iPhone on Verizon: 'A Decision That is Exclusively in Apple's Court'

[MacRumors]

Verizon reported its quarterly earnings before the markets opened for trading today, showing increased revenue and subscribers, but decreased profit as the company worked to complete integration of former wireless competitor Alltel amid uncertain economic conditions. As noted by Digital Daily Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg claimed in the company's earnings conference call that bringing the iPhone to Verizon is entirely Apple's call and that the carrier would be happy to have it on its network.

During a conference call to discuss Verizon's third quarter earnings, Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg said bringing the iPhone to Verizon is entirely Apple's call. "This is a decision that is exclusively in Apple's court," he said. "Obviously we would be interested if they thought it would make sense for them to have us as a partner. And so we will leave it with them on that score. . . We want 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."

Verizon has recently begun targeting both the iPhone and AT&T in recent advertising campaigns, leading to speculation that the carrier does not foresee an introduction of the iPhone on its network and is thus willing to burn bridges with Apple in the new ads.

Offering the iPhone on Verizon's current network would require hardware modifications, given the difference in technology standards used by Verizon compared to all other carriers Apple has partnered with to offer the iPhone. Seidenberg previously noted that the iPhone would be more likely to come to Verizon next year when the company begins rolling out its 4G LTE wireless network, which will utilize the same standards as AT&T and other global wireless companies. Verizon expects to roll out LTE to 25-30 markets by the end of 2010, with full deployment expected to take until 2013.

Article Link: iPhone on Verizon: 'A Decision That is Exclusively in Apple's Court'

 

[thegoldenmackid]

After the great advertising campaign and now this.

 

[theLastBeatle]

look at him trying to save face by grouping apple in with all the others that are welcome to join verizons "bandwagon". it's more like apples bandwagon. that shows no class.

 

[Vandam500]

After the great advertising campaign and now this.

So true. Pretty idiotic IMO to do the ads like that and still be "obviously" interested in having the iPhone on their network... Sigh.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I think the ad campaign is one of the best ideas, because either Apple will be forced to play ball with Verizon, or Apple will be forced to take the negative publicity, but either way Verizon is in control.

 

[Ericatomars]

I would love to see the iPhone on verizon.. If it happens cool but it's still a few years away. If it even happens at all... So it looks like the game plan in febuary is still good bye verizon and hello t-mobile and an unlocked iPhone because I refuse to go to AT&T... And if later on the iPhone comes to verizon then I will switch back

 

[raremage]

After the great advertising campaign and now this.

Boy I agree - though I would love to see the iPhone on Verizon, this smacks of trying to put as good a face on it as possible. I'm sure Verizon doesn't approach manufacturers to get the hottest phones onto their network - I'm sure Verizon would welcome the iPhone 'if only Apple asked.'

Sounds more like "I'm taking my ball and going home."

 

[walnuts]

"A decision that is exclusively in apple's court" = we have stated our terms (that we may know already that they won't accept) and its their choice to accept. I don't think this really means anything- just a comment on who spoke last in the negotiations.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

After the great advertising campaign and now this.

Well shall we go with something from apple pass.

Go look at when they were bashing intel chips left and right. hell they were doing massive bashing up until the day they announced they were going over to intel on there computers and then Apple turned around and bash PPC and IBM.

"A decision that is exclusively in apple's court" = we have stated our terms (that we may know already that they won't accept) and its their choice to accept. I don't think this really means anything- just a comment on who spoke last in the negotiations.

Could be Verizon is not going to bend over for apple and only offer them the term they offer all the other phone manufactures out there. At some point I see AT&T doing the same thing to apple because at some point all the other companies will get fed up with apple getting a $400 subsidization on the iPhone compared to the $250 give to the other smart phones.

 

[QCassidy352]

what ad campaign are you talking about? The "there's a map for that" is targeted at AT&T (though it obviously plays off the iphone) and the "idon't" turned out to be motorola's ad, right?

 

[Xenious]

Too bad he doesn't say "hey we're sorry we don't use the wireless solution the rest of the civilized world uses." "We're changing to a GSM family solution now and maybe then we can have iPhones" hahaha

 

[MacFly123]

look at him trying to save face by grouping apple in with all the others that are welcome to join verizons "bandwagon". it's more like apples bandwagon. that shows no class.

Ya. I say BLA BLA BLA Verizon. It won't happen till 4G, and who cares! 🙄 Verizon had the chance and screwed themselves over, so they can eat it! 😛

 

[Tilpots]

what ad campaign are you talking about? The "there's a map for that" is targeted at AT&T (though it obviously plays off the iphone) and the "idon't" turned out to be motorola's ad, right?

The Droid Does campaign. It was Verizon's spot as well.

 

[DipDog3]

Verzion would take them in a minute.

Apple is just waiting for 4G so they don't have to redesign the GSM.

 

[shady825]

what ad campaign are you talking about? The "there's a map for that" is targeted at AT&T (though it obviously plays off the iphone) and the "idon't" turned out to be motorola's ad, right?

New droid ad. Droid does. It says "iCant do this, iCant do that" blah blah.
It's dumb but obviously targets Apple

edit: oops I think I got 2 commercials mixed up. Who cares they both are dumb!

 

[Consultant]

Fail. Increased market share by buying it.

Verizon: I can't have concurrent voice and data services on verizon technology.

 

[kdarling]

Even ATT will be promoting Android and Pre models.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Verzion would take them in a minute.

Apple is just waiting for 4G so they don't have to redesign the GSM.

You know the problem with that logic don't you.

While Verizon is rolling out G4 it will takes years to be everyone. THere CDMA network they currently have will be going in place for the next 10+ years to cover every where and all phones sold to work on Verizon network will be required to work on the older network for years to come.

Case and point is look at AT&T 3G network. It still only covers a very limited area. The only reason Verizon has been able to out pace AT&T in deploying 3G network is it was more of a software update for Verizon towers compared to new equipment having to be added by AT&T. For everyone the 4G role out is requiring tower upgrades and new equipment so it will be a lot slower.

 

[walnuts]

Could be Verizon is not going to bend over for apple and only offer them the term they offer all the other phone manufactures out there. At some point I see AT&T doing the same thing to apple because at some point all the other companies will get fed up with apple getting a $400 subsidization on the iPhone compared to the $250 give to the other smart phones.

Sure- all I am saying is that this isn't necessarily an indication of anything. Either party could be unwilling to give in here, but the end result is likely the same- we are no closer to a Verizon iPhone. This statement simply says that Verizon spoke last. In fact, the only conclusion that I draw here is that it is not as simple as holding off for 4G. If it were, Verizon wouldn't be making statements like these or running anti-iPhone ads had it already had an agreement (informal or otherwise) to sell a version of the iPhone in the future.

 

[Starflyer]

At some point I see AT&T doing the same thing to apple because at some point all the other companies will get fed up with apple getting a $400 subsidization on the iPhone compared to the $250 give to the other smart phones.

I doubt it. Considering 3.2 million of the 4.3 million 3G devices activated on ATT's network were iPhones.

 

[fleshman03]

All this says to me is that Verizon is wanting Apple to make concessions. I.e., No Apple App Store. It would need to be Verizon's App Store.

And there is no way in hell Apple is going to allow that.

This is the the reason we are all stuck with ATT for right now.

I'm not passing judgement either way. I'm on ATT business, which is leaps and bounds better than ATT consumer. 😀 So network doesn't matter all that much to me. There's also not too many iPhones in my area, so I'm fine wherever I go.

 

[LagunaSol]

Even ATT will be promoting Android and Pre models.

But probably not while simultaneously bashing the iPhone.

 

[samcraig]

Hi. I think my caterer makes better food and you can kiss their ass. But I want you to cater my event, ok?

Joking aside...

It's all rhetoric, marketing and PR spin. At the end of the day it's about business and if it makes business sense for Apple then they will enter into an agreement. Nothing more - nothing less.

 

[LagunaSol]

I think the ad campaign is one of the best ideas, because either Apple will be forced to play ball with Verizon,

Hardly.

or Apple will be forced to take the negative publicity

I saw very little negative impact (or publicity) to Apple from these ads. Do consumers care about "widgets" or even know what they are? Do consumers care about taking pictures in the dark? (As if Droid will be able to do that successfully anyway.) The ads to me came across as desperate and unconvincing.

but either way Verizon is in control.

*snicker*

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I doubt it. Considering 3.2 million of the 4.3 million 3G devices activated on ATT's network were iPhones.

Then it means that AT&T might have to start giving the $400 subsidization to other smart phones. One way or another something is going to give. I expect the other companies saying enough and they demand it same.