Comments on: “Why RIM and Verizon Need to Get Closer” http://www.rimarkable.com/why-rim-and-verizon-need-to-get-closer The Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:23:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jonhttp://www.rimarkable.com/why-rim-and-verizon-need-to-get-closer/comment-page-1#comment-39435 Jon Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:00:15 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/archives/1122#comment-39435 If Verizon had the Pearl I would buy it right now. I've considered switching to Cingular to get the newer technolgy but I like verizon. I get great coverage. I just wish we could get the newer models without having to wait so long. If Verizon had the Pearl I would buy it right now. I’ve considered switching to Cingular to get the newer technolgy but I like verizon. I get great coverage. I just wish we could get the newer models without having to wait so long.

]]> By: Thoughthttp://www.rimarkable.com/why-rim-and-verizon-need-to-get-closer/comment-page-1#comment-38035 Thought Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:28:06 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/archives/1122#comment-38035 Chip: in my original article, I never advocate giving CDMA priority over GSM in device releases. I fully understand the economics involved. However, what I do advocate is releasing CDMA versions either concurrent with GSM versions, or at the very least with far less lag time than has been the practice...maybe a month or two after the GSM version.Robb's analogy with the automobile is brilliant; car manufacturers manage to get both versions...left and right side steering wheel...out without making one market wait.Cell phone manufacturers can do much the same thing with these different technologies, and in fact, some do with certain models.As for size, Verizon is only slightly behind Cingular in terms of subscribers, and is on track to soon surpass Cingular. Cingular is only larger now because of the merger a few years back of BellSouth Mobility, SBC, and AT&T. But look at the quarterly figures, and you will see that each quarter VZW beats Cingular in net subscriber additions, and has lower churn (customer loss). As for Cingular's 3G network, it lags far behind in coverage area to Verizon's. Basically Cingular is getting started about 2 years after VZW did.However, again, it really doesn't matter, since I am not advocating that RIM in any way not go after the Cingular or the overall GSM market. I merely advocate that in addition to that, they more aggressively pursue the CDMA Verizon market. I believe that would pay rich dividends to both RIM and VZW. Chip: in my original article, I never advocate giving CDMA priority over GSM in device releases. I fully understand the economics involved. However, what I do advocate is releasing CDMA versions either concurrent with GSM versions, or at the very least with far less lag time than has been the practice…maybe a month or two after the GSM version.

Robb’s analogy with the automobile is brilliant; car manufacturers manage to get both versions…left and right side steering wheel…out without making one market wait.

Cell phone manufacturers can do much the same thing with these different technologies, and in fact, some do with certain models.

As for size, Verizon is only slightly behind Cingular in terms of subscribers, and is on track to soon surpass Cingular. Cingular is only larger now because of the merger a few years back of BellSouth Mobility, SBC, and AT&T. But look at the quarterly figures, and you will see that each quarter VZW beats Cingular in net subscriber additions, and has lower churn (customer loss). As for Cingular’s 3G network, it lags far behind in coverage area to Verizon’s. Basically Cingular is getting started about 2 years after VZW did.

However, again, it really doesn’t matter, since I am not advocating that RIM in any way not go after the Cingular or the overall GSM market. I merely advocate that in addition to that, they more aggressively pursue the CDMA Verizon market. I believe that would pay rich dividends to both RIM and VZW.

]]> By: Chiphttp://www.rimarkable.com/why-rim-and-verizon-need-to-get-closer/comment-page-1#comment-38012 Chip Wed, 17 Jan 2007 21:32:58 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/archives/1122#comment-38012 You actually disclosed RIMs reasons in your post. Verizon isn't as big as Cingular/AT&T. Add in Tmobile which also uses GSM and suddenly you have a serious potential user base for the newest BB (keeping it US-centric). Add in Cingular's faster 3G speeds and lower prices and suddenly, Verizon is not doing so well in comparison. Especially when you consider that as soon as you design the phone for Cingular/Tmo, you can send it to Europe/Asia/Australia <strong>AND</strong> South America with the only change being to the charger plug. That is a huge cost savings for RIM.Mind you, with the iPhone as mentioned in the other article, Verizon <strong>SHOULD</strong> cultivate RIM since they will need something to combat the iPhone on Cingular. Other wise the "will soon be the same size" comparison will be to Sprint instead of Cingular. You actually disclosed RIMs reasons in your post. Verizon isn’t as big as Cingular/AT&T. Add in Tmobile which also uses GSM and suddenly you have a serious potential user base for the newest BB (keeping it US-centric). Add in Cingular’s faster 3G speeds and lower prices and suddenly, Verizon is not doing so well in comparison. Especially when you consider that as soon as you design the phone for Cingular/Tmo, you can send it to Europe/Asia/Australia AND South America with the only change being to the charger plug. That is a huge cost savings for RIM.

Mind you, with the iPhone as mentioned in the other article, Verizon SHOULD cultivate RIM since they will need something to combat the iPhone on Cingular. Other wise the “will soon be the same size” comparison will be to Sprint instead of Cingular.

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