Is Apple making a smaller, CDMA-compatible “world phone” for Verizon, and readying it for Q3, 2010? Maybe. And TiPb’s sure this “report” coming out on Droid Day is purely coincidental, given Google and Verizon’s moment in the sun. AppleInsider, however, claims a new report, with the prerequisite “sources in Taiwan” (SiT) say it’s so:
Qualcomm’s new hybrid CDMA/WCDMA chip offers the potential for a single, global iPhone that users can take to any major carrier, solving the network fractionalization problem. It also solves other issues that had served as roadblocks, including the issue of user confusion that would result from Apple selling separate CDMA and GSM/UMTS versions of the iPhone.
And that it will have a smaller 2.8 inch screen to go with it. (We make fun in the concept picture above, because we had such lingering hopes for a 480p iPhone HD…) With the Android Droid, Windows Mobile HD2, and even the BlackBerry Storm2 going for bigger screens and pixels, however, we’re hoping Apple doesn’t trend completely the other way…
Since it’s only a rumor, however, and a suspiciously timed one at that, we recommend you take it with a full iPhone-sized grain of salt… but let us know what you think!
Verizon’s “Map for That” ad was witty and kicked AT&T right where it hurt most — right in the network. AT&T, naturally, didn’t find it so amusing and has now decided to take Verizon to court. Engadget has been covering (and updating the coverage) today, and here’s where it stands:
AT&T complained that the original ad was misleading, saying customers could still use iPhones outside of 3G coverage (on EDGE).
Verizon has apparently already changed the ad once, adding some small print to disclaim the above.
AT&T still isn’t happy, thinks Verizon is confusing customers, and thus is sicking the lawyers on them.
What do you think? Were you confused, or were you too busy laughing (or crying, if you live in SF or NYC).
According to Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon wants the iPhone, but Apple isn’t offering it yet. More precisely:
“This is a decision that is exclusively in Apple’s court. We obviously would be interested at any point in the future they thought it would make sense for them to have us as a partner. And so we will leave it with them on that score.”
Seidenberg was speaking during Verizon’s Q3 financial results call, and dropped that little nuggest amid chatter about whole army of Droids, the Palm Pre, and (sigh) Verizon’s own app store.
Of course, this is the also the man who last year, when asked how Verizon would compete with the iPhone 3G said:
“Steve Jobs eventually will get old . . . I like our chances.”
So maybe he doesn’t like them so much anymore, even apres-attack ads?
Since Verizon still uses a different radio technology than the iPhone (CDMA/EVDO instead of GSM/EDGE/HSPA), declined to go HSPA like Bell and Telus in Canada (both of whom are getting the iPhone in a matter of weeks), and 4G/LTE is still a ways off, we’re not going to hold our breath (and you shouldn’t either) for a quick Apple fix.
We’ve already speculated what a Verizon iPhone might look like, but hopefully the Droid will prove how open they’re becoming, and the Verizon faithful will finally get their iPhone (with Wifi, App Store, open GPS, and without ugly trifold branding) sometime in the future…
Update: Boy Genius has an advanced preview up for the Droid rocking Android 2.0. His take away:
The Droid isn’t an iPhone competitor because nothing at this point in time is an iPhone competitor besides the new iPhone. And things don’t have to be right now. Everyone can eat. So will the Motorola Droid be successful? Absolutely, we think. It will eat in to BlackBerry sales, Windows Mobile sales, and positively murder any lingering Palm Pre sales. It’s that good. Did you notice how Verizon still hasn’t announced the BlackBerry Storm2?
Original: This time it wasn’t the blogshinobi who leaked more details on Verizon’s upcoming Motorola Droid “iPhone Killer”, but good old Moto itself, according to Android Central:
Motorola just went live with the official Droid webpage and it went into beautifully excruciating detail about this most anticipated device. The early publishing of the website is no longer available but Motorola’s mistake is our gain, now we don’t have to wait til October 28th to get the nitty gritty specs.
And those specs are a fairly impressive:
Android 2.0 ‘Eclair’
3.7-inch WVGA (480×854), 16:9 touchscreen
550 MHz processor
6 oz (169g)
2.4 x 4.6 x.5 inches (60×115.80×13.70mm)
3.5mm headphone jack (yes, HTC has now made this a feature for Android)
Broswer will support Flash 10 in 2010
Wi-Fi, 3G, GPS, Bluetooth, microUSB (comes with 16gb microSDHC card)
1400 mAh battery (rated at nearly 6 and a half hours of usage time)
5 megapixel camera with image stabilization, 4x zoom, dual-led Flash, and auto-focus
the color is listed as: ‘Licorice w/ brown sugar accents’
So Android is now taking a page from Windows Mobile and really pushing the hardware. Is this finally enough to force Apple into raising its own spec game? (TiPb did ask for an iPhone HD last year already). And if so, will next June be soon enough to keep the new generation of competitors at bay?
If the latter, should Windows Mobile (which uses the same split software model and hardware partners), and BlackBerry (which used to have Verizon’s spotlight) be worried?
Just a few days ago Verizon started their iDoesn’t campaign specifically targeting Apple’s iPhone. Well late last night images started to emerge all over the blogs, including our very own Android Central, giving us a sneak peek to what may be some legitimate iPhone competition. After a hands on, BGR came away mighty impressed. Here are just a few of the highlights spotlighted by BGR:
It’s thin. Just slightly thicker than an iPhone 3GS and the thinnest QWERTY-slider we’ve ever seen.
It is the fastest Android device we’ve ever used. (It’s running a TI OMAP3430 processor)
Awesome capacitive display. Plus it’s huge. Easily the best screen we’ve ever seen on an Android handset, and an amazing screen overall.
The specs seem impressive but I’m not sold on the look of the device yet. What are your thoughts on this new Motorola Android device? Do you think Apple is shaking in their boots? Let us know in the comments!
UPDATE: TiPb asked a few non-geek friends and most of them didn’t even realize Verizon was targeting the iPhone in these ads (some thought the commercial was saying whatever device they were talking about didn’t do the things listed). Is that an ad-failure, or was it deliberately targeting geeks?
Secondly, Sacha Seagan over at Gearlog brings up the now apparently dual, and now opposite meaning behind “open application” buzzwords – a device totally controlled by Verizon.
Thirdly, does the push for the Droid explain why Verizon seemingly buried the BlackBerry Storm2 announcement?
Hot on the heels of their spunky new “there’s a map for that” anti-iPhone/AT&T programming, Verizon looks set to unless yet more attack ads. Engadget Mobile says:
We’re hearing that the carrier will be kicking off a major new campaign this evening during the Yankees-Angels game that’ll feature “a very different look and a whole new attitude,” calling out the “iDevice” (their words, not ours) for all the things it can’t do.
Yeah, from the network that famously locked down GPS, wouldn’t allow Wi-Fi, and removed OS-specific application markets for their own bloatware, that’s a lot of nerve. Especially given the lukewarm reception Verizon is already getting for their new BlackBerry Storm2 (never mind their deceptive comparisons…), their Android savior still on the horizon, and hardly exclusive, and they seemingly won’t be landing an iPhone of their own anytime soon.
Still, it should also be a lot of fun! If you catch the new ads, let us know what you think!
Our good friends over at CrackBerry.com found and posted up this handy chart from Verizon, meant to serve as a point of comparison between the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 2 and competitive devices. The problem? Like cake, the CHART IS A LIE!
The sad part is that the dodgy folks at Verizon are comparing the latest BlackBerry Storm 2 against last year’s iPhone 3G. The really sad part is even if it’s fairer to compare the upcoming Storm to the outgoing iPhone, the chart is STILL A LIE. The iPhone 3G has had OTA 3G/EDGE music downloads since Macworld in January 2009. Likewise, the GPS in the iPhone 3G (and iPhone 3GS) is assisted (aGPS). Swap in an iPhone 3GS and there goes the camera megapixel advantage.
(Never mind the exclusion of important factors like 75,000+ apps, digital compass for augmented reality (Storm 2 has?), app integration with peripherals, a browser that can properly render AJAX, unicorn tears?!)
So what’s left? If the Storm 2 can’t even compete honestly on Verizon’s own chart, they’re in for some trouble. Of course telcos need to give their reps something to answer legitimate consumer questions about how their new devices compare to existing ones. However, Verizon would likely do better with a chart that won’t get the rep laughed out of a sale by any savvy Smartphone Experts reader.
What would a Verizon iPhone be like? We ask because almost everyone in the US wants the iPhone on Verizon (or so our comments, tweets, and email tell us). But how often do we stop and think about what that device might actually be?
Developer Marco Arment has done just that, but instead of a wondrous network dream, he’s giving us a lockdown nightmare:
Verizon to demand 30-50% commission on all on-device App Store sales, and all iTunes media sales.
If not a complete replacement of the App Store with Verizon’s own application market.
Removal of key applications to force users to pay for premium Verizon services (like V-Cast in lieu of Maps)
Removal of WiFi and lockdown of GPS (okay, we added that for old times sake — but it’s happened with BlackBerry and Windows Mobile)
Ugly Verizon branding plastered all over the iPhone.
Arment theorizes this is why we haven’t seen it happen yet:
I bet Apple did go to them this past spring to attempt to get a Verizon iPhone off the ground, and I bet Apple’s reps left the discussions, thinking, “These guys are nuts.”
Fact or FUD? It will be interesting to see, based on yesterday’s Android “openness” announcement, if Verizon really has changed its ways, or if users who want the iPhone on Verizon would ultimately get an iPhone they didn’t want.
