What are the odds of Iphone going to verizon, really?

[mrtune]

WiFi had nothing to do with it. Verizon has had WiFi phones for years. But they didn't need to rely on WiFi anywhere near as much as ATT.

As an ex-verizon customer I don't recall a single wifi capable smartphone in verizon's lineup. Even now, I don't believe there is any.

On top of that, they are notorious for crippling the gps on their blackberries so that you have to pay for vz navigator to get it working.

I don't see Apple removing or crippling any feature on their iPhone, especially gps or wifi.

 

[chstr]

I want a verizon iphone so badly. I now see the light. I use verizon mifi for my data on my 2G iphone and it is great great great

 

[nyisles84]

I'm not sure how the technology works exactly, but say Verizon has it's LTE network fully deployed, wouldn't the LTE iphone being used on Verizon have to be able to fall back on Verizon's existing CDMA network, much like when you lose 3g and fall back to edge? If that is the case, then a CDMA iPhone before LTE does not seem like such a drastic idea.

 

[ndmx52]

There is absolutely, 100%, NO chance that we will EVER see a Verizon Wireless iPhone.

 

[alent1234]

Doesn't apple want to sell as many phones as possible. Limiting themself to one carrier in the US can't last forever.

it costs a lot of money to design a separate CDMA hardware phone as well as fork the OS for the new hardware.

apple is selling around 5 million iphones a quarter now. VZW has around 80 million customers. say 20% buy iphones that means around 9 months total sales of CDMA iphones compared to current sales. add in the R&D costs and it may not be worth it for apple

then add in the fact that no AT&T exclusive will probably mean less subsidy from AT&T

 

[curly14]

There is absolutely, 100%, NO chance that we will EVER see a Verizon Wireless iPhone.

i would never say never

 

[dchabz]

i would like to add that every other company makes both phones, by all of your theories on not creating a separate cdma phone then why should anyone make one since it's a dying technology? verizon will not have a phone to sell by the time they switch to 4g if everyone thought this way.....

 

[kdarling]

As an ex-verizon customer I don't recall a single wifi capable smartphone in verizon's lineup.

Verizon has had WiFi capable smartphones for a half decade, since around late 2004, starting with the Samsung i730. It was followed by a whole line of Samsung and HTC phones with WiFi.

Even now, I don't believe there is any.

I looked quickly and just saw at least five with WiFi.

On top of that, they are notorious for crippling the gps on their blackberries so that you have to pay for vz navigator to get it working.

They used to, but not any more.

I don't see Apple removing or crippling any feature on their iPhone, especially gps or wifi.

Agreed, and since Verizon doesn't do that, then it's too bad that Apple crippled their Bluetooth on their own. Other Verizon smartphones can use BT keyboards, have always had stereo, etc.

I'm not sure how the technology works exactly, but say Verizon has it's LTE network fully deployed, wouldn't the LTE iphone being used on Verizon have to be able to fall back on Verizon's existing CDMA network, much like when you lose 3g and fall back to edge?

Yes, and that has been demonstrated -- a failover from LTE to CDMA 3G. GSM networks will have the same situation. They'll have to failover from LTE to their GSM 3G.

it costs a lot of money to design a separate CDMA hardware phone as well as fork the OS for the new hardware.

Apple has already done a major switch of chips and code at least once, when they added the WCDMA radio for 3G capability. Going all CDMA would not be difficult. That stuff is usually outsourced.

Personally, I hope Verizon never gets the iPhone, since my business phone is with them. I'd rather the traffic jams stay on ATT.

 

[dchabz]

I just have a real hard time fathoming how people are so blind to the fact that in the United States on one carrier there are more potential iphone customers than in some entire countries! So to switch a standard, which many other manufacturers do, can't be that difficult. I'm sure they engineered their original prototype taken to Verizon with a CDMA radio. Seeing as how Apple updates their one phone every 12 months i don't see why doing this major of an upgrade seems so impossible to people, the 3GS wasn't very major, maybe there was a reason for that...... I'm leaning toward a Verizon iphone on the market well before 4g is in full swing, Apple notoriously surprises us (FM transmitter in the nano anyone?).

 

[schwell]

I doubt Verizon would ever want to go backwards. Engineers knew long ago that CDMA had superior user and speed capacity, along with almost no dropped tower handoffs.

That's why the GSM group also knew long ago that they would have to use a CDMA protocol to get 3G, and they did.

Besides, Verizon is USA only. GSM was created for denser and more numerous European countries, where you also had to support many different carriers.



WiFi had nothing to do with it. Verizon has had WiFi phones for years. But they didn't need to rely on WiFi anywhere near as much as ATT.



Misreporting. Verizon only said they were putting just their own store on as a default. You can still use any other store like before.

Discussions and opinions are great.. but at least base them on facts. Cheers!

It might be misreporting, but Verizon and all the other carriers are going to lose this battle. Nobody wants Verizon or any other carrier's crappy store and apps as the default.

 

[kdarling]

It might be misreporting, but Verizon and all the other carriers are going to lose this battle. Nobody wants Verizon or any other carrier's crappy store and apps as the default.

Are you talking about smartphones in general or a Verizon iPhone?

The Verizon app store only applied to their WM and RIM smartphones.

As for the iPhone, it's probable that Verizon would only be interested in sharing Apple's app store profits, such as other carriers are rumored to do.

 

[schwell]

Are you talking about smartphones in general or a Verizon iPhone?

The Verizon app store only applied to their WM and RIM smartphones.

As for the iPhone, it's probable that Verizon would only be interested in sharing Apple's app store profits, such as other carriers are rumored to do.

I am talking carriers and app stores in general losing the battle to control the devices and applications on those devices. Again no one wants Verizon or any other carriers crappy app store.

Of course there is no Verizon iPhone and at least part of the reason is because of Verizon's refusal a few years ago to cede control. You can pretend that is not the case if you wish.

I do not believe the carriers are sharing in the Apple app store revenue stream. I have never seen it mentioned. Typically, articles cite 30% of app store revenue goes to Apple and 70% to developer. Here is a recent article:

Sizing Up Apple’s App Store

I doubt Apple is sharing its 30% with carriers. In fact the following article says AT&T gets 0%. The article title is also good for a laugh.

Verizon challenges Apple with Vcast app store

My prediction is Verizon's Vcast store is insignificant in 5 years.

 

[kdarling]

I am talking carriers and app stores in general losing the battle to control the devices and applications on those devices. Again no one wants Verizon or any other carriers crappy app store.

I think only the customer should get to choose where they get apps. Not the manufacturer. Not the carrier. Either one ends up being a gatekeeper, sometimes on shaky moralistic grounds. Let me decide, thanks.

But I do think that any app store link is better than none. Current WM and RIM smartphones from Verizon don't come with an easy way to get apps. It's usually the first thing that new owners ask about.

Btw, can you tell us what's "crappy" about something you haven't seen yet?

Of course there is no Verizon iPhone and at least part of the reason is because of Verizon's refusal a few years ago to cede control. You can pretend that is not the case if you wish.

Some of what happened was reported long ago. Sure, control on either side was part of the reason. Not seeing a device was certainly another. The coincidental ROKR probably didn't help Apple's case either.

My prediction is Verizon's Vcast store is insignificant in 5 years.

I think quite the opposite. Apple has proven that people like an easy way to get apps. They'll use first whatever comes with a device.

Verizon started a store contest last month. Apps had to be new. So far, over a thousand developers have signed up.

 

[dchabz]

I am talking carriers and app stores in general losing the battle to control the devices and applications on those devices. Again no one wants Verizon or any other carriers crappy app store.

Of course there is no Verizon iPhone and at least part of the reason is because of Verizon's refusal a few years ago to cede control. You can pretend that is not the case if you wish.

I do not believe the carriers are sharing in the Apple app store revenue stream. I have never seen it mentioned. Typically, articles cite 30% of app store revenue goes to Apple and 70% to developer. Here is a recent article:

Sizing Up Apple’s App Store

I doubt Apple is sharing its 30% with carriers. In fact the following article says AT&T gets 0%. The article title is also good for a laugh.

Verizon challenges Apple with Vcast app store

My prediction is Verizon's Vcast store is insignificant in 5 years.

after apple's success i highly doubt verizon or any other carrier has much ground to stand on to fight off apple's current formula for their device, the carriers will just be happy to take the monthly subscription fees (on average $100 per iphone user).

 

[Roessnakhan]

Never tell me the odds!

 

[zookster]

Once the churn rate starts getting to Verizon, I am sure Verizon will make a deal with Apple that they just can't refuse.

This is business folks. Never say never when there are greenbacks involves. We can all speculate about the exclusive contract that Apple has with AT&T, but who hear really knows the expiration date?

John