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Topic: Hardware

Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

Summary: People have been waiting for a Verizon iPhone for a long time, so even if the device doesn't support the latest wireless data technology and has high data fees they will buy the iPhone by the millions.

Matthew Miller

By for Smartphones and Cell Phones |

All indications point to an iPhone being announced tomorrow by Verizon Wireless and I can't wait so we can move on to the next multi-year smartphone rumor. There are several posts about this new Verizon iPhone here on ZDNet (links below) and I wanted to chime in and say it doesn't matter that this iPhone will have no LTE, may or may not be white, can't make calls while checking email or surfing, or have very high data costs because Verizon will still sell millions of them.

Check out these other ZDNet Verizon iPhone posts:

Verizon is the nation's largest network and most regular people don't travel overseas that often and thus don't care if a phone can be used outside the US. I know several family and friends on Verizon and the number one question I have gotten is, "When is the Verizon iPhone coming?" Dwight Silverman from the Houston Chronicle has a great post on things you should consider before buying a Verizon iPhone, but again I still think the masses will buy it because it is an iPhone on Verizon and they don't care if there are limitations or another updated one coming to AT&T or Verizon in a few months. People who have stuck with Verizon instead of jumping on AT&T while waiting for this iPhone will buy it no matter what.

The iPhone started out as a very slick feature phone and has moved to a very powerful smartphone that appeals to most people. The smartphone market has changed a lot since the first iPhone launch on AT&T and there are other worthy smartphones out there. Hard-core smartphone geeks still may not like some of the limitations and lock down by Apple, but this doesn't matter at all to the masses. While I agree with many of the opinions made by my fellow ZDNet bloggers, I may still find myself picking up a Verizon iPhone too. I want to wait and see what HP/Palm announce and I honestly do like my HD7 Windows Phone 7 device, but the iPhone 4 is a very good device and with Verizon's network behind it this iPhone will be even better. There are several things I am interested in hearing about when Verizon launches the iPhone, including:

  • How many iPhones will Verizon sell?
  • How many AT&T iPhone users switched to Verizon's iPhone?
  • How well can Verizon's network handle the iPhone?
  • How much will a customer have to pay monthly for a Verizon iPhone?

Are you planning to pick up a Verizon iPhone? What other questions do you have around this launch?

Topics: Hardware, iPhone, Mobility, Smartphones, Verizon

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Talkback

17 comments
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  • RE: Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

    So true. I don't think anything really matters, a lot of Apple fans are still going to buy the phone. I'm at the point now where after seeing so many articles on ZDNet that I think it would be funny if they didn't announce the iPhone.
    Loverock Davidson
    Reply Vote

    • It could happen.

      @Loverock Davidson

      It could be a conference dealing with pricing on the new LTE network. Verizon was very tight lipped on that at CES this past week. If they are going to do something super (like keep it the same price as 3G), that would warrant milking the news to get things heard.
      Bruizer
      Reply Vote

  • Your not the first ZDNet Blogger to use the "But" word

    First off, I've heard variations of the following phrase so often, "... I honestly do like my HD7 Windows Phone 7 device, but ...". I've heard it from Ed Bott and others.

    Not to pick on phone Win 7 devices. They seem to be honestly good phones ... "BUT" ... people still want the iPhone.

    It must be the app ecosystem driving this differentiator or buyer preference.
    kenosha77a
    Reply Vote

  • iphone envy

    most of these zdnet bloggers and commenters will not admit it but they all WANT an iphone. they try to find all the reasons not to (it doesn't multitask, no usb port, att, no lte, not open!) and try to stay away from it as much as they can but it won't help. in a few months all of them will have an iphone.

    good buy wp7 and bb and back to your geeky niche android!
    banned from zdnet
    Reply Vote

    • Do you really believe the drivel you spout?

      dude, you know you're talking out your butt, but I can see why you where banned: they do that with trolls, you know.
      AllKnowingAllSeeing
      Reply Vote

      • drivel

        @AllKnowingAllSeeing

        just from matthew's post: "...I may still find myself picking up a Verizon iPhone too..."

        larry in his post: "...Cave and sign up for another two years of 3G..."
        http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/verizon-iphone-how-important-is-4g-lte-capability/43424?tag=content;feature-roto

        and that is only from today? drivel?
        banned from zdnet
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

    Going by my personal poll among 100 friends across the country who have an iPhone 93% are going to switch to Verizon! http://vaishwords.blogspot.com/2010/11/rethinking-possible-with-at-wireless.html
    vaishwords
    Reply Vote

  • No iPhone for me, Verizon or otherwise

    I'm very happy with my Evo and Sprint, and I am most likely going to stay with Android and Sprint for a while. I was an AT&T customer (they acquired my carrier) and was unimpressed. I certainly don't need the "We don't care, we don't have to, we're The Phone Company" attitude from either AT&T or Verizon.

    Doug
    dougsyo@...
    Reply Vote

  • Verizon will definitely disclose sales

    Unlike Ballmer who sidesteps real figures and only reports sales to OEMs not sales to consumers and phone activations with WP7.
    cyberslammer2
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

    Regardless of carrier the main reason I won't buy an iPhone is because they still suck at what used to be the main purpose of a cell phone - making phone calls. Every one of my friends that have them drop their calls to me and everyone else on a regular basis and they all know it sucks as a phone. I can understand that most use texting nowadays, but I still have to talk to people and it's importnat that my calls stay connected so I will always pass. It's not the fault of AT&T for this either, because most other AT&T phones are fine with calls, just an iPhone problem. Make an iPhone a better calling phone and I might consider it. Until then, I'm pretty happy at the moment with my Nexus S.
    sotagear
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

    I deleted what I wrote.
    R.L. Parson
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

    How will current AT&T iPhone 4 users be treated by Verizon? Will I need a completely new phone or can they just replace the SIMM card? This could have a huge effect on how many are willing to come over to Verizon.
    murphymp
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

      @murphymp Verizon uses the CMDA network. Not the GSM network used by AT&T and T-Mobile. No sim card. You will have to buy there phone.
      rdw551
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

    Oh I think that many Verizon customers will be waiting in line for their new iPhones. Curious as to how existing At&t iPhone customers that are planning to switch over to Verizon will make the switch.
    http://www.toughcell.com/verizon-insurance/
    ToughCell
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

    Today's pricing: (apple's mapped price vs. competition)
    iPhone 4G 16GB/32GB $199/$299 + contract

    vs. (all prices below from amazonwireless)

    HTC Droid Incredible $.01 + contract
    HTC EVO $.01 + contract
    Droid 2 Global $49 + contract
    HTC Surround Windows $.01 + contract
    Samsung Focus Windows $.01 + contract
    bailey_dan228
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Forget 4G and monthly costs, Verizon will sell millions of iPhones

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