My Android Phone News .com

FROM HTTP://VEHLEDESI.CO.CC

AT&T wants to set the record straight about its 3G wireless coverage.

The company has placed a STATEMENT defending itself against critical advertisements Verizon Wireless has been running that highlight areas of the country where AT&T lacks 3G coverage.

“We typically don’t respond to competitors’ advertising,” AT&T said in its statement. “However, some recent ads from Verizon are so blatantly false and misleading that we want to set the record straight about AT&T’s wireless-data coverage.”

Verizon’s initial advertisement, which began airing on TV a couple of weeks ago, mocks Apple’s “there’s an app for that” slogan. Instead, Verizon’s advertisement says “there’s a map for that.”

The ad campaign shows two maps with red-and-white splotches. The white area indicates no 3G coverage, and the red indicates areas where 3G service is available. In the ad, Verizon shows an AT&T map that has lots of white spaces, whereas the Verizon map is almost covered in red.

AT&T has filed a lawsuit claiming that the ad is misleading because it implies that AT&T customers can’t use their phones in areas where the carrier does not offer 3G wireless coverage.

Verizon has modified its ad slightly to indicate that the map applies only to 3G coverage and not regular 2.5G service, which is adequate for making voice calls and connecting to the wireless Internet at slower speeds.

But AT&T is still not happy with the adjustment, and the company wants Verizon to stop running the ads or to alter them further.

What’s more, AT&T has added a complaint about a newer Verizon commercial, which characterizes the IPHONE as a NEW RIVAL, to the lawsuit. The Isles of Misfit Toys refers to an island where broken toys and misfits would go in the popular Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Christmas special.

In the ad, a toy elephant asks the iPhone what it’s doing with the misfits, since it has so many cool apps. The iPhone doesn’t really answer, instead flashing the AT&T map, which indicates the spotty 3G coverage. All the toys seem to understand.

AT&T hasn’t launched ads of its own to combat the Verizon commercials. But the company’s statement on its Web site is its attempt to refute many of Verizon’s claims. For example, AT&T points out that its data coverage reaches 303 million people, or 97 percent of the U.S. population, using a mix of wireless technologies. Of course, AT&T admits that not all of these customers are able to access the faster 3G network; only 75 percent of the U.S. population can get access to AT&T’s 3G wireless network.

AT&T also emphasizes in its statement that it has twice as many smartphone customers as Verizon. And it says it offers the most popular smarpthone in the industry, the Apple iPhone. AT&T says it offers more mobile applications than its competitors. And finally, it points out that it has the fastest 3G wireless network in the nation, a claim some customers who use the service may question.

There’s no question that Verizon’s ads are hard-hitting. But it’s difficult to say whether they have affected consumers’ purchase decisions. Anecdotally, it looks like the ads might have helped Verizon win a few customers. One Motorola Droid customer I interviewed at a Verizon store in New York this week said he decided not to buy the iPhone because of the Verizon ads he saw on TV.

“I was considering the iPhone,” said Henry Goodison, of the Bronx borough. “But I saw a commercial about AT&T’s 3G coverage. It said, ‘Here is AT&T’s 3G coverage, and here is ours.’ And I thought it would be better to have Verizon, if I travel to another state, where AT&T doesn’t have 3G coverage.”

For all of you that have it or know somebody that has it what’s a quick review you have for it? I plan on ordering one this friday and I just want to make sure it’s gonna be good. I heard the battery life has been a problem with some people even when not using it all day. I have played with it alittle at the store and it seems great to me but there might be some things I haven’t used yet or don’t know

Verizon Wireless announced that it will provide customers the option to use, on its nationwide wireless network, wireless devices, software and applications not offered by the company. Verizon plans to have this new option rolled out nationwide by the end of 2008. Any device that meets the minimum technical standard will be activated on the network.

This is a huge shift for the wireless industry known for protecting their networks and the apps and devices that work on them. Just a few weeks ago sources reported Verizon’s opposition to Google’s push for open access on the nascent 700 MHz spectrum re-allocation. Verizon even sued (and withdrew) the FCC who is imposing so-called open-access rules for parts of the spectrum.

So why the sudden turnabout? According to Verizon, there is no change.

In a July 19th statement Verizon reiterated its position on the auction: we oppose the rules not the idea. An email from company spokesman, Jim Gerace, confirms this is still the company’s position. “We still oppose the FCC rules for 700 MHz” says his email, “we said back in July that we supported the idea of open access, but again did not think that the FCC needed to dictate it.”

Fair enough. Anyone who has ever dealt with the FCC can agree they can be a little overreaching at times. Consumers definitely don’t want any branch of the government to dictate choice.

However, we don’t want Network Operators to control our choices either. Until this announcement Verizon’s business plan was to do just that: control devices and apps on its network. “Spectrum is a shared resource that needs to be managed efficiently in order to support the needs of all users” says a recent press release. In other words Verizon is saying “we limit and control what is on our network because it is in the best interest of the public who, by the way, really owns the spectrum”.

Since the first cellular network was built operators have fiercely protected their network so they could ensure no degradation in service and customer satisfaction. They, after all, are the protector of the wireless user.

So what recent discovery was made that suddenly enables Verizon to open its network to everyone?

None…no new technical discovery, they could have given open access years ago. Recent developments, however, have helped top brass to “discover” their vulnerability in staying with an antiquated operating model.

Here’s what I think.

The bold move was a necessary preemptive strike. Verizon is not afraid of opening its network; the capability to technically protect and ensure the service quality of the network exists. They don’t care about the devices; any carrier would gladly give up the need to manage a huge supply chain for little to no bottom line gain.

Verizon’s concern is what a competing open network would do to its business. Google, who plans to bid in the upcoming 700 MHz auction, could pose a threat if they somehow got their hands on nationwide licenses. Add to that the announcement of the Open Handset Alliance (which includes Verizon competitors T-Mobile and Sprint/Nextel) Android developer platform a few weeks ago. Mix in the fact that Google and the 32 companies in the OHA have billions in cash and you have a few very nervous Cellular Network Operators.

It could have been termed a brilliant move if it was done 6 months ago. Now, however, it just looks like a forced strategic decision. In any event, long term this will prove to be good for consumers and ultimately good for Verizon.

Some call it a ploy, some feel its simply a move to dissuade Google from bidding on the 700 MHz spectrum, still others have applauded the move. It could be all three, but as Lowell McAdam, Verizon Wireless president and chief executive officer says “This is a transformation point in the 20-year history of mass market wireless devices”.

Forrester predicts that Google’s Android will overtake Apple’s iPhone as the 2nd largest smartphone platform by 2012.  “The sheer scale of Android releases should also play an important part, as many more smartphones will carry Android in coming years and should appeal to a wider base than narrower device ranges like the BlackBerry and iPhone lines,” said Forrester Analyst Ken Dulaney.

That’s a bold prediction for Google to topple the hottest, most buzzworthy phone in the world.  The first step in the Android attack, an advertising campaign Droid Does, has launched and we like what we see.  TechCrunch’s Jason Kincaid says, “Verizon isn’t pulling any punches: it calls out basically every major weakness on the iPhone, from its inability to run background applications to the App Store’s walled garden. The site kicks off with a stream of things that the iPhone can’t do, mimicking the black text-on-white background commonly seen in Apple ads but replacing it with statements like iDon’t run simultaneous apps.”

This campaign is brilliant for several reasons as follows:

1) Insider Feel:  One of the challenges for Google is to figure out how to appeal to the masses without alienating true influencers.  This ad speaks to insiders, techies, and influencers.  There is no overt “we are google.  android is great.”

2) Attack Ad with Humor:  Politicians take note…this is a brilliant attack ad.  The attack ad is hard hitting with a lot of “I don’t” statements that slam the iPhone.  These statements pass muster and seem credible.  The best part is that when you first see the ad, you think it might be an Apple ad (nice choice in music), so there is great irony when you find out who the true author is.

3)  Branding Without the Brand:  Somehow Verizon and Google got on the same page and managed to not seem like a “phone company.”  Verizon was willing to do the ad without putting the Verizon brand front-and-center.  Likewise for Google and Android.  This ad is worth talking about, and since the brands weren’t overbearing…

To read more about the Google campaign, go to Sparxoo, a digital marketing, branding and business development blog.

so im looking at getting a new phone for college next year, and i decided i want a smartphone. i like blackberries, especially the Tour, and im also interested in the new Droid from motorola.
one feature that is extremely important to me is that i want the phone to have microsoft word capability
i was just wondering if anyone had a review or a comment about Verizon smartphones, just to help me make a good decision
thanks

FROM HTTP://VEHLEDESI.CO.CC

AT&T wants to set the record straight about its 3G wireless coverage.

The company has placed a STATEMENT defending itself against critical advertisements Verizon Wireless has been running that highlight areas of the country where AT&T lacks 3G coverage.

“We typically don’t respond to competitors’ advertising,” AT&T said in its statement. “However, some recent ads from Verizon are so blatantly false and misleading that we want to set the record straight about AT&T’s wireless-data coverage.”

Verizon’s initial advertisement, which began airing on TV a couple of weeks ago, mocks Apple’s “there’s an app for that” slogan. Instead, Verizon’s advertisement says “there’s a map for that.”

The ad campaign shows two maps with red-and-white splotches. The white area indicates no 3G coverage, and the red indicates areas where 3G service is available. In the ad, Verizon shows an AT&T map that has lots of white spaces, whereas the Verizon map is almost covered in red.

AT&T has filed a lawsuit claiming that the ad is misleading because it implies that AT&T customers can’t use their phones in areas where the carrier does not offer 3G wireless coverage.

Verizon has modified its ad slightly to indicate that the map applies only to 3G coverage and not regular 2.5G service, which is adequate for making voice calls and connecting to the wireless Internet at slower speeds.

But AT&T is still not happy with the adjustment, and the company wants Verizon to stop running the ads or to alter them further.

What’s more, AT&T has added a complaint about a newer Verizon commercial, which characterizes the IPHONE as a NEW RIVAL, to the lawsuit. The Isles of Misfit Toys refers to an island where broken toys and misfits would go in the popular Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Christmas special.

In the ad, a toy elephant asks the iPhone what it’s doing with the misfits, since it has so many cool apps. The iPhone doesn’t really answer, instead flashing the AT&T map, which indicates the spotty 3G coverage. All the toys seem to understand.

AT&T hasn’t launched ads of its own to combat the Verizon commercials. But the company’s statement on its Web site is its attempt to refute many of Verizon’s claims. For example, AT&T points out that its data coverage reaches 303 million people, or 97 percent of the U.S. population, using a mix of wireless technologies. Of course, AT&T admits that not all of these customers are able to access the faster 3G network; only 75 percent of the U.S. population can get access to AT&T’s 3G wireless network.

AT&T also emphasizes in its statement that it has twice as many smartphone customers as Verizon. And it says it offers the most popular smarpthone in the industry, the Apple iPhone. AT&T says it offers more mobile applications than its competitors. And finally, it points out that it has the fastest 3G wireless network in the nation, a claim some customers who use the service may question.

There’s no question that Verizon’s ads are hard-hitting. But it’s difficult to say whether they have affected consumers’ purchase decisions. Anecdotally, it looks like the ads might have helped Verizon win a few customers. One Motorola Droid customer I interviewed at a Verizon store in New York this week said he decided not to buy the iPhone because of the Verizon ads he saw on TV.

“I was considering the iPhone,” said Henry Goodison, of the Bronx borough. “But I saw a commercial about AT&T’s 3G coverage. It said, ‘Here is AT&T’s 3G coverage, and here is ours.’ And I thought it would be better to have Verizon, if I travel to another state, where AT&T doesn’t have 3G coverage.”

how and when can i pre-order the verizon wireless motorola droid cell phone, if it is possible to do so?

I am looking for a new phone with a camera and video camera. I want a phone that won’t break. Please leave me reviews. (i dont want a blackberry phone;maybe the droid though) thank you for any reviews =)

HTC Imagio
The Blackberry Storm 2
Samsung Rogue
Motorola Droid
I know the droid isnt out yet but look at the video reviews on youtube. i seen some good ones and it looks very cool. thanks

Like, I want to buy the phone, but I just want a phone, unl texting, and the wifi stuff built in like it would be. I don’t feel like paying the extra for 3G if I know i don’t want it. Is it possible to get the phone without the 3G plan.