Is The iPhone Coming To Verizon? RIM Certainly Hopes Not…

by Robb Dunewood on March 30, 2010 · 19 comments

Verizon iPhone

According to a report on the Wall Street Journal, Apple plans to release an iPhone that runs on CDMA network technology that could end AT&T’s exclusivity on the device in the United States.  To make a long story short, the iPhone may be coming to Verizon.

If the rumor is true, it doesn’t look like Apple is going to completely screw AT&T…  At least not initially.  The fourth generation iPhone is still expected to come out this summer on AT&T as usual.  Pegatron Technology Corp, the manufacture of the CDMA iPhone, isn’t expected to start mass producing the device until September.

A fall release of a Verizon iPhone may keep a few people from getting the new AT&T model in the summer, however, the company that will really suffer from this is not AT&T…  It is Research in Motion.  Fall and winter are usually dominated by BlackBerry sales as RIM generally releases several devices, however, throwing a Verizon iPhone into the mix could make for a long cold winter for RIM.

Apple

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  • Eric

    How many times have we heard this rumor? Eventually some sort of Apple phone will come to Verizon. Self-fullfilling prophecy I guess. Apple isn’t stupid. They want the money. So, eventually one of these rumors will be correct…..

    • http://www.rimarkable.com Robb Dunewood

      This one does seem to have a big more fervor behind it though…

  • DavidB

    It would surely hurt Android sales too. And the death of Palm would be nigh at hand.

  • Frank Castle

    You assume every VZW user wants a Blackberry. Considering RIM has been in the TOP 10 the past 2 years shows people want their product regardless if other options (viewed to be better) are available.

    It really comes down to device preference / cost / expected usage.

    I’ll believe it when I see it, I can’t see VZW agreeing to Apple’s rules and Apple agreeing to where the Verizon logo will be. The article said a CDMA device which we assume is VZW, it could be Sprint.

    • http://www.rimarkable.com Robb Dunewood

      No, I don’t assume that at all. BlackBerry devices will still keep several spots in the top ten. I know, however, that RIM will take a hit, as there are many Verizon subscribers who want an iPhone, but, aren’t able to, or, are willing to switch to AT&T to get one.

      This isn’t just about BlackBerry users switching to the iPhone (of whom there will be many) it is very much about consumers moving to their first smartphone that don’t even consider BlackBerrys because the godphone has now landed on their network.

      • BrixtonMassive

        Everyone who wanted an iphone has one or already had one. if it comes to verizon RIM will not suffer. At&t will suffer because the customers that left verizon to their networks will go back to verizon and use iphone on a better network.

        • Rob

          I know quite a few people who have Blackberry’s and plan to switch to Iphones if Verizon offers them (myself included).

          • BrixtonMassive

            well i hope when it does come to Verizon, apple gets rid of that mobileme crap and their annoying email system. I gave it a chance but i’ve been spoilt by blackberry.

        • Jenney

          Not true – where I live we do not have AT&T coverage and only Verizon is available – so not EVERYONE who wanted an iphone has one……

      • Frank Castle

        I have to disagree, if this was true you would see adoption of said devices and RIM market share already decreasing. YOY they increase. They will likely have another blow out quarter announced this week and what will everyone say – it’s just due to BOGO?

        Their products sell. Everyone discounts we live in a TXT centric world and Blackberry is very good as a communication device.

        I have the luxury of testing and using a variety of devices and I still use Blackberry, they just work. Many people come to the same conclusion – everyone has to determine their own needs and wants. I need a solid communication device, great battery life, good voice quality etc. I want the cool stuff but the needs always come first.

  • bluehorseshoe

    Can’t imagine how many folks would switch over from AT&T to gain better service on VZW for their iPhone use. Many folks determine the phone they use based on the network (as I do). If the iPhone hits VZW, it will hurt RIM. I’m ready to jump to the N1 personally once released, leaving behind my BB that I’ve been devoted to for so many years…and the iPhone on VZW would make a nice personal line as well. :)

  • gquaglia

    iphone on Verizon will reshape the smartphone landscape. Mobile OSs will start dwindling down to a few, just like what happened on the desktop PC world. I’m sorry, but I don’t think RIM will be in that group. My prediction is that only Apple, Google and MS will be left standing in the end. RIM doesn’t get the bigger picture and thinks that Enterprise and security will prevail in the end. They are wrong.

    • http://www.rimarkable.com Robb Dunewood

      I don’t know… As big as RIM is here in the States it would take years of mismanagement and several BlackBerry Storm like releases for them to dwindle away to nothing. Granted, they’re off to a great start, but, they’ve got deep pockets and big businesses who swear by BlackBerrys on their side.

      There is no question that an uncomfortable number of current Verizon BlackBerry users will switch to the iPhone if and when it is released, however, that number isn’t going to kill RIM. Not this year, anyway…

      • bluehorseshoe

        There will be the corporate side of the business, but loss on the consumer side will hurt any growth, and ultimately, the business as a whole. I’m sure an Android phone can be set up and flashed to meet security requirements down the road.

        • Frank Castle

          Man I have been hearing this for years now, it’s always “on the roadmap, down the road or something” No one has equaled blackberries server platform so for any company that cares about mobile fleet management, security – it’s Blackberry and a bunch of not so fully baked solutions.

          The bar is right there for other mobile vendors to meet not to mention exceed. Enterprise would welcome another option but they always seem to come up short so – continued Blackberry deployments. After you get a few thousand deployed it’s not so easy to switch because people like X device as it’s “cooler” then the Blackberry.

  • MAtt

    I just wanted to say that I am one of those people with Verizon who cannot go to AT&T for the iPhone but as soon as it comes to Verizon i’m ditching BB and never looking back. I like Blackberry but I want the great app selections. RIM needs to understand that they are quickly falling behind in every aspect of the smartphone world, except for business.

  • Les Sulgrove

    I can tell you the minute Verizon gets the iPhone I will be at their doorstep. The ONLY reason I’m a Blackberry user is because I will NOT go with AT&T and their lousy coverage in Des Moines. Bring it on Verizon!

  • wagner

    Many of you are thinking that iphone is going to kill rim, but this a situation that happen only in us, not in the rest of the planet where every person pick their own network and then the phone that make them happy. Please the telephone market is biger than us silly americans.

  • JoAnn

    RIM’s done for me anyway. For now, it’s whether to get the Incredible in May when I’m eligible for the “new every 2″ or wait until September to see if iPhone 4 comes to Verizon. Even in that case, I still might go the Android route. But I may want to compare the two.

    I think RIM’s prez not acknowledging their own touchscreen product was the final nail for me. Push email just isn’t enough to impress me anymore.

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