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Will the iPhone ever come to Verizon?
Rumors have circulated since Apple's iPhone was first launched that Verizon Wireless might get its own version of the popular device. But will the elusive iPhone ever come to Verizon's network?
(Credit:
Apple)
Maybe. Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg hinted that Verizon might offer the iPhone on its 4G wireless network, which the company plans to start building next year, in an interview with Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. Specifically, Seidenberg said that if Verizon were to offer the iPhone, it would most likely be available on its 4G wireless network rather than on the current CDMA-based cell phone network.
Now, I know this isn't iron-clad confirmation, but it's something.
Seidenberg added that Apple never "seriously considered making a CDMA version of the iPhone because it didn't have as wide a distribution opportunity," the article said. But he explained that Verizon's new 4G network will use a technology called LTE, or Long Term Evolution, which also happens to be the same technology that AT&T eventually plans to use for its 4G network.
While it may be true that Apple preferred working with AT&T because it uses GSM, a technology that most global cell phone companies use, there are also reports that Verizon actually turned down the iPhone because it wasn't willing to give up as much control as AT&T was. And these folks would argue, that this fact was the real reason that Apple struck the exclusive iPhone deal with AT&T instead of Verizon.
In any case, there is a lot of pent up demand for the iPhone among Verizon Wireless subscribers. I get e-mails all the time from readers asking me when I think Verizon might finally get the iPhone. Honestly, I have no inside information to know for sure when or if this will ever happen. But with talk that AT&T is trying to extend the exclusivity deal with Apple for the iPhone and the fact that Verizon's 4G network won't likely be ready for handheld devices until at least 2011, I'd say that anyone who is holding out to buy an iPhone in the hopes that Verizon might pick it up within the next two years, should stop waiting.
My advice is, just buy the current iPhone 3G, sign up for AT&T's two-year contract and when your contract is up, maybe, just maybe, Verizon will have a 4G version of the phone. Of course, two years is a long time when it comes to technology. So by the time your iPhone contract is finished, there might be an even cooler, slicker device on the market that trumps the iPhone.
One thing is certain, Verizon says it wants to get a whole bunch of different devices on both its current 3G wireless network through its Open Development Initiative and on its new 4G broadband wireless network. These devices include everything from Netbooks to remote medical monitoring devices to smart grid sensors to electronic book and magazine readers.
On Friday the company released initial technical specifications for these new devices so that they can run on the company's soon-to-be-built 4G wireless network.
Verizon is also planning to host a Web conference for developers on May 1 to discuss details on the LTE specifications, answer questions, and gather feedback. Verizon said this is the next phase in the company's open development program.
Verizon announced the Open Development Initiative in 2007 and has designed the program to offer a "fast track" for companies making devices and applications for the Verizon network. So far, the company says several devices have been certified, although today there are no commercial cell phones available that use Verizon's open network. Executives say this is because no device maker has come up with a business model to sell their open development devices and services.
Verizon plans to begin testing its 4G wireless network this year. And it will start building the network in several markets next year. The network uses spectrum the company acquired in the 700MHz spectrum auction, and the company is required to make a portion of whatever network it deploys using this spectrum open.
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie. 
The App store is very appealing, but the network it is on makes it to hard to justify.
This is not to negate your belief about having a network you can rely on. Perhaps you live in an area where AT&T is not the preferred network or you live in the boondocks.
Either ways, my point is that in the big picture, all US mobile operators I consider to be the same. Every provider has issues. My colleagues using Verizon here think it is horrible. They get calls dropped all the time. I have friends in other areas using AT&T that have more issues than I have for whatever reason.
For every complaint one has about one operator, I hear just the opposite from other folks.
Pick your poison people.
I was AT&T then Cingular after the change, jumped ship to Verizon and then came back to AT&T for the iPhone. Honestly, the differences between services is more within one's own imagination. CIngular for whatever reason always had my brother's Social Security number attached my account despite how many times I tired to have it changed (Strangely we were completely separate accounts) then attempted to bill my brother after he clearly closed his account. Verizon for whatever reason had a trunking issue where a bunch of outbound calls had my CID so I received for about a month angry or inquisitive random calls, asking, "Did you call me?" or threatening "legal" action against me to which I always told them go on ahead. Strangely enough none of the calls ever connected. I spent hours on tech support with that one.
Honestly, my experience with communications companies has always been lackluster at best be it AT&T @home, Comcast, Verizon, Cingular or AT&T.
The only reason I can see anyone really preferring a network is their area suffers an absence of high speed coverage by another or somehow every contact they have is on the same network for free calls.
A couple of things:
AT&T wireless and Cingular both existed separately originally. Then AT&T Wireless was bought out by Cingular. Cingular stated they would keep all jobs and faciilities as a joint operation. Immediately they shut down most AT&T locations, rebranded the remainder, and terminated all full time AT&T employees. Cingular took over the AT&T wireless HQ in Washington State. It's an irony that Cingular had such horrible service both before and after the buyout that Cingular technicians were forced to use Verizon and Sprint cell phones while on site at the Cingular HQ- there was no service at the location. Eventually Cingular brought in a small tower to give cell service at that location, but they left the rest of the area daed.
Cingular drive off a good percentage of the combined customer base, then AT&T created at *new* AT&T Wireless which bought out Cingular and the cycle repeated.
The end result is a poor physical network and still one of the worst customer service records in the industry.
I am not now, nor have I ever been a customer of either service.
There are places where Verizon shines, and places where AT&T shines. Your mileage will vary based on your coverage area.
Loved the Verizon network and was leery about making the move to ATT just for iphone... but I did with 3g and am closing in on a year with it... to be honest ATT delivers about 97-99% the quality of the Verizon network, and the iphone is truly worth the hype... an absolute game changer compared to my Palm and other previous smart phones on Verizon... nothing is even close, which you know if you've actually had one and used it, not just read about it or compared feature charts, like much of the press.
In fact, I can't say I would switch back for sure even if they did get it... especially after they hounded me to death with their post switch, 'switch back' telemarketing blitz, which I have to say bordered, if not crossed the line, of unethical tactics, complete with bogus 'contractual' threats... not a good reflection on the company.
The truth is Verizon has always been expensive, proprietary and pretty arrogant (which is why the turned their nose up at Apple in the first place) ... but consumers put up with it because of the obvious superiority in call quality. The gap has been closed now and the iphone had become part of my life (traffic, newpaper, web, ipod, email and a million other things besides just a calling device.) ... the thing just does everything well.
So if you waited like I did, and read all the things that were 'wrong' with the iphone and AT&T, don't bother. You will love it, and wonder why you held onto Verizon for so long... the 1-3% difference in service just doesn't make up for a 1000% better miracle device like the iphone.
The real key to remember is this: Apple loves being exclusive. Why else can I not build a computer with OS-X. If I make my own machine, my choices are everything except OS-X. Now I'll admit that Apple, like Verizon, loves to overcharge people. But Apple's exclusivity-fetish is even bigger than their desire to overcharge. iPhone will always and only be on one carrier. Unlocked iPhones will have to support that one carrier, in this case the GSM networks.
Apple loves exclusivity to its own, not others, so it can control every aspect of a product's delivery.
I had similar issues with ATT. I got a number in my area code that was brand new. Anyway I had Cingular for like 3 years but they kept overcharging me. So I ported my number to Sprint Nextel and quit ATT. But AT&T kept giving my# to their new customers. So every time I call them they tell me they wont talk to me about the issue because the phone number/account with my phone number was not mine. I'm like it is mine you all just haven't updated your number pool records to know that the number is taken.... So but they claim they had the number and it was with someone else's account.
So eventually after about 3-4 days these people who have just bought their new AT&T phone are wondering why none of the calls are going through... Basically their calls are going to me... So ofcourse they try calling their own phone number which is owned by me on Nextel. As soon as they reach me I tell them that this is the same bad service I got from AT&T and what they can come to expect from AT&T as their new carrier. So ofcourse since it is within their 30 days the people cancel their service and thus AT&T loses the customer... Then about 3-4 months later I have to go through the process again since AT&T yet again gives out my phone number to one of their new customers again. Eventually those people too leave the service. And the process repeats again. I must have cost AT&T like 6 accounts. I called customer service back each time and I'm like it is in your *own* best interest to fix your number pool records because I'm going to keep scaring off your customers since you wont resolve this issue. After the 6th person got scared off they finally listened I think. And it has been about 4 years now since the last time AT&T gave my number out again to one of their customers.
Maybe some of you gurus could answer this one for me...why the heck doesn't Verizon buy Sprint?
Anyway.
2 things I'd like to see on Verizon
More competitively priced plans (Think 99 unlimited everything) and a greater outreach to the smart phone universe. I'd bet heavy that a real winner would be getting the Nokia N97 on verizons network would be a real winner.
Even tho Nokia is traditionally GSM, that'd be a big opportunity to service a fairly large customer base with a pretty darn slick phone.
Well, thats just a start in the right direction, I'd think.
A trusted friend of mine's mom was talking to a friend of hers who works in the Corporate part of Verizon , and her friend said that in a meeting they had, the boss said that Verizon has made plans with Apple to release a Verizon iPhone (on the 4G Network that Verizon is building, LTE)
And second, anyone who wanted to switch to AT&T for an iPhone has already done so and signed up for a two year contract. My contract expires in, hey, December of 2010. That's just before 2011! Wow...
Verizon's touch screen phones (LG, Blackberry) have poor functionality and are not intuitive like the iphone. Thinking they would be comparable to the iphone was a huge mistake on my part. I almost wish I'd never tried the iphone to know what I'm missing. Hope Apple and Verizon can roll out their own iphone so I can pitch this awful LG EnV Touch. I can't go back to AT&T since I actually need my phone to work.
- by ITnavigator September 23, 2009 7:09 PM PDT
- Good customer service was Midwest Wireless BEFORE they were consumed by the evil Alltel. From harps and halos to pitchforks and pointy sticks -- alas. Hope that Verizon can pull them up a bit.
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(27 Comments)Love the iPhone. Problem is we live and work in flyover land. And the world's largest 3G network doesn't exist more then 4 miles from the freeway. I have a Samsung with Windows Mobile 6. Aside from a bit of butt-dialing, it is pretty good. At least I can use the thing just about anywhere. Please, please, please give me the iPhone on Verizon. I don't think I can wait for AT&T to get their act together...because that will never include HERE.