Comments on: Can Verizon Compete In The Consumer BlackBerry Market?

By: Joshua

Joshua — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:57:38 +0000

I agree that it is frustrating that we as verizon customer continue to get the new products after everyone else. But I do like buying a product that has been tested and refined over one that is rushed into production like AT&T, Sprint/Nextel, and T-Mobile do. Take the new iphone for example AT&T and Apple were in such a rush that they rushed a phone to the market that runs off of out dated 2g technology. Why would I want to spend so much on something that doesn’t work on the current techonology and most likely won’t work on the future systems as well? So I am happy to wait on a phone that might be a couple of months old and has fewer bugs or problems than my friends phone that they bought a couple months ago. I like quality over newness and flash for my money.

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Tue, 22 May 2007 13:56:59 +0000

Actually gquaglia, it is more Verizon's fault than you think. Research in Motion president and co-CEO, Mike Lazaridis, has been quoted saying that they can quickly port over the BlackBerry to different hardware because it is a java environment and they don't have to re-debug everything.Thought also makes a great point that in the world of mobile phones the carriers have all the power. So, if Verizon really wanted to come out with BlackBerrys sooner than they do, RIM most definately would ablige them.

By: gquaglia

gquaglia — Mon, 21 May 2007 16:55:22 +0000

It may not be Verizon’s fault. They cant offer what RIM doesn’t make. RIM seems to consider CDMA to be business oriented (because of Verizon) and is only offering units to fit that bill.
Who is really suffering is those of us on Sprint. We are not hardcore business, have a great network and want a consumer BB.

By: SeaBB

SeaBB — Mon, 21 May 2007 03:45:52 +0000

Any update on the Pearl coming in 2nd Qtr to Verizon? Only 40 days left in Qtr……

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 20 May 2007 01:56:45 +0000

I’m also tired of Verizon’s nonsense. I’m in South Jersey and I want a new Blackberry Pearl, but Verizon is still stuck with the old Blackberries and charges a lot for their data plan. I’ve been using a normal cell phone for a few years and I want to switch to a Blackberry. I was looking at the 8830, which comes out next week. However, I think I may hold off until the new Pearl comes out – hopefully with a better camera, Wi-Fi, and most importantly, GPS! I think Verizon is definitely behind the ball but I really doubt they care. I agree with some of the previous comments that mentioned that most people stay with their carrier and pick from what they have; personally I had no idea that all of these other phones existed until I looked outside of Verizon’s narrow shield.

By: chrisxxx

chrisxxx — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:42:00 +0000

like it or not verizon but they need to just accept the consumers in looking to get the BB’s. it may sound wierd but im sixteen and people all around me..(consumers)are surrounded with BB’s with tite people like steve aoki and lindsay lohan caring around BB’s thats sweap the teens by storm. almost everyone one i know either has some BB or smartphone around.

By: Thought

Thought — Thu, 17 May 2007 01:04:40 +0000

Robb: interesting observations from your friend’s son; that would confirm the trends in the market.

As for RIM pressuring Verizon, unfortunately, I just don’t see that happening.

In the world of mobile phones, it is the carriers with all of the power. Carriers are used to dictating to vendors, not the other way around. The one exception may be Apple, but hey, they’re Apple. And even Apple had to give carrier exclusivity, which is the real prize.

I think the only thing that will change VZW is competitive pressure; only when they lose enough customers will they change, and that will only happen when another carrier creates a comparable network.

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Wed, 16 May 2007 20:26:23 +0000

Preaching to the choir Sean. I wish Verizon would get their “act together”, however, I feel that for something to happen sooner than later, RIM will need to push Verizon in the right direction.

By: Sean Squill

Sean Squill — Wed, 16 May 2007 19:32:53 +0000

How about AT&T will have the iphone and the Curve, and already offer every other smart phone out there, HTC 8525, Treo 750, etc. Verizon has neither at this point. They are going to miss the consumer boat. There stance is our network is the best, take what we have to offer! Not to cool if you ask me. I do give them credit for getting the 8830 out only a couple of months after the 8800. But the Curve is going to be the next big thing, plus VZW basically skipped right past the pearl. We’ll just have to wait and see how people deal with all these consumer devices coming to the shelves!