I think the refusal of Verizon to play nicely with anyone or anything that threatens their totalitarian control over their handsets and network is going to bite them in the ass. I'm a VZ subscriber only for the network. But I'm starting to feel gravity pulling me away. An Apple phone is one thing. But Google software on a phone is a whole other beast. Hopefully this'll hit Verizon hard and wake them up from their ridiculously stubborn ways.
I agree! Verizon is too strict on everything they do. I also wish they had more cool phone options. Currently LG is the only company that actually has a cool lineup, including the Chocolate (which I own) and the Voyager phones.
You mention that Verizon doesn't play nicely, and up 'til this point, I would agree, but who's to say that VZ isn't in the list of 33 other companies? From all early accounts, Verizon was involved in the gPhone. Why use this forum to slam Verizon; I'm sure there are many other sites that type of comment would be more appropriate.
You should make a statement by switching away from their network to someone else. With the exception of tmobile Sprint and AT&Ts coverage is pretty much the same all factors considered. It really comes down to plan pricing and handsets, and VZW comes in last place in both of these categories. Sprint has incredibly competitive pricing and a decent handset selection while AT&T has moderate pricing (a little less than VZW) and the best handset selection currently.
Because if Verizon was part of this alliance, I'm sure their names would be part of the headliners.
It's meation that this is an open alliance and all is encouraged to join, but I honestly dont see doing so risking loosening up their tight grip on their phones.
Face it, VZW dropped the ball on Apple and they're dropping the ball again with Google. You'd be a fool not to think this service will be a success.
I'm sure Verizon was top dog before Apple and Google came into town, but they'll soon realize that what both companies are doing in the mobile business is the future hardware and software wise. Don't be suprised if they start playing catch up or eventually give in and drag their feet into the alliance.
VZW is starting to feel the effects of competition - as evidenced by their termination of upgrade / downgrade related plan extensions, and their reduced data plan prices associated with the VZW BB Pearl launch.
Still, these seem like mere band-aids, when amputation might be more appropriate. There are countless examples of how open source succeeds and closed fails - its almost like a supplier saying to a customer we'll TELL you what you want.
Still, its not clear exactly how this is going to change things, but my hope is that at least a portion of revenues derived from things like Google and the iPhone will go toward network infrastructure, so that I can make a choice based on features and not connectivity.
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I think the refusal of Verizon to play nicely with anyone or anything that threatens their totalitarian control over their handsets and network is going to bite them in the ass. I'm a VZ subscriber only for the network. But I'm starting to feel gravity pulling me away. An Apple phone is one thing. But Google software on a phone is a whole other beast. Hopefully this'll hit Verizon hard and wake them up from their ridiculously stubborn ways.
yeah dude i know what you mean, crippled phones and overpriced service. thats the vzw way unfortunatly
I agree! Verizon is too strict on everything they do. I also wish they had more cool phone options. Currently LG is the only company that actually has a cool lineup, including the Chocolate (which I own) and the Voyager phones.
By staying with them for this long you have encouraged their ways.
You mention that Verizon doesn't play nicely, and up 'til this point, I would agree, but who's to say that VZ isn't in the list of 33 other companies? From all early accounts, Verizon was involved in the gPhone. Why use this forum to slam Verizon; I'm sure there are many other sites that type of comment would be more appropriate.
You should make a statement by switching away from their network to someone else. With the exception of tmobile Sprint and AT&Ts coverage is pretty much the same all factors considered. It really comes down to plan pricing and handsets, and VZW comes in last place in both of these categories. Sprint has incredibly competitive pricing and a decent handset selection while AT&T has moderate pricing (a little less than VZW) and the best handset selection currently.
Members of Google's alliance taken from the WSJ:
MEMBERS OF GOOGLE'S ALLIANCE
Aplix, Ascender Corp., Audience, Broadcom Corp., China Mobile, eBay Inc., Esmertec, HTC Corp., Intel Corp., KDDI, Living Image, LG, Marvell Technology, Motorola Inc., NMS Communications, Noser, NTT DoCoMo, Nuance Communications Inc., Nvidia Corp., PacketVideo, Qualcomm Inc., Samsung Electronics, SiRF, SkyPop, SONiVOX, Sprint Nextel, Synaptics, TAT - The Astonishing Tribe, Telecom Italia, Telefónica SA, Texas Instruments, T-Mobile and Wind River Systems Inc.
@ Kevin Mogee
Because if Verizon was part of this alliance, I'm sure their names would be part of the headliners.
It's meation that this is an open alliance and all is encouraged to join, but I honestly dont see doing so risking loosening up their tight grip on their phones.
Face it, VZW dropped the ball on Apple and they're dropping the ball again with Google. You'd be a fool not to think this service will be a success.
I'm sure Verizon was top dog before Apple and Google came into town, but they'll soon realize that what both companies are doing in the mobile business is the future hardware and software wise. Don't be suprised if they start playing catch up or eventually give in and drag their feet into the alliance.
VZW is starting to feel the effects of competition - as evidenced by their termination of upgrade / downgrade related plan extensions, and their reduced data plan prices associated with the VZW BB Pearl launch.
Still, these seem like mere band-aids, when amputation might be more appropriate. There are countless examples of how open source succeeds and closed fails - its almost like a supplier saying to a customer we'll TELL you what you want.
Still, its not clear exactly how this is going to change things, but my hope is that at least a portion of revenues derived from things like Google and the iPhone will go toward network infrastructure, so that I can make a choice based on features and not connectivity.