Verizon Takes Aim At iPhone - Hints at October 30 for Android 'Droid' launch

Verizon Takes Aim At iPhone - Hints at October 30 for Android 'Droid' launch
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Verizon Takes Aim At iPhone
Hints at October 30 for Android 'Droid' launch
08:41AM Monday Oct 19 2009 by Karl Bode
tags: competition · business · wireless

A few weeks ago Verizon began taking aim at AT&T and Apple by running a suite of ads that mocked AT&T's loose 3G coverage. The company also announced they'd soon be offering new android-based phones. As part of their promotion for the new phones, Verizon's launched a new countdown clock that marks October 30 as a date to watch, though they don't say whether that's a launch date or a date for further announcements. They've also cooked up this spot that takes competitive jabs at what the iPhone doesn't do. The Boy Genius Report has an early hands on look at the new "Droid," so you can make up your own mind.

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crazyk4952 @ 19th Oct 08:47AM:
Greedy Verizon

Verizon is just mad that they said "no" to Apple in the first place.

If they really want to have something that competes with the iPhone, they had better make their Android phones a lot less clunky than the G1 and G2.

Or here's another idea: make the monthly price for the data service cheaper than what AT&T charges for the iPhone (or wait...this is greedy Verizon we are talking about that likes to nickel and dime their customers!).
reply

TKJunkMail @ 19th Oct 08:54AM:
The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by crazyk4952 :

If they really want to have something that competes with the iPhone, they had better make their Android phones a lot less clunky than the G1 and G2.

And this is supposed to be just that. Faster, slimmer, bigger screen(3.7 in.), better camera, newer Android OS version, etc than any Android phone yet released.

Pics here, looks good:
»www.boygeniusreport.com/gallery/···a-droid/
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nixen @ 19th Oct 08:57AM:
Data Only?

I know it won't happen, but still wish that it would. I'm a VZW customer, and fairly satisfied with them, but, the first company that offers data-only, such that voice could be replaced with VOIP service, and I'll jump, immediately.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
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moonpuppy @ 19th Oct 09:04AM:
The ONLY thing good I can see out of this....

....is more apps for Android devices. With Verizon pushing this, the apps store might get quite a few more entries.

The bad things:

- Verizon wanting to exert a lot of control.

- Verizon only apps.

- Lockdown of a lot of normal features.

Only time will tell how Verizon reacts.
reply

Telco_Tech @ 19th Oct 09:09AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by TKJunkMail :

Pics here, looks good:
»www.boygeniusreport.com/gallery/···a-droid/

I'm not so sure. Based on those pics it looks kinda cheap and "plastic-ey". Of course the OS will be the real star of the show, so I'm interested to see how VZ + Moto will set themselves apart from everyone else's Android offering.

For now, I'm content with my Pre. Even with all its imperfections it's still a heck of a phone, and between community mods and official updates, my complaints are starting to get whittled down. Still, I'm always keeping an eye on the Android scene for something truly game changing to emerge.

- Tate

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obeythelaw @ 19th Oct 09:11AM:
They try

Everyone is trying to come out with the phone to beat the iPhone. But it hasn't happened yet. This past weekend, I was showing a couple of non tech people my iPhone. They were amazed at the ease of use over their blackberries. That's where the iPhone really shines. The software literally makes it easy to use every feature on the iPhone. Yeah, somethings like true multitasking can't be done, but the average person doesn't know or care about that and that's why AT&T and Apple have solidified the smartphone market with the iPhone. It will be very hard to beat the iPhone.
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anon @ 19th Oct 10:06AM:
Re: Data Only?

said by nixen :

I know it won't happen, but still wish that it would. I'm a VZW customer, and fairly satisfied with them, but, the first company that offers data-only, such that voice could be replaced with VOIP service, and I'll jump, immediately.

»www.phonenews.com/sprint-embrace···ns-9245/
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Telco_Tech @ 19th Oct 09:14AM:
Re: Data Only?

Give it time. As Karl has said many times before, this is the natural evolution of communications (both wired and wireless in my opinion). That outfit Zer01 sounded promising but it looks like that whole thing was a scam. I believe T-Mo has hybrid phones that can make unlimited calls via WiFi when you're in a cell coverage black hole, and that's definitely a start.

We just have to wait for wireless technology to mature enough to allow low latency communication via cell and then convince the carriers to let go of the whole "minutes" paradigm and we'll be all set!

- Tate

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It's time to let go of TDM people. If it's not IP-based, it's crap!
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Mattie_B @ 19th Oct 09:17AM:
It's a Motorola!

Need I say more? I'd be slightly excited if the Droid wasn't made from a company that makes cheap garbage.
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Telco_Tech @ 19th Oct 09:19AM:
Re: They try

said by obeythelaw :

Yeah, somethings like true multitasking can't be done, but the average person doesn't know or care about that and that's why AT&T and Apple have solidified the smartphone market with the iPhone. It will be very hard to beat the iPhone.

I agree with everything you said; the ease of use and elegant design are very compelling. I don't particularly like Apple but I'd certainly be willing to turn a blind eye to the locked down nature of the iPhone if it weren't an AT&T exclusive. That awful company will never get a cent of my money for wireless or ANY other service. I'll go with carrier pigeon if AT&T ever becomes my only option for communication / entertainment.

- Tate

--
It's time to let go of TDM people. If it's not IP-based, it's crap!
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glinc @ 19th Oct 09:35AM:
Re: They try

True there but the fact that apple milks every penny from a customer is lame, like the FEW features added to the 3GS compared to the 3G and I bet ya the next one they release will come with flash on the camera and will charge crap load of money again.
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Nightfall @ 19th Oct 09:38AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by TKJunkMail :

said by crazyk4952 :

If they really want to have something that competes with the iPhone, they had better make their Android phones a lot less clunky than the G1 and G2.

I want to see some reviews of the product before I make up my mind. There are some fanboys out there saying this phone is equal to the second coming of Christ. Hell, even I waited on the fence for the Iphone 3g to come out before I bought it. If this new phone is in fact that awesome, word will spread quickly. Otherwise, it will just die on the vine like so many other products that have been touted as the next "iphone killer".
--
My domain - Nightfall.net
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Rob @ 19th Oct 09:44AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by TKJunkMail :

Pics here, looks good:
»www.boygeniusreport.com/gallery/···a-droid/

The keyboard reminds me of an old HP calculator. The whole shell of the phone gives me a plastic "cheap" look.

The screen isn't bright and vibrant like the iPhone.

The back is fugly.
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Nightfall @ 19th Oct 09:47AM:
Re: They try

said by Telco_Tech :

I prefer to let the level of service in my area dictate if I want to buy the service or not. Thats just me though. :D
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My domain - Nightfall.net
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Rob @ 19th Oct 09:48AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Nightfall :

said by TKJunkMail :

said by crazyk4952 :

If they really want to have something that competes with the iPhone, they had better make their Android phones a lot less clunky than the G1 and G2.

IMO, there's no way this phone can beat out iPhone. It can be "the killer" phone, but the iPhone has something that the droid doesn't - it has the Apple name behind it.

Like the Pre (which is a great phone, btw), the Droid will just be another "smartphone".
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Rob @ 19th Oct 09:52AM:
Re: They try

said by Telco_Tech :

Meh. I don't like AT&T, but the service with the iPhone has been stellar. The very few times I had to call AT&T, they were prompt and professional. I don't have billing issues. I pay every month, they give me a service every month. Fast 3G network, great voice quality.

(In my best Italian-American Mafia accent), They don't bother me - I don't bother them.

(Yes, I'm Italian).
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anon @ 19th Oct 10:12AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

Hmmm it seems to me Android has a name behind it to! GOOGLE may be the name.
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Nightfall @ 19th Oct 09:57AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

IMO, there's no way this phone can beat out iPhone. It can be "the killer" phone, but the iPhone has something that the droid doesn't - it has the Apple name behind it.

Like the Pre (which is a great phone, btw), the Droid will just be another "smartphone".

Well then I want to see some reviews on the smartphone. I am not married to the Iphone at all due to the apple name. I enjoy the phone because it just works for me.

Will this phone be the next big thing? I have no idea. I am at least willing to read the reviews though. One thing I will not do is start touting the Droid to be the Iphone killer like many fanboys are doing right now.
--
My domain - Nightfall.net
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Eat Me @ 19th Oct 09:59AM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

said by crazyk4952 :

Or here's another idea: make the monthly price for the data service cheaper than what AT&T charges for the iPhone (or wait...this is greedy Verizon we are talking about that likes to nickel and dime their customers!).

What are you talking about? PDA data plans are $30 from Verizon and iPhone plans are $30 from AT&T. They are exactly the same.
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glinc @ 19th Oct 10:01AM:
Re: It's a Motorola!

Agreed. Motorola phones have gone downhill after their big hit with the Razr.
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funchords @ 19th Oct 10:03AM:
Re: They try

said by obeythelaw :

Everyone is trying to come out with the phone to beat the iPhone. But it hasn't happened yet.

I know this "nobody beats the iPhone" question has all the meaning of a dick-size war, but of course the iPhone has been beaten. It was self-defeated.

The iPhone sure ignited the imagination, but on full review it did little that other phones didn't already do. Further, the iPhone had quirks and self-imposed limits that other phones didn't have.

The iPhone is a loser as it was so bad that it drove key members of its audience away to other devices. Read that carefully -- they weren't lured away by something more sexy, it's just that the iPhone + App Store + AT&T = something so bad that geeks who badly wanted to love it couldn't take the heartbreak any longer.
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BetaTron @ 19th Oct 10:04AM:
Re: They try

said by glinc :

True there but the fact that apple milks every penny from a customer is lame, like the FEW features added to the 3GS compared to the 3G and I bet ya the next one they release will come with flash on the camera and will charge crap load of money again.

So true, this is why I still have the 3g iPhone and won't upgrade for a long time.
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funchords @ 19th Oct 10:08AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

but the iPhone has something that the droid doesn't - it has the Apple name behind it.

To me, the Apple brand has continued to mean "cool but expensive and incompatible." Buying a phone because it's Apple-branded is like buying a backpack for the Nike "swoosh." Rather foolish, unless you're really into "swooshes."
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL
Test your Broadband connection today! -- »measurementlab.net/
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funchords @ 19th Oct 10:10AM:
Re: Data Only?

said by SteelerRaw :

»www.phonenews.com/sprint-embrace···ns-9245/

Now that sounds worth checking out!
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL
Test your Broadband connection today! -- »measurementlab.net/
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crazyk4952 @ 19th Oct 10:19AM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

Yes I know that. My point was that if Verizon wants to compete with the iPhone, they should lower the cost of the data plan for their android phones. This would make more people consider switching to the Android.
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NOCMan @ 19th Oct 10:22AM:
Re: They try

said by BetaTron :

So true, this is why I still have the 3g iPhone and won't upgrade for a long time.

Exact reason while I'm dumping the iPhone as soon as there's a viable alternative and I dont have to pay an ETF.
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NeoandGeo @ 19th Oct 10:27AM:
Re: It's a Motorola!

The Razr was one of the worst phones I ever used. The hit was in how cool it looked at the time.
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Eat Me @ 19th Oct 10:33AM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

said by crazyk4952 :

Yes I know that. My point was that if Verizon wants to compete with the iPhone, they should lower the cost of the data plan for their android phones. This would make more people consider switching to the Android.

There are things to compete on other than price. People don't choose the iPhone or any Apple product based on price, therefore it would be foolish to compete against the iPhone on price.
reply

tiger72 @ 19th Oct 10:38AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

said by TKJunkMail :

Pics here, looks good:
»www.boygeniusreport.com/gallery/···a-droid/

The keyboard reminds me of an old HP calculator. The whole shell of the phone gives me a plastic "cheap" look.

The screen isn't bright and vibrant like the iPhone.

The back is fugly.

Supposedly the keyboard isn't finalized. I hope it's not. I like the G1 keyboard much better than that.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara
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tiger72 @ 19th Oct 10:41AM:
Re: The ONLY thing good I can see out of this....

said by moonpuppy :

....is more apps for Android devices. With Verizon pushing this, the apps store might get quite a few more entries.

The bad things:

- Verizon wanting to exert a lot of control.

- Verizon only apps.

- Lockdown of a lot of normal features.

Only time will tell how Verizon reacts.

Non-techies won't notice Verizon's control. Techies can root the phone.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara
reply

nixen @ 19th Oct 10:42AM:
Re: Data Only?

said by Telco_Tech :

We just have to wait for wireless technology to mature enough to allow low latency communication via cell and then convince the carriers to let go of the whole "minutes" paradigm and we'll be all set!

The "minutes" thing has been dying a slow death, as is. Between ulimited "in-network" and "favorites" programs, my wife and I use considerably less than our shared 700 peak minutes. I'd move us to the 1400 "calling circle" plan, but then I'd end up using no minutes - I'd really only need to set GV as one of those numbers and it would take care of ALL my out of "in-network" calling needs.

Besides, if they eventually go "all data", they might be able to canibalize the voice bandwidth and make it data-usable bandwidth, instead.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
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tiger72 @ 19th Oct 10:43AM:
Re: It's a Motorola!

said by Mattie_B :

Need I say more? I'd be slightly excited if the Droid wasn't made from a company that makes cheap garbage.

The Droid is their major attempt to change that image. While I've had far too many Motorola devices die on me for 1 reason or another (a couple razrs, a v330, etc.), the Sholes/Droid might be the first Moto device I'll give a look at in 4 years. They're certainly trying to turn that sinking ship around.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara
reply

nixen @ 19th Oct 10:50AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

IMO, there's no way this phone can beat out iPhone. It can be "the killer" phone, but the iPhone has something that the droid doesn't - it has the Apple name behind it.

Except that, at least in the U.S., the iPhone also has the "AT&T" name on it (and their associated garbage data networks). Seriously, it's the utter craptacularness of AT&T that keeps me from hopping on the iPhone train (well, other things, too, but that's the primary one).
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
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nixen @ 19th Oct 10:52AM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

Dunno: I'm stuck paying $60/mo for voice service plus $30 for data service. If I could get a $70/mo data-only plan and a phone that could do pure VOIP, I'd go that route.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
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Matt @ 19th Oct 11:00AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by TKJunkMail :

said by crazyk4952 :

If they really want to have something that competes with the iPhone, they had better make their Android phones a lot less clunky than the G1 and G2.

It does look good. I hope it has a more vibrant screen and Verizon/Motorola can do something about the clunky Android OS. I am pretty tired of my iPhone and the AT&T network, I'm just waiting for a thin slider like the Droid to be released. Once a compelling phone comes out, we're paying our ETFs and leaving AT&T.
--
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" - Abraham Lincoln
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nixen @ 19th Oct 11:00AM:
Re: Data Only?

said by SteelerRaw :

»www.phonenews.com/sprint-embrace···ns-9245/

Well, f*ck me. Damn.

Now to see if the phone works worth a damn and for reviews on how much of that 5GB gets used up in a typical VOIP + email/web month? As it stands, even with lots of reading of CNN, each way, on the train into and out of work, I don't come anywhere close to my data budget on my VZW phone.

5GB would only equate to about 11hrs of pure VOIP, though.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
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Nightfall @ 19th Oct 11:02AM:
Re: They try

said by funchords :

said by obeythelaw :

Everyone is trying to come out with the phone to beat the iPhone. But it hasn't happened yet.

I read it carefully and I guess I just don't understand your point. The Iphone actually brought in and keeps bringing in subscribers to the AT&T family. Yes, some members of the family are not happy with the service. Yes, some members are not happy with the app store. Yet, these people are not leaving the fold. So it must not be too bad if they are just going to stick with what they have now.
--
My domain - Nightfall.net
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Rob @ 19th Oct 11:07AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by nixen :

said by Rob :

IMO, there's no way this phone can beat out iPhone. It can be "the killer" phone, but the iPhone has something that the droid doesn't - it has the Apple name behind it.

Which brings up another good point. Apple can open up the iPhone to T-Mobile and that would increase the number of iPhone numbers fairly quickly.
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optemino @ 19th Oct 11:09AM:
HAHAHA

if Verizon is keeping to its standards, then i wouldn't be surprised if it ends up looking like a piece of crud... just like all of the other smart phones it offers
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optemino @ 19th Oct 11:11AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

i wouldn't even flinch and hop the AT&T boat for a T-mobile iPhone
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nixen @ 19th Oct 11:12AM:
Re: They try

said by Nightfall :

I read it carefully and I guess I just don't understand your point. The Iphone actually brought in and keeps bringing in subscribers to the AT&T family. Yes, some members of the family are not happy with the service. Yes, some members are not happy with the app store. Yet, these people are not leaving the fold. So it must not be too bad if they are just going to stick with what they have now.

That's hard to say. There are a lot of people - not just/specifically iPhone users - that hate their cell provider but stay with them nonetheless. It's part of the whole 2yr lock-in. But even after that lock-in ends, a lot of people stay just because of inertia and the fact that *all* of the carriers suck in one way or another. Inertia ruled things long before the iPhone and will continue to do so long after. I'd say your assertion that iPhone is what is keeping people is inaccurate, at best.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
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Matt @ 19th Oct 11:12AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

said by nixen :

said by Rob :

IMO, there's no way this phone can beat out iPhone. It can be "the killer" phone, but the iPhone has something that the droid doesn't - it has the Apple name behind it.

Which brings up another good point. Apple can open up the iPhone to T-Mobile and that would increase the number of iPhone numbers fairly quickly.

In my experience, T-Mobile is even worse than AT&T and their network is even smaller.
--
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" - Abraham Lincoln
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cmaenginsb @ 19th Oct 11:14AM:
Re: They try

said by funchords :

said by obeythelaw :

Everyone is trying to come out with the phone to beat the iPhone. But it hasn't happened yet.

LOL, geeks have never been "key members of its audience". Just like with the iPod before it, the iPhone is designed for non-geeks who want a flashy new toy and won't notice how crippled it is compared to other smart phones. Many of the iPhone users I have seen would never have a smart phone in the first place.
--
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jmn1207 @ 19th Oct 11:16AM:
Re: Data Only?

That's Sprint service, so you would have unlimited data using the phone. The 5GB limit is only for tethering and using it as a modem.

I have a BlackBerry Tour and I stream "high quality" Pandora music 20 hours or more each week, use IM Skype in conjunction with my Skype Out/In service, watch several YouTube videos and TV shows, visit my favorite websites daily, receive 100's of emails each week, and usually see about 300-500 text messages on a weekly basis.

My usage tracking typically has me at around 3GB's each week, but I hit nearly 7GB's one month. Not a problem with Sprint. You can even tether your device with 3rd party applications that allow you to hide the fact that you are using your phone as a modem. I don't do this, but it's simple enough to set up.
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bender @ 19th Oct 11:17AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

your wrong and your correct. t-mobile crushes AT&T for customer service. but you are right that their network is smaller.
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bender @ 19th Oct 11:17AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

android is anything but clunky
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optemino @ 19th Oct 11:17AM:
Re: Data Only?

Oh My GOSH!, if the droid REALLY is going to look like that, then Sprint's phone makes it look like a piece of Verizon crud... that $30 data only is sounding awesome though!!

too bad i don't have any SPRINT SIGNAL IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA!
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tiger72 @ 19th Oct 11:19AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Matt :

said by TKJunkMail :

said by crazyk4952 :

If they really want to have something that competes with the iPhone, they had better make their Android phones a lot less clunky than the G1 and G2.

It seems you haven't seen the screenshots of Android 2.0's gui... Social networking built in, etc..

As a matter of fact, almost every new phone to be released since the MyTouch3g will NOT be using a stock Android interface. The Hero interface is very nice imo. In fact, my girlfriend who definitely prefers her iphone to my stock G1, preferred the Hero ROM that I was using to her iPhone (yay widgets!).

»www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/···through/
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara
reply

Nightfall @ 19th Oct 11:28AM:
Re: They try

said by nixen :

I suppose we could debate the reasons. The data showing a growing subscriber base and even more importantly, an Iphone subscriber base, cannot be denied. If AT&T's network was that bad, I doubt people would be paying for this product. At least I wouldn't.

Still, the Iphone is in fact bringing people into the AT&T world. Thats for damn sure. Keeping them in the AT&T world could be a variety of factors, but the Iphone is a major reason.
--
My domain - Nightfall.net
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nixen @ 19th Oct 11:28AM:
Re: Data Only?

said by nixen :

said by SteelerRaw :

»www.phonenews.com/sprint-embrace···ns-9245/

Hrm... They'd need to offer larger data plans. Looking at my last couple bills, my wife and I have been averaging nearly a combined 9 hours of talk time (across our "shared" + "in-network") and we don't talk much on the phone. That said, two 5GB data plans would likely cover the amount we talk, just not the amount that, likely, most cell users do.
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The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
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Matt @ 19th Oct 11:30AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

Early reports said that Droid would run Android 1.6, not 2.0, but it looks like that's been updated: »www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/···ands-on/ 2.0 (and especially the note about Exchange support) would definitely seal the deal if the Droid is released with 2.0.
--
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" - Abraham Lincoln
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nixen @ 19th Oct 11:33AM:
Re: Data Only?

said by jmn1207 :

That's Sprint service, so you would have unlimited data using the phone. The 5GB limit is only for tethering and using it as a modem.

My usage tracking typically has me at around 3GB's each week, but I hit nearly 7GB's one month. Not a problem with Sprint

Interesting. Good to know.

Was funny, back in August, I was speculating that Sprint would (almost have to) be the first to offer credible data-only plans, given their position of needing to provide enough value to get people to switch to them.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
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Rob @ 19th Oct 11:40AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by tiger72 :

»www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/···through/

While it's a nice GUI, it looks like a cheap knock off of the iPhone.
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Matt @ 19th Oct 11:46AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

said by tiger72 :

»www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/···through/

While it's a nice GUI, it looks like a cheap knock off of the iPhone.

It reminds me more of Windows Mobile than the iPhone. The iPhone wasn't the first phone with the main screen icon based.
--
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" - Abraham Lincoln
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tiger72 @ 19th Oct 11:46AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

said by tiger72 :

»www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/···through/

While it's a nice GUI, it looks like a cheap knock off of the iPhone.

Maybe you can elaborate on how? I've read some iphone fanboy blogs, and i don't believe I've read any that say it looks like an "iphone knockoff"...
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara
reply

Rob @ 19th Oct 11:47AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Matt :

said by Rob :

said by tiger72 :

»www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/···through/

While it's a nice GUI, it looks like a cheap knock off of the iPhone.

It reminds me more of Windows Mobile than the iPhone. The iPhone wasn't the first phone with the main screen icon based.

Sorry, I was referring to the actual graphics - not the layout.
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reply

Rob @ 19th Oct 11:50AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by tiger72 :

said by Rob :

said by tiger72 :

»www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/···through/

While it's a nice GUI, it looks like a cheap knock off of the iPhone.

Maybe you can elaborate on how? I've read some iphone fanboy blogs, and i don't believe I've read any that say it looks like an "iphone knockoff"...

The graphics themselves. They aren't as vibrant and colorful as that of the iPhone. The icon spacing is huge.

And yes, I am hating on it because I have an iPhone. Ever since i got this phone I tend to compare it to other phones. I'd gladly switch if there was something better, but the iPhone is a class of its own.
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reply

glinc @ 19th Oct 11:51AM:
Re: HAHAHA

Have you even done a research or used their smartphones? because it clearly shows you have no clue about it.
reply

TKJunkMail @ 19th Oct 11:52AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

The graphics themselves. They aren't as vibrant and colorful as that of the iPhone. The icon spacing is huge.

Can't tell about how the display is from some pics. Would have to see it in person to determine the vibrancy & color of the display.
reply

tiger72 @ 19th Oct 11:57AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

The graphics themselves. They aren't as vibrant and colorful as that of the iPhone. The icon spacing is huge.

And yes, I am hating on it because I have an iPhone. Ever since i got this phone I tend to compare it to other phones. I'd gladly switched if there was something better, but the iPhone is a class of its own.

To each their own. I own both an iPhone and G1, and I chose to give my iPhone to my girlfriend and keep my G1.

The icon spacing is huge because Android has a pull out drawer. There's no need or reason to put every application on the home screen. As far as "vibrant" colors - that's something that I personally find impossible to judge in the existing photos. All of the photos have a gray tone to them - presumably because of the camera taking the photos (since they aren't screenshots, but just pictures of the screen). The contrast is way off. I can tell by comparing the green battery icon to my own phone's, and the icon is definitely washed out in the photos.

I'm not willing to judge the phone's color vibrance from leaked photos with poor contrast.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara
reply

Rob @ 19th Oct 12:01PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

I'll reserve judgement until I can see the unit in person.

The likely hood of me switching to Verizon is slim to none - I enjoy the iPhone and the AT&T service.

I never did like the G1's shell. I feel it's an ugly phone.
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tiger72 @ 19th Oct 12:12PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

I'll reserve judgement until I can see the unit in person.

The likely hood of me switching to Verizon is slim to none - I enjoy the iPhone and the AT&T service.

I never did like the G1's shell. I feel it's an ugly phone.

It's certainly not a looker. Of course, i'm mostly concerned with what's inside anyways. I too *highly* doubt I'd be switching to Verizon for this device or any other, as I'm quite happy with my service. That said, I hope it starts a new trend in Android devices that will have upgraded processors (528mhz Qualcomms ftl), and increase Android Market submissions.

The success of the Hero and Droid benefits all Android users in one way or another. Unlike the relatively stagnant iPhone OS, Android seems to be benefiting from competition within its own ecosystem as vendors try to differentiate themselves from others. So while the Droid, G1, Hero, i7500, etc... very likely won't even come close to iPhone killers, Android as a platform very well may. All the benefits of the iPhone + variety.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara
reply

majortom1029 @ 19th Oct 12:22PM:
hmm

Wel lconsidering i know atleast one spot on the verizon map that is a compelte lie i wouldnt go too much on these ads.
reply

TKJunkMail @ 19th Oct 12:27PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by tiger72 :

I hope it starts a new trend in Android devices that will have upgraded processors (528mhz Qualcomms ftl), and increase Android Market submissions.

So while the Droid, G1, Hero, i7500, etc... very likely won't even come close to iPhone killers, Android as a platform very well may. All the benefits of the iPhone + variety.

I think you are right. Apple has stuck to 1 phone line(the iPhone in upgraded versions). Their real competitors going forward are going to be the Android OS(with lots of different phones) and to a lesser extent Palm's WebOS on different phones(only 2 right now, but more to come) and MS's Win Mobile lineup(many phones & makers).
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reply

anon @ 19th Oct 01:29PM:
Re: The ONLY thing good I can see out of this....

They are under contract in the Open Handset Alliance to not screw with the phone.
reply

funchords @ 19th Oct 12:59PM:
Re: They try

said by cmaenginsb :

the iPhone is designed for non-geeks who want a flashy new toy and won't notice how crippled it is compared to other smart phones.

You might have me there. :)
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL
Test your Broadband connection today! -- »measurementlab.net/
reply

Geminimind @ 19th Oct 01:04PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

I so agree greedy greedy greedy and snobby, Thats why I left them. I will never go back to verizon.
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funchords @ 19th Oct 01:11PM:
Re: Data Only?

said by nixen :

5GB would only equate to about 11hrs of pure VOIP, though.

Seems way off. What codec or data rate are you thinking about?
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL
Test your Broadband connection today! -- »measurementlab.net/
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anon @ 19th Oct 01:26PM:
Re: The ONLY thing good I can see out of this....

VZW has made a habit of not locking their phones down like they had in the past, all the new windows phones and blackberry's are not locked down when it comes to GPS (everyone's most famouse gripe with them) and allows applications to be installed from almost anywhere... I am a tech and I don't see where VZW controls every movement of my phone any longer.....

If we are talking about control look to Apple and at&t, can't run multiple programs at once... and call it a "smartphone"? It actually goes against the original definition of smartphone.
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ptrowski @ 19th Oct 01:35PM:
Re: They try

Few features yes but huge upgrade in RAM and speed of the iphone is what made the upgrade a no brainer for me from my 3G to the 3GS. Use them side by side and the 3G is sluggish.
--
"So, Lone Starr, now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb."

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openbox9 @ 19th Oct 01:35PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

There are a lot of people that are interested in "swooshes", plus more and more people are tying themselves into Apple's ecosystem which only entices consumers to buy more Apple products. Apple has done an awesome job branding and marketing their gear. Full disclosure, I do not own an iPhone or iPod, but I do own three Macs and couldn't be happier with them.
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TKJunkMail @ 19th Oct 01:46PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by funchords :

said by Rob :

but the iPhone has something that the droid doesn't - it has the Apple name behind it.

New rumor out. Verizon and Apple working on an 4G LTE iPhone to come out next year.
»www.9to5mac.com/apple_verizon_4g
»fonefrenzy.com/2009/10/18/bigger···s-droid/
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page

reply

Eat Me @ 19th Oct 01:59PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

said by nixen :

Dunno: I'm stuck paying $60/mo for voice service plus $30 for data service. If I could get a $70/mo data-only plan and a phone that could do pure VOIP, I'd go that route.

I have tried VOIP (SIP) on EVDO and it was so-so.
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nixen @ 19th Oct 02:14PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

said by Eat Me :

I have tried VOIP (SIP) on EVDO and it was so-so.

One would hope that you'd at least be able to use other devices as TAs so that, when you're in places like my office building, and have "no bars", you could use your laptop to place/receive calls. :p
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
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thender @ 19th Oct 02:16PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

If by nickel and dime you mean allow me to receive phone calls in times square subway station while AT&T people get the shaft on 30th st office buildings, then yes, they are greedy.

I get what I pay for, I know that much.
--
Macbook repair in NYC
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Noah Vail @ 19th Oct 02:17PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by tiger72 :

Supposedly the keyboard isn't finalized. I hope it's not. I like the G1 keyboard much better than that.

The keyboard is the first thing I look at. It's why I use HTC products and will never land in the BB or Apple worlds.
I'm not sure why it's so tough to get the keyboards right on these things.

Heck, Apple couldn't even figure out where to begin building a keyboard for employed people, but that's Apple.

The Droid buttons seem to be a good size. But no one knows what the tactile feel will be like till they hold one in their hands.

Not having played with this OS, I'm not sure what keys should be included for cut-and-paste. But, like everyone else, Motorola seems to think that the ALT CTL HOME END DEL and INS keys are some kind of individual features. Pick 2 for this phone and 3 for that one.

Heck, it was ages before news of cut-and-paste leaked to Apple from the real world, but that's Apple.

NV
reply

RRedline @ 19th Oct 02:21PM:
Re: They try

said by funchords :

I know this "nobody beats the iPhone" question has all the meaning of a dick-size war, but of course the iPhone has been beaten. It was self-defeated.

The iPhone sure ignited the imagination, but on full review it did little that other phones didn't already do. Further, the iPhone had quirks and self-imposed limits that other phones didn't have.

The iPhone is a loser as it was so bad that it drove key members of its audience away to other devices. Read that carefully -- they weren't lured away by something more sexy, it's just that the iPhone + App Store + AT&T = something so bad that geeks who badly wanted to love it couldn't take the heartbreak any longer.

You sound like you want an iPhone.
--
One nation, under Zod!
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Noah Vail @ 19th Oct 02:25PM:
It's not so much Oil and Water as it is...

I'm having a bit of trouble reconciling the polar opposites of Open Source and Verizon.

If you mix water and rocks, you get water with rocks in it. One part is flexible and the other is in the way.

So Google created an Open Source OS. They then decide that a really good place to deploy it is inside of a walled garden.

Among Verizon's chief attributes are their abilities to restrict devices and withhold traffic. And this is what Google sought out right after they created Android?

Um, OK. If that's what you want Google.

NV
reply

Matt @ 19th Oct 02:26PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

And yes, I am hating on it because I have an iPhone. Ever since i got this phone I tend to compare it to other phones. I'd gladly switch if there was something better, but the iPhone is a class of its own.

I've found the iPhone to be gimmicky. If you love the myriad of little useless apps and games, it's the phone for you. Aside from that, it really doesn't offer anything that revolutionary and doesn't do anything "well." I can't wait to be rid of mine, but by the same token, my girlfriend would murder me in my sleep if she had to get rid of hers.
--
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" - Abraham Lincoln
reply

Matt @ 19th Oct 02:26PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by TKJunkMail :

said by Rob :

The graphics themselves. They aren't as vibrant and colorful as that of the iPhone. The icon spacing is huge.

Can't tell about how the display is from some pics. Would have to see it in person to determine the vibrancy & color of the display.

I agree. I think those pictures were taken with a cell phone camera anyway.
--
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" - Abraham Lincoln
reply

nixen @ 19th Oct 02:38PM:
Re: Data Only?

said by funchords :

said by nixen :

5GB would only equate to about 11hrs of pure VOIP, though.

Seems way off. What codec or data rate are you thinking about?

Was figuring 128Kbps (yeah, one of the least efficient CODECs) as a hedge. But I think I may have forgoten the bits to bytes conversion. :p
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
reply

ptrowski @ 19th Oct 02:39PM:
Re: They try

said by cmaenginsb :

said by funchords :

said by obeythelaw :

Everyone is trying to come out with the phone to beat the iPhone. But it hasn't happened yet.

Or you could say that as geeks we get our hands on the iPhone and jailbreak it to allow it to do everything that it can do. An unlocked 3GS, even the 3G, shows just how much this thing is capable of.
--
"So, Lone Starr, now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb."

Have you been touched by his noodly appendage? »www.venganza.org
reply

Rob @ 19th Oct 02:40PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Matt :

There are flaws in the iphone - battery life, no background apps, buggy iTunes on Windows, etc.

But it does everything I need and does it well - send/rec email, send/rec sms and mms, surf the net, chat, take pictures, take videos, gps, listen to music, etc.

I'd never get a blackberry. And if I was to get rid of my iphone (which I don't see happening with the current selection of phones), I think I'd have a hard time adjusting without the iphone.
--
CheckSite.us | YourIP.us | Reverseip.us
reply

nixen @ 19th Oct 02:42PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by TKJunkMail :

New rumor out. Verizon and Apple working on an 4G LTE iPhone to come out next year.
»www.9to5mac.com/apple_verizon_4g
»fonefrenzy.com/2009/10/18/bigger···s-droid/

Not new. That rumor's a couple months old. People were previously speculating for why VZW was looking to push LTE deployment and noticed that several of the deployment targets corresponded with AT&T/Apple contract renewal and locations of heavy iPhone usage.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
reply

Matt @ 19th Oct 02:47PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

said by Matt :

You must have a 3GS? The 3GS I'm sure is a much better phone, but the 3G and previous models don't take videos, have a wimpy 1.3mpx camera with no flash, and are horribly, horribly underpowered. The on-screen animations stutter more often than not. It does email ok, but if you have multiple accounts like I do, it's frustrating because I would prefer a unified Inbox like almost every phone has had since Jesus walked the earth. The rest of the things you mention it does not do well, it does them average. And surfing the internet on any phone with a screen so small is painful, so I don't hold that against the iPhone as all phone suck equally in that regard. :) It is great an an iPod though, hands down.

I don't want a Blackberry either, but I increasingly have the urge to throw my iPhone across the room when I have to use it sometimes. That's no doubt due in large part to AT&T as well.
--
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" - Abraham Lincoln
reply

nixen @ 19th Oct 02:53PM:
Re: The ONLY thing good I can see out of this....

said by vv1r3d :

VZW has made a habit of not locking their phones down like they had in the past, all the new windows phones and blackberry's are not locked down when it comes to GPS (everyone's most famouse gripe with them) and allows applications to be installed from almost anywhere... I am a tech and I don't see where VZW controls every movement of my phone any longer.....

They still lock GPS out from anything but their product. Latitudes kinda sucks for accuracy because of it ("your position within 2000m" is kinda sub-par). About the only time Latitudes is accurate is when you're moving for multiple samples on known thoroughfares. Otherwise... Even with two phones sitting on the same desktop, they can show up in Latitudes as being a mile+ apart on the Latitude map.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
reply

funchords @ 19th Oct 02:59PM:
Re: Data Only?

Figure about 8 Kbps for a really efficient adaptive compressing codec (like the wireless companies use) and you can yack all month 24/7 and use about half of your allowance. You'll use even less if the line goes silent while you are sleeping. :)
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL
Test your Broadband connection today! -- »measurementlab.net/
reply

funchords @ 19th Oct 03:00PM:
Re: They try

said by RRedline :

You sound like you want an iPhone.

I did, until they locked in with AT&T. But that was before we knew about the App Store's silliness.
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL
Test your Broadband connection today! -- »measurementlab.net/
reply

nixen @ 19th Oct 03:03PM:
Re: Data Only?

said by funchords :

Figure about 8 Kbps for a really efficient adaptive compressing codec (like the wireless companies use) and you can yack all month 24/7 and use about half of your allowance. You'll use even less if the line goes silent while you are sleeping. :)

Yeah. G.711 at 24hr/day for a 30 day month would only be 60GB.

Bits-to-bytes makes a big difference. :p
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
reply

doc69 @ 19th Oct 03:21PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

IMO, there's no way this phone can beat out iPhone. It can be "the killer" phone, but the iPhone has something that the droid doesn't - it has the Apple name behind it.
----------------------------------------------

That's the reason many people, including myself, wont buy one!!!!! Apple stands for "Over Priced". I avoid anything Apple.
--
I'll keep my God, my freedom, my guns, and my money. You can keep "THE CHANGE."
reply

pandora @ 19th Oct 03:46PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

That is why I'm on Sprint and not Verizon or AT&T. The monthly cost matters more to me over time than having an iPhone. The Palm Pre or an Android phone are great alternatives IMO.
--
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
reply

Fisamo @ 19th Oct 03:51PM:
Pics look interesting, but ...

I'm really liking the timing of this. Bring it on at the end of Oct... By the time my NE2 comes up (Feb next year) I can hope (probably in vain) for the price to come down a little.

Seriously, I'm a happy Verizon subscriber, not a smartphone user, not a data plan subscriber, not a heavy TXT user, mainly have the phones for voice calling. As such, I have NO NEED for a phone like this.

But, there's still the WANT factor... :)

So, here's how it will play out. The Droid will be launched and availabe in Verizon stores. I'll get a chance to actually HOLD one (to see if I'd still want it)--check out the display quality, the tactility (is that a word?) of the keyboard, etc. I'll see the price of the phone and the plan requirements imposed by Verizon on anyone who want to use that phone.

IF the requirements aren't too onerous and the phone feels solid, display is acceptable, etc., maybe I'll buy it. My last Moto (the T710 - quite a while ago) had a crappy screen.

Who cares if its the "iPhone killer" or "just another smartphone"? Much of that will depend on the actual FEEL of the phone, something no one here can judge from pictures; in-person views of the screen, speed, capabilities. Price may be a factor, but as mentioned elsewhere, many iPhone users are willing to pay for the 'toy' and/or the name...
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Matt @ 19th Oct 03:52PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

said by pandora :

That is why I'm on Sprint and not Verizon or AT&T. The monthly cost matters more to me over time than having an iPhone. The Palm Pre or an Android phone are great alternatives IMO.

If the Droid came out on Sprint, I'd be veeeeery happy.
--
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" - Abraham Lincoln
reply

mystikmedia @ 19th Oct 04:15PM:
I'm Hopeful for It

Yep, that's me there in south-east North Carolina. Charter has been having a fair bit of down-time recently, which it about the worst, but as far as speed goes, they're the best option there is for me. In fact, the DSL option is only 6mbps, whereas Charter is 16. Those are the only two real options in my area. There's always satellite, but that would be even worse.
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jpl931 @ 19th Oct 04:32PM:
Uphill battle

:)The new droid phone may be a great improvement over the previous phones but Apple has something they all wish they had, an iconic brand name and an amazing piece of technology the iPhone.
reply

imrf @ 19th Oct 04:45PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

It's the same price, $30 a month. They also have a plan that's somewhere around $15-$20, I think, that does have a data cap.
reply

tiger72 @ 19th Oct 04:48PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

They have a dumbphone plan...
reply

imrf @ 19th Oct 04:50PM:
Re: The ONLY thing good I can see out of this....

Except Verizon doesn't do any of that on any of their smartphones. All the Black Berry's and WinMo phones are left untouched. The Droid will be the same.
reply

k1ll3rdr4g0n @ 19th Oct 05:04PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Matt :

In my experience, T-Mobile is even worse than AT&T and their network is even smaller.

HAHA OH MAN you do not know how hard I just laughed when I read that.

AT&T tech support sucks, their network sucks, you know...come to think of it they must do a lot of sucking at their HQ.
I called them to inquire on getting provisioned for VPN on my phone and the "A+ certified" CSR told me I needed an SMS package because VPN goes over SMS. I will never forget it because she labeled herself as A+ certified.
reply

k1ll3rdr4g0n @ 19th Oct 05:07PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by Rob :

said by tiger72 :

»www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/···through/

While it's a nice GUI, it looks like a cheap knock off of the iPhone.

Before I make any comments -
Are you referring to the look of the menus and the shortcut menu, or the home screen?
reply

dragon2611 @ 19th Oct 05:46PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

There are slimmer Android powered handsets around, although they lack the hardware keyboard

E.g HTC Magic/Tatto and the Samsung i7500 (Galaxy)
reply

perki @ 19th Oct 05:47PM:
does all this mean that...

Verizons going to pass on the iphone?
reply

jjeffeory @ 19th Oct 06:12PM:
Keyboard

I don't WANT a keyboard. Also, Verizon isn't known for the openness of their phones either. Otherwise, this was a good comercial.
reply

Telco_Tech @ 19th Oct 07:50PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by k1ll3rdr4g0n :

I called them to inquire on getting provisioned for VPN on my phone and the "A+ certified" CSR told me I needed an SMS package because VPN goes over SMS. I will never forget it because she labeled herself as A+ certified.

Wow, must be that VPNoSMS protocol that's been rumored to be under development for the past five years. Tunneling packets via SMS... ingenious concept! Better get AT&T's bargain $20 unlimited texting package or else you'll rack up thousands of dollars in overage fees in no time!

- Tate

--
It's time to let go of TDM people. If it's not IP-based, it's crap!
reply

sporkme @ 19th Oct 09:14PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

said by nixen :

Except that, at least in the U.S., the iPhone also has the "AT&T" name on it (and their associated garbage data networks).

That was really what was holding me back for a long time. But I lucked out - so far I have better reception and call quality at home than I did with TMO, and in NYC the phone has been great. Speedtests show around 1200/300, which is enough for my email checking and light browsing. I'm betting that T is pumping a shitload of money into NYC though, and if I travel with this thing I'll get to experience crappy service.
--
with every mistake we must surely be learning
reply

rradina @ 20th Oct 12:16AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

And of course, although the latest iPhone OS upgrade added SMSVPN tunneling capabilities to the iPhone, AT&T doesn't support it on the iPhone -- yet.
reply

k1ll3rdr4g0n @ 20th Oct 12:39AM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

For those wondering, this was a Windows Mobile device.

My hypothesis:
I was trying to get provisioned for isp.cingular which gives you a dedicated IP instead of NATing which, supposedly, prevents GRE VPN packets. I believe iPhone users are automatically provisioned for isp.cingular, as some of my iPhone touting co-workers tell me they can VPN into the company network....but I have no proof that they are on isp.cingular. I think the problem could also deal with the fact that with wap.cingular you are regularly getting a new IP, whereas with isp.cingular you should get a fixed IP.
reply

cghh @ 20th Oct 06:33PM:
Re: The ONLY thing good I can see out of this....

said by nixen :

They still lock GPS out from anything but their product. Latitudes kinda sucks for accuracy because of it ("your position within 2000m" is kinda sub-par).

As pointed out by an earlier poster, GPS is not locked down in any way by VZW on the newer Blackberries such as the Storm. Third party location-knowledgeable applications such as Google Maps, Poynt, and Where use the standalone GPS functionality just fine, with the resolution you would expect from GPS satellite location fixes (a couple of yards).
reply

nixen @ 20th Oct 06:49PM:
Re: The ONLY thing good I can see out of this....

said by cghh :

said by nixen :

They still lock GPS out from anything but their product. Latitudes kinda sucks for accuracy because of it ("your position within 2000m" is kinda sub-par).

Dunno. However, as I look at my Storm, Google Maps says "your location within 1900 meters". As it is, the only time it's accurate to under 20 meters is if I'm in a fast-moving vehicle and traveling a primary route. The slower I go, the less accurate the positioning is. Standing still is completely awful for accuracy. Checking the BlackBerry forums, this doesn't seem to be unusual for Google Maps on Verizon BlackBerrys.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell
reply

Nesse @ 20th Oct 08:26PM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

said by Matt :

If the Droid came out on Sprint, I'd be veeeeery happy.

You mean besides the HTC Hero that came out Oct 11th? Or besides the Samsung Moment that comes out Nov 1st?
reply

anon @ 20th Oct 10:51PM:
AT&T doesn't work in Chicago

Too bad AT&T has no signal in Chicago. Worst of all cell carriers. I'd love an iPhone, but the network is non-functional.
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tiger72 @ 21st Oct 10:32AM:
Re: Greedy Verizon

said by Nesse :

said by Matt :

If the Droid came out on Sprint, I'd be veeeeery happy.

You mean besides the HTC Hero that came out Oct 11th? Or besides the Samsung Moment that comes out Nov 1st?

Neither of those is packing the power that the Droid supposedly does. In fact, no other Android phone really comes even close.
--
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning."
-United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara
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bender @ 21st Oct 04:46PM:
Re: It's a Motorola!

i've had a chance to play around with the one of the early designs of the cliq a little bit. i have a friend that is a software and electrical engineer for motorola. if it is anything like the one i played with it will blow your freaking mind. it made my G1 look like a kids toy.
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bender @ 21st Oct 04:47PM:
Re: does all this mean that...

it will be the first smart choice they ever make
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Phil @ 22nd Oct 04:10PM:
Re: does all this mean that...

Because not agreeing to exclusive iPhone rights in the first place had to be their biggest mistake ever.
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drew @ 22nd Oct 07:12PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

WinMo6 doesn't have a unified inbox...
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xrobertcmx @ 22nd Oct 08:09PM:
Re: The drop dead Apple "Verizon Droid"

I really do not like to say this as the only reason I went back to AT&T was the simple fact that they are the only provider with decent service at my house, but they aren't bad.
Aside from a few minor billing issues over the past couple months service has been good. Aside from that when we decided to sign back up with AT&T I figured that as I was going to sign a deal with the devil I would go ahead and get the iPhone, and it works greats more or less everywhere, including the middle of nowhere. Speeds tend to be around 900K a second.
Albeit, I live just outside DC.
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Retaking our country one election at a time.
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