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

[dyler]

Yet another supposed iPhone Killer!!

Ok I am getting sick of this. This is not going to be an iPhone killer, people keep talking about this and yet it never happens. ATT and Apple should sue verizon for false advertisement.

1. The map Verizon uses is about 3-5 years old if you look at ATT's map now it is the same as Verizon.
2. Most of the things it says the iPhone does not do is talking about the original not about the 3gs that whole list the 3gs does now except maybe for widgets, and do I really care about that. NO!!

So now verizon has resorted to lying becuase they know they are not getting the iPhone and they are scared, couple that with T-mobile wanting to buy Sprint and you could bet that will be the next company to get the iPhone in the US. This will put Verizon at a loss with handsets and destroy them eventually if they don't change their handset attitude soon.

So keep it up Verizon (which is really a European company Vodaphone) and you will be put into a irrelevant category very soon. Keep destroying those handsets that come to your next one. The droid looks pathetic, bulky, and cheaply built it is not going to sell at all.

 

[roland.g]

J
O
K
E.

That slide out keyboard (sorry don't want one) looks like something out of a circa 1980's Texas Instruments scientific calculator.

 

[MarceePauff]

The countdown clock says it'll be released in 10 days, 11 hours and (as of right now) 20 minutes.

 

[dyler]

Yes

I've used android and it's like using linux. Feels unpolished and clunky. It's great for twenty year old guys who like to tinker around with crap. I'm not looking for a hobby platform. Yes it's way more customizable, but I'm not interested in being able to hook my phone up to my homebrew segway. I'm glad Android is around for people who are into that kinda thing.

The vast majority of people want something that is simple and easy to use. Apple understand this better than anyone else.

Could not have said it better myself and as an IT consultant my clients are mostly non-technical and this is what they want, something that works and is easy to use. Not Android!!!

 

[RoboCop1]

That's probably the most important part of the article.

Well, if Verizon is on the offensive against the iPhone then ATT here I come.

 

[Consultant]

Likewise speculation about the overall usefulness and value of all the apps on the App Store is just that: speculation.

Wow, almost $1 billion dollars in annual apple app store sales. Must be useless.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ready_nearing_pace_of_1_billion_business.html

FYI, economics 101: if something is useful (productive, entertaining, etc.), people will pay for it.

 

[ChazUK]

what percentage of users are concerned about:

- Allow Open Development. Is it a bad thing that the Android Marketplace has an open ecosystem? We probably all use some kind of open source software on our computers every day and that's done no harm

- Keyboard. Personal prefernce agreed but choice is good.

- Simultaneous Apps. Even with background processes running on my Hero the battery life is better than my old iPhone 3G. Like I said earlier, multitasking (last.fm/pandora/spotify + browsing in bed is great).

- Interchangeable Batteries. I can't say I've ever had more than one battery myself but it does keep costs down sourcing replacements if your battery dies

- Widgets. Having extra info on your homescreen is really nice. I posted an example why above.

- Customize. Jailbreakers customise their phones so there is a femand for it.

- Take pictures in the dark. There are lots of phones with flashes on them and from a social aspect, having a camera capable of taking pictures in dark places could come in handy some times.

Coments added in red.

 

[joemama]

If it's one thing we know, it's that competition is good. Let's admit it, there are things the iPhone should do, but doesn't.

If another phone has more features, then great. It will force Apple to step up their game.

But you know business - one day two companies are enemies, the next they are bed together. I mean, what else can Verizon do? They are getting killed out there right now. They can't just sit around and lose money until they come to an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone.

I switched, and the day Verizon offers the iPhone I'll go back. ATT's network is HORRIBLE.

 

[baryon]

Can someone explain this to me: Is this an American thing that advertisements can contain negative references to a product other than the one advertised? In Europe I've never seen an advert that says "this brand is better than that brand", the most aggressive line I've heard is "Our brand is better than conventional brands" or "... than other brands" but I don't think you can directly refer to a precise product. I was surprised when I saw Apple's "Get a Mac" ads on the web that they can actually say the word "PC" in their MAC ad!

The advertising mentality in the USA is very different than what I'm used to!

 

[zim]

Didn't like the ad. Stylistically it felt like something from 5+ years ago when motionographers were into grungy stuff.. I also feel that these types of ads and this type of pre marketing tend to grow tiresome with the consumers.

Regarding the keyboard... I thought we were over this whole physical keyboard debate and that screen based keyboards had proven to be just as functional.

My final thought is that by the time this thing comes out Apple will have responded with a new OS that allows for many of these options.

 

[xhambonex]

1. The map Verizon uses is about 3-5 years old if you look at ATT's map now it is the same as Verizon.
2. Most of the things it says the iPhone does not do is talking about the original not about the 3gs that whole list the 3gs does now except maybe for widgets, and do I really care about that. NO!!

So now verizon has resorted to lying becuase they know they are not getting the iPhone and they are scared, couple that with T-mobile wanting to buy Sprint and you could bet that will be the next company to get the iPhone in the US. This will put Verizon at a loss with handsets and destroy them eventually if they don't change their handset attitude soon.

The droid looks pathetic, bulky, and cheaply built it is not going to sell at all.

The 3GS doesn't do any of those things mentioned in the commercial. The only iPhone that does is a Jailbroken iPhone, which doesn't count.

Personally I hate having to launch the weather app just to check the weather...+1 for widgets.

Verizon clearly has the big Android devices coming to its network, but all will bow down to the HD2 on T-Mobile running WinMo 7 (or even 6.5).

Though there is a rumored Snapdragon HTC Android device, that would be its only competition.

Regarding the keyboard... I thought we were over this whole physical keyboard debate and that screen based keyboards had proven to be just as functional.

My final thought is that by the time this thing comes out Apple will have responded with a new OS that allows for many of these options.

We covered the physical keyboard debate...its a preference. End of story.

This phone is coming out by the years end, possibly the months end, but for sure before the holiday season. You aren't going to see a new iPhone OS before then, and it won't be doing all those things (hopefully some of them though).

I don't get why they didn't pick the HTC Android device, it looks 10x better and is running Sense UI, which is the best looking (maybe not performing) Android OS out there now.

 

[ghostface147]

1. The map Verizon uses is about 3-5 years old if you look at ATT's map now it is the same as Verizon.
2. Most of the things it says the iPhone does not do is talking about the original not about the 3gs that whole list the 3gs does now except maybe for widgets, and do I really care about that. NO!!

The voice coverage map is pretty much in par with Verizon yes, but 3g service sure isn't. I do care about multitasking, and only Apple products multitasking doesn't cut it. In fact, only one thing multitasks and that's the music function. Can I listen to pandora while typing an e-mail? No. Can I use yahoo messenger while typing away in Notes? Nope. Can I take a pic in low light? Not if I want a decent pic, but then again most cell phones can't take a great quality picture in low light either. I can't customize my background wallpaper. Battery swapping? No need for that, I don't have issues with my battery, so that's fine with me. Keyboard? The iPhone works well with what it has and I am much more proficient on the soft keyboard. Open development? Hmmm, Apple is not known for having the most open App Store, but neither is Verizon, so who knows? Widgets? Ummm, they're ok. I don't need it however. Bottom line, Verizon is attacking the right points and rightfully so. Yet they still charge 3 bucks for visual voicemail? What's that about?

 

[peterdevries]

Actually I disagree. The App Store is mostly comprised of irrelevant, if not useless apps. It is mostly a waste of millions and millions of developers hours, these hours in average returns very little pay and create in average even less interesting tools. The App Store may be a success by the sheer number of apps, but makes the iPhone looks like a toy for spoiled rich kids. It's possible that the iPhone will soon be lost in the oblivion of the promising technologies. BTW i love my iPHone and the 34 installed apps, but what an effort to find those!

Just so I understand.. You select your "useful" apps by searching for hours through thousands of apps until you find one?

I just use the iPhone, and when I realize I need something, I just go to the app store and usually will find a suitable app within 5 minutes..

I couldn't care less about those thousands of dev hours in fart apps. Let them make more of them as they please. They don't deter me from finding the good apps for my uses..

 

[LagunaSol]

I don't see anyone in a "rage" on this forum. I see decent lively discussion unless I am missing some out-and-out name-calling and the mods deleting all kinds of posts or something along those lines.

Wild exaggeration is a critical element of trolling.

 

[RoboCop1]

Thank You for stating this!!!

This Motorola ad does not sway me at all to thinking the iPhone is not coming out on Verizon. The testing done with LTE on Verizon & an Apple iPhone is going on no matter what any ad will make you feel.

The 'droiddoes' ad is a marketing ploy by Motorola against the iPhone. It is not an attack on the iPhone from Verizon.

Verizon attacks AT&T with the '3G map' coverage ads.... and Motorola is attacking Apple here with the 'droiddoes' ads...

Most of you who commented need to get your facts straight!

I Hope so!

 

[brent1a]

out of 85000 apps how many are really useful?
maybe 15 to 20% just my guess I really don't know what all 85000 are

15% of 85000 is 12750. So can anyone tell me where Verizon's or Sprint's App store is with 12,750 useful user developed apps available? Perhaps they have app stores with just 7,500 apps available......no? 5,000? No, again.

 

[LagunaSol]

With the ChromeOS coming, I really think Google is going for the Apple jugular (all they have to do is release a reliable OS that doesn't get viruses that is dirt cheap or even free).

Aren't they really going for the Microsoft jugular?

Chrome and Android are clearly more direct competitors with Windows and Windows Mobile (i.e. one crappy OS on millions of hardware variations) vs. Apple's integrated model.

 

[StuBeck]

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.

ATT does the exact same thing :lol:

 

[Unprocessed1]

ATT does the exact same thing :lol:

ATT is often as expensive as Verizon depending on the phone and plan you need.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

what percentage of users are concerned about:

- Simultaneous Apps. This is even funnier. Most people use the thing for what it is. This argument of "let users decide how they want to use their phone" is so stupid. Users are deciding: iPhone it is. Who cares about keeping 10 apps running while my battery drains like gas on a Hummer? I guess this is why they have the next one point.

There are some very basic, useful things that developers would like to put out on the iPhone which would require background processes. Push Notifications doesn't solve all problems. As it stands now, you have to be a very large company (like Loopt) to get a special dispensation from Apple and AT&T. That stifles innovation.

- Take pictures in the dark. Most users, again, don't care about this Marketing BS. If you want good pictures in the dark, there is no Droid that will help you with that, unless you get a real camera.

It's not a killer feature, but it is hard to not be impressed by the low-light capabilities of a Blackberry. It's not just photos "in the dark". I use the camera for utility, trying to grab pictures of text or whiteboards. It is amazing how often what I can see with my eyes is unreadable on the camera because of its low light performance.

 

[xhambonex]

15% of 85000 is 12750. So can anyone tell me where Verizon's or Sprint's App store is with 12,750 useful user developed apps available? Perhaps they have app stores with just 7,500 apps available......no? 5,000? No, again.

The app store applies to everyone differently. Beyond games, I have a very limited amount of apps that I use, we're talking less than 10.

So the quantity of the app store isn't really determining what device I get. I'm sure WinMo has a ton as well, same with Palm.

 

[centauratlas]

Does Verizon really think that is effective?

As someone with a BS in Engineering and Computer Engineering and an MS in Comp Sci, I think I can say this: who is there market? The technology crowd or the 98% of the population that isn't?

1. Do most people care about a real keyboard as long as they can type? No, even a slightly larger "real" keyboard does not buy you much.
2. Simultaneous apps? Most people don't care. Sure, there are some cool things you can do with it, but for the most part, users do not even understand the concept or think it is necessary. And it seems Apple is letting some of the "cool apps" do background given the rumors.
3. 5-MP? Sure, that is nice to have, but 3.5 is pretty close (at least as far as most people will think). It is an advantage over iPhone, but does it make a huge difference to most people? Me, yes, most people no. But most people WILL understand it.
4. Customize? Unless they explain that, 99% of the people won't know what it means.
5. "Widgets"??? "What are Widgets?" will be most people reaction! I have applications that do everything.
6. "Open Development." 99% of users won't care.
7. "Pictures in the dark." Sure, a flash would be quite nice to have, hopefully Apple will take note. Most users will understand that one.
8. Interchangeable batteries? Most users won't care.

And the ending may be cool to SciFi fans/engineering/tech types, but for my Aunt, sister or mother? No. It is too geeky.

Is their market the Linux fans who really understand all this or people who just want something that works (usually)?

The phone may be good (but it does not look as nice as iPhone) but the marketing so far will leave the large section of the market cold.

 

[lylegrad]

hahaha.

wow. way to get blacklisted by apple in a hurry.
verizon has no room to talk. they don't even offer their customers sim cards in their phones. i hate that company so much. yucky.

 

[i.e.Mac]

I'm a Verizon user and customer. Perhaps a typical tech loving Verizon customer. I use the Blackberry Storm, I think the 3G is good, etc. etc. etc.

That said, I'm first and foremost an iPhone lover. I look at my iPod touch, and my Storm, and I grumble. Oh, what a wonderful day the day I could get my own glossy black 3GS and discard my (by comparison) clunky Storm. However, In terms of my network needs, and above all, price, Verizon simply suits me better than AT&T. So we are here, lost in the V-ether of iPhone wannabes.

There was one glimmer of hope, though. One ray of light, that the iPhone was, someday soon, coming to Verizon. Then we could all toss our Omnia's HTC Touch's, and our Storms, and pick up the beloved iPhone. And there it could flourish and live happily in the lush and green field of great 3G, an extensive network, and reliable service, with Verizon seeing their customer base explode with all the disgruntled Sprint and AT&T customers tired of flaky networks.


Verizon, in this incredibly stupid, almost Operation Barbarossa esque move, has all but ruined that now. And now they hedge their bets on this...Droid. You know? The last company to declare war on the iPhone like this was Samsung with their Instinct. And Samsung resoundingly lost. Not unlike the Instinct, this Droid will probably try, fail, and and fade away into the annals of the lost iPhone wannabes.

Damn you Verizon. Damn you to hell.

 

[xhambonex]

As someone with a BS in Engineering and Computer Engineering and an MS in Comp Sci, I think I can say this: who is there market? The technology crowd or the 98% of the population that isn't?

1. Do most people care about a real keyboard as long as they can type? No, even a slightly larger "real" keyboard does not buy you much.
2. Simultaneous apps? Most people don't care. Sure, there are some cool things you can do with it, but for the most part, users do not even understand the concept or think it is necessary. And it seems Apple is letting some of the "cool apps" do background given the rumors.
3. 5-MP? Sure, that is nice to have, but 3.5 is pretty close (at least as far as most people will think). It is an advantage over iPhone, but does it make a huge difference to most people? Me, yes, most people no. But most people WILL understand it.
4. Customize? Unless they explain that, 99% of the people won't know what it means.
5. "Widgets"??? "What are Widgets?" will be most people reaction! I have applications that do everything.
6. "Open Development." 99% of users won't care.
7. "Pictures in the dark." Sure, a flash would be quite nice to have, hopefully Apple will take note. Most users will understand that one.
8. Interchangeable batteries? Most users won't care.

And the ending may be cool to SciFi fans/engineering/tech types, but for my Aunt, sister or mother? No. It is too geeky.

Is their market the Linux fans who really understand all this or people who just want something that works (usually)?

The phone may be good (but it does not look as nice as iPhone) but the marketing so far will leave the large section of the market cold.

It's the first commercial in a series for their new ad campaign, though I agree most people won't get it until actual information starts showing up. Here's the thing though, you can't beat apple's advertising, plain and simple and no other phone will get press like the iPhone will.

I think the map commercial was easier for everyone to understand and a better campaign, they just need to show it with people using android devices.

I like Google a lot more than I like Verizon...Apple is great, but At&t is not. I'll settle on a different device and so will everyone else who doesn't want to switch to At&t for the iPhone. This is more of a heads-up to customers who aren't on At&t not to switch because VZW has some cool phones coming.