs compared to what other carriers are getting from the same manufacturers - completely nullifies his one solid criticism against Verizon carrying a WP7 device.

His statements are an empty, unfounded excuse. And no, I don't own a Windows Phone 7. I own a Fascinate. Doesn't mean I agree with every BS thing VZ says though. They happen to have good reception where I need it. I can still see the hogwash all over this article.


RE: he had to
By Belard on 2/16/2011 9:14:46 AM , Rating: 2
Excellent points.

Typical corp. PR dribble.


Oh my...
By ctodd on 2/15/2011 11:09:42 PM , Rating: 3
What is that growing on his lip? Talk about not being impressed!




RE: Oh my...
By StraightCashHomey on 2/16/2011 9:00:59 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, that thing is pretty hideous. Randy West called, and he wants it back.


Pitiful
By NellyFromMA on 2/15/2011 3:46:36 PM , Rating: 2
Can't wait to be off of Verizon. It took this long to for them to reel in Apple and now VZW Lips will be all over them for the time being. He knows WP7 is coming to VZW either way, and he knows VZW will require a data package for every phone with WP7. He gets to kiss Apple's butt and still get everything he was going to get from MS regardless, all while taking advantage of VZW consumers with ridiculous pricing structures. Sweet?




RE: Pitiful
By mcnabney on 2/15/11, Rating: 0
RE: Pitiful
By StraightCashHomey on 2/16/2011 8:59:09 AM , Rating: 2
Honesty is pretty refreshing from a third-party perspective, but it's not wise for someone in his position to be candid about a product that they're selling if he doesn't like the product. That's like saying "hey, I think my product sucks... but buy it anyway!"


No mention of WebOS
By Conficio on 2/15/2011 4:26:38 PM , Rating: 2
So he thinks WP 7 is a may be contender, but WebOS (formerly Palm, now HP) does not make it into his radar screen (although his comany does offer WebOS phones).

Too sad!




RE: No mention of WebOS
By k20boy on 2/15/2011 8:58:55 PM , Rating: 2
On Precentral, it says he liked WebOS very much and sees it as a possible strong contender if it were licensed to more hardware vendors and bases this solely on the strength of the OS.


Wow
By Ammohunt on 2/15/2011 2:36:00 PM , Rating: 3
This guy trying to out do larry Ellison with inane comments?




By Da W on 2/15/2011 3:26:45 PM , Rating: 2
It's not like Verizon is the end of the world. It's only what, 30%-40% market share in the US? There's still Europe, Asia, Canada, South America and Africa left to conquer.




Software loads.
By n0b0dykn0ws on 2/16/2011 9:24:42 AM , Rating: 2
I wonder if it is because Verizon likes to place their own loads on phones and Microsoft wants Windows Phone 7 to be baseline.

n0b0dykn0ws




Verizon always late to the party
By satveeraj on 2/17/2011 12:01:43 AM , Rating: 2
Verizon:

Late to the Android Party
Late to the iPhone Party
.....

Late to........need I not say




By Smartless on 2/15/2011 3:00:47 PM , Rating: 1
But in any case, Verizon sure wants to let Apple know how happy they are to have them. Sheesh. They didn't get that much hype with Android phones. Let the bridges burn.




Why even post the opinions of biased CEOs?
By 91TTZ on 2/15/11, Rating: -1
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 2/15/2011 3:28:55 PM , Rating: 5
1) He's not a CEO
2) He's not talking about a competitor (his competitors would be AT&T/Sprint/T-Mobile)
3) He's talking about a software platform that his own company WILL SUPPORT within the next few months


RE: Why even post the opinions of biased CEOs?
By Lifted on 2/15/2011 5:00:14 PM , Rating: 1
The only link to a source for this story doesn't work.

I can't find any other source for this story that quotes Tony Melone as saying "That don't impress me much".


RE: Why even post the opinions of biased CEOs?
By MindParadox on 2/16/2011 1:05:54 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
I can't find any other source for this story that quotes Tony Melone as saying "That don't impress me much".


ya know, in the not quite taking everything as literal fact world, i think the title is a boiled down statement of his meaning

as in, Melone didnt really have anything good to say about it

cause honestly, would you really like to see a title for the article say something like

"Tony Melone says I do want a strong third OS out there. It gives the carriers more flexibility and balances the interests of all the parties, but I still have doubts whether Microsoft will get the traction they are hoping for with Windows Phone 7." Read more in the article!!!!

i think "dont impress me much" sums it up nicely, dont you?


RE: Why even post the opinions of biased CEOs?
By chiadog on 2/16/2011 4:19:12 AM , Rating: 2
Brandon put it in quotes when he shouldn't have, since that isn't exactly what he said. The act of paraphrasing may introduce bias into the statement, hence why it shouldn't be in quotes.


By Riven98 on 2/16/2011 12:57:36 PM , Rating: 2
It's a Shania Twain song title.


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