According to the Wall Street Journal (via Apple Insider), Verizon thinks that technology may finally give them a chance for a second bite at this not-at-all proverbial Apple after all. At least CEO Ivan Seidenberg really, really thinks so.
Ah, Verizon. First you said, "no thanks!" when Apple offered you the original iPhone. Then you thought you'd just wait for Steve Jobs to disappear and take his iPhone with him. Despite a huge segment of your users still clamoring for the iPhone, you gave them the BlackBerry Storm instead. When that fizzled, you looked to Nokia for an "iPhone Killah", but ultimately asked your customers if they would have stayed for the iPhone you first rejected.
Now you see a chance for redemption in the next generation 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network technology that GSM carriers like AT&T and CDMA carriers like Verizon are both racing towards.
Will Apple end exclusivity with AT&T to grow into other user bases? Will Verizon get its second chance? Hey, if all else fails, at least domestic unlockers may appreciate an option other than T-Mobile for future generation US iPhones, right?
Reader comments
Verizon Sniffing Around iPhone 4G?
Hey..!, great.Sorry if this is considered venturing off topic, but what do you think about the verizion iphone? I think it will decrease from the "percived value" of the iPhone.When the iPhone first came out everyone and their granny(and oddly enough I do see OLD people with iPhones) went crazy because of the "exclustivity" of having one.Im working on my degree in Economics and this decision is very unlike of them.I've admired Apple from a financial and buisness perspective, but I think they are going down the wrong path.In the long run In my opinion it could hurt Apple. If the iPhone loses its percived value it will basically be considered like the girl who will date anybody(lol).Sorry if I went offtopic.
first off apple sucks everyone know this.Macs are by far the worse computers ever made they are limited in everyway(google mac software)~apple pwned~. Further more microsoft blew them out of the water in the 80's and still do today with there version of the ipad (omg it has flash).Verizon is the best company as far as coverage hands down yes they lock features on there phone but i have always just reunlocked them ~pwned~. now you want to see the best os in the world try linuxblws both windows and that other company out of the water and its free as is 99% of the software for it
Al Says:
April 17th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Macs aren’t just better at multimedia. They are better at everything.
Better for multimedia? How is bluray working on your Mac? Oh? You say bluray is not supported on Mac? That sucks.. I also do some serious gaming on my Windows machine. Oh really? In order to game on my Mac, I have to use WINE to emulate Windows? I thought Macs did everything and did it better?
Tommy, are you kidding? I switched from the Palm Treo to the iPhone which is infinitely better. The Palm Pre is barely as step forward from the Treo, and this is from a person who has been using Palm OS products for over 10 years.
Hopefully AT&T gets the Palm Pre and all of this can be over because the Pre is the best phone on the market. The iPhone is good and all but it lacks some of what the Pre offers. Pound for pound the Pre is better unless you plan on using the iPhone for games and such things that you would only find on the AppStore.
Look my favorite company is at&t then sprint then version and i think at&t should finish the iphone 4g because their the ones that got the idea so version should just keep my their blackberrys and at&t continue the iphone progress
LTE or 4G is a long way away. More than 60 to 70 percent of phones still run on 2G & 2.5G Networks. 3G just started to pick up and gain momentum in the US like 2 to 3 years ago. Sprint shows commercials that they're the first to bring you a 4G network. Well, its a bit misleading. All they're doing is testing and building the network. That takes years and Billions of Dollars. Plus 3G Voice & Data fees have yet to mature (decline in price) which is another indicator that 4G is not close to happening. In addition, think about what you would pay for 4G Data and Voice (Yea, I'll pass on that). Furthermore, I don't believe that the iPhone will stay exclusive to AT&T forever. (duh) But with that being said, if/when it does go to Verizon, it'll be a device that will support GSM and CDMA networks. Think about it, why would Apple trade one set of subscribers for another? They won't exclusively move it to Verizon because they're looking to expand the iPhone customer base in America and Globally. I see the iPhone turning into what the Blackberry Curve is, and thats a Device that is available on all the networks in the US. In the end, it'll all come down to network quality, and the functionality that Apple will build into the iPhone OS. and updated hardware they'll use to showcase these features/technologies.
I would give anything for Verizon to have the iphone. I am huge apple fan, and I paid for both services for two years. I had the iphone for all of the wonders if offers, and then paid for an unlimited minutes plan with verizon so I could actually use the phone. I live in Orange County California, which is highly populated, and yet I still can't use AT&T! What the hell is that, if you can't use a phone service in a highly populated area, what the hell happens in a rural area.... nothing, I've tested it!
I finally had to pick one service and not pay for both, I sadly said good bye to the iphone because I needed a phone carrier that actually let you make phone calls!!
Looks like every one wants to beat Apples greatness but they later regret it because just when they think they cought up w/ Apple or even beat them Apple comes out w/ thing at least 3 years in advance from what people thought wasn't possible. well im a happy apple customer and i cant wait foe next years iphone 4g. and I'm typing this from my 09 iMac OSX.
Love how this post is nothing but questions, No actual answers... What was the point in this page again?
There are people talking about only purchasing an iphone or ipod and not an apple computer. Evidently you have not had one enough to use one. I once just had a computer and didn’t like the phone because I didn’t know much about it. If you did know more about the computers, your love for it would grow just as it did for the iphone. In fact, this is how they will bring more people to learn about their computers.
well everyone is talking about the iphone going to CDMA. its not.. Verizon id affliated with Vodafone. the Storm 9500 is a gsm phone on verizon 3G theyre called world phones. support 2 numbers one being gsm and one being CDMA or TDMA. the next gen. of the iphone will must be a world phone. why wouldnt a company as large as apple contract more phones to more sources? someone comment said that macs were better at all things. i have news for you dude. the same company contracts all softwares to windows mac and linux. its called rem star UIQ they also make symbian and windows mobile. and mac pcs are contracted through toshiba and HP. even the phones are through toshiba and samsung. so its all the same just the interface, why spend twice as much for a mac then? waste of money...
It will be a while before VZW gets the Iphone. Not because they can't make the Iphone work on Verizon for GOD sakes people are smart enough to fly to the moon. Your telling me that it cant be done it can. It cant be done because what will happen when verizon gets the iphone AT&T will lose alot of customers because people would switch back. I personally have the Blackberry storm and I hate it with a passion. VZW knows it sucks they just are all in cahoots with each other and dont want to put the other outta business. If VZW gets the iphone both companies will lose money in the long run because it will be a battle to GOD forbid lower these horrible outrageously high prices. It will be a back and forth battle to see who will get the lowest to retain customers. Sorry to VZW and ATT apple has screwed you both:)
First off, I work for Verizon and I own an iPhone. I have this for personal use and have a cheap Verizon phone for work. Facts and figures show that Verizon has better coverage. Verizon has over 90% of the US population covered with 3G. AT&T has 60%. If u live in a decent size city then both are just as good. If u live off the beaten path (or get stuck in an elevator) then u better hope Verizon gets the iPhone.
I HOPE VERIZON WILL HAVE IPHONE 3G OR 4G END OF 2010!!
Look! Until Verizon can swallow their greed and unlock their phones to 3rd party services Apple is NOT gonna waste the cost of manufacturing the iphone to a provider who won't utilize the device's full functionality, It's like shoving an eagle in a small birdcage... it's just wrong!
Over the years Verizon has bought off their customers (most of them being youth between ages of 17-27) with the most "coolest and sleekest" phones of any provider with mediocre service (not poor at all but mediocre at best) and now they're trying to put another feather in their cap called the "iPhone 4G". AT&T is faaar from a saint by comparison but they never controlled their phones with a dictating hand to the extent that Verizon has. I switched from Verizon to AT&T a while back not for an iPhone and I have yet to have any 'major' issues with their service or phones; and now that I have an iPhone it makes their service that much better.
i hope the iphone doesnt go to verizon, i hate verizon they are expenisive and no where near apple standards, they make it so noone can unlock the phones they put out, like some kinda exclusive cult type of thing , verizon and apple have to different types of branding strategies , they just dont mesh
I am a 20 year Verizon customer and somewhat pleased with their service, but not when they lock out functions on my phone just to get more revenue into their pockets.
My HTC 6800 has been locked out from being able to use Google Maps. When I talked to Verizon, they said the decision to lock out third party GPS software was made by Verizon management and marketing, and nothing can be done to enable the GPS receiver to enable Google Maps, but must use their VZ Navigator instead, at around $9.95 a month.
I live approximately 2 tenths of a mile from the closest pizza restaurant. On one of my phones with another carrier with Google Maps loaded, I can type in "pizza"and it nails the location right on target and with a satellite view. I type in "pizza" using my Verizon phone with their VZ Navigator, and it shows the nearest pizza restaurant is over 1 mile away on a very generic graphical street map and with no satellite view capability.
After 20 years of being a Verizon customer, I will be buying out my contract within the next month or so, and buying two new 4G iphones. Cell phone carriers are competitive amongst themselves, but I feel like Verizon has done me an injustice and to anyone else whom has had their phone "neutered" by their carrier.
Would you buy a new car only to find out that the air conditioner didn't work, and the dealer would then tell you that you must pay them a monthly fee for their a/c unit? Then their solution was that you must leave your windows down to stay cool? Enough is enough! Thank you all, for listening to my sincere concerns.
why??????????????????????
You know what sucks, I have the first iPhone when the 4 g comes out, I will get 3g when 5g comes out I will get 4g. Consumerism is so gay. Leave me wanting more! ThAnks apple.
Jesse - ???????WTF??????....English please.
Droves of people leaving Verizon for an iphone...?
On what planet? Go check your figures folks. Look at Q1-Q4 results since the launch of the fabled iphone. Verizon has maintained the LOWEST CHURN (Churn is defined as the loss of customers to a competitor) rating in the industry. Thats right... even lower than the AT&T post iphone.
They also add more net customers (mergers excluded) and operate on more revenue (free cash on hand).
If you really want to blow your mind. Look at the increase in sales of blackberrys during the iphones launch. (pre AND post storm)
I suppose you can be ignorant if you choose. Just be willing to blink when the light of truth starts to shine.
Have any of u ever jailbroken an iPhone/iPod?
It's pretty crazy!!!
you can contact me attreo562@yahoo.com
I think Verizon Cant Sales Iphone 4G
because AT&T would not let them
it will start a battle of does two companies.
even,
It Should be T-Mobile from start
everybody the got Iphones Unlocked them to get with T-Mobile.
witch is better than AT&T and more "CHEAPER"
But I hope Apple will Throught out AT&T and start with Verizon.
if anybody knows how to unlocked iphone 3G for carries the are not with SIM?
i seen the people maked them worked with Sprint, Verizon,
is it true
I guess it ended up a godd thing for Apple that VZW said no. They now sold the iPhone all over the world. With CDMA they would have been limited or forced to do a different verision. Now, with dual mode chipsets available all over why will Apple maintain exclusivity with AT&T? The question is will users just move to VZW (which means thy'll buy a new iPhone) or will they gain new net users? Tricky ...
I left T-Mobile for the iphone...my plan is cheaper, the phone rocks and I have 3g. I can keep track of everything from the palm of my hand, my email for work and school, my bank accounts..everything....with tmobile, I had google maps...and edge....yay. Oh, and I left verizon for T-mobile due to the generic phones verizon offers. The software on verizon phones is all the same, unless you have windows mobile or RIM products. I am super pleased with the Iphone and ATT, I will be a returning customer when the knew Iphone kits the streets on whatever network
Steve said: I hope Apple tells Verizon to get lost - just as I wish they would tell Windows switchers over 40 years-old to get lost. They all thought Apple was a joke? Fine! Rot in H€ll!
Revenge should always be more important than money.
---End Quote---
HAHAHAHAHAHA
+1
Oh look, an update for windows has caused my video card to stop working and I can't get past the login black screen of death. Oh well, I guess I'll just use one of my Macs.
Verizon Wireless will never have the iPhone unless Vodafone gets it. Why? The issue of control. Vcast Music with Rhapsody, Vzappzone, VzNav, and Visual Voice mail are worthless on the iPhone. You can use Vzappzone on the Storm (Vzappzone blows noone uses it), Vznav will be competing with 3rd party Turn by Turn with the advent of 3.0, and who needs Vcast Music with Rhapsody when you have iTunes?
Verizon Wireless will want all of this on the iPhone and do not think they will budge on this issue. They don't want the iPhone because they will not make profit on the device outside of the voice and data plan. Verizon prides itself as the only carrier that makes the most profit per handset. This is because Verizon forces its not cell savvy customers to go through them from ringtones to gps....
Now look at the iPhone. AT&T makes money only on voice and data while Apple makes money on Ringtones and Apps. So... Apple makes money on the sale and use of their device vs most manufacturers whom only make money on the sale of their device (I forget if Rim makes money on the Data plan.).
Why sell 10million devices when you can sell 8 million devices and then reap in additional profit from the App store and iTunes sales?
If Apples has a LTE version of the iPhone ( iPhone LTE ? ) They will sell many more iPhones. Come 2010/2011 , the only person that will loose out is AT&T. They won't be getting any new customers and the phone won't be the reason for getting AT&T service.
It would be a great move for Apple to have the iPhone on all of the major US carriers going forwards with LTE ( AT&T , Verizon, Sprint ).
The extra money spent on a Mac far outweighs the hard drive reformat and Windows reinstallation every six months needed to keep a PC fast. In the three years since I bought my intel Macbook, zero problems, it's never even needed the genius bar. For a student or anyone who relies on a computer on a daily basis there is no comparisson. I'll never buy another PC.
Seems a bit doubtful that Apple would be willing to go to a CDMA carrier in the US as they'd still have to make a GSM version for the rest of the world.
If macs are better at everything try to customize the hardware after you buy it. It cost almost as much as buying a new one. You can't do it at home. Plus no one hardly sells parts. As the commercials say "I'm a PC". But I love my iPhone it is an amazing price of hardware. Let's keep it AT&T.
Macs aren't just better at multimedia. They are better at everything.
@naimitsu:
I love how younger commenters don’t find out all of the history before blasting a blogger for publishing the truth.
EVERYONE has ALWAYS felt they were better than our freakish, out-of-touch, hippy Apple company. Period. End of story.
Apple should tell verizon 2 go to H€LL they thought Steve iPhone's would not sell out or nobody will buy them but newsflash they r the 1# one phone's in the world. And Yes I work for the AT&T company office 133# California well my uncle does..shhhhh and where talking about being number 1#. By the summer are coverage maps would be covered in orange and blue and dead zone's 100% coverage.
Love this Blog. No one forced you to walk into a Apple or ATT store to buy a iPhone, you knew exactly what you were buying both the phone and the service. Now you want to cry like babies. If you left a perfertly good provider with great coverage and good customer service for a iPhone, who is the fool.
I WOULD LOVE TO GET AN iPHONE ON VERIZON!!! LETS MAKE THIS HAPPEN NOW!!!
If, after the iPhone's success with AT&T, Apple can get extract same control terms from Verizon that they got from AT&T, great -- I am all for it. Verizon's network is better than AT&T's in my area, and besides, if carriers had to go head-to-head on subscriptions for the same iPhone, the competition could only spur them all to improve their networks that much faster.
If, however, a VZW iPhone would be the first step towards carrier-specific iPhone revisions like most other handsets, ewwwwww. I may not always like Apple's control freak nature, but I trust them a heck of a lot more than I trust Verizon, or AT&T, or any other carrier, for that matter.
but even after demanding complete control at&t said yes and have a phone that is dominant in the US. Verizon absolutely DID think they were to good by saying "we are not gonna give you total control, we dont need you" and now they have customers switching to at&t and apple and are asking if they would have stayed for an iphone. I switched from Verizon to at&t for the iPhone and am very happy with it.
I love how bloggers don't have to find out all of the facts before blasting a company for a decision they made. Yes, Verizon did tell Apple to get got lost, but it's not because Verizon thinks they're better than Apple. In fact, it was the other way around. What other phone manufacturer would have the audacity to demand complete control over distribution? THAT is why Verizon told them no.
and as for Apple's Macs and such... if you're not doing multimedia, there's really no point in getting a Mac. They're way overprices for the casual web surfer, word processor type of user.
@cameron, that is Apple's main problem. People love their iPhones and iPods. All my friends have at least an iPod, but the vast majority still use Windows. I am the same way, love my iPhone/iPod but I have no problems with Windows and don't forsee getting any other Apple products.
Apple's only hope would be to name me the winner of their 1 billion app contest. I wouldn't turn down a free one.
I was an avid Verizon fan. I still love them and I always will. I always had good customer service (some claim it's horrid) and I had good service.
If anything before switching to AT&T for the iPhone, I had MANY doubts about the coverage on AT&T. I took the risk and went with it, so far I am a happy camper. I've had 2 dropped calls in 2 months, and 3G is available for me pretty much anywhere I go. (I'm in burbs of Chicago).
To me, 4G is really not a big deal, even when I have 3 bars on a 3G network, I found internet to be fast enough that I don't have to throw my iPhone against a wall and does what I need well.
The only thing I really want to see is AT&T and Apple working together on a GPS system. I LOVED VZNavigator and am WILLING to pay a monthly or per use fee over again.
It's not a funny thing. It's just a sad thing. ;)
Steve, the funny thing is that many people I know would consider buying an iPhone (and some have), but would never consider any other piece of Apple technology. Myself included.
I left verizon a month ago for the iPhone and the coverage is fine here in Charlotte, NC. I'm very pleased with the iPhone.
I hope Apple tells Verizon to get lost - just as I wish they would tell Windows switchers over 40 years-old to get lost. They all thought Apple was a joke? Fine! Rot in H€ll! :lol:
Revenge should always be more important than money. ;)
Heh, I missed that article about Verizon asking former customers about the iPhone. Well they didn't ask me, although that's the answer I would have given. Verizon still seems to have superior coverage, but AT&T doesn't suck as much as they used to, which almost makes it worth it for the sake of having GSM.
Of course in the future if they both are using the same 4G technology, that completely changes things, and both companies have an equal chance at being the one to upgrade more of their towers first. All other things being equal, I still think Verizon is a tiny bit more evil and/or incompetent when it comes to phone selection, but maybe things have changed. The other day my mom asked me to help her get photos she's taken on her flip phone onto her computer. I figured it would require hacked firmware to do something as brazen as access her own files, and was shocked to find the phone came with a fully working OBEX profile. So I guess there's hope for Verizon.
If you look at coverage maps then you'll see that nobody has a true nationwide network. There are parts of the country that all carriers miss. Not that there's value to covering Death Valley, etc. but if the measure is 100% coverage of the US then the answer is no. 3G coverage? Not even close yet.
LTE is going to be here 2 years from now. It will start out like 3G and EVDO - in major markets first and then rolled out to other areas of the country later. Handsets will be like the current iPhone 3G - duel radio so it can handle LTE in LTE markets and switch to 3G in 3G markets (provided that 3G displaces EDGE by then). I would not expect full LTE for another 5-6 years. By the time LTE is upon us get ready for the next great thing beyond it. In the meantime, there's still going to be WiMax (currently in 16 states).
yea AT&T is testing 4G now. they said hopefully comercially available by end of 2010 or early 2011. plus AT&T and apple are in works to extend the exclusivity deal. trust me it'll b like the sidekick. we all think it'll eventually spread out. but it ain't going anywhere unless you unlock it. and u can't use verizon for that.
If VZW get the iPhone I will happily go back... Att sucks in metro Detroit I got 2 of every txt message got text delayed by hours and dropped 3 calls 6 years with VZW droped maybe 3 calls... Wouldn't trade my iPhone for anything though bring on next gen
LTE is a long way off. Do the US networks even have nationwide 3G yet?