Wall Street Journal: Verizon to Get iPhone

[BenG]

Verizon will make the announcement at an event on Tuesday.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...ghtMostPopular

Also:
Verizon Could Bring Apple Millions of iPhone Users

[elemenoP]

woo hoo! See you guys on Feb 10!

- Verizon Customer

[Maggie Leung]

Glad to hear it. It would be great if U.S. cell customers could pick all their devices and carriers separately.

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Glad to hear it. It would be great if U.S. cell customers could pick all their devices and carriers separately.

you aren't kidding there. I was just working on a potential post that given my past coupld days with my new 32gb iPod Touch 4th Gen. that I would love a SIM card slot. It then dawned on me that is an iPhone but then it reminded me the reason I don't ever want a cell phone again until the device makers begin to offer the buyer the option to just grab a SIM card from the provider of their choice rather than a one-size-fits-all. We in the US are really buggered by the Cellco's and the broadband providers. I know I could be happy to pay an extra $50 for the flexibility. I don't see why the device makers and Cellco's could not work out deals similar to how things are now only letting the buyer choose which provider works best for us. Of course that would place the burden on the service providers to genuinely compete for customers based on their service rather than the quality of the device being used to access their network. Can't have that now, can we?

BTW, I completely adore this 4th gen Touch, it is my first Apple product since an Apple II and a Newton. I see now why people love their iPhone even with the closed door way of doing things.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by snipenekkid

you aren't kidding there. I was just working on a potential post that given my past coupld days with my new 32gb iPod Touch 4th Gen. that I would love a SIM card slot. It then dawned on me that is an iPhone but then it reminded me the reason I don't ever want a cell phone again until the device makers begin to offer the buyer the option to just grab a SIM card from the provider of their choice rather than a one-size-fits-all. We in the US are really buggered by the Cellco's and the broadband providers. I know I could be happy to pay an extra $50 for the flexibility. I don't see why the device makers and Cellco's could not work out deals similar to how things are now only letting the buyer choose which provider works best for us. Of course that would place the burden on the service providers to genuinely compete for customers based on their service rather than the quality of the device being used to access their network. Can't have that now, can we?

BTW, I completely adore this 4th gen Touch, it is my first Apple product since an Apple II and a Newton. I see now why people love their iPhone even with the closed door way of doing things.

Choice would come at a price, more than $50 extra. Hardware makers expect to make money. They don't care whether the carrier pays or you and I pay, but there's no free lunch. Without a carrier subsidy, consumers would have to pay hundreds for smart phones and tablets, out of pocket.

The best scenario is what's offered in parts of Europe and Asia, for instance. People who can't pay upfront can opt for subsidized hardware with carrier contracts; people who can afford hardware out of pocket would pay for it.

To some extent, that's happening with some devices in the U.S., as with the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Upfront without a contract, you pay $499. With a contract, you pay upward of $299, last I checked.

[vonCZ]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Choice would come at a price, more than $50 extra.

I'm not so sure. Here in the Czech Republic the 3 major carriers--tMobile, 02, and Vodafone--started selling iPhones the middle of last year. Each of the carriers offers similar purchase options to those found in the US: you can pay full price for the iPhone with no contract, or pay a reduced/subsidized price if you also agree to a contract. Frankly, I have no idea why Apple chose to work with AT&T exclusively in the US; but here in CZ the phones are unlocked and they work with any carrier. I suspect this has actually helped reduce the iPhone asking price due to the competition betwixt carriers ('cause no one has a monopoly a la AT&T).

Anyway, my point is: carriers can subsidize phone prices regardless of whether or not they've a monopoly on said phones.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by vonCZ

I'm not so sure. Here in the Czech Republic the 3 major carriers--tMobile, 02, and Vodafone--started selling iPhones the middle of last year. Each of the carriers offers similar purchase options to those found in the US: you can pay full price for the iPhone with no contract, or pay a reduced/subsidized price if you also agree to a contract. Frankly, I have no idea why Apple chose to work with AT&T exclusively in the US; but here in CZ the phones are unlocked and they work with any carrier. I suspect this has actually helped reduce the iPhone asking price due to the competition betwixt carriers ('cause no one has a monopoly a la AT&T).

Anyway, my point is: carriers can subsidize phone prices regardless of whether or not they've a monopoly on said phones.

Please reread my post. I mentioned the scenario you posted. The cost I mentioned would be the difference you'd pay for hardware upfront if you wanted to avoid a carrier contract (choice).

[tubemonkey]

Why buy an iPhone 4 in February when iPhone 5 will be out in June?

[leebase]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Why buy an iPhone 4 in February when iPhone 5 will be out in June?

Why buy an Android phone in February when a new one will be out in March?

Lee

[leebase]

AT&T and Verizon use different technology. So if you paid $600 for your iPhone, you still couldn't decide to switch from AT&T to Verizon or vice versa. If you buy an unsubsidized phone you aren't bound to a 2 year agreement, but you do still pay the same service/data prices. So $400 (the amount of the subsidy) is the price you pay to stay on the same network. It's a good deal, IMHO.

Lee

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by leebase

Why buy an Android phone in February when a new one will be out in March?

Lee

Exactly! Why?

[ReadOnlyyy]

iphones or androids - both grow like mushrooms :P

[leebase]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Exactly! Why?

Because you want one There is always something better/cheaper/faster going to come out. If it matters to you to have "the best", then I recommend getting an Apple right after they are released, then at least you have a year of having "the best Apple phone".



Lee