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Gadgets Verizon Still Wants Apple iPhone
Michael Barkoviak - October 27, 2009 7:07 AM
Print 28 comment(s) - last by Mitch101.. on Oct 28 at 8:41 AM

  (Source: BandwidthBlog)
Verizon has criticized Apple and AT&T in the past, but is still interested in the iPhone

Even though Verizon Wireless has openly criticized AT&T and the Apple iPhone, and is supporting the new Droid handset, it seems Verizon still wants the iPhone.

The iPhone has seen great success through exclusivity with AT&T and there are a growing number of VZW subscribers who have shown interest in the phone. However, these customers don't want to make the switch from VZW to AT&T.

"We obviously would be interested at any point in the future that they would be interested in having uas a partner," Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg said during a phone briefing with analysts.  “This is a decision that is exclusively in Apple’s court.”

Unless the AT&T offering is extremely appealing, it would make sense for Apple to introduce its iPhone for VZW subscribers when its exclusive contract with AT&T ends.  Although the iPhone has seen solid sales, complaints regarding AT&T's 3G coverage and other issues linger.

Until the iPhone makes an appearance on VZW, if it does ever, the wireless provider will continue to promote the RIM BlackBerry Storm 2, Droid, and other smartphones offered by RIM and companies other than Apple.

"Our view is to broaden the base of choice for customers, and hopefully, along the way, Apple, as well as others, will decide to jump on the bandwagon,” Seidenberg noted.

It will be interesting to see what VZW subscriber demand for the iPhone is in the next six months, as Verizon may begin talking to Apple regarding a possible partnership if projected sales are appealing.

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iPhone or Droid?
By ImSpartacus on 10/27/2009 7:24:20 AM , Rating: 2
Hmmmm, I was a little bummed when Droid was announced because that meant that the iPhone is that much further away. However, Droid is looking pretty good. Decisions decisions!




RE: iPhone or Droid?
By FITCamaro on 10/27/2009 7:26:25 AM , Rating: 2
I'm still trying to decide between the Droid and the Storm 2. Pros and cons to both.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By ImSpartacus on 10/27/09, Rating: 0
RE: iPhone or Droid?
By boobot on 10/27/2009 7:54:39 AM , Rating: 2
I did just that and I have no qualms about it.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By straycat74 on 10/27/2009 8:37:55 AM , Rating: 2
That's not possible. ATT sucks! Don't you read about it all of the time?


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By amanojaku on 10/27/2009 8:43:48 AM , Rating: 2
AT&T sucks AND blows. It's past time they took it up the ass, too.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By FATCamaro on 10/27/2009 8:50:12 AM , Rating: 1
Same. My iphone is great. ATT in New England and New York State is also very good. Obviously if you live in middle America your 3G coverage will suck compared to Verizon.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By Bateluer on 10/27/2009 9:04:11 AM , Rating: 3
30% drop rates not withstanding. The Almighty Jobs says that is okay.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By 67STANG on 10/27/2009 3:07:39 PM , Rating: 1
I get 60% of my calls dropped with my iPhone-- and that's in California. That's not just me thought... my Wife's LG Vue does the same thing. Courtesy of AT&T.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By fic2 on 10/27/2009 7:01:14 PM , Rating: 2
I can't believe you people bought an iPhoney to actually talk to someone. What were you thinking? That's not it's purpose!


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By Tamale on 10/27/2009 9:12:27 AM , Rating: 2
AT&T is fine (nay, downright reliable) in Chicago land.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By piroroadkill on 10/27/2009 10:19:21 AM , Rating: 2
The iPhone itself is the cause of a lot of reception problems, and not the network, I'd wager. I know a guy who has some Sony Ericsson handset, and an iPhone, both on the same network, and he says it's often there's no signal on the iPhone, but a solid signal on his SE handset


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By plewis00 on 10/27/2009 10:35:34 AM , Rating: 2
I like my 3GS for its features, but there is definitely a signal problem. I have a Nokia N95 8GB on O2 and an iPhone 3GS on O2 and the Nokia will hold signal for calls (and data) when the iPhone won't, I've seen it countless times first-hand as my own personal experience. Also the Nokia is less likely to drop a 3G link for an EDGE one.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By FITCamaro on 10/27/2009 11:41:15 AM , Rating: 2
Personally I like to know my device will work wherever I go, not just major metropolitan centers. Regardless of whether I'll be travelling to remote parts of the country or not. "You'll probably never go there" is no reason not to have coverage.

People like my sister DO go there.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By Lord 666 on 10/27/2009 12:53:23 PM , Rating: 2
VZW is coming out with the Curve 2 soon as well. They ditched the ball and it will have Wifi just like Storm 2.

Personally, don't see touch screen as an advantage or selling point. If I can't type on it, then it is useless to me.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By FATCamaro on 10/27/2009 2:36:11 PM , Rating: 3
Your sister goes a lot of places...


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By Jedi2155 on 10/27/2009 8:48:54 AM , Rating: 2
If you're into messing around with your gadgets and trying out the latest tech (in both OS & apps), then I would suggest Droid.

If you're one who would just want things to work without any fiddling, then maybe an iPhone, but Droid offers a lot of things that the iPhone can't.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By Mitch101 on 10/27/2009 9:17:07 AM , Rating: 2
I holding out for Windows Mobile 7. Windows Mobile 6.5 is really sweet especially if your organization is going to be using Exchange 2010.

I need something more corporate.
iPhone is a security hazard - Great consumer device just not for corporate. I also dont like its limitations imposed by the Jobs crew. I also need tethering.

Droid is google which is too invasive for me. A Major bank had a big problem with traders that installed Google desktop search. Ultimately the problem was the traders installing the app to begin with but lesson learned they dont need more of my data. The nice part is I expect Apps to be developed quickly on the Droid.

Blackberry is cool but if you ever dealt with RIM when there is a problem let me tell you their support model. Deny, Delay, Acknowledge, Repair. You can always tell when a RIM update was destroying data because the update release will say something like fixes calendar issues and nothing more. Also requires an additional server or leave your client up and running.

Palm Pre is cool and I need to look into its corporate abilities.

Windows Mobile 6.5 is cool and nicely integrates into their products. Would like to see how Apps develop. You know the most major ones the iPhone users cant live without will have a Windows Mobile version almost instantly.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By hiscross on 10/27/2009 7:49:01 PM , Rating: 2
What? The iPhone is a security hazard? Our kidding, All RIM emails goes through Canada..all of it, even Barry's. The iPhone connects directly to Exchange active sync as does Win Mobile. However win mobile exchange needs all kinds of additional software because of Microsoft security (I got this directly from Microsoft). If you need tethering then yell at AT&T. They allow RIM to tether because such a low % of those users tether, but AT&T knows once the iPhone tethering is activated their network will have issues (I got this from AT&T). BTW I use a RIM at work and use tethering via bluetooth on my MBP.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By Mitch101 on 10/28/2009 8:41:20 AM , Rating: 2
Defining the encryption strength that the BlackBerry device uses to protect data
AES (256-bit), AES (192-bit), AES (128-bit), and Triple DES
http://docs.blackberry.com/en/admin/deliverables/4...

Apple’s iPhone Security Gets Better, But Still Not BlackBerry Strong
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/06/iphonesecur...

Mac And iPhone Security Issues Mounting
http://bmighty.informationweek.com/blog/main/archi...

I especially love the SMS text message that would exploit a iPhone. The iPhone is a great consumer device but not for corporate data. I assume Apple is getting a lesson in security they didn't get before because of thier lack of market share. I'm sure they are finding out its not as easy as they want to try mocking others about. Security through obscurity has give them over confidence when they just aren't skilled at it.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By thekdub on 10/27/2009 9:33:46 AM , Rating: 2
My dad is a huge Macolyte, and I thought he was going to cry when I was telling him that Verizon's "Droid Does" and "There's a Map for that" campaigns might be the nail in the coffin for the iPhone on Verizon. He even said that he'd cancel his VZW contract if he couldn't get the iPhone.

Good to see that VZW is still interested though. Right now, I've got my eye on the Droid simply because I know what the iPhone is like and I'd like to see how Droid stacks up. But the iPhone is a really great device IMO, and if Apple does indeed release it on VZW's network, I could see myself going with either phone.


RE: iPhone or Droid?
By Bateluer on 10/27/2009 10:08:31 AM , Rating: 2
VZW is likely going to have several Android based phones before the holidays, the Moto Droid and Calgary, plus a few HTC models. Supposedly, also the Pre in January. Each of this is likely going to be better than the iPhone.


Not gonna happen before LTE.
By UrbanBard on 10/27/09, Rating: 0
RE: Not gonna happen before LTE.
By FITCamaro on 10/27/2009 1:11:55 PM , Rating: 3
You realize that changing out the GSM radio for CDMA really isn't that big a change right?

And my sister and her husband travel around the country to many backwoods areas. They have a Verizon aircard for their laptop. Works great everywhere they've been.


RE: Not gonna happen before LTE.
By mcnabney on 10/27/2009 2:16:35 PM , Rating: 2
You know nothing about wireless.

Only a microscopic slice of the iPhone user base are actually capable of using WiFi for voice - so that argument really doesn't make much sense. Anyway, most WiFi is in metro areas already covered by 3G. AT&Ts coverage is still small and unreliable as always.

Data connectivity uses a different technology and different frequencies than voice from the phone to the switch, so high data usage will have zero impact on the likelyhood of a dropped voice call.

Many parts of asia also uses CDMA since it is more efficient than GSM. Besides, the future is LTE for both data and voice (VoIP). Verizon already has LTE up in two cities. Major metros in 2010. Everywhere else in 2011.

For a good look at service quality, read Consumer Reports. It is Verizon and Alltel at the top in every community with AT&T at the bottom.


Cool ad
By Spivonious on 10/27/2009 9:32:44 AM , Rating: 2
Not related to the story, but I really like the new Verizon ads where they say "There's a map for that" and show just how crappy AT&T's 3G coverage is.




Verizon & iTunes
By TrailHound on 10/27/2009 3:14:57 PM , Rating: 2
Love Verizon's service and won't switch to ATT. Love iTunes but can't have an iPhone. It's really sad.




iPhone or Droid?
By Txpitstop on 10/27/2009 9:56:43 PM , Rating: 2
I am a long haul trucker and I have had both Vzn & At&t. I am now using an IPhone and will not go back toVZN. I list mor calls with VZN than with AT&T and the coverage is better. My only complaint is that I can't play the games on Facebook from my IPhone. Hey ATT You listening?




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