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Thursday September 10, 2009
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 Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Let me start with a Tweet:
"T-Mobile heart Android. Sprint heart WebOS. AT&T heart OS X. Verizon heart cellular base stations."
The nation's number-one carrier, Verizon isn't complaining. They're gaining customers, making money and winning awards based on their top-notch network, which has only gotten better with their recent purchase of Alltel. Verizon has also been bringing some interesting, exclusive feature-phones to market, including the LG EnV Touch, Samsung Alias 2, and the new Nokia Twist and Samsung Rogue.
But as Sprint solidifies their WebOS dominance with the Palm Pixi, T-Mobile crushes on Android with the Motorola Cliq and two HTC phones, and AT&T keeps riding high with the iPhone, Verizon's lineup of actual smartphones looks pathetic. Their hottest new handsets are the workaday BlackBerry Tour and HTC Touch Pro2, which aren't awful, but neither are they exclusive; the Tour is available on Sprint and the Touch Pro2 arrived first on two other carriers.
So what's behind Verizon's weak showing in the smartphone arena? I've got some possibilities; give me your own.
1. They simply don't care. Verizon is doing well without cool, exclusive smart phones. Instead of sinking money into acquiring, subsidizing and supporting complicated, difficult-to-use handsets, they build out their network instead. If the strategy is working, why fix it? Why this is wrong: Smartphone users pay more per month than other device users. Verizon must want a piece of that high-revenue market.
2. They want to actively discourage smartphone use. Verizon's network is their shining jewel. They've seen what the iPhone did to AT&T's network - it ripped the poor thing to shreds. They don't want the same thing happening to them. Why this is wrong: Verizon can simply price their network to encourage the optimal amount of use, just as they do with USB modems.
3. They're a bear to deal with. Verizon has strict requirements and endless testing. After the debacle with the BlackBerry Storm where they released a buggy handset, they're making testing lists and checking them twice. That gums up the works and makes the pathway to release on Verizon very slow. Why this could be right: Reliable sources say Motorola still has a Verizon phone in the works - it's just a wee bit late.
What do you think about Verizon's smartphone lineup? Is it a minus for Big Red, or does it really not matter?
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September 10, 2009 5:01 PM
I have Palm Centro from Verizon because the Palm OS meets a specific need. If I didn't have that requirement, I would probably have an iPhone, but Verizon's Samsung Omnia was good enough for my son even though he was originally looking for a Storm (it was slow & buggy in the store). I realize the market continually evolves, but I won't be looking for new phones until 2011, and I'll bet Verizon will again have something I like by then.
September 10, 2009 5:41 PM
I have been waiting and waiting for a great phone from VZW I was excited when the HTC touch made its debute... had it for 2 weeks and went through 3. I am on my second XV6800 and its been ok, its slow but does pretty much anything i need it to do with some tweeking. I just wish I could get a nice next gen phone from them that wasn't RIM. Here's to hopin'. VZW please get on the ball!
September 10, 2009 6:20 PM
I think you're probably more spot on with one and two than anything else, Sascha. We had heard the same story about Verizon Wireless and their testing and gatekeeping of their network before the BB Storm, and while I think it's probably a constant, it doesn't account for their pathetic lineup.
At this stage, it's a combination of "if people want smartphones with us, they'll deal with a Blackberry, so we don't give a damn about the rest" and "if we have an awesome exclusive phone it'll destroy our network, our pride and joy." Thinking it might be their testing regimen implies that there might be some goodies on the way, and I just don't think that's the case - even if rumors are that the Pre will come to Verizon by the end of the holidays this year.
September 11, 2009 10:55 AM
Im sorry but the Iphone did what to AT&T's network ? I have had a Iphone for 2 years and have never had a problem with making/receiving calls and texts. now come sept 25th when we can now start sending mms messages makes it even better. Plus you have all your music there in the palm of your hand, no need to drop and drag files just hook it up and sync ? plus the network is not what people think it is. it just as robust as verizon and a HECK of alot better than sprint's.
September 11, 2009 3:23 PM
I would agree with point #2 about them not wanting SmartPhones to protect their network, but only up to a point.
They are now actively pushing always on Netbooks and 3G MyFi which are wireless wireless routers.
Those two things could have drastic effects on the network, assuming they have not planned for it.
Oh, that's right, they're not AT&T! They may have actaully done their homework first,
September 12, 2009 11:02 AM
I have a laptop, a digital audio recorder, a DSLR with lenses and a video camera. I don't need a smart phone. I need something simple that can read information online and send quick texts or submit quick tweets or posts. The Samsung Intensity is fine for me. If this one dies as quickly as my last Verizon phone (6 months), I will try the Rogue.
September 12, 2009 7:42 PM
I'm not interested in smartphones, due to their pricey data contracts. Besides, I don't want to access the internet on a teeny, tiny, smartphone monitor.
September 13, 2009 9:15 AM
I've been on att since the Cingular sell and have the calls drop and signal strength drop. I have the iPhone 3g, wife has the Bold and 3g is good - IF you're in a city with it. Just outside a city and it vanishes to good ol'EDGE. So I bought that Verizon MiFi and it works perfectly sending a 3g signal where att has just EDGE. The draw back is the 5gig cap on the MiFi and netbooks. It's absurd for $60. But it let's me view emails and pay bills where att 3g doesn't exist. It's obvious that Verizon isn't getting smart phones to protect their 3g usage. att may be the fastest 3g, but ya gotta find the thing.
October 1, 2009 3:19 PM
Our 2 year contract has been over for a month now and it is time to get new phones. I am a software developer and I want to get into making applications for the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android phones.
I have friends that have the iPhone with AT&T and they always complain about not having service inside large buildings. I also have a friend who has the Android with TMobil and they always complain about dropped calls.
I wish to stay with Verizon because of their excellent service, but none of their phones are WiFi capable. In fact, all version of Blackberries Verizon carries do not have WiFi.
Verizon clearly isn't afraid of smart phones, they carry almost every smart phones that does not have WiFi (there aren't many of them) so that you don't use your internet connection at home/work/school and you fork over $30 more a month to them for the data package and a much slower internet connection.
If Verizon doesn't get WiFi capable Blackberries soon, I will be switching to another carrier that does even if their network isn't as good as Verizons.