This is Verizon? How about iDont fully support Bluetooth, iDont use standard GPS, iDont let smartphones have WiFi, iDont have anything but a basic, crappy menu on all of my basic phones, iDont have applications except those in something called BREW. iDont let you put any CDMA phone on my network unless you bought it from me.

Pot, kettle. Verizon has a less than open past. (About as closed as a mobile phone company can be, actually.) You know the rest.

This is fine for the Droid - what about the rest of their phones?

While I think Verizon has a lot of crappy policies (I'm working on something about that), that's probably true of most carriers. But let's focus on your specific points.

Bluetooth? As far as I know, it's supported fully, at least on smart phones. My Motorola Q back in 2005 allowed file transfers and PC remote control, for example. (I don't know about feature phone support, though.)

GPS? Lots of carriers use A-GPS. Verizon has also announced that they're unlocking the GPS on phones (at least some phones, so the GPS can't be too "non-standard".

WiFi? My Omnia supports WiFi quite well. Maybe at one time Verizon crippled WiFi, but they don't seem to be doing it now.

The common menu? First, as you mentioned, it's only on their "basic phones"; smart phones don't have it.

Second, I think having a common menu system is a good idea; it lets people move to new phones without having to learn another user interface. You can certainly argue that the implementation is poor, but I think the concept is a good one.

Finally, if you don't like it, you can easily get a Windows Mobile phone, BlackBerry or, soon, an Android phone.

Apps? First, how many carriers have apps at all? (I don't mean OEMs providing an app store, like the iPhone's App Store; I mean carrier-run app stores.) I know T-Mobile announced one within the last year or so, but Verizon was probably ahead of the curve with their GetItNow store more than 5 years ago.

Second, you seem dismissive of BREW, but it's Qualcomm's standard for writing phone applications. Is Apple forcing people to use Objective C on the iPhone instead of Java any better?

Phone portability? Several years ago, I had no problems getting them to put an Alltel phone on my Verizon account. (They didn't set it up correctly, so I had to partially program it, but they didn't forbid it.)

Plus, since then, they've announced that they will accept other phones from other CDMA carriers. I haven't tried it, so I don't know if I could move a Pre (for example) to Verizon or not, but my actual experience was that they allowed some phones to be ported.

Verizon has lots of annoying and stupid policies, but I don't think you hit on one that's current.

Steve

"I am not a fan of ad campaigns designed to shed bad light on their competitors, so these make me a little angry, but many like them. I think they are classless. Focus on what you do good and advertise that."

How come Apple is not classless when it repeatedly attacks Windows os?

"How come Apple is not classless when it repeatedly attacks Windows os?"

They are. I hate those ads too. Showcase your product, let others do their thing.

At IBM, we were told not to diss the competition. Reasonable comparisons, like "Our product has 99.9% uptime compared to the competition's 95%" were fine, because those highlight your product's advantages, but saying something like "The competitor crashes all the time" wouldn't be.

I still think that's a reasonable guideline. Dissing a product may be funny (like the Apple "I'm a Mac" ads, which I enjoy), but it's still classless and/or desperate.

Steve

had the iPhone and also had a blackberry with verizon. the iPhone was great, however at&t's network is worthless. they don't seemd to care about data speeds, coverage or their customers, which is why i switched to verizon. the iphone's great, but what's it worth is you can't use it because of poor, very poor, reception? go verizon.

I have never been a big Android fan and have no hands on experience....but at this point any ad campaign that will be able to focus on what iPhones lack (business customers and IT security buffs, step forward) is a good thing. I feel that it is a positive for both Apple and it's competitors, since nothing chokes innovation like the thundering drumbeats of fanboi lurve.

Apple has never turned away from aiming ads right at their competitors weak points, even when they were aimed a bit below the belt (PC Guy anyone?) nor should they have...that's business. Are you honestly now saying Chris that Apple should be somehow immune from the same treatment.

I say more power to Verizon if they are able to reignite proper debate.

All I know is that I used to have a Blackberry (which was pretty good) and now I have an iPhone. I absolutely love my new iPhone 3GS. It is truly the most amazing device I've ever had. Nothing comes close to it--REALLY!!! Maybe Verizon is jealous, worried, desparate, I don't know. But I do know that my iPhone is wonderful and amazing! IT DOES for me!

I like the theres a map for that ads because they are true. After cingular was acquired by at&t it seems that tower construction has slowed at least in my area. Where as verizon has been putting up towers everywhere where i live. There network is definitely better where i am. Being out in the boonies and hardly losing your signal is an accomplishment for verizon. At&t on the other hand drops in and out more.