Verizon reports strong Q4 '07 earnings, champagne importers now short on stock

Here's hoping you own some Verizon stock, readers. According to the company's Q4 '07 earnings call which took place this morning, the massive telco finished out the year on an up note, with a sizable boost in subscribers, and consequently, profit. The company saw a net income boost of 3.9-percent ($1.07 billion, or $.37 a share) year-over-year, and a rise in revenue at 5.5-percent to $23.84 billion, including a 13.3-percent gain (or about 2 million new customers) in wireless sales. Analysts expectations were right on mark with the company's earnings, at $.62 a share, and the company saw growth in both its aforementioned wireless division, as well as big jumps in FiOS users. That's right kids, the rich do get richer.

[John Johnson @ Jan 28th 2008 10:23AM]

Give me FiOS and I will give you more of my money, Verizon. Until then, I'll just have to stick with overpaying monthly for my phone.

[Tom @ Jan 28th 2008 2:02PM]

Move. This site has a list of suitable destinations:
http://www.consumerfiber.com/fios-availability

[kev @ Jan 28th 2008 5:51PM]

Looks like it's time for a...rate increase! Ah ha ha ha...

- Sir Charge

[BananaBoat @ Jan 28th 2008 10:55PM]

I'm still hoping that Verizon's desire to keep upping their speeds to breakneck levels, will eventually cause the other ISP's to follow suit. Then again...my local "fiber" ISP is struggling to deliver the 25ish megabits for Fiber internet and TV, with Internet maxed at a pathetic 10 mbit. So...well...my hopes aren't what you'd call "Up"

[Guzzie @ Jan 28th 2008 10:24AM]

So they raised text rates for what reason exactly?

[Shane @ Jan 28th 2008 10:26AM]

Exactly what I was about to post...Otherwise, no complaints about VZW here...

[Jeremy W @ Jan 28th 2008 8:47PM]

They raised the texting rates because their research indicated that people would keep sending enough texts at the higher rates to make VZW more money. They're a for-profit corporation, so making money is the whole point. If they see a way to make more money, they will take advantage of it.

[Rboyett @ Jan 28th 2008 10:26AM]

Hmmm, lets see..

Halfway Decent cell phone service - check
Best high speed internet in the US - check
Prorating contract cancellation fees - check
Pretty good phone selection - check
High speed wireless - half a check

Hmmmm, hey ATT and Sprint, you paying attention?

[thethirdmoose @ Jan 28th 2008 11:11AM]

Crappy interface on all phones - check
Lack of J2ME on all phones - check
Worse EVDO and Rev. A than sprint - check

[John Johnson @ Jan 28th 2008 11:16AM]

Brew = suck. Forever and ever.

[Shane @ Jan 28th 2008 11:52AM]

I'm sick of people regurgitating the same "complaints" about Verizon over and over.

If you hate Verizon's default interface that much, get a Palm or Windows Mobile based smartphone. In addition, many of their newer phones do NOT have the "crippled" interface and features that many complain about.

Please get your facts straight before you post.

One thing Verizon can say for certain is that they truly do have the most reliable network coverage hands down.

[Shane @ Jan 28th 2008 11:53AM]

FWIW though, yes, lack of J2ME on their phones is frustrating and BREW DOES suck.

[guerro @ Jan 28th 2008 12:25PM]

I don't know who you talked to about prorating cancellation fees but I have one month left on my contract with VZW and they flat out told me to go pound sand if I canceled early, I would have to pay the $125 cancel fee. So long VZW, see you in hell.

[jmattick @ Jan 28th 2008 1:59PM]

@ guerro:
Likely the issue you ran into is that when you signed your contract, it was a standard ETA. That won't change. Just the same as you are tied into your plan, you are tied into your ETA because those were the terms and conditions you agreed to at the time.

Current contracts from that last year have been prorated.

Solution? See if changing your price plan (which doesn't add anything to your contract because of the new Worry Free Guarantee) brings your ETA to prorated. From what I've seen, it does. :)

[james @ Jan 28th 2008 10:26AM]

witty headlines are not needed.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 28th 2008 10:28AM]

Verizon has some very good phone models such as the Voyager, the Chocolate and the Krzr. Their LG and Motorolas are sturdy and work really well thanks to EV-DO so this is no suprise to me.

I'm also not suprised Sprint is going down the toilet - and taking Nextel with em.

[Scott @ Jan 28th 2008 12:25PM]

The Voyager is a $300 phone WITH contract, has a huge lack of application support due to it's closed OS, and doesn't even have an email program. How is that a *good* phone?

[KushielsScion007 @ Jan 28th 2008 10:36AM]

If it wasn't for the rumored iPhone supposedly coming out this year I would definitely jump onboard with Verizon come this March when my cursed contract with Sprint ends this March...

However I'm gonna stay with Sprint on a month by month basis until I hear what the deal is with AT&T and the iPhone. Anyone know of any recent news regarding this new iPhone? And will it still be exclusive to AT&T?

[Mike @ Jan 28th 2008 12:03PM]

I'm also waiting for the 3g version of the iPhone. My contract on Verizon is up and I'm switching. AT&T has made some big moves with that phone. I love Verizon's commercial that came out a little bit ago, where there is a man in front of his house unplugging the lights to his Christmas scene. A man interrupts him saying that there are STILL phones on sale. The reason, because they couldn't sell them the first time. If they had left out "STILL" the commercial wouldn't have a problem. Verizon is starting to lose ground.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 28th 2008 10:40AM]

I don't see myself getting FIOS until its price goes WAY down. I pay about $20 a month for DSL which im splitting between my Laptops, Desktop, PS3, 360 and wii with very good connection speeds.

Fios may be top of the heap but I can't see myself paying more than $100 a month for phone-data -tv plans. And $100 a month is pretty steep.

They keep sending FIOS salesmen to my house

[gibber9583 @ Jan 28th 2008 10:56AM]

are you kidding me? $100 is steep for all 3?


Anyways, i think verizon has a deal for $109/month for all 3. Thought thats with the crappy 5/2 internet service.

[Jonny @ Jan 28th 2008 11:42AM]

I'm paying 135 a month for :

FiOS TV
FiOS Phone
FiOS Internet 15/2

Its 110 a month before the extra 5 digital boxes.

[daaper @ Jan 28th 2008 11:46AM]

I was thinking the same thing. $100 a month for all three is a friggin' steal.

[Jason @ Jan 28th 2008 10:43AM]

Now if they could only use some of that cash to get some decent pda phones....

[Flashpoint @ Jan 28th 2008 10:46AM]

If Apple had the decency to release a CDMA Iphone, not only would they make lots of money from Verizon and Sprint, but Verizon would be posting gains on par with oil companies.

[gibber9583 @ Jan 28th 2008 10:59AM]

If you dont remember, Verizon passed on the iphone.

[gibber9583 @ Jan 28th 2008 11:03AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/29/verizon-passed-up-apple-iphone-deal/

[Jeremy @ Jan 28th 2008 11:04AM]

Maybe I don't understand how the stock market works, but Verizon's stock (VZ) is at a 8 month low. Why would it be good to be a Verizon stockholder?

[Nicky-Larson @ Jan 28th 2008 11:07AM]

Verizon wireless is the Most expensive son of a bitch carrier in the US. And I just think that is outrageous. Now tell me how they won't make that kind of profit. They charge so much for everything like it's a monopoly. How do people afford to go to that company when other carriers offer data plans at almost half of what Verizon offers. Good phones YES, but with Crappy interfaces, and stripped down features. Bite me Verizon, I hate your schemes

[Jigar @ Jan 28th 2008 12:03PM]

Yes! I do own VZ stock! :)

[Jason @ Jan 28th 2008 12:10PM]

Uhm... while it is an interesting point, financially the company suffered for those results. They were below market expectations and as a result the stock price FELL. I hope you don't own VZ stock..

-Jason

[eli.stuy @ Jan 28th 2008 4:59PM]

too bad it went down after-hours! the markets crazy!

[Jeremy W @ Jan 28th 2008 8:52PM]

"They charge so much for everything like it's a monopoly."

They charge what they charge because people will pay it. Verizon is the best cellular carrier in the country.

[Murc @ Jan 28th 2008 10:24PM]

hello everybody.

I hate Verizon.


that is all...

[Verizon @ Jan 28th 2008 11:08PM]

And we hate pissy customers like you too.

--Verizon