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Verizon, 4G and iPhones
cgriffin21 writes "Verizon plans to launch its 4G LTE network in 38 major U.S. metropolitan areas by year's end, in an ambitious rollout that will also drape high-speed mobile broadband coverage over 60 airports." Not coincidentally, everyone and their brother is talking about
iPhone on Verizon in 2011, and what that
means to Android.
If I wanted an iPhone, I would have gotten one. But since I wanted to write my own apps, Android was a much more attractive platform.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
From what I understand, V-Cast has been a major point of contention between Apple and Verizon. At least, that's what the rumors are saying...
That being said, I don't know why Verizon pushes their V-Cast services so hard...out of all the people I know that use Verizon, I don't know anyone that actually uses anything V-Cast has to offer.
Living With a Nerd
"If I wanted an iPhone, I would have gotten one."
I, I, I.
How something impacts Android is completely dependent on how it would affect you? There may be a few people out there who decided to go with Android because they didn't want to switch to AT&T.
Except for ending slavery, the Nazis, communism, & securing American independence, war has never solved anything.
Ever notice that beyond the bold carrier emblems on the phones themselves that virtually all smartphones sold on Verizon are advertised by Verizon instead of the handset makers themselves? Contrast that with the iPhone which might be sold exclusively in the US on AT&T but it is marketed by Apple directly and there are no AT&T (or other carriers for that matter) logos anywhere to be found on the phone or in the manuals.
Those other handset makers have allowed themselves to be relegated OEMs for the carriers while Apple markets directly to the consumer and only used the carriers as subsidized sales channels. This means that Apple manufactures one model (save for the Chinese no-Wifi model) for use worldwide and only enters IMEIs into their database to as sim LOCKED for any carrier that requests it. Except for different manuals and charger models, the iPhone you buy in the US/Canada or the UK only differ in what is included in the box and the phone itself is the same production run.
Even assuming that Verizon agreed to no branding on the phone either physically or in software/logo form, Apple would have to either create a special run for Verizon (CDMA) or raise the costs for every iPhone manufactured by switching to a CDMA/GSM model for no added benefit for people living outside of the US.
Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
Sure, but touch-screen devices suck for gaming no matter what you are running on them. Granted, tethering a Bluetooth controller like a Wii-Remote with a Classic Controller attached makes gaming downright awesome on both platforms.
And quite honestly, I'd rather play a good retro game than play any more of the iPhone's half-baked "games".
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
I'll just cut and paste a comment I made about this on another site:
That being said, I don't know why Verizon pushes their V-Cast services so hard...out of all the people I know that use Verizon, I don't know anyone that actually uses anything V-Cast has to offer.
Our logic states that because nobody uses V-Cast and hasn't used it in the X years it's been around, perhaps they should realize their failure, stop pushing it, and try something else, as it's clear nobody wants it.
Their logic states that because nobody uses V-Cast and hasn't used it in the X years it's been around, it obviously has not been pushed hard enough, as it's clear these customers are misbehaving by not throwing their money at it.
Demanding constant attention will only lead to attention.
Is it really worth it to buy an unlocked phone though? As it is you get a big discount on a new phone in exchange for your contract. I am not aware of any provider that gives you a monthly discount in exchange for not taking advantage of that discount. If you know of one I would be very interested.
I think that is what would have to change because as it is, having no contract isn't that much of an advantage, assuming you know you will want to have a phone for the next 2 years and getting a deep discount on a new phone is very attractive.
"In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women..." -H. Simpson
Gee, so Apple has banned you from writing iPhone apps? Gosh, that sucks.
The real Sig captains the Northwestern. This one captains
In many way this is what will allow Verizon to get the iPhone. When the iPhone 5 comes out it is bound to support 4G, so even if Verizon is not an official partner, people will be able to use the phone there.
Don't be so sure. IIRC, verizon is using the sim-less variant of LTE. So if the MEID isn't in the database the phone isn't getting on the network without committing a felony! The mere existence of a CDMA iphone doesn't mean that it will be easy to get on Verizon.
I have never been convinced that Apple would want to add CDMA capability, just for Verizon, because of the extra licensing costs and the fact Verizon had already announced that it was putting in place a 4G GSM network. I may still be wrong about Qualcomm-CDMA support being added (CDMA is part of GSM in the form of wave encoding, not protocol), though we will see.
Again, don't be so sure. A CDMA-less verizon phone is pretty much a paperweight for the forseeable decade. LTE rollout will be *very* limited initially (mostly large markets). Also, to correct you, GSM is TDMA. Modern 3G GSM data (e.g. HSDPA) is CDMA.
They are both emerging markets. You are making the assumption that the market is already saturated.
Just like at AT&T you will get iPhone customers and Android Customers there will be new users on both. Some will be unhappy with each other and switch.
There is no point in this religious zeal over iPhone vs. Android. And what will ultimately happen. iPhone will be the biggest in Market share for devices, Android will be the largest market share in total numbers. Meaning the iPhone will be the Top Selling Phone but there will be more Android installations.
The Android is cool and is competitive to the iPhone which is cool in different ways. People will stick to their camp. New users will choose one or the other. A few swappers who will be evangelicalized to the other side. Side A will make a cool app Side B will make a copy. Side A will say how horrible the trade offs that B took is while Side B does the same.
Is iPhone for Verizon a threat to Android, perhaps in a short run. As there are some people who use Android as a substitute for an iPhone, but after a quarter or two, it will balance and be back to normal competition.
Normal Competition will mean both sides makes new and cool stuff to play with.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.