WSJ
- WSJ
MarketWatch
- MarketWatch
Barron's
- Barron's
SmartMoney
- SmartMoney
AllThingsDigital
FINS
- FINS
Factiva
- Factiva
More
- BigCharts
- Virtual Stock Exchange
- Financial News
- WSJ Asia
- WSJ Europe
  - WSJ Deutschland
- WSJ Americas
  - en Español
  - em Português
- WSJ Classifieds
- WSJ Radio
- WSJ Wine

Yes, But Does Verizon's Unlimited Data Plan Include a Phone That Doesn't Suck?

August 25, 2008 at 1:06 pm PT

When you’re battling a rival whose device is widely referred to as the “JesusPhone,” you’ve got to do what you can to keep your competitive edge–or the appearance of one. So it was understandable that Verizon (VZ)–on the day before Apple (AAPL) launched the first iPhone in June 2007–announced to the utter indifference of an iPhone-addled world that its stores would be open late on iPhone day, even though there were no iPhones to be found in them. Just as it’s understandable that the company would prepare an “iPhone 3G Myths” document with which its battered sales force can fend off the iPhone-curious who wander into its stores. Sadly, there is one important question the document fails to address: Why Verizon passed on the chance to be the exclusive distributor of the iPhone when it was first given the chance three years ago. …

Tagged with: Apple, distributor, iPhone 3G, JesusPhone, John Paczkowski, myths, Verizon

comments so far. Add yours.

http://allthingsd.com/ Eric Welch

Everyone knows the answer to that last question, if they’ve been paying attention. Verizon didn’t like Steve Jobs actually refusing to be an obsequious toady who would agree to whatever terms Verizon would dictate.

How dare Apple want to control any aspect of the user experience! They might actually allow people to use the bluetooth on their phones for something besides an earpiece? Unheard of!

Verizon has long been known for crippling their phones to near uselessness for anything that doesn’t directly contribute to their revenue stream. Apple knew it was a better network. But Verizon didn’t have a modicum of clue to see the possibilities until too late.

This is just one more example of how really bad cellular carriers are in the US compared to the rest of the world, and how they know real customer service isn’t something they have to concern themselves with.