Verizon Goes on Offensive Against iPhone Again With 'Droid Does' Teasers

[HiRez]

What is Apple's master plan? Their own wireless service?

Inquiring minds want to know.

That's what I'd love to see, but apparently it's a lot more complicated and expensive than it might seem, even to someone like Apple with tens of billions of cash in the bank. They did buy PA Semi to start manufacturing their own mobile chips, so the idea that they might like their own wireless network isn't that far-fetched. I just don't know that they could gather the resources necessary to do it (for one thing, they need the wireless spectrum, which is in limited supply and they don't have it).

 

[FearNo1]

True, it does look like we are repeating the desktop wars all over again. Apparently apple does not learn from past mistakes...

No. On the long run, it's always the open platform - the one that runs on many different devices from many different manufacturers - that wins.

In a few years from now, all Apple fanboys will once again be claiming that they are happy with the fact that Apple only has 10% market share, and that they don't want Apple to have more market share, because then the products would lose their quality and attract malware authors and all that other nonsense that's being posted. The only "new" aspect would then be that those posts would be about the iPhone and not about the Mac.

But some people are too thick to understand that.

 

[polaris20]

Then why hasn't Linux taken over Windows on the desktop? You can't get more open than Linux or less open than Microsoft. Or on the flip side, what business has the approach where one system running on lots of different hardware from different manufactures been a success. Outside of the PC industry I doubt that you can and even there I argue that that particular model only worked due to a fluke. Tons of companies are massively successful by exploiting closed ecosystems. Take video game consoles. Not even MS chose to adopt an open platform that anybody can develop for. It's an industry where closed source is the rule - and it works. Heck, the X-box is a PC in of itself - same type of hardware. But a closed ecosystem.

Open systems are not the only ingredient for success and they are not a guarantee of success.

Open platform != open source. Don't confuse the two.

 

[cababah]

That's what I'd love to see, but apparently it's a lot more complicated and expensive than it might seem, even to someone like Apple with tens of billions of cash in the bank. They did buy PA Semi to start manufacturing their own mobile chips, so the idea that they might like their own wireless network isn't that far-fetched. I just don't know that they could gather the resources necessary to do it (for one thing, they need the wireless spectrum, which is in limited supply and they don't have it).

Just goes to add to the "Oh yeah, Apple also makes computers." They are finding so much success in all these other things they are putting out there other than computers. However, the success of these products is helping draw attention to their computers.

I only considered getting a MB after falling in love with the UI on the iPhone and it lead me to believe that the experience using their OS would be similar.

 

[polaris20]

iDon't support concurrent web access and voice calls.

iDon't support international network standards (like GSM).

iDon't have over 85,000 APPs (at least not yet).

iDo want complete control of all hardware and Apps on your smart phones.

iWill have to buy another phone for international travel.

iWill disable features that do not benefit my bottom line.

iWIll nickel and dime you for everything.

iWill bash the other carriers..until my network fails under the same pressure when it is finally "tested".

That's fine if you don't like the Droid, you can always get a T-Mobile G1, Cliq or MyTouch 3G, a Sprint Hero, or the upcoming Dell Android phone on AT&T. If you don't like the iPhone on AT&T, you can go to.......oh wait: you can't go anywhere. You're stuck on AT&T.

And btw, world phones have been available for years on Verizon, just not this particular device. It's not impossible. CDMA is also a better technology as well, and is known to have better coverage.

 

[SandynJosh]

Thats what really bothers me. Verizon charges for everything!!!!!!

To me Verizon themselves need to change a lot of things before they can compare themselves to Apple or AT&T.

I totally agree...and Visual Voicemail isn't the only thing Verizon charges for. You can't squat with Verizon without, "There's a charge for that."

The worst are the apps you cannot buy, like with the iPhone. You must rent them for $2 to $4 dollars each per month. For that, you also get to suck airwhile choosing from a few really stinky apps.

My problem is that where I am I have a choice of Verizon or no one. I can only hope that all this is to force Apple to bargain better with the iPhone.

 

[FearNo1]

I currently have the touch. For the life of me, I can’t find that many useful apps. I have read the “best apps” threads and most of them consist of facebook, twitter, news, etc. Sure the news apps are nice but social network stuff I am not really into. Thus the data plan is not $30 per month, esp with at+t’s shoddy network. IMHO the only way the data plan is worth it is if you jail break the iphone, so you can use skype over 3g.

It is all relative. Sure, the App store has thousands of apps (most of which are crap) but there are still really good ones out there, and a lot of them.

 

[Unprocessed1]

Well said. Yet, at the same time somebody needs to light the fire under AT&T because that cocky 'at&t-itude is really old. We, the consumers, usually get screwed. More competition = better technology & prices. "Oh, who cares about picture text... we are AT&T!... they can wait"

I think AT&T is too restrained w/ the iphone. They have/can get other great phones, but the iphone seems to overshadow everything else. All of a sudden Verizon has a diverse and very solid line of phones, making people who DO NOT want an iphone more likely to get Verizon.

 

[pdjudd]

Open platform != open source. Don't confuse the two.

Same question though, outside of desktops, where has this approach ever worked? At best Android is just copying the approach Windows did long ago - look where Windows Mobile is now? The only two areas where MS takes an open hardware approach is their desktop computer market (which I have repeatedly contend that they got because of their association with IBM - a market that IBM gave to Microsoft) and the cell phone market which hasn't even taken off.

Name one other market where this approach has found success.

 

[shen]

i thought it was a commercial for cloverfield 2

you wins the internet! my first thought about the last part of the ad too.

 

[citi]

I totally agree...and Visual Voicemail isn't the only thing Verizon charges for. You can't squat with Verizon without, "There's a charge for that."

The worst are the apps you cannot buy, like with the iPhone. You must rent them for $2 to $4 dollars each per month. For that, you also get to suck airwhile choosing from a few really stinky apps.

My problem is that where I am I have a choice of Verizon or no one. I can only hope that all this is to force Apple to bargain better with the iPhone.

Don't confuse smartphones with dumbphones. Smartphones like the Blackberry and Winmobile have appstores that you PURCHASE not rent the apps. Secondly, last time I checked, ATT nickel and dimes too. There is no "Perfect" carrier, but as you said in your last paragraph, you have a choice of verizon or no one. That's why people stay on Verizon. I need my service to work...and verizon, dare I say it...just works.

 

[profets]

Wow. Another phone that tries to do everything under the sun and even transforms into a 12 foot robot when docked? No thanks i'd rather have a simple but intuitive UI that works. Features are nice and all but not when I won't use 75% of them do to usage difficulty. Sigh. It seems petty for every manufacturer to try and position their device as an iPhone killer when they are oft anything but. Leave that to the tech blogs.

A simple UI? you mean a grid of icons? I've been an iPhone user for 18 months, and really love using it, but i'd love for some change in 4.0. how about a real customizable home screen? would that be too confusing for you? would multitasking be too confusing for you? would a good camera with flash be a feature that you can't use because of difficulty?

i'm not a fan of sliding keyboard, i'd rather have full touchscreen phone, but android is making real competition possible

 

[lucas]

I hope it succeeds, I'd like to see a lot of those features in the next iphone but you know apple will drag their heals unless theyre running to keep up.

 

[FearNo1]

I guess only time will tell if it works with google with android. Unlike M$ with winmo, android seems to only be used with smart phones with a big screen. Thus the interfaces of all the phones are similar. With so many android cell fones on multiple networks, it could eclipse iphone in sales in a couple of years, esp if iphone remains at+t exclusive. There is growing restlessness with iphone on multiple levels: poor at+t service, limited functionality due to apple/at+t, no multitasking, “wow” factor is fading since so many ppl have it, interface getting old, etc. Consumers can be a finicky bunch…

Same question though, outside of desktops, where has this approach ever worked? At best Android is just copying the approach Windows did long ago - look where Windows Mobile is now? The only two areas where MS takes an open hardware approach is their desktop computer market (which I have repeatedly contend that they got because of their association with IBM - a market that IBM gave to Microsoft) and the cell phone market which hasn't even taken off.

Name one other market where this approach has found success.

 

[scuzy]

well can't speak for verizon and motorola droid. I just recently dumped ATT and went to sprint for the htc hero and loving it every minute. I love the fact that my monthly bills is a lot lighter for a all everything plan. Plus my battery lasts all day compare to my iphone doing the similar light email , text, and facebooking i do.

 

[xhambonex]

(bolding added)

So, the argument here is that Android will be successful just like Linux is successful. If you don't like how it works, you can just change it and recompile the kernel!

Sorry, that's about the LEAST compelling argument for an open source phone ever.

Nah, I'm suggesting you go that crazy. But there are different forms of these OS's, Sense UI, TouchFlo, the Cliq has its own version. Just because the default unreleased OS doesn't look amazing doesn't mean that's what it will end up being or looking like. And you more options to change that on Android over the iPhone OS.

But you are looking/comparing 2 different markets. I mean why do you think Jailbreaking is so popular. People love to customize their phones, run what they want, all those things...Android is a lot better in that sense than the iPhone (legally that is) and that was my point.

 

[cababah]

I currently have the touch. For the life of me, I can’t find that many useful apps. I have read the “best apps” threads and most of them consist of facebook, twitter, news, etc. Sure the news apps are nice but social network stuff I am not really into. Thus the data plan is not $30 per month, esp with at+t’s shoddy network. IMHO the only way the data plan is worth it is if you jail break the iphone, so you can use skype over 3g.

Then you would have an even harder time finding it on another device with a smaller pool to sample from. By "useful" are you referring to productivity apps? I must say then that the iPhone (iPod Touch is a freaking PMP, who gets productive on a PMP?) is not the best device if you want superior productivity. I have some social networking apps but the rest are just games. I have found an overwhelming abundance of good apps that I still use and enjoy.

Perhaps it is no argument that when it comes to apps, iPhone is king. That is not fanboy talk right there, it is a fact. Are you using your personal opinion on the variety and quality of "good" apps out there (doubt you have really seen that many out of the mass) to justify the data costs? The iPhone still holds the title for having the best mobile browsing experience ever. My main stipulation about getting a new phone was best internet browsing experience. I never once felt like I was wasting money on the unlimited data plan. Every other phone I had always felt like any extra media/internet costs were going to waste because actually using it on inferior devices was horrible.

I am I guess the minority of AT&T users that has excellent 3G coverage in my area. My apt sees full 5 bars 3G 24/7 and my city is blanketed in it.

 

[FullGaz]

I'm annoyed with short sightedness...

Come on guys...

I consider myself a heavy iPhone user and I agree with at least some of the criticism on the device:
- 3MP camera is average nowadays, I hoped for a 5MP on the 3GS
- BTW, I hope there would be a front facing one as well (2MP for iChats)
- No multitasking available to the user is ridiculous! Technically oriented people in this forum know that when a *nix application is in the background it's not using CPU therefore not using precious batteries. The ability to flip between opened applications like on the Treo for instance would increase the ease of use of the iphone, not hinder it. As for seeing what applications are running, why not using a little blue dot, a la Dock, under the icon?
- Why not letting people customize their background like with WinterBoard? Forcing people to jailbreak to customize their own springboard is ludicrous.
- I might add this as well: Apple being tied to AT&T has also hindered the use of the iPhone in other countries, forcing people to jailbreak or to unlock. I bought my iPhone from Italy, where it is not locked to a specific carrier but I had to jailbreak to install a callerid fix, MMS, tethering and the emoticons on the keyboard. Ridiculous...
- It also prevented some perfectly legit apps from being accepted into the app store. Apple fanboys, you suffered too...

I'm all in favour of an iPhone killer out there, be it this Motorola or something else. I want my iPhone to become even friendlier, not stagnate to the improved 2G that it still is today.
And if Stevee needs a kick in the butt for that to happen, may he get a kick in the nuts!
And no, I don't own or even use a PC, not at home and not at work.

 

[AngryApple]

iDon't Droid Does will be very effective. Tops Dell's "Lolipop" ad which was ah-mazing.

 

[polaris20]

Same question though, outside of desktops, where has this approach ever worked? At best Android is just copying the approach Windows did long ago - look where Windows Mobile is now? The only two areas where MS takes an open hardware approach is their desktop computer market (which I have repeatedly contend that they got because of their association with IBM - a market that IBM gave to Microsoft) and the cell phone market which hasn't even taken off.

Name one other market where this approach has found success.

Windows worked out pretty well being an open platform that can be installed on x86 hardware.

Windows Mobile's lack of success has everything to do with the fact that it is a horrible OS. Even Steve Ballmer realizes it.

Steve Ballmer at Microsoft’s Venture Capital Summit acknowledged the company's problems getting Windows Mobile 7 onto the market in a reasonable time frame, “Ballmer says they screwed up with Windows Mobile. Wishes they had already launched WM7. They completely revamped the team.” The executive didn’t provide many details, although he said “We’ve pumped in some new talent” and “This will not happen again”.

http://www.ditii.com/2009/09/25/microsoft-screwed-up-with-windows-mobile-steve-ballmer/

Just because a platform is open doesn't mean it'll be a success. Doesn't mean it won't be, either.

 

[xhambonex]

Same question though, outside of desktops, where has this approach ever worked? At best Android is just copying the approach Windows did long ago - look where Windows Mobile is now? The only two areas where MS takes an open hardware approach is their desktop computer market (which I have repeatedly contend that they got because of their association with IBM - a market that IBM gave to Microsoft) and the cell phone market which hasn't even taken off.

Name one other market where this approach has found success.

I don't know but just look at Google as a company and see how they've grown with this mentality. Sure they are the smallest of all the OS's but I wouldn't count them out just because of it. Their platform will continue to evolve, its on version 2.0.

WinMo isn't doing great, but you look at the ZuneHD, and talk of WinMo 7 and you can't help but think that when its released it will be on par with Android and iPhone OS.

 

[profets]

I guess only time will tell if it works with google with android. Unlike M$ with winmo, android seems to only be used with smart phones with a big screen.

well although i would never take WM over android or iphone, the HTC HD2 hardware does make it very tempting.. 4.3" 800x480 capacitive, 1ghz cpu. of course this is not the norm for WM, they are usually stuck with crappy resistive touch screens.

 

[polaris20]

Then you would have an even harder time finding it on another device with a smaller pool to sample from. By "useful" are you referring to productivity apps? I must say then that the iPhone (iPod Touch is a freaking PMP, who gets productive on a PMP?) is not the best device if you want superior productivity. I have some social networking apps but the rest are just games. I have found an overwhelming abundance of good apps that I still use and enjoy.

The people getting productive on the iPT are the same people that would get productive on the iPhone. That's because they're the same thing, sans the camera, 3G and GPS on the iPT. Same apps are available on both, so why would there be a difference in productivity?

 

[xhambonex]

well although i would never take WM over android or iphone, the HTC HD2 hardware does make it very tempting.. 4.3" 800x480 capacitive, 1ghz cpu. of course this is not the norm for WM, they are usually stuck with crappy resistive touch screens.

Pretty sure its because it lacked support in the OS for capacitative? screens. 6.5 offers support I believe and WinMo 7 surely will which means you'll see more devices like the HD2.

 

[FearNo1]

True, iphone has the most apps, but the number of apps are growing on android, while many probably being crappy too. Most of the apps on the iphone seem to be games, which are mostly lame tilt screen stuff (sorry but it is terrible for gaming, except for card games IMHO) or silly stuff like iFart. The whole "smart phone" phenomenon is kind of overrated to me.. Its just another way for biz to provide another mostly useless utility (e.g. monthly fixed cost). I guess thats why I still don't have one Regarding PMP not being productive, I kind of disagree with that. If the touch had a louder speaker, better battery life, it could be very useful: I currently use my cell for reminders, schedules, alarm clock, etc.

Then you would have an even harder time finding it on another device with a smaller pool to sample from. By "useful" are you referring to productivity apps? I must say then that the iPhone (iPod Touch is a freaking PMP, who gets productive on a PMP?) is not the best device if you want superior productivity. I have some social networking apps but the rest are just games. I have found an overwhelming abundance of good apps that I still use and enjoy.

Perhaps it is no argument that when it comes to apps, iPhone is king. That is not fanboy talk right there, it is a fact. Are you using your personal opinion on the variety and quality of "good" apps out there (doubt you have really seen that many out of the mass) to justify the data costs? The iPhone still holds the title for having the best mobile browsing experience ever. My main stipulation about getting a new phone was best internet browsing experience. I never once felt like I was wasting money on the unlimited data plan. Every other phone I had always felt like any extra media/internet costs were going to waste because actually using it on inferior devices was horrible.