Doubts Circulate of a Verizion iPhone in 2010

[kdarling]

... Not to mention they crippled all their phones Bluetooth capabilities,

My apologies, but I will never understand why someone would complain about a dumbphone missing some Bluetooth profiles... and then go buy an iPhone with almost no Bluetooth capability.

and then forced the phone manufactures into using the same Verizon created UI which made Windows 95 look state of the art.

They used the same UI so customers could easily move between models, and so support would be easier to give.

It's the same reason why Apple refuses to let people customize their iPhone UI.

 

[lightpeak]

Good. Bring it over to T-Mobile where Consumer Reports states it has the highest customer satifaction.

 

[powers74]

naw!

Really?!?!

 

[powers74]

Apple owns the iPhone and will choose the carriers it best sees fit for its flag ship product.

Like Wal*Mart and Radio Shack for instance.

 

[psukhu]

Question for Verizon users with "World Phones" - When you travel outside the US, what kind of speeds do you get for data access?

Are there CDMA Verizon phones that can switch to HSPA+ for data access when outside the US?

 

[vvebsta]

Apple should buy Sprint!

Sprint seems like a very Apple-esque company. Bottom line is Apple needs free reign to do whatever it needs to increase functionality. Having to jump through carrier hoops is ridiculous and not very Apple at all. They have always been ones to push the limits and they need carriers that are willing to do the same.

Knowing Apple (and who really does), it will probably jump on whatever carrier will have the fastest, global framework setup the soonest.

 

[Applepi]

To make matters worse, they have horrible customer service. Their reps have no authority to do anything to your account even if they made mistakes, and if you actually go into a Verizon store you are forced to wait just to talk to someone who doesn't even have the authority to make changes to your account, or assist you properly. To top it off their bills were long, and confusing, and at least back then their website was horrible for managing your bill online.

This above sums it up for me. After deciding Verizon was not for me within my 30 day trial, I tried to get the ETF that was never supposed to be on my bill taken off over the phone with their customer service. The manager informed me it was removed, but when bill time came there it was. So I went into the Verizon store and waited for 15 minutes just to have the rep tell me that ETF has to be removed by customer service over the phone. After calling back they refused to remove the ETF so I had to resort to a very upset email where they FINALLY took care of it. What a nightmare. I am so glad to be back on AT&T where customer service is exceptional and they go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction.

 

[Rocketman]

Apple should buy Sprint!

Sprint seems like a very Apple-esque company. Bottom line is Apple needs free reign to do whatever it needs to increase functionality. Having to jump through carrier hoops is ridiculous and not very Apple at all. They have always been ones to push the limits and they need carriers that are willing to do the same.

Let's parse!

AAPL market cap: 174.1B
S market cap: 10.7B

I say they could totally afford it with a stock swap and notably would own a single letter stock symbol and probably quite a bit of real estate and easements.

Rocketman

BTW DT market cap 68.1B inclusive of T-Mobile
Marginal.

 

[twoodcc]

i personally don't think they'll be a verizion iphone in 2010

 

[lw9090]

Sucks

T-Moble has worse 3G coverage than ATT and if there wont be an iphone on Verizon in 2010 I would say the Android OS will out number the iphone by 2011. ATT better get on the ball and upgrade their 3G or I will be a Droid next year....

 

[Martog]

Wow the same thing happens to me on my iPhone. Glad to know Verizon is keeping up.

Last time I checked AT&T had no 3G coverage where I live. I mean if all you go is to the larger population areas sure you got your AT&T 3G, not everyone has the luxury of that though.

 

[charlituna]

I really doubt Apple is working with Verizion to sell the iPhone. They have just made Ads directed against Verizion and their lack of Talk/Surf !

i was doubting it way prior to these ads. It seems unlikely to me that after dissing Verizon and CDMA in the beginning, they would suddenly embrace it. to do so means supporting two technologies, possibly making 2 sets of devices and so on.

fact is that the folks saying Apple is going to make a CDMA phone have the same amount of facts as the ones saying they aren't. which is none.

and it cracks me up that everyone is so quick to jump on various rumors as being about the next phone and not about the alleged upcoming tablet (where having dual tech support might make more sense)

I'm more concerned that there is absolutely zero competition for the iPhone in the U.S.

that is more a legal issue than anything else. US law allows for exclusive deals. which is why the iphone is on only ATT, the sidekick on TMobile, the Droid on Verizon and so on.

AT&T can pretty much do and charge what they please. Competition is a good thing.

and they will get that with simply unlocking and allowing the phone on T-Mobile. There are already folks unlocking and using the phone on T-Mobile so it is possible, although likely lacking some features like Visual Voicemail

T-Mobile would probably love to get full access to the iphone and would very possibly undercut ATT rates to coax folks over and keep folks. things like, for example, a $30 rate plan for data AND unlimited text. or even perhaps a cheaper rate plan for areas where their 3g coverage is nil (both being complaints about ATT), etc.
ATT would then have to at least match to keep customers, so it's a win.

and it would be a win for Apple as well cause they get a lot of flack about ATT's service, upgrade rules, etc even to the point of law suits. unlocking the phone to use with any GSM carrier (which would include any rural services) means they can better distance themselves from carrier issues.

T-Moble has worse 3G coverage than ATT

T-Mobile has been working on their 3g network and its actually not that much less than ATT's coverage at this point. the only difference is in speeds. T-Mobile is still at the lower end of the range.

 

[schwell]

I think Apple will add the iPhone for T-Mobile in 2010.

It will provide users with an alternative to AT&T and also poke Verizon in the eye with a sharp stick.

 

[eastercat]

Verizon's ads are attacking ATT's service, not the iPhone. They just happen to use the iPhone because that is the demographic they are trying to reach.

The advertisement says "i don't have a keyboard, i don't allow open developement" etc. Nowhere does it say, "i don't have the biggest 3G network". They're definitely attacking the iPhone.

I want Apple to continue offering the iPhone on AT&T. Not only do I get 3G and full coverage, I also get a discount. What's not to love?

 

[Wicked1]

The Heck with all of this crud I am going back to a string and two plastic cups on the end of the string as we used as kids...LOL

Verizon will never get the iPhone and everyone can make fun of AT&T, but lets see Verizon try to handle what is on AT&T's network, they will have the same issue. Right now they are in a Silo with Sprint, bc they are the only two carrier's on the old CDMA network, let's see what happens with Verizon when they are on the same network GSM as the rest of the world, the will have the same issues.

 

[bastard]

I'm surprised the Verizon rumors didn't die the moment Apple put those "can your network do that?" ads which, while not a direct attack on Verizon, definitely burns a bridge or two. If Apple were to jump to Verizon, they would have to backpedal on that claim of being able to talk and surf at the same time. Doesn't make sense that Apple would put themselves in that position.

This is laughable.

Those ads were created by AT&T themselves; not Apple. Get your facts straight.

 

[bastard]

Ignorance.

T-Moble has worse 3G coverage than ATT and if there wont be an iphone on Verizon in 2010 I would say the Android OS will out number the iphone by 2011. ATT better get on the ball and upgrade their 3G or I will be a Droid next year....

Have you even used a Droid? The OS is subpar at best.

Apps are not regulated. A ploy in Google's scheme to meet the same amount of apps in Apple's store. There will be far more poor apps for the Droid than there will be for the iPhone. Don't forget that many of the good apps will be buggy. At least Apple does a fair job at separating the good from the bad.

Have fun!

 

[seedster2]

Everytime one of these posts pop up the same predictable "Verizon cripples the phones" arguments are made. Can people still be that misinformed?

They haven't crippled smartphones in a long time, they sell the very open Droid for god's sake! With the Android market right in and the amazon music store on the phone! They never cripple blackberries either. Why would they then want to cripple an iPhone?

It IS going to happen, when, no one knows. But it will happen. It's in Verizon AND Apple's best interests to do so. Money talks first.

True. This FUD is still being leveraged by people who think they need to support ATT because they're apple's choices of carrier at the moment. I just dont understand the feeling of obligation because of Apple's partnership.

The sniping back and forth between apple and verison doesn't matter, it the deal suits the both of them, they will do it. If not, they won't.

If verizon and apple find it mutually beneficial to combine, they will. Simple as that.

Agreed. Many people here behave as if Apple gives a hoot about anything but their bottom line. they have fiduciary responsibilities to shareholders. If it's a worthy venture they will simply release a hybrid model with GSM/CDMA capabilities and rake in the dough. SJ is about the dollars and 90M or so potential customers is more significant than ads mocking the iPhone.

 

[Wotan31]

Despite there being a vocal outcry for Apple's iPhone to transition to the Verizon network, a couple of analyst reports this week cast doubts that we would see a Verizon iPhone in the near future. Both reports, however, seem to be based on speculation rather than any particular inside source.

I'm not surprised at all by this news. Verizon severely cripples every phone they sell. All their phones, every one of them, use special Verizon-modified firmware that disables many of the features. This is why I will never use Verizon (well, that and their horrid customer service), and also why I don't expect to see a Verizon iPhone any time soon - Apple probably doesn't want to give Verizon that level of control over the iPhone code for fear that Verizon will totally screw up the iPhone user experience. It's a very valid concern too, given VZW's track record.

 

[kdarling]

I'm not surprised at all by this news. Verizon severely cripples every phone they sell. All their phones, every one of them, use special Verizon-modified firmware that disables many of the features.

They do give their dumb phones the same UI, to make them easier to use, switch between, and support.

Same basic reasons why Apple doesn't allow the iPhone UI to be modified.

But not true of their smartphones.

 

[AppleNewton]

I've had nothing but great service verizon.
hardly experienced loss of signal or dropped calls.
Some days are better than others with support if need to use them, but theyve been fairly good to me as I've held quite an extensive contract with them now.
I do agree that their generic phones are all simple VZ UI, but their advanced and smart phones are definitely nice.
the basic consumer phones really dont make a difference as fara s UI goes but VZ knows that they probably wouldnt and cant do much to change the current state of iPhone UI, i think apple & verizon both know they have something each other wants...hopefully itll be sooner rather than later.
this whole one carrier thing is just annoying...ill say ive never used ATT but alot of people i know say its pretty spotty...regardless a couple more choices would be nice.

 

[inkswamp]

This is laughable.

Those ads were created by AT&T themselves; not Apple. Get your facts straight.

You mean the Apple-branded ads posted to Apple's site?

How about if you take your own advice and get your facts straight, bud.