iPhone on Verizon - hope lives

[butterfly0fdoom]

Please explain. Why four years? Please provide supporting evidence or at least a rational explanation.

You seem like you keep up with technology news. Didn't you know about Verizon's planned switch to LTE which would negate the need to even took a CDMA iPhone, and any exclusivity AT&T has on whatever would have run out by then, most likely.

Explanation please. How do you know it's marketing fluff? Yes, unlocked CDMA phones are scarce, but wouldn't it stand to reason that they might become more common now that North America's largest CDMA provider has opened their network?

Because North America's largest CDMA provider also announced an intention to join the GSM camp. Unlocked GSM phones are predominantly imported from Europe or Asia (Nokia and Sony sell select models unlocked directly, as well). There is no source for unlocked CDMA phones. They need to be coded for the network as opposed to GSM phones where you just pop in a SIM card.

I couldn't disagree more. History is absolutely littered with fruitful, if often difficult, collaborations between big egos. Examples? Every winning sports team ever. Most musical collaborations. The founding fathers. Great actors in the greatest movies. Young Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Hell, even Abbot and Costello hated each other. Do you really think that great things happen without big egos clashing?

And what great things could come about with Verizon and Apple? Verizon cripples phones, so does Apple. Consumer rights would disappear.

 

[lsvtecjohn3]

for all the people saying it wont happen http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-9964695-17.html

 

[Wyseman]

Everyone knows CDMA is the betamax of the cellular world.
Australia has just closed their CDMA network, a few other countries are doing the same.. who'd create a new phone for a dying market?

 

[yadmonkey]

You seem like you keep up with technology news. Didn't you know about Verizon's planned switch to LTE which would negate the need to even took a CDMA iPhone, and any exclusivity AT&T has on whatever would have run out by then, most likely.

Yep, but that's a ways off and honestly, if I buy an iPhone today I think there's a real good chance that I'll want a new one in four years (which would be compatible with the newer technology). In the meantime, I don't expect a cell phone to last me more than 2 years if I'm lucky. Heck, people who got the first iPhone less than a year ago are already planning on upgrading to 3G iPhones.

Because North America's largest CDMA provider also announced an intention to join the GSM camp. Unlocked GSM phones are predominantly imported from Europe or Asia (Nokia and Sony sell select models unlocked directly, as well). There is no source for unlocked CDMA phones. They need to be coded for the network as opposed to GSM phones where you just pop in a SIM card.

Point well taken. I do think that if Verizon's network is opened up, this would be a relatively small hurdle for Apple to overcome. I believe that Verizon's 80 million subscribers represent a lot of low hanging fruit for Apple to pluck.

And what great things could come about with Verizon and Apple? Verizon cripples phones, so does Apple. Consumer rights would disappear.

The point of Verizon allowing "any app, any device" is that they wouldn't get their hands on the iPhone at all.

I appreciate your further explanations.

for all the people saying it wont happen http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-9964695-17.html

Thanks for the link - glad to know I'm not the only one with my head in the clouds!

Everyone knows CDMA is the betamax of the cellular world.
Australia has just closed their CDMA network, a few other countries are doing the same.. who'd create a new phone for a dying market?

Not a great analogy. Nobody needed betamax, whereas Verizon is the only choice for many people.

 

[butterfly0fdoom]

Not a great analogy. Nobody needed betamax, whereas Verizon is the only choice for many people.

Like who? There's always another choice. It may not be a good choice, but there is always another choice.

 

[tdar]

Everyone knows CDMA is the betamax of the cellular world.
Australia has just closed their CDMA network, a few other countries are doing the same.. who'd create a new phone for a dying market?

Ok so let's see how this dying market is doing.... as we are talking here about the US.


Verizon (after Altel) 80.2 million customers

Sprint 40 Million customers

vs

ATT 71 million customers

T-Mobile 28.7 Million customers


Totals


CDMA 120.2 million customers

GSM 99.7 Million Customers

Seems to be not doing too bad for something dying (here in the US)

 

[tdar]

You seem like you keep up with technology news. Didn't you know about Verizon's planned switch to LTE which would negate the need to even took a CDMA iPhone, and any exclusivity AT&T has on whatever would have run out by then, most likely.



Because North America's largest CDMA provider also announced an intention to join the GSM camp. Unlocked GSM phones are predominantly imported from Europe or Asia (Nokia and Sony sell select models unlocked directly, as well). There is no source for unlocked CDMA phones. They need to be coded for the network as opposed to GSM phones where you just pop in a SIM card.



And what great things could come about with Verizon and Apple? Verizon cripples phones, so does Apple. Consumer rights would disappear.

You seem to be saying that sometime soon we will all wake up and find Verizon handing out LTE handsets. This is not the case.

Verizon's LTE roll out does not even start for 2 to 3 years. And when it does it will take many more years to complete. In that time they will still be using CDMA. As I noted yesterday, A CDMA iPhone would go through several hardware versions BEFORE Verizon retires CDMA or has a fully developed LTE system in place

 

[yadmonkey]

Like who? There's always another choice. It may not be a good choice, but there is always another choice.

Genius argument. You win.

What I don't get is why some of you seem to be so against this. Every time someone expresses their hope that we who for some reason or another choose to or have to use Verizon might be able to have an iPhone, some feel some unexplainable need to find a whole list of reasons why it "can't" happen. Why do you care?

It is an odd thing. Honestly, after that last post, I think this guy is just pushing buttons.

 

[Nykwil]

If verizon ever got a hold of a cdma iphone they would forcefeed their hideous mobile OS onto the device or somehow brand the living daylights or cripple the iphone somehow.

 

[yadmonkey]

If verizon ever got a hold of a cdma iphone they would forcefeed their hideous mobile OS onto the device or somehow brand the living daylights or cripple the iphone somehow.

Clearly you didn't read the OP. Verizon has made a major change in policy. This year they are opening their network to "any app, any phone". This means anyone can release a phone for their network without being forced into Verizon branding and crippling of features. It means that Verizon is - wisely - going to focus on their network as their main selling point.

 

[Nykwil]

Clearly you didn't read the OP. Verizon has made a major change in policy. This year they are opening their network to "any app, any phone". This means anyone can release a phone for their network without being forced into Verizon branding and crippling of features. It means that Verizon is - wisely - going to focus on their network as their main selling point.

Well if that's the case kudos to them.

From a business standpoint does Apple really want to manufactur a CDMA variant of their phone just to break through some users in the US, a few Asian countries, the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America?


I'm not saying they can't and won't but does it make sense to?

 

[JoJoCal19]

If verizon ever got a hold of a cdma iphone they would forcefeed their hideous mobile OS onto the device or somehow brand the living daylights or cripple the iphone somehow.

Thats 100% innaccurate....

I happen to own a Verizon Blackberry Pearl...thier user interface is not on this phone. Same with the PPC 6800, Motorola Q or every other single smartphone they have. They simply do not add their UI to smartphones, and smartly so.

Now granted they do cripple GPS which is irritating, and one thing I hate about them, but I dont use GPS so its not too big of a deal.

 

[netdog]

It's so sad that CDMA is even an issue in the USA.

 

[yadmonkey]

I'm not saying they can't and won't but does it make sense to?

I think so. Verizon alone represents 80 million subscribers in the iPhone's #1 market and the wealthiest part of the world. I believe AT&T has activated a little more than 2 million iPhones amongst their 71 million customers, so we're talking a larger customer base in North America for CDMA than for GSM. Don't you think that's a worthy target market?

 

[peterja]

I am a Verizon customer probably going to switch to get an iPhone. Normally I would have no hope of them going to Verizon, except for one blurb I saw about Softbank in Japan getting the iPhone coming up in July. They are a W-CDMA network. Their phones they sell look to be generally dual mode GSM/W-CDMA but I think the GSM part was when they roamed on other networks.

W-CDMA is the transmission protocol used in UMTS and FOMA (iPhone 3G)

 

[cWeems]

Ok so let's see how this dying market is doing.... as we are talking here about the US.


Verizon (after Altel) 80.2 million customers

Sprint 40 Million customers

vs

ATT 71 million customers

T-Mobile 28.7 Million customers


Totals


CDMA 120.2 million customers

GSM 99.7 Million Customers

Seems to be not doing too bad for something dying (here in the US)

haha u cant put sprint into this game!! every who had it has left and anyone still stuck on it hates them... only reason they have customers is because they'll waive a deposit in a heart beat to get a new customer, so where a deposit may be $750 at at&t and verizon, it could be $0 at sprint!! which is not a smart thing in the first place.

anyways... GSM FO LIFE YO

 

[Stang68]

I would like to put an end to this right now: If you know anyone who works at an Apple Store, they will tell you, very confidently I might add, that the contract between AT&T and Apple is going to be over in June of 2009. My friend who works at the 5th Avenue store (I know this must sound like a lie) told me that all employees got a memo stating that. So, what I am trying to say is, find an Apple store, walk up to a Genius, and ask them about that memo. Will they play dumb? Maybe, but its worth a shot. Its OK if you dont believe me but I will sleep well at night knowing that the iPhone is coming to Verizon in July of 2009.

 

[.michael]

Stang68, (and others)

if this is true.... Well, my contract with Verizon ENDS in June. If I find out fersure that the iPhone will be on Verizon in July and end up buying it after I renew my contract, can I still get it? I know I can get it at the apple store for $299 (who knows then), but would Verizon let me use it? Would I have to be like an extra 400 bucks? Or could I just get it straight forward at the Apple Store, change the phone&contract, and it be done with?

 

[Stang68]

Stang68, (and others)

if this is true.... Well, my contract with Verizon ENDS in June. If I find out fersure that the iPhone will be on Verizon in July and end up buying it after I renew my contract, can I still get it? I know I can get it at the apple store for $299 (who knows then), but would Verizon let me use it? Would I have to be like an extra 400 bucks? Or could I just get it straight forward at the Apple Store, change the phone&contract, and it be done with?

I am not sure because Verizon is weird when it comes to all of that stuff. Now, I dont know for sure that the VZW iPhone is coming out in July, all I know is that the contract is up in June of next year. Remember, though, you wouldnt be able to buy the phone early or anything because it would be a CDMA version. I dont think you would run into a problem because you wouldnt be able to physically buy the phone.

 

[yadmonkey]

I would like to put an end to this right now: If you know anyone who works at an Apple Store, they will tell you, very confidently I might add, that the contract between AT&T and Apple is going to be over in June of 2009. My friend who works at the 5th Avenue store (I know this must sound like a lie) told me that all employees got a memo stating that. So, what I am trying to say is, find an Apple store, walk up to a Genius, and ask them about that memo. Will they play dumb? Maybe, but its worth a shot. Its OK if you dont believe me but I will sleep well at night knowing that the iPhone is coming to Verizon in July of 2009.

I think if all geniuses got a memo about this, it would be public knowledge by now. I can't think of any reason a memo like this would exist in the first place, like it's somehow important that the geniuses know this.

 

[Stang68]

I think if all geniuses got a memo about this, it would be public knowledge by now. I can't think of any reason a memo like this would exist in the first place, like it's somehow important that the geniuses know this.

I know I know, so then I thought, maybe only the 5th Ave workers got it? I am not 100% sure but I trust my friend and he wouldnt lie to me just as I wouldnt lie to you guys, who have helped me resolve Mac issues numerous times.

 

[MacNut]

Everyone knows CDMA is the betamax of the cellular world.
Australia has just closed their CDMA network, a few other countries are doing the same.. who'd create a new phone for a dying market?

Doesn't CDMA have a stronger signal than GSM.

I know I know, so then I thought, maybe only the 5th Ave workers got it? I am not 100% sure but I trust my friend and he wouldnt lie to me just as I wouldnt lie to you guys, who have helped me resolve Mac issues numerous times.

I might call shenanigans on your friend.

 

[GSMiller]

The only way I will get an iPhone is if it is made available on the CDMA network.

 

[jrbdmb]

I would like to put an end to this right now: If you know anyone who works at an Apple Store, they will tell you, very confidently I might add, that the contract between AT&T and Apple is going to be over in June of 2009. My friend who works at the 5th Avenue store (I know this must sound like a lie) told me that all employees got a memo stating that. So, what I am trying to say is, find an Apple store, walk up to a Genius, and ask them about that memo. Will they play dumb? Maybe, but its worth a shot. Its OK if you dont believe me but I will sleep well at night knowing that the iPhone is coming to Verizon in July of 2009.

I call BS. If there were such a memo it would be huge news on macrumors, engadget, etc.

This whole thread is ridiculous - I might just as well say that the iPhone will be released for T-Mobile in August 2008, and anyone who claims otherwise (despite evidence to the contrary) is an idiot. But for those waiting for an iPhone on Verizon, enjoy the wait ....

 

[iTeen]

There are so many Verizon customers that are just waiting for something like the iPhone to come along. Currently, the best phone that they offer is the V9M or the Voyager. If you have ever used one of these phones, you probably know just how pathetic they really are. As for me, a current Verizon user, I would even pay what they wanted for the original iPhone's at time of release.

PLEASE APPLE!!!!!!