The above statement is nearly a paradox in that it has the words “worst” and “friend” in the same sentence. But here is my reasoning. Applying the logic of Apples recent moves around the world, one would assume that Verizon is a logical next step for Apple, giving Verizon’s 80 million (plus) customers in the US. But it is not that simple.

The most recent development can be found in Verizon’s Droid advertisement in the December 2009 issue of Popular Science – a place most analysts are unlikely to look. It is a scathing diatribe of Apple’s iPhone.

Here are a few quotes from Verizon’s recent Ad:

> “Doesn’t allow customization”
> “Doesn’t run multiple apps”
> “Doesn’t allow you to swap out batteries”
> “Doesn’t allow open development”
..and the last of which shows some or should we say a lot of venom…
> “These arrogant little devices are barely worth more than the pocket lint they rest upon”.

It appears that Verizon feels that the addition of Droid (i.e. Android) and the Palm Pre smart phones come January gives it the weapon to fight the Apple iPhone and AT&T (Verizon’s #1 competitor).

Verizon clearly knows that it holds the keys to Apple’s desire to become a formidable force in the US mobile market, and it appears that Verizon has decided to hold back Apple’s advance. So analysts beware, not all roads lead to Rome. This inevitability reasoning about Apple, with a little dose of logic, in all things related to growth, is how bobbles are born! But Wall Street never learns – just a word of caution.