iPhone Competitor Talking Points Revealed

[MacRumors]

Competing carriers' talking points to hold their own against the iPhone threat are beginning to leak.

Verizon Wireless's talking points, published by AppleInsider. Highlights include:
- No "Song ID" feature on iPhone
- No IM on the iPhone
- Unprotected music can be transfered to their Verizon phone using Music Manager software.
- 4 GB expansion cards are available
- Notable quotes: "stay near a plug", "watch your wallet"

A few days ago, Sprint's talking points made it to Mac Daily News. The pdf can be found here, and highlights include:
- Sprint 3G deployment is strong, "leading the way" in 4G/Wi-Max deployment
- The iPhone allows desktop-like surfing, but is on a slow network
- Notable quote: "using the iPhone on the GSM/EDGE network may be like having a really powerful computer on dial up"

Common talking points between the competing carriers appear to be criticism of AT&T's network, Apple's built-in battery approach, non-expandable memory, no over-the-air downloads, no multimedia messaging, and price.

Potential buyers should note that while each do bring up some valid points that they may want to consider, the documents also contain false statements about the iPhone:
- Sprint claims iPhone camera is 1.3 MP. Actual: 2.0 MP.
- Sprint claims iPhone only operates on GSM/EDGE. Actual: GSM/EDGE/WiFi Hotspots (for data).
- Verizon claims iPhone can only watch media that was loaded on the phone from your PC. Actual: YouTube integration.
- Both claim iPhone does not support Exchange. Actual: Exchange support may have been revealed yesterday. To be fair, this may simply represent information that was not available to the networks at time of printing.

[kavika411]

They are getting desperate to fight the iPhone.

[MukelG]

Stay near a plug? Verizon should also be saying that about their own Moto Q. I have one, unfortunately.

[NicP]

What is the "song id" feature they mention?

[mpw]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

...- Sprint claims iPhone only operates on GSM/EDGE. Actual: GSM/EDGE/WiFi Hotspots....

Is that right? Doe the iPhone's phone functionality work in WiFi Hotspots where there's no GSM/EDGE AT&T signal, would that work in any WiFi hotspot or does AT&T have a WiFi hotspot network in the US?

I imagine the other carriers are talking phone reception right?

[dizastor]

Unprotected music can be transferred to your Verizon phone?? is that a feature?? I don't get what they are saying? Are they inferring that the iPhone can't play unprotected music? or had they not disclosed that verizon phones could play unprotected music before this?

Song ID is weak. They are grasping at straws.

[MukelG]

Originally Posted by NicP

What is the "song id" feature they mention?

Different songs playing when someone calls you.

It's a really lame feature that I hate anyway.

Being at a restaurant and hearing some girl's phone play 14 different songs in the course of an hour when different people call her is unbearable. Especially at the bad quality that Verizon songs download at.

[longofest]

Originally Posted by mpw

Is that right? Doe the iPhone's phone functionality work in WiFi Hotspots where there's no GSM/EDGE AT&T signal, would that work in any WiFi hotspot or does AT&T have a WiFi hotspot network in the US?

I imagine the other carriers are talking phone reception right?

Sprint doesn't even mention the fact that iPhone has WiFi. They constantly lambast it for having a sub-par network to run on.

When half of the iPhone is data-oriented, they need to mention that the data features can be enhanced when you're on a Wi-Fi hotspot.

[steviem]

nothing like a bit of FUD to brighten up my afternoon...

[mpw]

Originally Posted by longofest

Sprint doesn't even mention the fact that iPhone has WiFi. They constantly lambast it for having a sub-par network to run on.

When half of the iPhone is data-oriented, they need to mention that the data features can be enhanced when you're on a Wi-Fi hotspot.

OK so Sprint are right in what they say from a phone POV just not from a WiFi/computer POV.

[LagunaSol]

"Unprotected music can be transfered to their Verizon phone using Music Manager software."

Whoa, cutting-edge! Nice work Verizon!

[Project]

From the reports it looks like the iPhones battery is phenomenal. Not sure what their argument is there.

Still, the iPhone has shortcomings they can try and take advantage of. Im not sure its desperation, more just good business sense. If a potential customer looks like they want an iPhone, then you have to have alternatives. Apple do the same thing all the time in their comparisons.

[padrino121]

Originally Posted by kavika411

They are getting desperate to fight the iPhone.

Desperate? It's called good business, if they like all carriers (AT&T did the same in favor of the iPhone) don't publish talking points for all of their competitors they are doing their sales staff a disservice.

Regarding Exchange support, I suspect the feature WSJ mentions you need to enable is IMAP or POP3, so it can work like any standard mail server. That is not something a fair number of companies will enable if they are MS shops so unless they really did RPC over HTTP or an OWA interface (it is WebDAV with extensions) in the email app the "feature" is not specific to Exchange.

[pavelbure]

they should have mentioned the outrageous price tag for a freaking phone.

[cbstottle]

I have a Verizon Samsung phone that plays MP3 files, IF I GO AND BUY A PC. I have to stay with Verizon because it is the only phone that works were my daughter is going to college.

[Marlon_JBT]

Fanboyism strikes again.

Anyway, those carriers, while some of their information may be a bit misguided, have strong points, and I agree with them. The latest reviews have shown the iPhone's negatives, and IMO, they're HUGE. But it's just my personal opinion. What really got me was the lack of voice dialing. I can't drive without voice dialing. (lol)

[MLeepson]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

Competing carriers' talking points to hold their own against the iPhone threat are beginning to leak.

Verizon Wireless's talking points, published by AppleInsider. Highlights include:
- No "Song ID" feature on iPhone
- No IM on the iPhone
- Unprotected music can be transfered to their Verizon phone using Music Manager software.
- 4 GB expansion cards are available
- Notable quotes: "stay near a plug", "watch your wallet"

I don't know about this it doesn't seems like it's an official VZW document. I think this because there's no period in the second "iPhone box" or in the eighth ""VZW box" Also the top boxes say "Why VERIZON WIRELESS?" and "iPhone" They don't seem consistent.

[bytethese]

Both Sprint and Verizon suck more than a Home Improvment vamped up vacuum cleaner.

I was with Sprint from 1998 until last year. They screwed with me SO bad. I dropped more calls than a centerfielder using a seanet to catch flyballs. They also lost all my contacts on my then $350 Samsung A800 and no way to recover. That's when I walked right down the block and transferred to Cingular and got my SLVR. I was then able to sync my contacts via bluetooth with my Mac, update my phone, etc. I think I only dropped 3 calls since last year. Hell, when I called customer service with Cingular, it was a pleasant experience, as was the past 3X I called this week with iPhone questions. Sprint/Verizon? Couldn't bothered with me when I called. One of the WORST was when I had FiOS installed in my apt. Not only did Verizon just not show up the first appointment, but when they finally did, they were clueless with an 8hr visit. I've heard horror stories about their wireless customer service as well.

So it's no suprise to me that Sprint/Verizon are scared so bad their pants weigh 10lbs more each day...

[PlaceofDis]

none of this is surprising. hype is getting out of control. so they're doing what they can. even if its FUD and misinformation.

friday will be an interesting day.

[bokdol]

Originally Posted by MukelG

Different songs playing when someone calls you.

It's a really lame feature that I hate anyway.

Being at a restaurant and hearing some girl's phone play 14 different songs in the course of an hour when different people call her is unbearable. Especially at the bad quality that Verizon songs download at.

no it is a way of find out what a song is by listening to it. lets say you walking down the street and a car radio is on. you like the song but dont knwo what it is. you turn on the songid and let it listen to it. then it will find the song and you can see who it is and even download it to your phone. it's a gimick but fun for kids.

what i dont get is the stay near a plug comment. all of my verizon phones had crappyass talk times. i had to charge them all the time.

[pgwalsh]

Edge and IM are real issues in my opinion. I live on IM. It's one of the main ways I chat with co-workers and friends. Edge on the other hand wont be as much of a pain. My home and vacation home both have wireless networks. Most coffee shops have wireless networks. I could see a problem when I'm on traveling, but I've lived without it for years, so who knows.

[rufio]

its hilarious seeing how desparate these competitors are getting; they'll think of everything and anything...

one thing that's missing from every pdf is the fact that apple makes things that are seamlessly easy to use, look way better than any other product out there, and have features that actually work.

most cell phones ive seen with mp3 capabilities are difficult to use and have really crappy software that syncs with the phone

it goes the same wtih every apple product; they just do it better than everyone else

[Counter]

Built in battery on the iPhone is really pushing it. But I guess they'll have some sort of battery replacement thing? The last thing the iPhone should be is disposable. I always thought it was pushing it on the iPod, but the iPhone. Most everything else on there is a bit clockwork, desperate to counter the iPhone's splash into the market.

[MukelG]

Originally Posted by bytethese

I've heard horror stories about their wireless customer service as well.

It's awful. I was supposed to get a replacement phone [Moto Q], but never received it and was still charged for it.

Not to mention the ridiculous service center employees. I realize it's a business and you have to save face... But when I have a problem that MANY people are having with a phone [The Q, again], stop checking for dust in the power cord connection point.

RE: songid. Are you serious about that? I don't have that on my phone.. I have the song-caller-id thing (which I don't use)

[ogee]

Pure FUD*


Same strategy used by GM, Ford etc against Toyota's Hybrids. Real meaning is we dont have a competative product and are unable to develop one.

* Fear Uncertainty Doubt