UPDATED: Verizon Attack Ads -- Claim iPhone iDoesn't do What Android 2.0 Droid Does
UPDATE: TiPb asked a few non-geek friends and most of them didn't even realize Verizon was targeting the iPhone in these ads (some thought the commercial was saying whatever device they were talking about didn't do the things listed). Is that an ad-failure, or was it deliberately targeting geeks?
Secondly, Sacha Seagan over at Gearlog brings up the now apparently dual, and now opposite meaning behind "open application" buzzwords - a device totally controlled by Verizon.
Thirdly, does the push for the Droid explain why Verizon seemingly buried the BlackBerry Storm2 announcement?
Original post after the break!
Verizon has now aired their first new Android 2.0-centric, anti-iPhone (technically "iDon't iDevice") attack ad and placed a new website online to go with them. Surprise, surprise -- like that leaked BlackBerry Storm2 vs. iPhone 3G(!) chart Verizon put together, the ads contain blatant inaccuracies (even if typeset in Apple's typical Myriad Pro):
- iDon't have a real keyboard: Er, it does. Not to get all Spock, but nothing unreal exists, the iPhone's keyboard exists, therefore it's real. Sure, it's soft/virtual (like the Verizon BlackBerry Storm2's) rather than hard, but it's certainly not imaginary.
- iDon't run simultaneous apps: Again, it does. The iPhone can run iPod, Email, Phone, Messages, App Store/iTunes downloads, Quicktime streams, and other functions in the background with full multitasking. Apple restricts two or more 3rd party apps from running at the same time, but that's obviously too subtle a difference for Verizon. (iPhone on HSPA can also multitask voice and data. Droid on CDMA -- no data when you're on the phone.)
- iDon't take night shots: Well, we guess they mean the camera's ISO doesn't produce good results in low light. Fair point. Arguably nothing short of a really good DSLR sensor does, tiny LED flash included. Though 5 megapixels is still nice.
- iDon't allow open development. Really, Verizon, with your history, you want to play that card? Android is an about face for you, not a two-face. We'll wait and see on this one.
- iDon't customize. Okay, fair point. One out of how many so far? UPDATE: Shawn Roberts points out it remains to be seen how customizable the Droid is. If it's just re-arranging icons, the iPhone can do that too.
- iDon't run widgets. What's a widget? Arguably iPhone Stocks and Weather are widgets not far removed from Mac OS X's Dashboard counter-parts. We're guessing they mean little, persistent on-screen information snippets. We'll give them a second point for that.
- iDon't have a removable battery. Third point. Apple's driven away from that entire concept towards longer life, built-in batteries and external charging packs. If that's something you can't stand, fair enough.
Wrap all that up in an Adobe Flash-only site for Verizon's upcoming Android powered Droid phone, and we're thinking Verizon better hope that the handset ends up a lot better than the marketing thus far. And, that's the key point here, as Daring Fireball points out:
“Droid” is going to be a Verizon-owned brand. It’s purportedly a Motorola-manufactured phone, but Verizon is the licensee of the “Droid” trademark. (Which name, by the way, strikes me as the perfect name for an Android OS phone — sort of implicitly establishes it as the Android phone.) That’s the big thing. Verizon doesn’t see itself as a mere carrier for other companies’ phones. It sees itself as being bigger than the phones. It’s Verizon-vs.-Apple in this spot, not Verizon-vs.-AT&T.
It's exactly the opposite approach, with Apple leading the carriers with iPhone (hopefully hastening them into their "dumb-pipe" future), now Verizon wants to turn back the clock by owning an OS like Android. They want to put carriers at the front again. Is that something that tempts you to switch?
[Video via Engadget]
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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What a fanboy post.
Stupid commercial. Does anyone think that cell phone pictures in the dark are any good anyway? Nope.
verizon sounds awfully desperate with these ads. sour grapes.
i care about customization and backgrounding, and think that functionality should be highlighted - but the tone with which verizon is going about this is just stoopid.
plus that website of theirs is so dark and angry. dark and angry doesn't make me excited to buy anything.
won't ever go back to a CDMA phone or carrier. the only way I'd go to verizon is when the LTE networks are up and running. I like owning a phone I can take almost anywhere in the world.
They are desperate, they have to go after ONE phone out of all that are out there. that just shows the power the iphone has in the market.
Also good catch to iphoneblog on the irony, I didnt catch it the first time seeing the ad.
1) "Real" keyboard- I guess their coveted Storm 2 about to come out is inferior too since its a touchscreen keyboard
2) Night photos- Really? Take your tiny led flash on your Blackberry Curve etc into a pitch black room and take a photo. You MIGHT get some discernible image, maybe barely, but whats the point?
Also forgot "open development"
Thats laughable from VZW, even not taking inot account their "closed" mentality past. Look at the present, stripping the appstore out of Windows Mobile and Blackberry in favor of their own owned and controlled VZW app store.
Open development eh?
They can iDon't all they want, but I doubt this phone will be as good as the pre.
Rene is a such a Fanboy... all of VZ points are true and Rene is playing with words. When ppl think "keyboard" they think the hard kind. iPhone does not have 5.0M camera etc. Apple quit innovating two years ago and Rene can't admit it.
Verizon is talking a pretty big game and they will seriously have to back this up come November. However, all of the things mentioned I would love to see the iPhone improve on (except the keyboard, love those virtual keys).
Also, negative campaigns are never a good sign. It's desperate. In comparison iPhone commercials are all about iCan and let's the user decide if the iCan's are enough for them to buy the phone compared to the other phones iCan's.
@Ivan
Dont be ignorant.
1) "Keyboard"- so whats VZW gonna say when the Storm 2 comes out in a few weeks with the same "non-real" keyboard? Recant?
2) Megapixels is an image size, it does NOT automatically equate higher QUALITY photos.
It's comical seeing these ridiculous ads of companies trying to compete with Apple and the iPhone. The king will reign for many years to come.
@Justin "Also, negative campaigns are never a good sign. It’s desperate. " again, when apple runs commercials badmouthing vista everyone says how great they are. When someone uses the same technique against apple it's "desperate"
By the way Rene, did you recently take a job in Apple PR? If not, at least consider a job in politics. You know exactly what they meant by a real keyboard and simultaneous apps. Stop twisting their words. The iPhone has flaws, admit it. Every device has flaws. Verizon has pointed out actual flaws. Rather than say "no their not leave my perfect phone alone!" we should be saying "apple fix this stuff and make the iPhone even better"
I like the agressiveness. I'm an iPhone lover (typing from my 3gs right now) but somebody needs to straing apple of something. All companies are always afraid of competing against apple. I don't like verizon at all, and it's funny they claim (open development) but competion is welcomed.
Negative campaigns is what Apple uses against Microsoft. It's a great move IMO. The iphone does have its weaknesses and can be easily ripped on. They don't have to be fair and can present the iphone in any light they choose.
It's already achieved its goal of garnering buzz. Here we are talking about it..
The iPhone is so great! It is flawless. Everybody else sucks and shouldn't try. (sarcasm)
See how stupid that sounds?
And for those who say negative campaigns are bad, "I'm a PC" mother Fu cker!!!
"again, when apple runs commercials badmouthing vista everyone says how great they are. When someone uses the same technique against apple it’s “desperate”"
that's because apple does it in a fun, humorous fashion which no one else seems to understand is they key to why those ads don't alienate most people.
Apple did a lot to break the traditional carrier lock on phones. Arguably, Apple controls the iPhone, not AT&T or any carrier.
Don't be fooled into thinking this is just iPhone vs. Droid. This is Verizon wanting to make sure the old fashioned carrier-centric model locks everyone back in, and they don't become the "dumb pipes" many of us want.
Less than a year ago Verizon locked out GPS, didn't allow WiFi, and refused to let applications stores on their devices other than their owns. If not for Apple and the iPhone, they would likely still be that way.
Apple fundamentally changed the way the smartphone market works. (And yeah, the App Store, that wasn't an innovation in the last 2 years, right...)
Make it personal if you want, but if anyone really thinks consumers are better off with the carrier controlling the device and the pipe, than you have bigger problems than just lack of discussion prowess
It's just another reason why its brilliant (too bad Palm missed the opportunity. Taking shots at a company that themselves wrote the book on it vs Microsoft. There's little sympathy to be had for Apple in that regard.
Negative ads aren't good or bad, no ad style or type is good or bad in and of itself. Some of Apple's I'm a Mac ads are hilarious. Others fall flat. Overall PC saves a lot of those ads by being likable. It's all about execution.
Some car commercials do it well as well.
In general, Apple font and iWords aside, there's a lot of people who won't even realize this was an anti-Apple ad (most of my family didn't). That means they targeted geeks, and traditionally that's not a huge buying market.
AT&T just need to make an ad in response simply saying
iDONT get the iPhone
Another repeat soon to be happening. The phone will come out and there will be a battle video comparing both phones's features, apps stores, internet speed, software function, customer simplicity, customization, and so on. I remember back when the first iPhone "Killer" was the Sprint Instinct, didn't take long till people realized how poorly it was really made and became the Sprint Extinct. Then came the others like the first ever touchscreen Blackberry, the Storm, once again shot down, next the Palm Pre, another let down. And so on, not going to lie, the Android Phone have lots of ideas but for me, I don't need to multitask so much on a phone, I actually have patients enough to open a app to see something quick and close it to open another one be notified about something else. The iPhone has it's quick responding software to satisfy my needs. I just see another let down coming from this commercial. If ONLY apple can actually say yes to have the Jailbreak customization allowed on the iPhone with some rules at least, all these competition phone manufacturers would be really fucked. People should make comparison reviews with these Android Phones against a JailBroken iPhone and we'll see what people like best...
@Dman Valid point. One thing though when talking about the non iPhone ads...at least the Mac vs PC (OSX vs Vista) ads are amusing and seem less like a political smear campaign (also more accurate).
Quit making excuses. iPhone is lacking in these areas. Instead, we ought to be happy there is serious competition coming along.
I think of the iPhone platform as an elite unit and Android as a huge army. It will be a long war with lots of battles. The first is Verizon's Droid and behind it are a slew of others.
@Joe mcg
I don't think anyone is saying the iPhone is flawless. This is just a retarded campaign. How does android even compete with iPhone? 2 completely different business models really. There's a place for both. If anything android competes with winmo. Verizons approach here is useless
You tell them Rene!
iDon't want a hardware keyboard.
This ad campaign doesn't look good for Verizon users hoping to be able to get the iPhone anytime soon.
sounds like an iFAIL for VZW
You should give them at least a half point on the simultaneous apps, if not a full point. Yes, my iPhone can run an Apple-produced app in the background. Since Apple is quick to tout 85,000 apps in the store, that means 0.00007 of all apps can run in the background. Even less, if you want to consider that primary uses of those apps (e.g. quick reply on SMS) cannot run while keeping another app open, which drastically restricts their utility.
It is hardly Verizon's place to draw the distinction or give a competitor a pat on the back for a feature Apple will not allow to developers, and which remains impossible for 99.993% of all applications on the platform.
Let's not waste our time on this anymore. Soon the HTC HD2 will be here and we'll all feel like fools for ever having the iPhone.
No doubt the HD2 is GREAT hardware, but its still WM 6.5 and rumor is itll be on Tmo only meaning it wont matter to 90% of the country.
i dont normally come out against this blog, but this is such a typical fanboy post. its almost as if this forum is being used as a mouth piece for apple, inc.
The fact that any of you think any of these phones are serious competition is hilarious, instinct, storm, pre, and the rest were all supposed to be iphone killers and all they did was show people that they are lame attempts. people continue to go iphone and the trend will not stop
Though I can care less about the ads (not in US anyway) I don't think they will have any impact on consumers' mindset. There is a case to be made for "weakness" with almost anything. So what? And why virtual keyboard or no 3rd party apps multitasking is a weakness? Moreover, there is case to be made that Apple designed iPhone the way it is specifically to overcome the weaknesses of the traditional approach (hardware keyboard and "unlimited" multitasking). If you think multitasking doesn't have it's weaknesses, given memory and battery life constrains, think again. It's quite possible that the next, more powerful version of iPhone hardware, will have "better" multitasking capabilities. Best Overall User Experience is what driving Apple's design - not what the current version iCan't.
Funny - I did an impromptu survey of non-geeks and most didn't realize it was the iPhone bring targeted. Is that bad for Verizon or were they targeting geeks?
verizon is just trying to create some hype & sell a product. truth be told, everyone of u guys, myself included, did your own OWN reasearch compairing all the available smart phones. i didn't rely on verizon, or sprint, or at&t's research. does verizon actually think a consumer s going to make a large
$ to stay w at&t & pick up a 3gs. my own research told me the iphone was was the best phone on the market.
i don't mind verizon's commercials. but at least apple's are funny.
While I agree that the iPhone is the best phone on the market right now, I also think the VZW criticisms are valid.
Some people don't want a hardware keyboard, but some do, myself included. I could be very productive with a BT tethered keyboard like what I used to have on my old Palm devices.
Background apps would be a welcome addition to the Apple OS. (Sorry folks. We're talking third party apps, and I think anyone with any sense knows that.)
And customization in the launcher? I'd love this as well.
Unfortunately, Apple has locked us into their way, at least for the time being. Again, I love my iPhone. But it would be nice if I could get some enhanced functionality that didn't require a jailbroken phone.
the ad is stupid. Verizon is just mad because they dont have the best phone out there! haha...losers. All this is doing is giving more attention to the iphone because everyone knows it starts with the letter "I" and its not like all the tweens are gonna give up their idevices for something thats called "droid"
@bstring "I think of the iPhone platform as an elite unit and Android as a huge army. It will be a long war with lots of battles. The first is Verizon’s Droid and behind it are a slew of others." Uh, Tmo HTC G1? Sprint Hero? Sprint Samsung android phone? Not the first.
I love Mac, but I'm a bigger fan of Android. I agree that iPhone has flipped the market on it's head and set a new bar for what we expect from phones. Now it's time to push that bar even higher and I think Android is the OS to do that. But seriously, Verizon? You were supposed to be the next carrier with the iPhone, you blew it the first time, and now you're blowing it the second time. I'll be happy when iPhone comes to Sprint now instead of Verizon
WOW WOW. that was the most "fan-boyist" post I ever read on this site. I own an iPhone and love it, I will own this phone longer than any other phone I've ever had, even if AT&t does provide 3G in my home and working area; however, my wife own the omnia with Verizon in my name, and i've been telling her this will be her next phone for Verizon. She hate AT&t crappy data and voice network and wants a physical keyboard again, this is by far the phone to get with Verizon (win 6.5 is weak, will wait to see win 7). And for those mentioning blackberry storm 2, you sound threaten for some reason, blackberry and Verizon are not insync with each on this phone and it's only to appeal to blackberry fanboys.
Its funny cause i've seen phones that do "3 megapixel" and they are 10 times WORSE then iphone. verizon doesnt got anything on this "idevice" hahahahahahaha
My mistake I meant to state AT&T DOES NOT provide 3G in my working and home area (relying on WiFi for my data). They tell by end of year for 3G, but told me end of summer in June when I bought the 3GS.
Oh lol - it's all true. It don't. Get over it.
The lack of multitasking is a smart decision by Apple for one reason.... The majority of smartphone users do not know how to use their device. They look at the device to simplify their life and end up not taking care of their device.
One of the most common issues a Blackberry and WinMo device have is the problem of leaving apps open which slows down the phone immensely. Making the device incapable of multitasking ensures people will have less issues of their device choking due to user error.
And before anyone starts to quip about how they shouldn't be penalized due to the chance of User error... The bulk of people do not take care of their devices... You think that 30something Mom with an iPhone 3GS whom needs someone to setup her email would understand that her device doesn't work properly due to her not closing her apps?
The statement that they didn't support multitasking due to battery life is a nice way to say "the bulk of our users like any other cellphone and smartphone users are idiots. If we give them multitasking so many morons will flood our store due to user errors that we might aswell just not give it to them. Do we really want a bad rep like WinMo devices because the average user will not learn their device?".
I had a windows mobile phone in which apps could run in the background but all it would do is slow my phone down and I couldn't do anything except go in and stop the programs. iPhone is slow sometimes too if you have a 3G running 3.x OS and I am frustrated with that but none of my friends with 3GS' complain. I'll upgrade probably in the next Gen to a new iPhone.
once again
http://www.droiddoes.com/
and? What will be funny is when Google decides to try and force and upgrade and do to droid what they did to the G1...
great ad ! what it is saying doesn't make sense, but style is awesome..
Gotta agree with the first poster. What an utterly lame post. Was it supposed to be funny or ironic? It wasn't. It just came off as pathetic, petulant fanboy whining. I mean, c'mon, the iPhone is a terrific phone, but it simply doesn't do everything under the sun, so it's to be expected that competitors will market directly to the things it doesn't do. In the end, though, reality-defying fanboy posts like this one do more to damage to iPhone and Apple reputation than the ad itself; spoiled brat posts like this are why Apple has an inaccurate image of being a company that caters to a bunch of elitist prigs. You do more to tarnish the iPhone's image than Verizon ever could.
I loved my iphone but could not stand AT&T. My Storm is ok but my service now is wonderfull. What good is it to have the best phone with the worst service. The reason why android is going to do well is the fact that they are not limiting it to one network. Apple and the iphone would be so much further if they would put the phone on all networks. I am going to get this phone. If the iphone hits Verizon then I will buy a new one. Plain and simple I will stay with the best phone service. All the cool apps in the world dont mean a thing if you cant get a call. It is a phone......
I guess I should have read the name of the blog. Of course it is a "fan boy" review. Do your research people and learn about this phone and the many android phones on the way and make up your own mind. Dont be mindless zombies chanting "iphone, iphone, iphone"......
Excuses... This ad campaign strikes at the iPhone's weaknesses, and Apple better wake up.
I think apple don't like verizon that much nomore. Apple stay with apple!!!!!
Oh Stay With AT&T 4ever
Ok one more post while researching this site I came across a post titled "Dear Apple: If You’re Releasing a New Wireless Keyboard, Please Make it Work With iPhone". It seems to be written by the same person who says that the iphone has a keyboard. So if the keyboard for the iphone is so good why would you make this post?
Apple is using the trickle effect. Every new iPhone they realese will add a little something new to make people go buy a new iPhone every year. It's a simple concept that apple has perfect with the Iphone, eventually we will all have a Iphone with 64gigs, 7 megapixel camera, external storage, multitasking, customization, and HD recording. It's only a matter of time
One more thing, this is a blow to verizon if they wanted to get the Iphone because now apple will probably extend their exclusive contract with AT&T until 2012 or 2013, or they might have the Iphone on T mobile rather sprint or verizon.
Even if this android phone is better compared to the iPhone 3GS they will need to compete with apple on it's one year cycles of new IPhones Which I think is the main reason why no phone has caught up to apple so far.
I'm switching now, I'm sending in my $175 early termination fee and changing to Verizon. (Yeah right) I don't think anything like this will happen. The only way I will switch to Verizon, is if they get the iPhone..... I guess all the rumors of that happening are pretty much confirmed not true, because they wouldn't be talking it down so much if they were getting it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
This add will not break the deal for apple and verizon. What will always kill the deal is the fact that Apple will not realese any control of the phone. As you can see verizon has decided that total control will keep them in the dark. They are growing up. I dont think apple has learned the same lesson yet. All AT&T does with the iphone is let it use its network and they sell them. The rest is controled by Apple. That is why they will never make a deal.
"iDon’t have a real keyboard: Er, it does."
Honestly, this is a matter of opinion. I don't think the iPhone keyboard is a "real" keyboard either. When I think "real" I think physical and touchy-feely. My opinion, others will (and have) disagreed.
Overall, I really get the impression this commercial has touched a nerve... just like when Apple started running the "Mac/PC" ads. Pot... kettle... black. Apple has a popular and well-publicized device; it's only natural that people are going to go after it's flaws to flog their own products.
Flame-retardant underwear on.
Cute commercial. Where's the phone?
And by the way. The name of this blog is "The iPhone Blog" so it's an obvious fanboy site. I don't understand why people have such adverse reactions to post like this when they come to this blog. It's like a Star Wars fan site praising ALL of the films even though they all have obvious short comings.
If you don't wanna hear the fanboy banter, don't read the fuckin blog. You don't see me going to Sean Hannity's website everyday...or ever.
The point about whether or not the iPhone has a real keyboard is a friggin joke. There has been plenty of debate on this site and others about whether or not a hardware keyboard would be appealing. Some say yes, others no. However, it cannot be denied a significant amount of people would like a hardware keyboard. The whole "technically it does" statement is complete garbage and makes me question everything I've read on this site. I don't know if Rene considers himself a journalist, but I think he should stick to copy and pasting articles from Engadget from 2 days ago and stop editorializing. It's embarrassing.
Wow, you sound like an angry fanboy? Really getting that upset at an Ad? I thought you weren't so bias but indeed you are, all of these thing are true... listening to music while doing something else isn't multitasking.
Verizon can exaggerate all it wants. What's Apple do? Respond? Ignore? There's pros and cons to each.
There's a map for that is really attacking AT&T. Explaining GSM and its benefits might be defense enough for them. Verizon is number one so no shame in responding.
The V's Droid though isn't number one in anything. It's nothing right now. It's really the Android platform as a whole that is the competition. Responding only helps promote it since hardly any of the mainstream knows what Android is. Best thing Apple can do is address some of the points raised in 4.0 and next hardware release.
It won't be kb or battery points. Many prefer a virtual kb. As for battery, I firmly believe that's a more on paper thing. In reality, few take backup batteries with them even with devices that can remove them. I've never carried a spare battery with any old palms. Instead, i'd rather have the benefits of a nonremovable battery which is a more solid phone, no creaking, tighter designs, etc.
And so that leaves multitasking..something you know Apple is looking at. A flash for nightshots? (i don't care). And widgets..something i really don't want but adds clutter for the mainstreamer. Oh and openness. Which isn't really important for the mainstreamer.
It's easy to throw these things in. Android does. But they ignore the main principle in keeping it simple. Apple has to be mindful of expanding the OS and still keeping it 6 yr old friendly.
Rene, strange I have never seen a post from you without the fanboy slant.
The keyboard may be fine on the iPhone. I love it and have no problems typing just as fast as a hard keyboard. The problem is you can't grab the phone and type fast on your first try. People go into the store and try typing on an iPhone and fail, then they type on a hard keyboard and do fine. The hard keyboard is a very good selling point. Also think about girls with nails. My wife finally ended up cutting her thumb nails shorter so she could type.
1) This is not a fanboy post. This whole blog is a targeted blog about one company's phone. If you want to see a fanboy post, look at Gizmodo's post about the ad campaign. They haven't even updated it yet.
2) Verizon is not a person and is not "angry" or "threatened" by the iPhone. It is a company that puts out many ads, made by advertising firms. Verizon isn't concerned about self-consistency (e.g., "What about the Storm 2?"). If Verizon got the iPhone tomorrow, they would put out a new ad about the iPhone.
3) As we already know, the U.S. telcos don't want to be forced into becoming "dumb pipes," providers of network access without having any control over what people do on the network. And yet, that is what's happening. The iPhone didn't start that trend, but it has played a big part. As it was discussed earlier, Verizon has one of the worst track records in crippling phones. So if they are advertising "open app development" as a feature, then things may really be changing for the U.S. market.
4) AT&T's competitors are in a position where they have to respond not to AT&T's ads, but to Apple's iPhone ads. Apple has spent a HUGE amount of money advertising the iPhone, which means AT&T hasn't had to spend as much money on advertising. Even if AT&T is seen as a big baddie, Apple is an enormously high profile company; Steve Jobs is reportedly the most admired CEO among U.S. high school students (it used to be Bill Gates). A competitor can't run a successful ad campaign starting from the premise, "Wow, the iPhone is GREAT! But, only AT&T has it. But hey, we have cool phones too!"
5) What is interesting is that both T-mobile and Verizon have ads for Android now. And one selling point of Android is Google service integration. Google is a major player in this arena that no one is talking about.
All in all, I think this is another in a string of great developments in the U.S. telco market. Reports on T-mobile's Project Black run in a similar vein. I'm skeptical of all these companies, but in general, they are moving in the direction of supporting data-heavy smartphones with 3rd party software development. They are gradually being forced to compete on the basis of data services and "net neutrality."
Can Verizon and T-Mobile compete with AT%T on this basis? IMO, absolutely. It's pretty clear that AT&T got into something without realizing it in time, and that they weren't prepared for the results. AT&T's greatest point of weakness is whether or not it can keep up with cellular smartphone data demand. Way back when AT&T saw Android, their response was to ask if they could have their own app store on Android, and that they would be studying the situation for the future. That showed a real lack of understanding about what's going on with smartphones.
The fact is, I don't think AT&T can afford to add another popular, data-heavy smartphone platform on its network. They are indicating tiered data plans in the future, just as T-Mobile is following Sprint in offering all-you-can-eat plans. And while AT&T is trying to control and reduce data usage by consumers through its pay-as-you-go plan, Verizon and T-mobile are moving towards no-contract cellular and data plans.
AT&T recently revealed that the average iPhone / smartphone user uses more data than a non-smartphone user by one order of magnitude (about 400MB/month on average; by comparison, I have used as much as 3.2 GB of data in one month). This was their justification for the possibility of tiered (i.e., closely monitored) data usage plans. A recent Ars Technica article revealed that notebook cellular data usage is much more manageable than smartphone cellular data usage, because smartphones generate more overall network activity than notebooks. That's why AT&T is shifting away from smartphones and towards cellular modems. But they are way behind in that game.
The list could go on for a while. AT&T is in a relative state of lockdown because of the iPhone, their misunderstanding of the trend in cellular data usage, and the way they handled their 3G rollout. U.S. cellular customers should be pleased about how things are going.
One other thought, just in case 10 paragraphs of other input wasn't sufficient.
So, let's say that CNN develops an iPhone app that makes them a little money for already available content. And then, suppose that it is actually well-reviewed and becomes the #1 selling app in the app store. And then imagine that Anderson Cooper starts talking about the CNN iPhone app on primetime. Furthermore, suppose that CNN, the most watched news network in the U.S. and in the world, starts plugging their iPhone app every 10 minutes, bragging about the facts that their app is well-reviewed and the #1 selling app in the app store.
This CNN iPhone app plug is simultaneously a plug for CNN, the iPhone, and, in the U.S., for AT&T. That's what's going on here. Verizon has so far avoided getting involved in a smartphone platform it doesn't fully control, but now it has to get behind one.
You can chalk it all up to the iPhone, but it's much more complicated than that. It has more to do with the U.S. 3G market, and how the iPhone 3G became the first big consumer smartphone during the U.S.'s first major 3G network rollout. Apple has set a good precedent with the iPhone 3G, iPhone OS 2.0+, and the app store. We'll see how well Google can do to keep that going using a different model and a different philosophy.
Obviously know one here has an inkling of an idea how GOOD marketing works. Mac vs PC commercials work because Apple is targeting a product that, in comparison is an inferior product. The advantage Apple has is in the fact that while Windows is a dominant platform, it still doesn't out perform Mac OSX.
Verizon (and probably all others) will most likely fail simply because they will not be able to sustain the level of advertisment for the Droid phone without backing off ads for the other phones they promote. How will they bad mouth a phone for not doing what almost all of the other phones they promote don't do and be able to sustain without pissing of the other phone manufacturers.
I think this is a bad move for Verizon & a huge plus for Apple!
I could show this commercial to a hundred people on the street, and less than five would know it was about phones.
Here is just my opinion as this seems to be an "opinion" blog. And in my opinion, most opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one and they all stink. That being said, this is merely an ad; nothing more and nothing less. Verizon is doing their job. They are marketing upcoming product(s) through their marketing or an outside firm. Good for them as they are supposed to market. There are so many iPhone fans here that are SO freaking narrow minded. There are so many more phones and more choices than your beloved iPhone. The problem that I see it is that AT&T is really banking on the success of one and only one phone based on all of your feelings out there. What would happen to AT&T if they lose their exclusivity on your beloved device? RUT ROH for you!!! Here is another problem; AT&T's service is horrible. Here in the Phoenix metro area, they are the worst!! Everyone I know who has them, does not say nice things about them. They can all recite to me their multitude of dropped call zones. That is not good. I personally think that the iPhone is quite an excellent device, but I will not have it as long as it is on the AT&T network.
I left Sprint 2 years ago for a bad service coverage issue. I went to Verizon and couldn't be happier. Let's not lose sight of the fact that these are supposed to be cell phones first and peripheral devices second. If you can't make and maintain constant contact on your phone calls, what the hell do you have anyway?
So my hats off to Verizon for doing their job and pre-marketing their new upcoming product. I will be waiting to see what it is. Oh, and I will be on my cell phone with uninterrupted, non-call dropping VZW service too.
Out!!
I don't have much to say... but you can have the greatest phone, but nothing compares to having a HORRIBLE network. LOL. at&t is a nightmare. I'll pass on that... SPRINT OR VERIZON IS THE WAY TO GO.
Now that many people have said that the AT&T network sucks people will start saying that it is great where they are. That is true networks are different depending on where you are. That is why the android os will do so much better since it will be available on all the major cell companies. This just makes better sense then limiting yourself to one cell company. If apple is smart they will get the iphone on all the major cell networks once their contract ends. Then I may think about going back to the iphone. Of course by then I may be a android fan...
I think agree with Renee on this. Verizon is scared to even be lowering themselves to targeting the iPhone. They are are a carrier and they are singling out one manufacturer. Even the "there's a map for that" ads, which are kind of directed at AT&T are actually really aimed at apple. It's just weird. Again, they are a phone carrier going after a phone manufacturer. This is like T-Mobile running ads saying "ooooh I'm going to get you pantech!" This really proves we will never see a CDMA iPhone. I just don't see Apple taking kindly to people opening mocking their ads.
The main problem with these ads are that your average consumer who doesn't read this site or engadget regularly are not even going to know what the majority of the things they pointed out that the iphone doesn't do are. Open development? I'll echo Rene here, really? There are many problems with that:
I'm not going to go through each of the points, but for the most part most users are not going to know what the feature is, or why they should care about it. It seems like they asked their engineers for a list of things that the iphone can't do that the droid does and this is what they came up with. The problem with engineers (and I am one) is that they know and care about a lot of things that the average person does not. That is the main reason why this ad campaign will fall flat on its face, the average consumer will not be able to relate to it.
Let Verizon do what they believe they need to do in order to attract business. It may work on some folks but not others who truly want an iPhone and will settle for nothing less. While Verizon is taking the first shot and being less than truthful it doesn't mean that Apple is not going to creatively pick apart their competition. If they want to play games they might want to consult Microsoft beforehand. They can tell Verizon a great deal about how Apple went after them relentlessly and picked apart their cash cow. I look forward to not only an answer from Apple but a bruising one at that.
@Snapper "Mac vs PC commercials work because Apple is targeting a product that, in comparison is an inferior product."
Opinions are not facts. You say it is inferior for one reason, the marketing has convinced you that it is. That's what verizon is doing here. I recall what I learned in business school, "of you have a great product and bad marketing you will fail. If you have great marketing and a bad product you will succeed" if you don't think that is true, ask a tv pitchman how many products they sell only for the customers to find out they don't even work.
1) Apple deserves a lot of credit for opening up many historically closed-by-carrier aspects of phones.
2) Apple is reluctant to take the next step and give up some of their own tight fisted control over the device.
3) Verizon perceives a market opportunity in that next step, has glommed onto Android, and created ads to target those potential customers.
Really? This is cause for all this outrage?
Granted, Verizon has a terrible track record for openness, but so did AT&T/Cingular 3 years ago. AT&T ceded that control to Apple because they needed a competitive edge against Verizon, who was kicking their butts. Now, the AT&T/iPhone SKU is doing so much damage to Verizon that they apparently embracing the next step of openness as their competitive edge.
This is a bad thing?
Personally, while I am skeptical of Verizon's openness follow-through, I hope Droid is as open as other flavors of Android, that it succeeds wildly, and that its success forces Apple to loosen their own reins further. Anything less than an open Droid will not gain any traction against the iPhone, and anything more will make Apple step up their own openness game.
Either way, Apple has a positive way to respond, and all this gnashing of teeth about an ad campaign is simply embarrassing.
AT&T is without a doubt the worste carrier. I finally left them for T-mobile out of pure neccessity after 3 years of putting up with dropped and missed calls. And I live in a 3G coverage area. I think these commercials are taking more jabs at AT&T. Ironically, T-mobile's edge network is on par with AT&T's 3G speeds. If only Apple would have partnered with a company other than AT&T from the beginning. We have a Mercedes Benz powered by Yugo.
Ok #1 all networks suck in some areas and some networks are good in some areas. So to say a network sucks cause you get bad coverage in your area doesn't mean the network sucks. I live in upstate NY. And had bad coverage with verizon. I have had AT&T for the past 5 years and have full 3g everywhere I go. And have not had a problem with the company. My gf has verizon and just switched to AT&T because of horrible coverage and dropped calls. Yes You read correctly she left verizon because of DROPPED CALLS AND BAD COVERAGE. Something you would read about someone doing the complete opposite. 2nd Some of us may have forgot that the worst carrier in the world(sprint) did the same tv ad with the samsung instinct. They are doing a WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? on the instinct. So I see nothing but FAIL here.
YEP FAILUE!!! For verizon!!!!! This new android phone will come out and Steve Jobs will look at this phone with DISGUST!!! and throw it across th room, he will watch it shattered like every other Iphone "killer" to date!!! Then he Will go back to creating a new IPhone that will blow away androids mind llke hurrican Katrina!!! LONG LIVE THE REIN OF APPLE!!!! May everyone hail the smartphone dynasty!!!! Lol now I'm just waiting for apple to take over the world!!!
Google and Verizon are partners
Apple and At&T are partners
Google Big Money Apple Cute Money
Android soon to be on three Carriers in the US iPhone OS on one Carrier in the US
YOU DO THE MATH
Its better that Apple doesn't respond to VzW's ad campaign. If they respond then VzW is getting free press but if Apple ignores and just keeps on trucking then VzW just looks like a nobody as Sprint did.
VzW's campaign just like Sprints only gives Apple more free press.
As long as apple makes profit and they have the best selling phone, they really don't care whether or not google makes more money or android OS becomes more dominate in 2012 according to Gartner or whatever his name is
Microsoft is richer then both companies and hasn't been able to kill or hurt Apple...
Also I wouldn't call a company that has been making 30billion a year .. cute money. Also how is Android OS being used on more phones better? For App developement that means the Apps must be made to run just as good on your worse phone as it does on your best.
That means that users that buy powerful android smartphones do not get the benefits of their hardware...
wow... This sounds really familiar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7nsBoqJ6s8
@Dan.f
And WHO is still making gaming consoles?
Mr. Nintendon't!
These slam ads NEVER work, look at Sprint with the Instinct (flop) and Pre (less then stellar sales) and VZW Storm (huge amount of problems, flop). Talk big shit with little results.
Im sorry but when i see slam ads (or even political campaigns) all that says to me is the thing or person doesnt have enough good to say about itself/themselves to convince people.
All this says is VZW is insecure about their crappy phone offerings as of lately and know theyre getting killed with the iphone, and now theyre desperate to get some attention to their phones.
These types of ads never make me want to buy that product, and Im sure VERY few people will drop their iphone for this Droid device. The iphone sells itseld, it doesnt need to go slamming other devices that are touted "iphone killers" and never have- such as the Instinct with the cheap shots at the iphone, Pre, and Storm.
"all that says to me is the thing or person doesnt have enough good to say about itself/themselves to convince people."
hey, I'm a Mac ! ... wait
AGAIN not a valid comparison. This is VZW attacking the iphone, a CARRIER attacking a SINGLE PHONE. This isnt Android going after iphone, its not a generic Android ad as its VZW Droid based.
DO you not see how much power the iphone must have if the #1 carrier as a whole must attack a single device?
notice how ALL the others who have tried the "slam" ads- Instinct, Pre, Storm- have NOT come close to matching up?
These types of ads DONT work, its been proven time and time again.
Name one ad youve ever seen witht he iphone going after another device? NEVER. They focus on the apps and what the phone can do instead of having to sink low enough to attack the other phone. And its STILL the top selling phone globally.
Umm..the iphone is the total sum of Apple's presence in the smartphone market. And is the flagship phone of AT&T. For many, it's the whole reason they're on AT&T.
It's the reference phone bloggers and reviewers use. It's the only smartphone that the mainstream knows well.
So, attacking the iphone is much more than going against a single device. Palm never got aggressive or even sniffed this kind of anti iphone marketing beyond itunes syncing. Sprint and the Instinct confined their marketing online.
It remains to be seen if this marketing will actually be any good or not. Me thinks the mainstream doesn't care about what they claim "i doesn't" do.
One thing they didn't say about the Droid or android or whatever:
iDon't have marketshare yet.
I totally agree with everyone on the basis that its Verizon, who has some of the most boring phones out there, going at the iPhone. Now as far as Android goes, you can not deny that they're coming up fast and is WAY more open and free than the Apple. Apple needs to lighten up and let the iPhone breathe a little bit. Its so closed and dry compared to any Android device. Oh, and i LOVED my iPhone.
I had a T-mobile G1 prior to getting an iPhone 3GS. As an avid iPhone lover and enthusiast, I'm still not ashamed to say that the Android operating system is one of the most feature packed, easy to use, functional OS's on the market, and it keeps getting better.
Apple better watch its back.
@klmsu19
Of course we see how much power that one device (the iPhone) has. So does Verizon, for that matter. That is why the comparison is completely valid. Though I am sure if you post the rules for what sorts of comparisons and competitions are allowed, the FTC will be happy to enforce your laws.
Let switch topic. From what I understand VerizonWireless was offer to carry the Apple iPhone prior to At&T. I assuming Verizon wanted more control over the device than Apple was willing to give. Its been years later and both company have yet to come to terms on a deal. Whats the hell is the hold up. I look at this deal as a win win situation for both companies. Imagine a iPhone on LTE next year.
@Joe McG
LISTEN UP. This ad campaign is GOOD for us all.
Stop being defensive and join the offensive!!! Why? As much as you like the iPhone, it is still far from perfect. Competition is what's going to push Apple (and others) to build even better phones. Imagine if Android, Palm, and RIMM all disappear tomorrow, what's the incentive for Apple to innovate?