Verizon, 4G and iPhones 303
cgriffin21 writes "Verizon plans to launch its 4G LTE network in 38 major U.S. metropolitan areas by year's end, in an ambitious rollout that will also drape high-speed mobile broadband coverage over 60 airports." Not coincidentally, everyone and their brother is talking about
iPhone on Verizon in 2011, and what that
means to Android.
It means nothing to Android. (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Question (Score:3, Insightful)
From what I understand, V-Cast has been a major point of contention between Apple and Verizon. At least, that's what the rumors are saying...
That being said, I don't know why Verizon pushes their V-Cast services so hard...out of all the people I know that use Verizon, I don't know anyone that actually uses anything V-Cast has to offer.
Nothing? (Score:4, Insightful)
"If I wanted an iPhone, I would have gotten one."
I, I, I.
How something impacts Android is completely dependent on how it would affect you? There may be a few people out there who decided to go with Android because they didn't want to switch to AT&T.
Not going to happen. Here's why. (Score:4, Insightful)
Ever notice that beyond the bold carrier emblems on the phones themselves that virtually all smartphones sold on Verizon are advertised by Verizon instead of the handset makers themselves? Contrast that with the iPhone which might be sold exclusively in the US on AT&T but it is marketed by Apple directly and there are no AT&T (or other carriers for that matter) logos anywhere to be found on the phone or in the manuals.
Those other handset makers have allowed themselves to be relegated OEMs for the carriers while Apple markets directly to the consumer and only used the carriers as subsidized sales channels. This means that Apple manufactures one model (save for the Chinese no-Wifi model) for use worldwide and only enters IMEIs into their database to as sim LOCKED for any carrier that requests it. Except for different manuals and charger models, the iPhone you buy in the US/Canada or the UK only differ in what is included in the box and the phone itself is the same production run.
Even assuming that Verizon agreed to no branding on the phone either physically or in software/logo form, Apple would have to either create a special run for Verizon (CDMA) or raise the costs for every iPhone manufactured by switching to a CDMA/GSM model for no added benefit for people living outside of the US.
Re:too little too late (Score:3, Insightful)
And quite honestly, I'd rather play a good retro game than play any more of the iPhone's half-baked "games".
On the iPhone coming to Verizon (Score:3, Insightful)
I'll just cut and paste a comment I made about this on another site:
Re:Nothing? (Score:1, Insightful)
Apple had their chance to completely dominate the phone market and they've blown it with their exclusivity to AT&T/GSM. The gap gave Android a chance to get started with Verizon (and Sprint and T-Mobile), and now that the iPhone is possibly coming, existing Verizon customers won't care:
1) We're already locked in 1-2 year contracts so we're not going to pay $500 for a new phone
2) Verizon and Apple will likely not give many price breaks
3) AT&T users may jump ship, but that's only to Verizon's benefit
4) Android has a full set of applications and is a much more open format.
Re:Nothing? (Score:3, Insightful)
Android is the fastest selling smartphone OS, there are any number of Android options and lots of people who talk up Androids to their friends and families (myself included). If Android hasn't created a strong enough following to survive (and thrive) with the iPhone as real competition (it never was with it being tied to ATT in my opinion) then it deserves to die, and I say that as a die-hard Android fan. So... maybe not nothing, but it shouldn't really effect Android long term if Android is as serious a competitor for the iPhone as a lot of people think it is.
Re:Question (Score:3, Insightful)
That being said, I don't know why Verizon pushes their V-Cast services so hard...out of all the people I know that use Verizon, I don't know anyone that actually uses anything V-Cast has to offer.
Our logic states that because nobody uses V-Cast and hasn't used it in the X years it's been around, perhaps they should realize their failure, stop pushing it, and try something else, as it's clear nobody wants it.
Their logic states that because nobody uses V-Cast and hasn't used it in the X years it's been around, it obviously has not been pushed hard enough, as it's clear these customers are misbehaving by not throwing their money at it.
Re:The missing piece (Score:4, Insightful)
Is it really worth it to buy an unlocked phone though? As it is you get a big discount on a new phone in exchange for your contract. I am not aware of any provider that gives you a monthly discount in exchange for not taking advantage of that discount. If you know of one I would be very interested.
I think that is what would have to change because as it is, having no contract isn't that much of an advantage, assuming you know you will want to have a phone for the next 2 years and getting a deep discount on a new phone is very attractive.
Re:Not going to happen. Here's why. (Score:3, Insightful)
Ever notice that beyond the bold carrier emblems on the phones themselves that virtually all smartphones sold on Verizon are advertised by Verizon instead of the handset makers themselves? Contrast that with the iPhone which might be sold exclusively in the US on AT&T but it is marketed by Apple directly and there are no AT&T (or other carriers for that matter) logos anywhere to be found on the phone or in the manuals.
Other AT&T phones have AT&T branding all over them, just like the other cell phone networks. I'd imagine AT&T wanted the iPhone branded with their logo, but that they got shot down. I also suspect Apple wouldn't give on that issue in talks with Verizon.
Banned for life!! (Score:3, Insightful)
Gee, so Apple has banned you from writing iPhone apps? Gosh, that sucks.
Re:Nothing? (Score:3, Insightful)
There are more people who will ditch AT&T for Verizon than there are people who will ditch Android for iPhone, for the simple fact that the U.S. isn't the whole world. Also, some people dislike the need for going through a goddamn 12 step program just to change the ringtone. For a few things where there's money involved for Apple, the iPhone is remarkably user hostile.
Re:It means nothing to Android. (Score:1, Insightful)
It is an obsolete "3G" protocol
Kind of like how the original iPhone only worked on that obsolete 2G protocol.
Re:The missing piece (Score:3, Insightful)
In many way this is what will allow Verizon to get the iPhone. When the iPhone 5 comes out it is bound to support 4G, so even if Verizon is not an official partner, people will be able to use the phone there.
Don't be so sure. IIRC, verizon is using the sim-less variant of LTE. So if the MEID isn't in the database the phone isn't getting on the network without committing a felony! The mere existence of a CDMA iphone doesn't mean that it will be easy to get on Verizon.
I have never been convinced that Apple would want to add CDMA capability, just for Verizon, because of the extra licensing costs and the fact Verizon had already announced that it was putting in place a 4G GSM network. I may still be wrong about Qualcomm-CDMA support being added (CDMA is part of GSM in the form of wave encoding, not protocol), though we will see.
Again, don't be so sure. A CDMA-less verizon phone is pretty much a paperweight for the forseeable decade. LTE rollout will be *very* limited initially (mostly large markets). Also, to correct you, GSM is TDMA. Modern 3G GSM data (e.g. HSDPA) is CDMA.
Re:Nothing? (Score:3, Insightful)
Agreed. AT&T is Southwest Bell with lipstick. They had the worst customer service, lousiest coverage, and weakest share. Apple needed to have a CDMA phone along with its GSM offering. They could have covered all bases, but had to capitulate to the fact that AT&T and most of the world is GSM. So they made their choice.
I stuck with Verizon not because of any love whatsoever, rather they have coverage and a decently designed data coverage network. At the top are the same bunch of monopolistic-minded greedy execs seeking to suck every last coin out of your pocket-- customer churn be damned.
Android isn't a piece of cake, but on the whole, the values behind it (and not Google as a company behind it) will continue to overtake Apple. Verizon should careful; in the post-9/11 market capitalization atmosphere, they could follow Sprint's fate easily, IMHO. Quality and service count. If they keep their eye on this, they'll do well.
Re:It means nothing to Android. (Score:3, Insightful)
iPhone does let you write your own apps, fandroid.
And if you pay $99, Steve Jobs will even let you run your apps on your own phone.
Re:Nothing? (Score:4, Insightful)
Not too long ago Apple didn't have one of the most popular phones on the market. Instead, they were the underdog. The ROKR was an epic failure and no one really knew if Apple could pull off a phone.
But they went shopping around anyway, more or less 'begging' to let someone take their yet un announced product. Not only that, they were asking the network to NOT have total control of the device. (These were the days when Verizon would cripple a phone to turn a quick $.50 making you send a photo on their network). In addition to that they were asking them to upgrade their servers, spend money, so that it could do this fancy thing called 'Visual Voicemail.' In return for all of this, Apple would sign a exclusivity contract with said network.
Sprint* said thank you and respectfully declined. AT&T also declined. Verizon's CEO went above declining and more or less gave Jobs the finger. Cingular said 'what the heck' and let Apple in.
AT&T bought Cingular, honored the contract and here we are today.
It was a HUGE gamble. It paid off, but Apple had never made a phone before. There was no "AppStore". The iPod Touch didn't exist. iTunes Music store existed, but wasn't a dominant force in the marketplace and still DRM protected.
But Apple didn't "blow" anything. No one predicted the iPhone's success, not even Apple. AT&T is clinging to that contract like a liferaft, because they know the second it is up Verizon is going to bend over backwards to accomodate the iPhone.
* All gathered from internet hearsay over the years.
Re:It means nothing to Android. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Nothing? (Score:3, Insightful)
>> That leaves you with the people whose contracts are almost up and haven't upgraded. Around here (Boston), that's a fairly small number
Bahaha. What, did you conduct a survey of the people of Boston?
"My 3 friends don't plan on upgrading so therefore no one in Boston is planning to upgrade".
Re:too little too late (Score:3, Insightful)
They are both emerging markets. You are making the assumption that the market is already saturated.
Just like at AT&T you will get iPhone customers and Android Customers there will be new users on both. Some will be unhappy with each other and switch.
There is no point in this religious zeal over iPhone vs. Android. And what will ultimately happen. iPhone will be the biggest in Market share for devices, Android will be the largest market share in total numbers. Meaning the iPhone will be the Top Selling Phone but there will be more Android installations.
The Android is cool and is competitive to the iPhone which is cool in different ways. People will stick to their camp. New users will choose one or the other. A few swappers who will be evangelicalized to the other side. Side A will make a cool app Side B will make a copy. Side A will say how horrible the trade offs that B took is while Side B does the same.
Is iPhone for Verizon a threat to Android, perhaps in a short run. As there are some people who use Android as a substitute for an iPhone, but after a quarter or two, it will balance and be back to normal competition.
Normal Competition will mean both sides makes new and cool stuff to play with.
Re:Nothing? (Score:2, Insightful)
No, there's no creation involved at all. Second, this is something you can do easily on any phone, with no editing. The availability of apps solves a problem that simply isn't there on any other phone. Fact is, changing a ringtone on the iPhone is user hostile by design.
Re:Nothing? (Score:3, Insightful)
DroidX is locked down
Says who? You can root it, remove the bloatware and generally do whatever the hell you want with it if you are inclined to do so.
You can also jailbreak an iPhone, yet we* complain constantly about how locked down the iPhone is.
*The collective /. we