So
Droid Life -- which has earned itself a solid record in the rumor game as of late -- is reporting that Verizon Wireless will be dropping the "Wireless" portion of its name this weekend and announcing that it won't be carrying the
iPhone 4, instead concentrating on its high-end line of Android devices that it's done an admirable job of building up lately. We can't speak to the validity of the iPhone stuff, but we're starting to believe the rest now that we've been independently tipped on a new branding campaign that'll focus on the tagline "Rule the Air." Interestingly, it would seem that changing the name to Verizon risks confusing the company with one of its two corporate parents -- Verizon Communications -- which leads us to wonder whether this is a sign that Vodafone could be getting close to relinquishing control of its sizable minority share after
years of speculation. Regardless, it looks like the bright red theme ain't going anywhere. More on this as it develops.
[Thanks, The Geek]
Update: We have it on good authority now that there will be no official name change from Verizon Wireless to Verizon -- the only thing that's changing is the use of new logos that lack the "Wireless" portion of the name.
posted June 25th 2010 12:24PM
I think they do need to announce that they are not going to ever have the iphone because there are probably a lot of customers holding off on pulling the trigger on an DI or the new X because they are still hoping against hope that the iphone comes to the big V.
ahhh so
"Rule the Air." Is Verizon going to war on behalf of Winston Churchill? Let's kill some Nazis.
Why does Verizon still charge for visual voicemail? It's always been free on AT&T. $3 a month. Come on now
Wow, I work for VZW and nobody here knows anything about this. Great communication!
LTE coming soon to a city near you....well, if you have big red that is
Thank you Verizon for giving us superphones rather than a toy thats just a step above a BlackBerry. Your customers are smart enough to know how to use powerful features despite what some may try to tell you.
I don't understand these 2010 slogos just as many others don't. AT&Ts "Rethink Possible"? Verizon's "Rule the World"? What's Sprint's slogan?
Honestly it's new branding on top of old smokescreens. Everything is still the same.
Didn't VZW turn down carrying the first iphone due to some bugs and apples proprietary everything?
Android and Google is not a bad outfit to have on your side.
@scrub175
No, Verizon refused to agree to Apple's pricing requirements for included services, specifically the $20/month unlimited data plan with 2090 free texts, and they refused to upgrade their 3G network to support concurrent voice and data within an acceptable timeframe. Cingular agreed to all this and more, plus deployment of an all new visual voicemail system (yea, forgot that was an Apple idea, didn't you), and Verizon also insisted on the inclusion of numerous fee based services and crap-ware they used on other devices, which Apple refused to allow (namely, the ability to e-mail pics from the camera for free instead of using MMS for a fee)
@zelannii spin it how you would like. A simple google search says otherwise. I can't speak to board room dealslike you. Bottom line is I no longer need an iphone with the droid handsets. It would have been nice to own an iphone but like technology I have moved on.
AT&T 3G coverage really sucks ! It is tiny. Look at the maps comparing Verizon & AT&T 3G coverage.
@hdtravel Overlay a population map over the AT&T 3G coverage map, and 97% of the homes and businesses in america are covered. So, Verizon has an advantage in the middle of the desert, who gives two shits.
I travel all over the southeast and east coast in general. I have had an iPhone since the price dropped to $200. I've also had either a Verizon or sprint phone with me at all times (from work), and until very recently my wife was on her Mom's Verizon plan as well. I've dropped maybe 15 calls in nearly 3 years. The wife, and my other phones would have no signal in LOTS of places My iPhone at least had Edge, and I rarely if ever am on edge at all (upgraded to a 3G the day I could). I've been to DC, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Cleveland, Hartford, Raliegh, Charlotte, Atlanta, and more and had NO ISSUES with AT&T, but did in almost all cases with Verizon. I've not been to NYC with my iPhone recently, but I understand there and in SF, it is NOT AT&T's fault, it's the FCCs. The airspace is saturated, which means NO NEW TOWERS, period, there's nothing AT&T can do until June 2011.
On freeways, and in big town, yea, 3G on verizon is typically available. Phones drop calls anytime you move to a partner network from a Verizon owned and operated tower, I rarely have that issue with the iPhone and AT&T. Get inside of a hotel room, 7 in 10, my iPhone works with 3 or more bars, and Verizon does not at all unless I can see the tower from the building. (walk outside every-thing's fine, but that's not exactly ideal for a road-based IT contractor who needs a broadband connection and a clear call without wind (or rain) to help support a customer at 2AM...)
Verizon also had ass backward billing processes, we had numerous contract disputes, terminating service took multiple tries when we finally left them (kept getting bills even though we had no active devices, and the termination fee on the bill was wrong), and we constantly were paying overages.
AT&T has not only been a cheaper and much more reliable service, 3G data is faster, 3G is more reliable, and the BIG reason, I can get e-mail and use GPS while on a support call.... I can even tether while on a call. That is simply not possible on Verizon, and even if they fixed their billing issues, hired people who are generally nice (I got a LOT of rude verizon people when I tried to call them for support), I simply can not go back until they implement data/voice concurrency, period.
A map is a Map. It tells you nothing without correlating data on what actually is NOT in the coverage area. Also, go outside AT&T's map, odds are there's a partner network you can still connect to. Go outside Verizon's (and I can name 5 places within 25 miles of here Verizon gets no bars, and that's outdoors), and you;re lucky to connect to anything.
@zelannii FYI in NYC they are adding carriers (channels) thye just finished 3rd carrier about to do 4th then on to LTE my friend works for Alcatel who does all they optimizations for them ... Nj is getting #rd carrier by the end of summer then 4th also so their will be 2 1900 channels and one 850 .... so dont say FCC said its saturated
@zelannii
"Overlay a population map over the AT&T 3G coverage map, and 97% of the homes and businesses in america are covered."
Wow, way to tow a company line. Except you're wrong. Ever notice how AT&T only says they cover 97%, they NEVER say that it's 3G coverage (here's a hint, they're including 2G-only areas to get that number).
"On freeways, and in big town, yea, 3G on verizon is typically available. Phones drop calls anytime you move to a partner network from a Verizon owned and operated tower, I rarely have that issue with the iPhone and AT&T".
Doesn't happen in rural Missouri moving into suburban St. Louis. Both my Droid and an Alias 2 moved from the 'US Cellular' towers to Verizon with no hiccups, going both directions.
"Get inside of a hotel room, 7 in 10, my iPhone works with 3 or more bars, and Verizon does not at all unless I can see the tower from the building."
Just plain wrong.
" we constantly were paying overages. "
Well that happens if you don't choose the right plan. If you constantly go over rollover doesn't save you either.
"AT&T has not only been a cheaper and much more reliable service, 3G data is faster, 3G is more reliable",
They are both the SAME price. And reliable AT&T is not, there are concrete numbers proving otherwise.
"I simply can not go back until they implement data/voice concurrency, period. "
I agree it sucks, but LTE will soon fix it.
"Also, go outside AT&T's map, odds are there's a partner network you can still connect to. Go outside Verizon's (and I can name 5 places within 25 miles of here Verizon gets no bars, and that's outdoors), and you;re lucky to connect to anything."
Both companies include partner networks on their maps. AT&T tends to go the extra step in negotiations though to keep the parter's name off your phone display so you still think you're on an AT&T tower (smart move). In other words, you're incredibly unlikely to be able to connect to anything outside EITHER map.
@zelannii
You do know all the cities you listed by Hartford are major cities. Its really no feat to have 3G in a major city especially in 2010. The fact that makes Verizon's 3G coverage the best is that you can be in the middle of nowhere and still get 3G. While on AT&T you have to be in the middle of a large city.
Also Lol at AT&T being cheaper and more reliable. When I had my iPhone 3G I paid $90 a month. Now I have a Droid with the same kind of plan (450 minutes, unlimited txt, and unlimited data) I pay $90 a month. Yeah so much cheaper /sarcasm As far as it being more reliable. My iPhone always use to drop calls, can't say my Droid ever does. I live in San Diego btw.
@zelannii
"I've been to DC, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Cleveland, Hartford, Raliegh, Charlotte, Atlanta, and more "
I hate to tell you but I live in Charlotte with Verizon never had a dropped call since Ive been with them(many years). I have also traveled to Cleveland, raliegh, Atlanta and more I have also been traveling through the Appalachian Mtns and could make a call. My uncle broke down in New Mexico in the middle of the desert and could call for help. Something his work(AT&T) phone couldn't do. Verizon saves lives, since I know your wrong about these facts I take your entire statement as false as well.
This has already started evidence, http://grab.by/58Jd, an add on yahoo sports no longer says Verizon wireless, but instead just verizon
It was a sad day when they dropped GTE. I always though GTE was much better brand, and logo.
@Critic2029 I liked the name, though I thought the logo could use a refresh.
@Shinzakura
I don't know, I kinda liked the sort of 80's retro-future look of the logo. Like Epcot or a classic Sony.
I knew that report of Pegatron making a CDMA iphone was 100% bullshit.
@DoctarPeppar
lol its unsubstantiated on both ends so calling bullshit a little early there.
Can we cancel our contract now since they changed there name, or is it only if the change the contract ?
@kid300 Please just hush. You're just embarrassing yourself. And I'm an iPhone user.
The whining on both sides are annoying. Competition is good, so enjoy the phone of your choice and stop degrading the ones that didn't go your way, elitist tools.
As far as the actual topic, interested to see the new campaign but I wish they would streamline the name to just "Verizon" ...no one actually says "Verizon Wireless" these days.
^^ er, "is" not "are"
Logo fail.. they should remove that massive check mark
Big news, the company everyone calls Verizon is called Verizon.
Gawd I can't wait till my AT&T contract is up.
Did the logos ever say "Verizon Wireless" on them? On my Incredible, it just has the "Verizon" name next to the obnoxious oversized V.
I'm really glad that Verizon is making this move with Android and fully embracing it. Go Android!
I like the name Vodafone better if they want to go with that and leave the verizon name for prepaid...
This site has turned up lame. VZW to announce iPhone. VZW to announce no iPhone. VZW to change branding. VZW will not change branding. Wow.
@hitdog042
Rumors are to be taken with a grain of salt, and a spoonful of sugar to help with the pain.
Well, what were you expecting?
All because Comcast came up with a lame name for their cable service doesn't mean that Verizon should.
You all are missing the point...."Rule the Air" has nothing to do with VZ.... it is the customer that rules...
Verizon's arrogance rules the air.
http://www.deadzones.com/2010/06/verizons-arrogance-now-rules-air.html
Verizon: RULE THE AIR
Me: I HATE RULER
I think there was another group with that color scheme and a similar slogan.....communist Russia anyone I think there slogan was "rule the world" though.
Verizon FIOS, phone, and DSL is being transferred to Frontier Communications in many parts of the US.
I don't know about you guys but i've been with att almost 5 years and I've had one dropped call. Never had any problems with their service. I live in New York but I also stay in parts of ohio, North Carolina, and other smaller states.
Yeah lately Verizon has been trying to get away from the Verizon wireless name and move toward just Verizon maybe just to make it more simple for customers so they don't really care about the difference between Verizon communications and VZW I highly doubt that vodafone would give up VZW since it dose need the coverage in the US that VZW has....I actually got an advertisement of a poster that had that logo on it today in my store ...I thought it was kinda stupid lookin
I doubt they'll announce that they wont get the IP4. What would they have to gain by announcing that? They don't let you in on secrets to make your life easier (i.e. decision to bail VZ to go to ATT for IP4), thats not how they fly. Wont happen. Will they get IP4? Who knows.