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. …
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.
John Paczkowski has been poking fun at the tech industry and the personalities that drive it since 1997. From 1999 to 2007, he wrote the award-winning tech news Web log Good Morning Silicon Valley for the San Jose Mercury News, Silicon Valley's daily newspaper.
Here is a statement of my ethics and coverage policies. It is more than most of you want to know, but, in the age of suspicion of the media, I am laying it all out.
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. …
Comments
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.
Posted by Eric Welch at August 26th, 2008 at 8:10 am