Microsoft to Launch iPhone Rival on Verizon Early Next Year?

[MikeTheC]

Someone slap me and tell me this *isn't* about as dumb an idea as Microsoft starting up their own retail stores... I mean, seriously. C'mon.

I dunno, but I'm thinking that prior poster who said someone's just doing this to up fatten stock prices for auction may have a point.

 

[jav6454]

All you'd have to do with iPhone is just make sure one worked with the network. Other phone manufactures can do that. Don't see why Apple can't. Nothing else about it would have to change other than the signal it could read.

No, alot of things change. CDMA and GSM radios work *very* differently. You really have to dedicate the team to make it work right, its not magic. example, unlocking, Apple as it is couldn't get thru the first round with the Dev Team and barely got through the second round and as things are looking right now, they might now even make it round three.

How do you think it'll be when Apple has to split the same team in half to address 2 devices?

 

[APPLENEWBIE]

S. Jobs 1/9/07: "An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator. An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator.... these are NOT three separate devices!"

Balmer 2009: "Hey! I got an idea! Lets make a phone! How come nobody else around here besides me ever has any original ideas?"

 

[Skika]

Microsoft will play an integral role in design and development.


Basically, it will be ugly.

 

[str1f3]

The funny thing is that microsoft blames the hardware makers when it's the software that mostly sucks on windows mobile. It shows just how much they're out of it.

They may be able to come up with a good phone but it is highly unlikely. microsoft has not shown any level of progression in 6.5. I'd seriously doubt that they would make a giant leap forward in 7.

 

[dreadkid08]

No, alot of things change. CDMA and GSM radios work *very* differently. You really have to dedicate the team to make it work right, its not magic. example, unlocking, Apple as it is couldn't get thru the first round with the Dev Team and barely got through the second round and as things are looking right now, they might now even make it round three.

How do you think it'll be when Apple has to split the same team in half to address 2 devices?

Point taken Jav. It could be a bad idea to split iPhones dev team. However this discussion is not over as Verizon has expressed interest in switching over to GSM as well.

 

[pellets007]

Didn't they also challenge the iPod with something called a Zune? We know how that worked out.

 

[anubis]

Microsoft will play an integral role in design and development.

Dead on Arrival. It will undoubtedly be another Zune-type disaster. A few Apple haters will buy it (and be disappointed), and it will bouy Microsoft's stock price for a while.

Have you ever noticed how the media always makes a big deal whenever Microsoft is about to release an "iBlank killer", but there are very few follow up reports on its dismal sales

 

[APPLENEWBIE]

Verizon has terrible service, which why they should rot. Verizon will never let go their stupid V-cast crap. It doesn't even like phones on their network without the dumb logo.

In the western US, Verizon is the place to be. Great coverage. Excellent customer service (in my experience). Crappy phones. I recently tried to use a new Blackberry storm... ewww

 

[jav6454]

Point taken Jav. It could be a bad idea to split iPhones dev team. However this discussion is not over as Verizon has expressed interest in switching over to GSM as well.

Verizon is not switching to GSM, they are merely setting their pre-4G Data networks to work on a GSM based protocol with their CDMA networks for voice. LTE can co-exist in a CDMA or GSM environment. No need to transition the whole network to GSM.

Its going to be a hassle for the consumer at first and it will cost Verizon. AT&T on the other hand is going from an already GSM environment to a future GSM environment.

Oh and BTW, LTE is not 4G, its a stepping stone to 4G.

In the western US, Verizon is the place to be. Great coverage.

Nop, on the way to San Fran from LA during Spring Semester, my aunt and uncle on Verizon lost signal in the majority of the road, AT&T kept a minimum of 3 bars. Verizon a big fat 0.

 

[Rot'nApple]

When Jobs 'copied' the GuI concept and mouse from Xerox, it seemed to have worked out OK, don't you think?

Thank goodness! For Microsoft's behalf!


"Xerox did get around to suing Apple eventually in 1989, prompting Steve Jobs to dismiss the company as an organization so dysfunctional that they “couldn’t even sue anyone on time.”

From Cult of Mac article

http://cultofmac.com/apple-sued-for-ripping-off-xerox-alto-gui/602

 

[Brien]

I'm completely lost on this one. Assuming it's a Windows Mobile device, what's the point? There's already tons of third-party manufacturers churning out devices with Windows Mobile. If MS isn't controlling the mfg process and just has design input this isn't really that much different.

Unless it's a zune phone, not a WinMo phone. Of course, then MS runs the risk of alienating all the WinMo phone companies into going to Android - which is fine with me.

 

[HLdan]

You could have said the exact same thing about the iPhone back when Apple introduced it. In fact, many did point out that there were existing products that were better at the time. How exactly does that matter?

Absolutely, you make a good point however when Apple created the iPhone the current smart phones out there had a clunky interface, (many still do), had difficult buttons to press and required to use the same keyboard regardless what app you were using. Apple's been on a roll making not only cool but very useful products.
Other than Office name a product that Microsoft created that was not only original but has caused the industry to want to follow their footsteps and create so called "killers" of MS's innovation.
Please don't say Windows because the Macintosh operating system was first on the table out of the two.

 

[BMWFan]

MS did it with Xbox. They can do with the new phone as well. Funny how so many people here bash MS and at the same time own an Xbox360 hehe.

 

[iPhoneNYC]

It seems like Verizon is chomping at the bit to get into this thing, with however will give them a phone. I believe competition is good - by either providers or equipment providers. But one seriously doesn't think the combination of MS and Verizon is going to produce something savvy consumers will love>

 

[Santa Rosa]

What really makes this vastly any different to all the other WinMo devices out there? Thats what I am trying to grasp.

Microsoft should have retired Win Mo a long time ago and developed a solid OS from the ground up. Its like they don't want to admit to their mistakes.

Win Mo just doesn't seem relevant now in the mobile landscape no matter how much Microsoft try and add marketing spin.

Nonetheless I look forward to seeing what they can bring to market.

 

[kdarling]

Verizon is not switching to GSM, they are merely setting their pre-4G Data networks to work on a GSM based protocol with their CDMA networks for voice.

Although GSM folks decided on it first, and CDMA carriers are refining and using it first, LTE is neither a GSM nor a CDMA based protocol. It's totally different from either.

Its going to be a hassle for the consumer at first and it will cost Verizon. AT&T on the other hand is going from an already GSM environment to a future GSM environment.

There's no difference in the amount of network hassle or cost. Each carrier will have to support both their old protocols and a radically new one.

The only difference will stay the same as now: there will probably be more LTE/GSM combo phones around for a while than LTE/CDMA phones, before a full move is made to LTE for everyone.

 

[Anuba]

Didn't they also challenge the iPod with something called a Zune? We know how that worked out.

Didn't they also challenge the Macintosh with something called Windows? We know how that worked out.

The mandatory "remember Zune?" comment is getting old and doesn't really apply here. Portable music players are consumer products. Microsoft rules supreme on the business market, and that will be the primary target demographic for this phone.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=3762

"The vast majority of iPhone owners, 73 percent, use their mobile devices primarily for personal reasons, according to the results of a new survey by Compete.

On the other hand, 59 percent of owners of other smartphones primarily used their devices for business and work-related tasks, according to the survey."

All MS need to do is fuse the iPhone form factor and multi-touch UI with total integration with Windows and Office, and businesses will buy this thing in 100-packs.

MS did it with Xbox. They can do with the new phone as well. Funny how so many people here bash MS and at the same time own an Xbox360 hehe.

It's because Xbox360 runs on a PowerPC processor. They feel like they're buying a little piece of Apple history.

 

[cjm3113]

Didn't they also challenge the Macintosh with something called Windows? We know how that worked out.

The mandatory "remember Zune?" comment is getting old and doesn't really apply here. Portable music players are consumer products. Microsoft rules supreme on the business market, and that will be the primary target demographic for this phone.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=3762

"The vast majority of iPhone owners, 73 percent, use their mobile devices primarily for personal reasons, according to the results of a new survey by Compete.

On the other hand, 59 percent of owners of other smartphones primarily used their devices for business and work-related tasks, according to the survey."

All MS need to do is fuse the iPhone form factor and multi-touch UI with total integration with Windows and Office, and businesses will buy this thing in 100-packs.


It's because Xbox360 runs on a PowerPC processor. They feel like they're buying a little piece of Apple history.

Ha, what's with all this sense.

Everybody knows if Microsoft makes it then it will automatically suck!

/sarcasm.

 

[theloon]

You got to love this - MS said no one will pay 600$ phone...but...

then they wanna get into a market they said would never exist. JHC these people are idiots !!!

 

[ryanw]

Maybe Verizon is spreading this rumor to soften up Apple for the iPhone negotiations.

I don't see this frightening Apple, though. MS has yet to show that they can compete with Apple in the general gadget market.

They seem to do okay with Keyboards and Mice.

 

[kdarling]

No, alot of things change. CDMA and GSM radios work *very* differently.

Yep, just like how GSM 3G radios (which are CDMA based) are very different from the 2G (TDMA) radios.

Amazing how people forget that Apple already did make a large radio change.

Radios are not rocket science. You buy the chipset and the code for it at the same time. The harder part is getting the layout and antennae correct.

How do you think it'll be when Apple has to split the same team in half to address 2 devices?

Don't think much of Apple's abilities? I think they'd do just fine, especially since they've been advertising for engineers with experience in both CDMA and GSM.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

But wait... why does M$ need to sell it's own phone? According to the other Steve (tha'd be Stevie B, the wild tounged one) M$ ships millions and millions and millions of phones every month in the form of Windows Mobile. Remember when he challenged the iPhone when it was announced by saying "let's see how the competition goes." Guess we know now. M$ lost.

If you are feeling nostalgic.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5oGaZIKYvo

 

[ryanw]

Absolutely, you make a good point however when Apple created the iPhone the current smart phones out there had a clunky interface, (many still do), had difficult buttons to press and required to use the same keyboard regardless what app you were using. Apple's been on a roll making not only cool but very useful products.
Other than Office name a product that Microsoft created that was not only original but has caused the industry to want to follow their footsteps and create so called "killers" of MS's innovation.
Please don't say Windows because the Macintosh operating system was first on the table out of the two.

Well, Microsoft knows how to treat developers. Visual Studio is another thing that microsoft apparently got right. Treat developers good and they will create products and spend money on advertising pushing the product and locking people into underlining architecture (Windows). Makes sense.

 

[PodPacker]

What?! It's really here!

I saw a pic online