Verizon Finally Unveils iPhone Competition, Or "iPhone Equalizer" 20 comments
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"We think it'll be the best phone ... this year. It will kill the iPhone," Verizon (VZ) Wireless Chief Marketing Officer Mike Lanman said in an interview.
The
Voyager, made by LG Electronics (LG) , beats the iPhone by offering faster
wireless Web access. But to compete with the iPhone, which is only
available to AT&T (T) subscribers, it has a large touch screen and full Web browser.
It
also unveiled another LG phone, the Venus, made in black and pink,
which has a phone keypad that slides out from under a touch screen. As
with Voyager, it vibrates when a user taps a menu option on the screen.
Both
phones have 2-megapixel cameras, and high-speed wireless connections
for fast music and video downloads, and a slot for 8 gigabytes of extra
memory. The iPhone has 8 gigabytes of built-in storage. Pricing was not
detailed but Verizon said the phones would range from under $100 to
about $400 vs. the iPhone's $399 price tag.
I
don't know that either of these are going to "kill" the iPhone but one
thing is sure, now that Verizon users have an option, they will be far
less likely to defect from the better network to jump to AT&T for
the iPhone. I think a more likely word that should be used here is
"iPhone equalizer?" The iPhone may a better product but the far
superior Verizon network compared to AT&T and the lower cost of
Verizon's phones will give potential iPhone buyers serious pause.
It
comes at a time when Apple (AAPL) is behind its own sales goal and iPhone
users, so disenchanted by the AT&T network are hacking the phones
to free them from it. Apple has responded by destroying those phones
and lawsuits are in the process of hitting the courts for that action.
All in all, while these phones will not destroy the iPhone, I think
they will make Jobs actually realized what a cut throat industry he has
jumped into.
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This article has 20 comments:
On the contrary, the iPhone is a Panther (ie, the next big OS update) device. Apple interfaces are their huge strength, and since no-one knows what is coming next, it is stupid to try to hack it to run on a system that will be obsolete inside two months. The fact that the hacks turned out to be incompatible with the system updates SHOULD tell you that there is something major in the wind, NOT that Apple is responding by deliberately crippling your pride and joy. They DID warn you not to... or don't we in the modern world have a right to bear the responsibility for our unwise actions?
N
Huh, since Apple has released no numbers on this, do you have proof beyond your own speculation that this is true?
"iPhone users, so disenchanted by the AT&T network are hacking the phones to free them from it."
People are hacking them to hack them. Sure some people may be "disenchanted" but they'd be hacking their phones even if they weren't. And Apple is hardly "destroying" the phones. They are fixing bugs/security holes that were being used to hack the phones. They warned updaters that something bad might happen when they updated.
As far as an "iPhone killer or equalizer" it'd be interesting to see numbers for the new phones on things like battery life, etc. Plus, as Apple has shown over and over, it's not features that always matter. A lot of times what gives them the edge is the user interface and overall user experience, something that existing cell phones makers have never understood, or even tried to understand.
These new phones can be a positive for the iPhone since they can familiarize Verizon customers to a experience closer to the iPhone. This can help users get in the habit of buying expensive multi-function handset devices. Most likely any sales the iPhone may concede in the near-term, they will recapture when the iPhone is available on the Verizon network. Apple is already a few steps ahead, and I doubt we will see lines of folks having to have these devices.
What's so bad about the AT&T network? I guess I am really clueless on this, I have had AT&T for ten years going back 2-3 carriers ago. I think it's fine, and it's gotten much better over the years, and I have no complaints. I know Verizon has the least complaints per 1000 customers, thus highest customer satisfaction, but don't see how it could be a significant difference. Some people talk about ATT like its the plague, am I missing something?
This article is just no good.
This could not be FURTHER form the truth as Apple, according to virtually all expert analysts covering the stock, agree Apple has sold FAR more phones than Apple or any analyst projected. How does such an obvious basher gain entry to your site with the presumption of any credibility. His bias is quite discernable and at the same time disturbing.
Yeah, I'm sure Jobs is really quaking in his boots over LG--another lame brained Asian ODM/OEM. Yawn. These guys couldn't cut their way out of a paper bag with a razor blade.
"it has a ... full Web browser."
Right...says who? LG? Have you seen and used the browser on the iPhone? Just because a manufacturer plopped an html parser in an embedded system does not instantly qualify it as an "iPhone killer."
"The Voyager, made by LG Electronics (LG) , beats the iPhone by offering faster wireless Web access"
So let me get this straight: one feature on this new product trumps the entire iPhone product? Get a life...
"I think a more likely word that should be used here is "iPhone equalizer?"
Those are two words, "iPhone" and "equalizer".
"The iPhone may a better product but the far superior Verizon network compared to AT&T"
Wait, I've heard "kill the iPhone" and "iPhone equalizer"--yet now you say the iPhone may be a better product? Also, what exactly makes Verizon a "far superior network"? 3G?
"It comes at a time when Apple (AAPL) is behind its own sales goal"
What? Why don't you at least wait until after Apple's earnings announcement on 10/22 before making ridiculous comments like this. The last we've heard from Apple, it was 1M by end of last qtr, which we know they will hit, and 10M by end of first year of sales. What other data can you point to which suggests they are "behind"?
This is a pathetic story...
In Houston, we have a pretty good AT&T network...
Wiseowltx
Gee Todd, do you think he might be getting paid to make statements like this? And you believe him right?
I believe it was back in May when you launched your FUD campaign on the iPhone:
seekingalpha.com/artic...
Back then one of the reasons you predicted the iPhone would be a "flop" is because it was a convergent device and according to you this is not what consumers want. In this article you praise the Verizon Voyager and it's prospects....yet it too is a convergent device. Humm, have consumers changed their mind in the last few months, have you, or is it just that you are driven to put a negative spin on Apple regardless of how ridiculous it makes you look in the process.
Anyway unlike when you initiated your flop article the iPhone is available now, has sold a million in three months and has the highest satisfaction rating of any smartphone. Still consider it a flop? My guess is that you do which speaks volumes about your credibility. In any case as others have repeatedly stated comparing lists of features is only part of the story. The bigger part of what puts the iPhone in a class of it's own is the interface. The simplicity and elegance with which those features interact with the user and each other. On a related note the iPhone has already had two software updates and this will continue to be the case going forward. In other words, unlike the vast majority of other phones which start to lose value and become dated the moment they are driven off the lot, the iPhone will increase in features and capability as it matures....and existing owners will be able to take advantage of that for free.
Finally, one of your articles suggested that Apple was priced for perfection. In case you hadn't noticed the stock is up 74% over the past six months. By contrast the best performer in you portfolio is up 23% (USO) for the same period and your portfolio as a whole is up 8%. www.icarra.com/viewPor... You have already stated that you have no interest in owning AAPL which is fine. I just don't understand why?
Anyway keep up the good FUD.
iTouch/iPhone(not yet launch in Asia) running Safari is the only mobile unit that is capable to enter and operate the bank investment account through WiFi in real time anywhere around the world to buy and sell stocks.
This most important remarkable fantastic Internet browser function appear in both simple iTouch and more advance iPhone allow financial and business personal to directly manage their bank investment account in real time, not to mention other simple function like receiving/sending email or playing music or video, taking pictures.
I'm holding off from the iPhone (though it looks so cool) because mostly I don't really like Apple as a company. I don't like thr DRM in itunes and they way the iPhone is tied solely to one network. I understand why they would like to do so, but I guess I'm just asserting my individual consumer rights to disagree... Though my resolve is weakening by the day =)