verizon posts

It's something we've heard for years now. "If the Verizon offered the iPhone, there would be a mass exodus from AT&T." According to one survey, the exodus might not be so massive.

BusinessInsider reports on a survey conducted by Credit Suisse that asked an unspecified number of iPhone users who they would select as a carrier if they could abandon AT&T. Just 23% -- less than one quarter -- said they'd jump ship to Verizon. Additionally, another 3% would move over to Sprint while a whopping 2% would choose T-Mobile.

Of course, this means that 63% of iPhone users surveyed would stay put with AT&T. Credit Suisse crunched the numbers and figured out that 23% of users represents about 1.4 million customers who are willing to switch to Verizon. Personally, I live in a moderate coverage area, so I'd have trouble no matter who I'm with.

How about you? Are you ready to switch?

[Via AppleInsider]

It's Friday, and that must mean Verizon-on-the-iPhone rumor time. This one comes from the SyFy Network's DVICE blog of all places and is all about the hardware. They're claiming that an "inside source" has provided some specs on a new Verizon handset.

According to DVICE's source, the iPhone will feature a larger screen than what the iPhone 4 has, as well as an internal antenna (we imagine that's a bit of a sore spot with Apple these days). They also report that Verizon "insisted" on an internal antenna.

As for the display, expect something like 3.7 inches. Finally, DVICE suggests that a zippy 1.2GHz chip will run the whole thing. It's all speculation, folks, so keep that in mind. Do you buy it?

Hey remember when AT&T's awkward CEO (then Cingular CEO) joined Steve Jobs in 2007 at Macworld with his awesome notecards and stilted announcement of exclusivity for the iPhone? Yeah, that and thousands of dropped calls later should have been a big, red warning to you conspiracy theorists that some day the iPhone would free itself from the big blue clutches of AT&T. Of course it'll happen, it's always been a matter of when. And every site in the tech universe yet again buzzes with the name Verizon this weekend as various tea leaves have been read to suggest January as a date. Maybe. Pencil it in, among the dozens of other rumored days/years/epochs, so you can start queueing up for something that hasn't even been announced.

Except, not really. TechCrunch makes a rather uneducated guess as to a January launch -- except that it'd be months before the usual summer announcement that hovers over WWDC these past few years. That and Apple doesn't attend Macworld any more (insert world's biggest eye roll here). Their guess is based on a big rumored order of CDMA chips -- although commenters point out this could be for a Chinese carrier. Engadget has a more nebulous date of "maybe someday" given the Q2 earnings report from AT&T which vaguely states that they'll still be making money once "these exclusivity arrangements end." I don't know how many exclusive phones AT&T has (all are highly death-grippable, I'm sure), but let's think of at least one runaway hit that could potentially ding their bottom line and dream, shall we?

Personally I'm not betting anything until Verizon rolls out their LTE network quite a bit. iPhone on T-Mobile makes more sense at this point. Why? Currently on Verizon's 3G network you can't have a phone conversation and use data at the same time. No way is Apple going to downgrade the functionality of their phone just for the sake of "more" customers. In case you haven't followed the company for 20 years, here's the deal: they care more about making customers happy than getting more customers. This "secret sauce" that companies like Microsoft, Sony and Dell can't fathom will play out in this cellular phone market as well. Once Verizon provides a better experience than AT&T, we'll certainly see a Verizon iPhone. Unless Verizon insists on the bloaty crapware and big honkin' V they put on all their phones -- that could further delay such a deal.

Wired has just published a lengthy article that outlines the often uncomfortable partnership between Apple and AT&T. The overall thread of the article isn't anything new. Apple isn't happy with AT&T's flimsy network infrastructure; meanwhile, AT&T, though certainly happy with the increased profits it's gained thanks to the iPhone, feels as though Apple hasn't held up its end of the whole "partnership" angle, since Apple is insisting that AT&T solve its network problems on its own.

What's most interesting and entertaining about the article are some of the anecdotes. Within a few months of the iPhone's introduction in 2007, AT&T, finding itself pummelled by unprecedented demands on its network, met with Apple and tried to get the company to put some data-sipping restrictions on the device. AT&T wanted YouTube to run only over Wi-Fi, run at lower resolution, or restrict videos to a minute of playback. Apple flat-out refused. "No, we are not going to mess up the consumer experience on the iPhone to make your network tenable," said an Apple employee (according to Wired). When AT&T threatened to escalate the matter to its executives, Apple staffers said, "Fine, we'll escalate it to Steve and see who wins."

Apparently, an AT&T rep once suggested that Steve Jobs wear a business suit to a meeting with AT&T's board of directors. The response? "We're Apple. We don't wear suits. We don't even own suits." At the same time, Steve Jobs considered severing ties with AT&T only a few months after the iPhone's launch. Only two things kept Apple from dropping AT&T in 2007: the iPhone would have needed to be redesigned completely in order to function on Verizon's CDMA network, and it was also unlikely that Verizon would handle the additional data load any better than AT&T had.
As an international iPhone user, my own experience with AT&T has been mercifully brief and limited to them telling me that they wouldn't allow me to get a prepaid SIM so that I could use my New Zealand iPhone in the US for two weeks. After reading the Wired piece (which is an intriguing read and highly recommended), I still can't say that I'm sympathetic toward AT&T. I will say that it seems like any US carrier who tied itself to the iPhone in 2007 would likely have found itself in the same state as AT&T. AT&T's profits are up, but its reputation is circling the drain, ... and its image is unlikely to recover anytime soon.

Just as every new day is met with a rising sun, every Apple event elicits rumors of an iPhone carried by Verizon. Some believe that a Verizon-compatible iPhone already exists and is merely waiting for a deal to be finalized.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg suggested that Verizon would debut its iPhone offering in January of 2011. AT&T has been the exclusive iPhone carrier it the US since its introduction in 2007. January is another six months away. What would be keeping this deal from going through?

John Gruber of Daring Fireball believes it's not the hardware. You'll remember when Steve Jobs revealed that "...Mac OS X has been leading a secret, double life," and he announced the move to Intel chips. John believes that a Verizon-compatible iPhone has been quietly existing at Apple, receiving the same refinements and improvements as its brother on AT&T.

The Loop's Jim Dalrymple agrees with John, adding that ongoing negotiations are the current stalling point. "It's reasonable to assume," Jim writes, "that the two companies are in negotiations and the Bloomberg article is just another negotiating tactic, but I don't think a deal has been signed."

Of course, they're both right. It wouldn't make any sense for Apple to finalize a deal with Verizon and then run around like a bunch of headless chickens to get a piece of hardware out the door. Speaking of that deal, Apple is in a great position. The iPhone continues to sell phenomenally well, and since the beginning fans have expressed an interest in the iPhone on Verizon.

Steve Jobs is notorious for hard-line negotiations. It's reasonable to assume that's where the Verizon deal is currently mired.

[Another possibility is that the Verizon iPhone in the underground labs is an LTE/CDMA hybrid device, and Verizon would use it as the flagship 4G phone for the network in the same way that Sprint is currently promoting the EVO 4G Android phone. –Ed.]

That iPhone on Verizon rumor just won't die -- Bloomberg is now reporting that we'll see an iPhone on Verizon's service in January of next year. "Two people familiar with the plans" say that AT&T exclusivity will finally end next year, and analysts say that if that happens, Apple will sell lots more iPhones, up to 3 million more per quarter to Verizon's 90 million or so customers.

Of course there's no comment by Apple or Verizon so far, and I'll point out that we've heard this rumor time and time and time again -- first back in January of this year, then for the new iPhone 4 announcement and WWDC, and now pushed off until next year. Basically, don't hold your breath. It wouldn't be bad to get away from the often complaint-worthy service at AT&T, but if Apple hasn't seen fit to end exclusivity so far (and don't forget that we're still seeing record iPhone sales), why would it do so next year?

Here's a mod for everyone crying into their Rice Krispies because the iPad isn't on Verizon. Someone at the Dish Network Store has taken apart a Verizon MiFi and crammed its brain into a 3G iPad (after removing the AT&T parts, of course). The result is a Verizon-powered iPad that's also a mobile hotspot called the "iPiFi."

The MiFi's innards are narrower than the iPad's AT&T parts, but also taller. Getting it in place meant removing a portion of the iPad's speaker assembly. The modder claims that the effect on sound quality was minimal, and we can only take his word on it.

Those of you with a MiFi know that it shuts itself off after 30 minutes of inactivity. How would or soldering superhero deal with that? Why, install a simple switch from Radio Shack and poke it through the slot meant for a SIM card, of course. Now the iPiFi's connectivity can be restarted with the flick of a fingernail.

Still, two problems remained. One was the MiFi's blinding green power indicator light, which was visible through the display. That was easily removed with needlenose pliers. Finally, the MiFi was connected to the iPad's internal antenna which provides plenty of reach.

That's all cool, but what has he lost? His warranties, for one. GPS is also out the window. But those are small prices to pay for such a cool mod. An iPad that provides Wi-Fi connectivity for itself and four other devices? Yes, please.

Bad news about the AT&T iPad data plans got you down? Want to grasp at any strings you can about a possible Verizon announcement next week? We've got just the thing for you: Boy Genius Report says that Verizon is currently testing iPads out on their network. Rumor has it that they've got CDMA-compatible models running on the network right now, and they're checking them for stability and performance.

Of course, a rumor is a rumor, and despite from the constant speculation and endless denials by both AT&T and Apple, there's no indication that Verizon is getting their own iPhones, much less an alternate deal for the iPad. But with WWDC going down next week and customers frustrated with AT&T's plans, the time might be ripe for Verizon to provide an alternative.

If the rumors are true and Verizon does eventually get to carry the iPhone, AT&T's CEO should probably be a little more worried than he is. Analyst Drake Johnstone says that if Verizon does carry Apple's smartphone, 40% of its customers are likely ready to jump ship for another carrier. That's 6 million of AT&T's estimated 15 million customers, all yearning to break free of their bonds to AT&T.

That sounds high to me, and indeed, Johnstone admits that, as time goes on, that number will probably be much lower. Not only are AT&T's plans tough to get out of (and therefore not really worth the trouble to switch), but even if you do, they've just upped their termination fees, which will put another roadblock in the way. And Johnstone also says that AT&T's coverage is getting better by the day, so by the time Verizon does have the iPhone, AT&T's technical problems might not be so bad.

Even if the number isn't quite as high as 40%, iPhone exclusivity has been a huge boon for AT&T in the past, and losing it won't be good for the company. If Apple announces a Verizon deal later this year, investors will be keeping a huge watch on what AT&T ends up dealing with.

Likely rumor or an AT&T customer's wishful thinking? The rumor that won't die is the end of AT&T's iPhone exclusivity in the US. We've heard the name "Verizon" bandied about, but this time it's Sprint's turn.

According to The Tech Update, a Best Buy employee sent their editors an email that CONFIRMS (in all caps no less, so it must be true) that Sprint will carry the iPhone this summer. He also expects in-store displays to confirm the change within "...a week or two." From the email:

"...our mobile manager speculates that Apple wanted to drop AT&T due to their poor service but managed to opt-out of the rest of their contract in exchange for the iPad service deal."

The "evidence" in this case points to an email which could have come from any old schmoe, really. The fact is none of us know what will happen with the iPhone in the US. Here's what we can assume: First, Apple entered into a contract with AT&T. Eventually, that contract will end and when it does, both parties will assess their experience. At that time, a change may or may not be made. For all we know, we'll be sending iSmoke signals in July.

Patience, grasshopper. All will be revealed.

That's the word from AT&T honcho Ralph de la Vega this morning at a JPMorgan tech conference, as reported by Business Insider. Now Ralphie is not sayin' Verizon will get the iPhone, but he thinks if they do it will have a minimal impact.

He told the crowd that switching carriers is a tough thing for many customers to do. He said that 70% of AT&T customers are on family plans, which are tough to get out of. He also said that 40% of AT&T customers are on corporate discount plans, which can be a pain to let go of.

AT&T has been the exclusive source for the iPhone for the last 3 years, while Apple has often moved to multiple carriers overseas. The majority of AT&T complaints have been dropped calls, poor signal strength, and the lack of tethering, which was promised but hasn't been delivered as yet. It appears to be built into the soon to be released iPhone OS 4, but having the capability and turning it on are two different things.

Survey after survey shows customers unhappy with AT&T, and the company has responded with some increased expenditures in cities that had really bad reception issues and a re-branding.

Would Apple add Verizon to get existing Verizon customers who want the iPhone, thinking that most AT&T customers will stay with what they have? How about you? Would you ditch AT&T for Verizon, even if you had a family plan or corporate discounts?

In a country seemingly obsessed with the question "When is Verizon going to get the iPhone?," it's surprising that AT&T's exclusive iPhone deal with Apple has lasted this long. A post in Computerworld today quotes Wall Street analyst Brian Marshall of BroadPoint AmTech, who believes that AT&T squeezed another 6 months of exclusive iPhone rights out of Apple by agreeing to provide iPad users with 3G data plans at 50% of their normal cost.

Marshall and many other analysts expected AT&T's iPhone monopoly to end this summer, but now agree that it will be at least the first quarter of 2011 before Verizon gets a chance to sell the hot Apple smartphone. Many sources had told Marshall that Verizon would land the iPad data plan deal, something that of course did not happen. AT&T offered no-contract, cut-rate deals on data plans for the iPad, and that unprecedented step got Marshall thinking about an AT&T / Apple deal.

AT&T and Apple have not replied to requests for comments on the alleged deal.

[via MacRumors]

Boy Genius has the news that AT&T has blacked out the month of June for employee vacations in their stores. In the past, they've done exactly that when, oh, say, a brand new iPhone launches. So it's possible that we could see a new iPhone out and ready to go even before it's expected in July of this year.

Of course, we know that iPhone OS 4.0 is due out sometime soon, and because the new OS features will only work on the current 3GS model so far, it's not a stretch to think that Apple is prepping a brand new iPhone. A new handset has long been rumored to work on Verizon's network, but this would suggest that even if it is spread across multiple carriers, AT&T will have it for sure.

We'll keep our eyes open as usual, but if you were planning to buy an iPhone and can wait until June for a new model, that's probably a good idea.

Stung by Verizon ads, and a slew of unhappy customers, AT&T is doing what most companies with image problems do: Fix their problems. Get a new logo. A new color scheme. New ads.

"All of our communications across all of these channels is 'Rethink Possible' and this integration of design," Esther Lee, AT&T's senior vice president for brand marketing and advertising, said in an interview with Advertising Age magazine. It's reported that AT&T, which is one of the country's five biggest advertisers, spent $1.87 billion on marketing and advertising last year.

The new company slogan, "Rethink Possible" is supposed to alert us that nothing is impossible if you are an AT&T customer. Right. I'm really enjoying that tethering. I guess "expanding the boundaries of 'can'" actually adds in a few values of "cannot."

One good outcome of all of this is that the Luke Wilson ads will be going away. AT&T still seems tight with Apple, but if the iPhone does wind up going to Verizon then things might rapidly change. I've really never understood these re-branding exercises. Me: "Hey Mary, I know you hate AT&T but they have a new logo now." Mary: "Great, I'm going to drop my Verizon plan today and hook up with AT&T. And the color changes? Breathtaking!"

You can get some samples of the new campaign at the AT&T website. I'm glad to hear how much AT&T is spending to upgrade its network. It still doesn't work in my house, but of course AT&T is quite happy to sell me a hardware doo-dad so that I can use my own internet bandwidth to get access to the AT&T network. Thanks for that one.

Almost since the day it was revealed to the public, American customers have been clamoring for the iPhone to be made available on Verizon's network. Many potential iPhone buyers have cited their distaste for AT&T as their primary reason for not jumping on the iPhone train, and the chant has been relentless for almost three years now: "We want the iPhone on Verizon!"

One more voice has joined that chorus: the CEO of Verizon, Ivan Seidenberg, told Apple outright that Verizon wants to carry the iPhone on its network. Nothing coy about it: if Apple will build it, Verizon will come. This is a complete 180 from Verizon's stance in 2005, when Verizon rejected Apple's iPhone offer, saying they couldn't come to a deal that was "mutually beneficial." Seidenberg reportedly brought up his overtures to Apple following the recent Wall Street Journal report on the forthcoming Verizon iPhone. This could mean a couple of things: either there's no Verizon deal yet and the Journal's report was premature speculation, or there is a deal in progress, but the final details have yet to be hammered out.

Verizon has very likely spent the past three years kicking itself over its rejection of the iPhone three years ago. Here's hoping a Verizon-Apple deal does eventually come to fruition. It would be a big win for both companies, but more importantly, it would be an even bigger win for US customers.

[Via MacRumors]