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Old Jun 9, 09, 2:03 pm   #1
 
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Is Verizon Losing the Technology War?

Several years after the initial intro of the iPhone, all Verizon has to counter was the very flawed BB Storm. With second generation iPhones coming to ATT and the Palm Pre coming to Sprint, it seems to me the VZN is falling further and further behind in the tech wars.

For years, I have been joined at the hip to VZN, but I am getting very impatient waiting for a decent world-capable phone with wifi. I know that Storm 2 is over the horizon, but how did VZN fall so far behind?

What's going on at VZN? Why have they dropped so far behind the competition in terms of technology offerings?
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Old Jun 9, 09, 2:33 pm   #2
 
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We also are hooked to a Verizon contract and look forward to the end and will switch to ATT for the iphone.
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Old Jun 9, 09, 2:37 pm   #3
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Verizon is getting the HTC Touch Pro 2 and the Diamond 2 this summer, which will put them back on par with most carriers.

I'm convinced that the vast majority of Verizon subscribers just want a simple camera enabled flip phone, and use it on a family plan.

That said - they DO have fantastic 3G coverage, and are currently the only ones selling the MiFi.

Telling Apple "no" to the iPhone was a big mistake, but they are still a very big and profitable operator, something that can't be said about Sprint.
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Old Jun 9, 09, 3:02 pm   #4
 
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Originally Posted by ScottC View Post
Verizon is getting the HTC Touch Pro 2 and the Diamond 2 this summer, which will put them back on par with most carriers.

I'm convinced that the vast majority of Verizon subscribers just want a simple camera enabled flip phone, and use it on a family plan.

That said - they DO have fantastic 3G coverage, and are currently the only ones selling the MiFi.

Telling Apple "no" to the iPhone was a big mistake, but they are still a very big and profitable operator, something that can't be said about Sprint.
There are many who want a phone that works in foriegn countries, that has the apps and the apptitude of an iPhone.

Yup, VZN is sure a big company, but so was GM at one time. It seems to me that it has to be more adaptable, more nimble!

Scott, will these phones that you have alluded to be both CDMA/GSM capable? And will VZN keep the wifi? If so, then they will be a good answer to what many of us need, assuming the battery lasts longer than the one in the Samsung Saga!

Last edited by RobertS975; Jun 9, 09 at 3:09 pm..
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Old Jun 9, 09, 3:05 pm   #5
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Too bad most of the world uses GSM. Until the technologies merge, I won't go back to Verizon. Their network is far superior to ATTs lousy 3G excuse.
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Old Jun 9, 09, 3:11 pm   #6
 
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VZW is 45% owned by Vodafone, which I'm sure would love to make VZW's network GSM compatible. Of course, that would cost literally billions of dollars.
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Old Jun 9, 09, 3:14 pm   #7
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Originally Posted by gfunkdave View Post
VZW is 45% owned by Vodafone, which I'm sure would love to make VZW's network GSM compatible. Of course, that would cost literally billions of dollars.
The storm is dual mode CDMA/3G and the Touch Pro 2 will be as well. I'm guessing we'll be seeing more of these dual mode phones appear in their business lineup.
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Old Jun 9, 09, 3:25 pm   #8
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Verizon keeps the business customers that they do because they have the best coverage for both voice and 3G, period. I never have dropped calls, the voice quality is always high, and I've never been anywhere in the U.S. where I didn't have service. For me, that justifies both the high cost and lack of "interesting" phones.

I think posters also undervalue the Storm. I've had mine for about 6 months now and it does everything that I need. I'm not interested in tweets, downloading music, ringtone managers and the like -- I want push email that is easy to respond to, email from my personal accounts, a reliable alternative phone, quick access to the internet, etc. The Storm does this perfectly.
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Old Jun 9, 09, 3:32 pm   #9
 
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I'll second the Storm. After having downloaded the latest software, my Storm is a highly capable little machine. 3G is fast, and with data + voice capabilities in ALL of Europe... It's great. I don't really see the need for WiFi since so many of them require a password.

HTSC
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Old Jun 9, 09, 5:40 pm   #10
 
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Originally Posted by HereAndThereSC View Post
I'll second the Storm. After having downloaded the latest software, my Storm is a highly capable little machine. 3G is fast, and with data + voice capabilities in ALL of Europe... It's great. I don't really see the need for WiFi since so many of them require a password.

HTSC
For all of the BlackBerry Storm users grab the newest 9530 OS. Even if VZW didn't release it it'll work on your device. Early OS's were horrible; hundreds of bugs / performance issues have been resolved / improved.
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Old Jun 9, 09, 5:48 pm   #11
 
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Having observed how long my family's ipods last, I'm not enthralled with the iphone. I am looking forward to moving back to VZ and a Storm after my current ATT contract expires (only on ATT because VZ's only world phone at the time was a monstrous bbery).
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Old Jun 9, 09, 5:59 pm   #12
 
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Well there is the Blackberry Tour (BB 9630) on VZW's radar. No WiFi, but it looks like a nice BB with estimates of a mid-July release.
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Old Jun 9, 09, 7:16 pm   #13
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hdawg View Post
For all of the BlackBerry Storm users grab the newest 9530 OS. Even if VZW didn't release it it'll work on your device. Early OS's were horrible; hundreds of bugs / performance issues have been resolved / improved.
The latest they have listed at that link is Bell's .122, which has been out for a month or two.

On May 31, Verizon officially released .148, which is available at this link.
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Old Jun 9, 09, 7:55 pm   #14
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Originally Posted by ScottC View Post
, and are currently the only ones selling the MiFi.
.

Not anymore

http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASAp...MA_060109_MiFi
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Old Jun 9, 09, 8:05 pm   #15
 
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The common complaint I hear about VZN is that they cripple the cool features on popular their phones. I'm not sure what means, and I'm not a Verizon customer. Anyone explain?
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