iPhone Verizon: What’s the hold up?
Filed under: Cell Phone Information, Cell Phones | By: Alan Ng
Posted on: October 1, 2009 | 4 Comments
Following on from the news this week that the exclusivity agreements with the Apple iPhone have come to an end (in the UK anyway), we seem to be asking the same old question: Why isn’t the iPhone available on Verizon Wireless yet?
Firstly, UK carrier Orange triggered of the iPhone bandwagon by announcing that the phone will be coming to their network before the end of the year. Then that soon followed T-Mobile and Vodafone making similar deals with Apple.
Even over in Asia, China Unicom finally announced that the iPhone would be coming to their network - actually from today onwards.
The only ‘popular’ network that hasn’t had any sort of announcement is Verizon. Of course, we’ve heard all the rumors that it still might happen, thanks to updated 4G/LTE plans etc, but a release before the end of 2009 is now looking unlikely.
Unlike O2 UK, it seems as if AT&T are hanging on to their deal with Apple at the moment, but for how long remains a mystery.
Do you think the iPhone will ever land on Verizon? Let us know your thoughts on this below.
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The longer Verizon waits the more money they will obviously lose. They did announce the unloading of the senior executive that once fought against Verizon getting involved with Apple. So that is positive! Right now Apple’s iPhone is the standard everyone wants to have and use. Verizon’s current product line is mediocre in comparison. If they fail to put a deal together with Apple - watch more customers move over to AT&T.
It is really annoying that VZW has not made the deal. The functionality of an iPhone with that of an iMac is under advertised. I am in photography and love my iMac. Having that linked to my phone would save time and hassle.
And now I am up for “new every 2″ and will cling to the chance/possiblity of iPhone coming to VZW. Blackberry is nice, but I’m not a coporate guru so I won’t get use from that. (Had one, loved it, but not for the cost of the data plan and the unfunctionality for my lifestyle.)
Unless there is some great secret that ATT has a huge hold on Apple, I cannot undertand why this hasn’t happened yet. I do know of some people switching to ATT for the iPhone, but the hassle of changing numbers is really annoying (for some reason you cannot take original number with you…). Please—VZW and Apple—MAKE THE DEAL. I would totally buy!
I have been researching this since I fell for the L.G. Voyager candygram of an “i-phone killer” more than 2 years ago. Yes it is good that the biggest anti-iphone exec does not have the say any longer. 2 things seem to stand in the way.
1) Windows Mobile 6.5 is getting its maiden voyage on October 6th. With it come, from what I have read, 30+ smartphones that will adopt the new mobile OS. Many of those phones (Omnia 2, Storm 2, HTC TP2 etc etc…) From what I see, in many of these phones, they seem to be very ahead of the present smartphone curve. C-Net Asia (I believe) even rated the Omnia hd higher than the i-phone in most of its categories. I think that they may not want to get on board with the i-phone just yet untill they see what they have with the new ones. All due respect to Samsung, they are a great company, but there is only one Apple.
2)What I call the battle for the customer service rights. Verizon does not want their customer service to go through anybody but Verizon. Apple does not want their customer service to go through anybody but Apple. (A problem that would easily be solved with a “If you are calling from an i-phone press 2″ option should a deal be struck.)This I only speculate from what a few retailers told me.
I would sure like to see it though. Soon the rates on the data plans are going to ski rocket because of Sprint’s out of the water call everyone plan. The other 3 will have to follow suit. That means the data will be a bigger cash cow for the carriers. I am due for my new ever two too (Dear God that was horible) Waiting to see how it plays out. I can see them making a movie about this one day called “The Great I-Phone War of the New Millenium”
I’ve been loyal mac user for about 14 years now, and I am waiting everyday crossing my fingers for iphone to have the contract with Verizon. My family and friends are all on Verizon, and we are all very happy customer. I just can’t understand why mac won’t go with Verizon. In the past Steve Jobs has made a lot of this type of non-logical decision, and I must think this is another one. I will keep crossing fingers…