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Verizon Iphone launch fail

maflynn said:
Why should a current AT&T iPhone 4 customer break is contract, pay the ETF, spend another 199 (or more) for an iPhone 4 and the associated fees just to get what he already had.
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I truly don't think Verizon was honestly expecting hoards of AT&T customers to drop their contracts and switch right away. Remember the first commercial that was aired for the Verizon iPhone? It was directed primarily toward current Verizon customers, and thanked them for their patience and for waiting for the iPhone on their network.

I'm sure that Verizon is expecting a certain amount of people to ditch AT&T when their contract comes up, but you can be sure that they know not everyone has the money to deal with their ETF.
 
Did anyone really expect anything along the lines of the original iPhone 4 launch here?

This is a phone that was introduced 8 months ago. Everyone who OMG HAD TO HAVE IT has had it since shortly after that time.

Verizon's introduction--and I think it's notable that it was a Verizon event and not an Apple one--was remarkably low-key compared to the iOS media frenzy that was going on last year between the iPad launch and the iPhone 4 rollout.

I have no idea how many Verizon iPhones are in service now. I'm sure it's a lot. I'd be interested to see some numbers, and I'm sure we'll have some eventually. If not before, then I'd expect to hear them in Verizon's Q1 conference call.

Now, iPhone 5 launch? That's going to be a madhouse.
 
I would not consider the Verizon iPhone launch a fail. Many people, like me, pre-ordered. Also people ordered online.
 
MarximusMG said:
I truly don't think Verizon was honestly expecting hoards of AT&T customers to drop their contracts and switch right away. Remember the first commercial that was aired for the Verizon iPhone? It was directed primarily toward current Verizon customers, and thanked them for their patience and for waiting for the iPhone on their network.

I'm sure that Verizon is expecting a certain amount of people to ditch AT&T when their contract comes up, but you can be sure that they know not everyone has the money to deal with their ETF.
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I agree. I think we'll see most of the deflection in Jun/Jul 2012 when most of the iPhone 4 ETF's are up. It also gives AT&T a year to try and strengthen their network.

I know that AT&T is touting that they are going to replace and add towers here in Houston over the next 12 months. If they truly want to keep their customers, they'll have to do the same in other big markets.
 
How about we hold off speculating until Apple or Verizon releases their official numbers with their quarterly earnings. Between pre-orders, online sales, multiple retailers offering, etc. it is tough to tell what the ultimate numbers are. As others have said, the Verizon adoption will be much more staggered, mainly in part to peoples' contracts expiring. What's certain is that, over the next couple of years, a good number of the currently 90 million Verizon subscribers will have iPhones. Exactly how many will remain to be seen.
 
ssbearsfan said:
1. +500,000 people ordered online and were already using their iphones
2. Not everyone was available for an early upgrade
3. People refuse to pay ETF and will switch when their contract is up
4. It was deadly cold out in most places of the US
5. People are waiting for the "iphone 5" that may be released this summer
6. Only over time will we see how successful or not the verizon iphone is
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All very true. Plus...

7. LTE phones are about to go on sale.
8. A survey last week showed only 19% of Android users said they were "very likely" to switch to the iPhone.

--

The real news is that Apple felt they had to get out a CDMA model for sale now instead of waiting until summer.

I think that Android's meteroritc rise this past year, caught Apple as off guard as the iPhone had caught Microsoft and Nokia back in 2007.
 
gta50419 said:
lol most people who already wanted it got theirs for att months ago.
i never understood why people were excited for the verizon on when it's exactly the same phone.

but this vid is pretty sad, i was expecting at least 15 people lol
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Word, at least that way you don't feel like a fool....when its just you and maybe someone else....makes you feel a little dumb for not pre-ordering heh
 
jtgamer said:
Well, at work only 3 people came by to buy their iPhone. It was a waste of 3 extra hours and plus, by 10am, only about 6 VZW iPhones went out of the door, 2 which i know will end up on craigslist for my area. People were smart this year by doing pre-orders online instead of wasting time waiting outside in the cold or in their car. I am just surprised that it was worst launch since the at&t iphone 4 launch.
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Huh, I never waited in the cold or car for my iPhone, it was always pretty warm in the summer when they were released. I hung out in my car for the wii launch, but that was late Nov...
 
tjb1 said:
Its pretty pathetic you would even post this...why do you care? I dont understand you AT&T fanboys really, Verizon has the iPhone which means competition for AT&T which means better things from both companies and the iPhone market is now much larger. Only good can come out of it yet all of you talk about Verizon like they are the plague.
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It goes both ways to an extent. At the end of the day, a post is a post. Whether if it's about the guy lined up a week early for the AT&T launch or the small lines at Verizon..

I agree though, competition helps both sides.

One thing just crossed my mind though. Say for the iPhone 5 if they are released at the same time for AT&T and Verizon. Now that'll be some line.

Going forward though no more lines for me. I'll order online only like iP4.
 
I don't really see this as a fail. Did you expect there to be lines round the corner or something? It's not like there were loads of people who didn't have a contract with AT&T, that were just waiting for an iPhone on Verizon (There were quite a few but nothing significant to the amount that had iPhones on AT&T).. That combined with the thousands of pre-orders for the Verizon iPhone, I'm surprised that they got the queues they did in some locations. The real Verizon iPhone launch will be the next iPhone, then you'll see your queues.
 
I love how the OP thinks that this launch was a fail. It amuses me so. I bet he doesn't understand how many people preordered the iPhone and had them shipped, myself included.
 
2 Degrees

In Chicago, it was about 2 degrees at 7 am. Nobody in their right minds would be out there waiting for a PHONE. Verizon also made it very easy for people to just order online, and I think many did that. Between ordering online and reserving to pick up at any time, I would guess most people would not be into waiting in line. Also, it seems AT&T launches have been in the milder weather months when people would be willing to wait outside. Between being able to order online, the launch day being a Thursday when people have to be at work, and the weather being ultra frigid in many parts of the country, I think most people probably went for the more convenient routes.
 
It's a fail for the employees. If I were the only customer walking in, I wouldn't want a bunch of idiots clapping and cheering for me. I don't even like to be asked "can I help you". And why were there so many of them in there?
 
I dont think the launch was a fail as others stated here, I preordered my iphone 4 last week when they went on sale at 3am and i had mine since monday and im sure most Verizon customers that wanted to buy an iphone did the same thing, the people that are heading into the stores most likely are the people who missed out on the first pre order or their coming from other carrier's. Then you have to factor in theres a certain % of people waiting until June/July until the next iphone release.
 
The pre-order period for Verizon customers began Feb 3rd at 3:00 am and was EXPECTED to continue up until the launch date of February 10, Demand was so overwhelming strong that the iPhone 4 inventory dedicated to this pre-order period was used up in approximately 17 hours and the Internet portal closed

Clearly a launch fail :rolleyes:

The Wall Street Journal reports. "In Verizons first two hours, They had already sold more phones than any first day launch in their history. And, when you consider these initial orders were placed between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., it is an incredible success story

Again, Clearly a launch fail :rolleyes:

Great thread, you really did your research, :D :apple:
 
All of that clapping for two people really made me feel uncomfortable for all parties involved in that video.
 
BriChi said:
The pre-order period for Verizon customers began Feb 3rd at 3:00 am and was EXPECTED to continue up until the launch date of February 10, Demand was so overwhelming strong that the iPhone 4 inventory dedicated to this pre-order period was used up in approximately 17 hours and the Internet portal closed

Clearly a launch fail :rolleyes:

The Wall Street Journal reports. "In Verizons first two hours, They had already sold more phones than any first day launch in their history. And, when you consider these initial orders were placed between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., it is an incredible success story

Again, Clearly a launch fail :rolleyes:

Great thread, you really did your research, :D :apple:
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Needs to be quoted in case any one fails to read it... :p
 
"Provide a source or it is false information."

You don't want the source. :mad:

He pulled it out of his arse..... :eek:
 
if they were under the impression that people were waiting till later or ordered online, why would these stores open up 3 hours early and have all hands on deck. Look at all those apple employees, thats ALOT of people that they have to pay hourly wages for, for 2 customers.

They were definitely expecting ALOT more people.
 
ripper998 said:
if they were under the impression that people were waiting till later or ordered online, why would these stores open up 3 hours early and have all hands on deck. Look at all those apple employees, thats ALOT of people that they have to pay hourly wages for, for 2 customers.

They were definitely expecting ALOT more people.
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Same thing I was thinking. If Verizon/Apple weren't expecting a big launch, why put a queue that was never needed outside their stores here in CT, put a block on vacation for essential employees, and bring in additional employees to staff their stores on launch day.

Rather lackluster to me. I think the iPhone will gather some momentum in time, but think the forecasted demand was overblown.
 
Well, I'm not a contract kinda of guy! Purchased my AT&T iPhone full retail, and did the same with my Verizon iPhone!

Not sure if it's a smart thing to do, but I hate having to be locked into a contract with any provider!

Walked right into my local Verizon store, there were more employees than customers.

Bought my new iPhone and walked out the door in ten minutes!

Done Deal!

Enjoy Everyone!
 
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