Verizon iPhone Attack Ads Take the Gloves Off, Target Steve Jobs?
Verizon has unleashed yet another Droid-centric, anti-iPhone attack ad (YAAiPAA), a page in Sports Illustrated, that’s closer to the first tragic iDon’t commercial rather than the later, more clever “map for that” ones. And what’s more, CNET thinks they’re getting more personal, expressing feelings about their (ongoing) negotiations with Apple to bring the iPhone to Verizon, and perhaps even attacking Steve Jobs himself for his role in those negotiations. Here’s the text:
This is a world of “nope,” “nuh-uh,” and “sorry, Charlie.”
A world of smiling denial. Petty tyrannies that have made their way into our cell phones. Into the very way we choose to speak to another human being. There are dozens of doesn’ts. Doesn’t allow customization. Doesn’t run multiple apps. Doesn’t allow you to swap out batteries. doesn’t allow open development. These arrogant little devices are barely worth more than the pocket link they rest upon. Because now there’s a phone so smart, so strong. So subservient to its user, it refuses to include “doesn’t” in its dictionary app.
In a world of doesn’t. Droid Does.
Also specifically targeted again are the commonly-voiced frustrations of certain power iPhone users, and those philosophically opposed to Apple’s iPhone model, with whom the above is certain to resonate. Who knows, maybe it will even push Apple to address some of those issues in a future product revision. Ultimately, that’s as good for consumers as Verizon ditching (mostly — yikes!) their own incredibly controlling, consumer-hostile practices in order to be able to make these claims in the first place. (Call us cynical, however, for not believing Verizon has had any huge philosophical turn-around beyond cold, profit-centric, anti-iPhone competitive positioning, though we’d love to be proven wrong).
But back to this specific ad. Is it effective, and is it personal? Did they just take it to the iPhone, Apple, and Steve? (And are they trying to make his brain explode with that typography and punctuation alone?)
[Thanks Icebike for the tip!]
November 15th, 2009 at 7:34 am
I still find it fascinating that all of this “openness” is coming from a company that cripples GPS and customizes OS as to remove some of there original functionality.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Chad.. Good point !!! They are not the Virgin Mary indeed …
November 15th, 2009 at 7:43 am
The irony is that without the “tyranny” of Steve Jobs changing the markets basic perception of what a smartphone is, the Droid would probably never exist. In so many ways, Verizion will always equal iDidn’t.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Too True, they need to take a look in the mirror!
November 15th, 2009 at 7:45 am
The days of vzw crippling phones, is over. Guess u haven’t been around the last couple years.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:50 am
This just has the stench of sour grapes to me. The funny thing is that all these companies spend so much time and money trying to tear down Apple and the iPhone, while Apple just trucks along quietly making the iPhone better and better, and making more and more money. The general consumer doesn’t give a damn about most of the points raised in this ad.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:54 am
June will be glorious. I will be puking all over the place in a stupor.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Of course it is getting meaner. Christmas is fast approaching and the droid is fizzling out. If they .(verizon) are going down, the management is goingto usetje investors money to mollify their egos and villify Jobs.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:55 am
@ moosc last couple years huh. Tell that to the storm and it’s lack of wifi. They just recently allowed thier phones to use 3rd party gps. It’s more like they turned this around in the last 6 months, and now throw out ads like they’ve alsways been unrestricted
November 15th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Dont hate. if Apple could contest or “clap-back”, if you will, they would have. Instead of standing up they cry to daddy. Its just an ad. does free market ring a bell. Apple would do better to just ignore the ads. Getting all upset & personal about it just proves droid.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:09 am
As someone who does all sorts of gadget & tech support, 99.44% of the folks Don’t care what it Doesn’t do. I LOVE my jailbroken iPhone, but I’d never recommend jailbreak to the avg user. My co-worker’s droid’s battery was being smoked until he deleted one of those all so fabulous free apps that were supposed to help him manage battery life.
Most people have come to expect ****** experinces from dealing with windows on their PCs. That is what Android openness will get most users on their cell phones. It is what Apple seeks to avoid.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:15 am
moosc – Couple of Years?? I switched from a Blackberry that had the GPS turned off on Verizon to the iPhone 4 months ago. My phone was defiantly crippled. So in the past 4 months maybe something changed?
November 15th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Verizon is horrible…they knock on the door every week and I tell them every week that I’ll never use their services again….
November 15th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I ******* hate droid!! It’s nothing but another motorola piece of ****!
November 15th, 2009 at 8:33 am
As an iPhone dev…I’d like to have a larger market (verizon’s customers). But I really dislike everything about Verizon..
November 15th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Droid is actually a decent device, but there are thongs about it that will prevent it fr reaching the type of critical mass of users iPhone has: crappyedia playback out of the box (Android is what I would be using if I didn’t havey 3GS, but holy hell is the media situation a mess), the autofocus issue on the camera right now (which will be fixed on December, a not so great physical keyboard coupled with a subsandard virtual one, low battery life if you don’t activelyanage those apps, and the crappy limitation on app space as a piracy countermeasure being carried over onto Android 2.0. VZW became “open” in the past 9 months and their bragging about that feels more than a little hollow to me.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:44 am
@Federico You probably haven’t walked into a Verizon store lately, the Droid isn’t going to fizzle out for a while, you can’t not see people walking out of a Verizon store without a Droid, at least in my area anyway.
But I love Apple and I would like it if I could get an iPhone, would I get one if it came to Verizon? Maybe, the only thing it offers me is that I can put the music I bought from iTunes music on it easier than with my Storm. I just ordered my Droid yesterday. I find Verizon’s ads against the iPhone and AT&T are entertaining and pretty clever. But one thing I’ve learned is, you can’t be a fanboy.
Just keep this in mind, Apple does the same thing with those Mac vs. PC ads. But also once Christmas is over, ads like this will stop. So that’s what? A little over a month of butthurt for you iPhone fanboys? If Apple doesn’t show any care about the ads, neither should you. The only company complaining about Verizon’s ads is AT&T, they’re butthurt because Verizon is rubbing how good Verizon’s network is in their face.
And I know that Verizon is being two-faced about this too. Being more open to devices like the Droid and not having such a tight fist on their phones and what not. It shows promise that they’re willing to be open to sharing revenue with the companies that are making these smartphones.
Apple once again set a standard, the iPhone has changed the smartphone market and now other companies need to catch up so they can make money. But if Apple never set the standard, some other company would have, more than likely (and unfortunately) it would of been HTC, and I’m glad Apple did set the standard so devices like the Storm and Droid could be offered to me as an iPhone alternative.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:45 am
This is funny, they are sooooo jealous of the iPhone they will take any route they can to try to compete, no matter how desperate they sound or act. iPhone rocks!!!!
November 15th, 2009 at 8:48 am
, We can’t get the iPhone on our network. Verizon had their chance and messed it up.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Rene, youre right on the money. There’s been no philosophical change at Verizon. They just understand that openness is currently the right market position to be in these days.
That being the case, I can’t deny that it makes me happy that a major player is forcing that “paradigm” into the marketplace. Apple may be forced to follow suit.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Still yet to see a Droid out in the wild (Austin, Texas). I would like to play with one myself, but really doubt it would steer me away from the iPhone.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Hello Pot? This is Kettle…
Verizon has been the WORST offender of crippling the phone and experience of its users to make more money for itself. Verizon’s hypocrisy is amazing!
November 15th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Does this pretty much mark the end of negotiations with Apple for the iPhone? If I were Apple, I would not want to do business with Verizon after these kinds of attacks.
Verizon can continue with all of their attacks and Apple will continue to quietly increase market share and continue to be innovative.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:35 am
ads position a company, provide it with a personality – this is the ugliest face verizon could have chosen
November 15th, 2009 at 9:39 am
ps – the droid is a very dull, mechanical looking square, and one hundred consumers out of one hundred would pick the iphone – that, i think, is an amazing blunder by motorola – google is one of the few companies that can march alongside apple, the droid will not effect apple
November 15th, 2009 at 9:40 am
For an arrogant little device that is hardly worth more then pocket lint, the iphone has sold millions, made Apple a boat load of money and helped create the market for the “droid” to exist in. And every review I’ve read about the droid, says it a great device, but its no iphone, yet.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:58 am
That’s… rather ironical.
But we shan’t judge a telco by its past, or shall we?
November 15th, 2009 at 10:05 am
How does Verizon not see that this may be hurting their chances of getting the iPhone? If they keep talking bad about it, Apple may take it as a sign that they don’t want it.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:05 am
I have been a loyal Mac user since 1992, so I knew I wanted an iPhone early on. My problem was getting out of the restricting Verizon plan to do it. I was so frustrated with Verizon that I left paid money to get out! I travel a lot and have had no more issues with ATT&T dropping calls than I had with Verizon and find the flexibility of the contract much better. The iPhone is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I find it funny that Verizon feels so threatened and shows it in their advertising. Frankly, the things they say the iPhone does not do does not bother me. It reminds me of a political campaign! The best candidates don’t bash the others, they stand on their own platform! My vote is for ATT&T and IPhone!
November 15th, 2009 at 10:12 am
This ad is right on. I don’t care about other verizon phones being closed. This one isn’t.
This ad holds a similar view as the jailbreak community, so even iPhone users believe this to be true.
Down with the man! Rage against the machine!
November 15th, 2009 at 10:15 am
As much as i see that verizon’s network IS better than AT&T’s, i really think they are just… i dont know, theyre getting off the line. I saw this, and it hurted me, i don’t have an iPhone (Palm Pre user) but i definetely just love that beautiful piece of craftsmanship called iPhone. I always spend time using my dad’s iPhone and well, i just love it. And i think that verizon is kinda being douches. Just because a couple of months ago, you decided to let the wifi and gps live in your cellphones doesnt mean that you have to brag about it like if they where perfect. In the other hand, i AM happy that verizon finally decided to let their cellphones with wifi, gps, and stuff. But come on…
Once again, i might be an apple fanboy for you, but for me its a matter of appreciation to their engineering. Hope everything goes back to okay!
P.S: I like the droid! its an awsome phone.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:18 am
1.) This is silly that people continually think it’s something personal about the iPhone. It’s like psychological warfare with the star player of your football team. What else does AT&T have to compete with other companies? iPhone is their only major phone (next to BB’s) so what else is Verizon supposed to attack? I mean get over it, it’s a business. Actually if you look at their other commercial (BB commercial specifically) it shows their main target is and will always be AT&T. Not iPhone specifically. It just happens…iPhone is specifically on AT&T. Only on AT&T. So what else would you attack when that’s the ONLY exclusive phone on AT&T’s roster and the best seller. Some of y’all should understand how cutthroat marketing is made. I don’t see anyone complaining about “I’m a Mac” commercials.
2.) Why does it matter about what Verizon HAS done. The fact that the Droid is completely void of VZW mess is nothing but good. Yet, people can’t get over the past and just move on. Once again…seem like double standards. Control is control. Apple controls the same way Verizon controlled. Only difference…Verizon controlled diff things to make more money. Apply controls diff things to make more money. They both are plain evil!
In the end…I’m sure Apple even understands what’s going on. That Verizon is not just trying to bash the iPhone, but that’s the only thing they can talk about when talking about AT&T’s lineup. Because hell, every phone but the iPhone…Verizon has. So what would you rather them talk about…LG Vu? Samsung Eternity?
November 15th, 2009 at 10:20 am
i guess this string of attack ads pretty much answers any question about a CMDA version of iPhone ever coming out on Verizon. even big red would know better than to slander a product (iPhone) that they had ANY intent to carry on their network. just wouldn’t make sense. guess Droid is their salvation now.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:32 am
The ads don’t bother me at all. The more ‘openness’ devotees who leave iPhone, the better.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:42 am
These ads are nothing to special but I would really like to try out the droid.. hmm maybe I’ll go to the Verizon store today. I really like my iPhone but AT&T sucked hardcore where I live that I had to switch to T-Mobile. If Verizon ever does get the iPhone I will be in line. But with the way its going who knows if Verizon will get it? I’m just loving though how Verizon is doing this, so Apple can finally step up and make the next iPhone even better.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:54 am
These ads are actually great for ATT and Apple because they egg them on to creating better services and products. There is nothing technology cannot overcome the shortcomings promoted by these VZ ads and probably in a years’ time ATT and Apple will be laughing at VZ.
I bet when the 4G iPhone comes out those who bought anything from VZ will regret big time and being lock in by the high cancellation will only create a lot of bad press and ill feelings for VZ.
Yes, VZ laugh while you can and who laugh last laugh best and I bet it wouldn’t be VZ.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:58 am
You’d think we were talking about something important and not… you know… cell phones.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I have been a loyal Mac user since 1992, so I knew I wanted an iPhone early on. My problem was getting out of the restricting Verizon plan to do it. I was so frustrated with Verizon that I left paid money to get out! I travel a lot and have had no more issues with ATT&T dropping calls than I had with Verizon and find the flexibility of the contract much better. The iPhone is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I find it funny that Verizon feels so threatened and shows it in their advertising. Frankly, the things they say the iPhone does not do does not bother me. It reminds me of a political campaign! The best candidates don’t bash the others, they stand on their own platform! My vote is for ATT&T and IPhone!
Jayelyne,
I definatley agree with your statement above!
November 15th, 2009 at 11:06 am
I’m a droid owner. I am amazed at all funtionality of the droid. On the flip side. I’m an iphone fan as well. Both phones are great. The best add that I like from vzw is the “map for that.” Because if anything. That add has some truth. Vzw network is much much better. But as far as the phones themselves. They are their own beasts.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Personal? Not at all.
When the iPhone first came out, I remember a couple of reviewers (I don’t think at tIPB) who said, in effect, “Steve Jobs did not design this phone for AT&T, Steve Jobs designed this phone for himself. Love it or hate it, this is Steve’s idea of a phone.” More than any phone prior, the iPhone was the result of a singular vision, and that was (and continues to be) a strength of the iPhone. Jobs/Apple deserves all the accolades and money they have received.
But not everybody agrees with all aspects of that vision. So two years later, a competitor goes after aspects of that vision it thinks customers dislike, and somehow everybody has their knickers twisted? Get over it; it is simply business.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:14 am
from an advertising standpoint, no big campaign has succeeded on the back of putting down the competitor. tell me what it does, not what the other doesn’t. even if i wasn’t using an iphone, that ad would make me think, “jerk”
November 15th, 2009 at 11:23 am
i dont like verizon as it is, except thier service is insane. but from the reviews i just dont see it being any better then the iphone. who needs a slide out keyboard for a touch screen? if you want a physical keyboard get something else. just wait for the iphone 4….
November 15th, 2009 at 11:24 am
“What else does AT&T have to compete with other companies? iPhone is their only major phone (next to BB’s) so what else is Verizon supposed to attack?”I
VZW is actually historically the carrier with the worst selection of smartphones. It’s great to see them changing that and their previous closedmindedness on GPS and WiFi, but let’s not pretend that people pointing out that that’s new are the ones being hypocritical. Hypocritical is the historically least open, most locked down carrier ranting about openness.
“I don’t see anyone complaining about “I’m a Mac” commercials.”
Read my comments then
. They are smarmy, smug and off-putting. I despise them and I’m really enjoying Windows 7.
“Why does it matter about what Verizon HAS done. The fact that the Droid is completely void of VZW mess is nothing but good. Yet, people can’t get over the past and just move on.”
Because past behavior is important to take into account when discussing and choosing a company/carrier that will best server you. DROID is great, and if these ads weren’t so blaantly hypocritical vis-a-vis Verizon’s stance until this year it would be a lot easier to look past.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Ok I’m gonna play devils advocate: what if Google was actually behind these ads. Yes they are a VZ commercial but everything they are saying about iPhone pertains to the OS.
Another thing, true power users (jailbreakers) aren’t complaining. Seriously, of apple took the gloves off and opened up customizing, multitasking and open development, I the bar would be set too high for any carrier/mobile OS. VZ better keep thier mouth closed efore they get more than they expected.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:37 am
let them attack say anything, that will make apple work harder on new iphone love competition =)!
November 15th, 2009 at 11:38 am
@dryland – yep, cydia has a hella lot of different **** you can do, backgrounder – multitask – changing icons, winterboards…..etc but maybe vwz doesnt know about that?
November 15th, 2009 at 11:43 am
VZW can’t slag a product they might one day carry. Hey ya, this totally sucks. Next day, ya we just got this phone. It totally rocks!
Um, didn’t you say it totally sucks yesterday?
No, I just want to make you sign a contract and give me your soul, I mean money, I mean business.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:50 am
You fanboys get under my skin. I own an iPhone and love these verizon/droid commercials. You frauds should embrace the fact they will make apple kick it into high gear for the next iPhone. Contrary to the belief of you fanboys, apple has a lot of work to do if they want to remain kings of the smartphone. Not running the app store like Saddam Hussein would be a great start.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:51 am
I feel like Verizon is trying to shove this phone down my throat with the style and amount of which they’re advertising. I can’t remember other phones calling out other devices on a level that Verizon and Droid is. In the end they come off as haters (not the users, those behind the advertising). No one forces you to buy anything and they make it seem I didn’t choose for myself. Ultimately, it comes off as childish.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Wow, they couldn’t get the iPhone so there acting like three year olds? Classic.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
If you notice, Verizon wants to market and position its products. Apple would want that power and for Verizon to take a flying leap in that regard. Apple wants to market its own products.
This is where the two might not be able to come to some agreement. AT&T gives Apple freedom to do what they want. They subsidize the heck out of the iphone. If Apple moves to Verizon, they give up having such a rosy relationship with AT&T.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
they are taking no prisoners, if I didn’t get 6-10 dropped calls on some days, I’d be outraged at the Att commercials like I use to be when people talked about sprint because my coverage was fantastic with them
November 15th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
What’s coming in June/July will be truly awesome. Pitty the Pre and Droid buyers. Talk about buyers regret LOL.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
@cardfan:
Yep.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
someone needs anger management….
November 15th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Verizon’s ads lack real creativity and inspiration. Attack ads like this are easy to conceive… small children do it all day long. The skill is creating an ad that entertains while it attacks a competitor so the message is swallowed, not spat out. These ads simply leave a bad taste and are primarily intended for the “I hate Apple” crowd as opposed to consumers in general who won’t have a clue what the text actually means.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
@I hate fanboys
Exactly. I’m not really opposed to the app store, but opposed to how it’s run.
I actually want to switch to the next great Android device to get away from the Fanboyism of Apple devices. It makes no sense. I just can’t get the Droid since it doesn’t work when I travel to Germany.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Whaaaaa! I don’t like the way the app store is run Whaaaaa!!!! I don’t like fanboys Whaaaaaaaa! Whaaaa! I’m moving to android Whaaaa!! Please just do it and shut the hell up….please
November 15th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
WOW VZW last I checked people who I know who have VZW want an iPhone. Evenchaly they are going to job ship. The Droid is only for Verizon it has no attraction to AT&T or Sprint or T-Mobile users. Just like the Pre is for Sprint users only Verizon is trying so hard this shows how fare behind they are with there phones Droid is made by Motorola and undermines HTC Droid Eris and the BlackBerry Storm2 and HTC touch Pro 2 and HTC imagio and they are better. Android or Droid can’t do everything iPhone first of Sprint tried to do the same thing and they lose over and over again people don’t like negative adds. And if you want to play that game Apple would beet Verizon any day anytime but they are smart make Verizon look like the bad guy/ baby That is what I think Don’t be a hatter.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
According to my Att rep Verizon will get the iPhone 3rd quarter of 2011! What the hell is Verizon doing with these advertisements?
November 15th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I think its funny that this advertising isn’t coming from Motorola. Verizon is touting “open” and they CLEARLY are CONTROLLING the marketing of this device.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I’ll say it again…”please! Apple! Do not open up the iPhone! Continue to keep firm control of it’s software. I for one appreciate the fact that it just works!”
Apple has taken it’s time on many features. But when they do finally finish, it works flawlessly. So I for one am willing to wait. Someone here said “that it was not the jailbreakers that are complaining”. Well I beg to differ. The very fact that the’ve jailbroken is a complaint in action! It is the ones who jailbreak that cry the loudest!
Most users are running the OS legit and most users, according to some customer satisfation polls, are happy with their phone.
Droid ads? There is no such thing as bad publicity. So they both are winning actually steve should give them a call and say thank you.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
iPhone really should be able to multi-task. Reading a Kindle while streaming a Pandora, interrupting both to take a call, then resuming when the call is done is just too obvious.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I’m just amazed that in this day and age someone still pays attention to ads, ANY ads. Use your head and the Internet!
November 15th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
People have a right to be upset at phones that are locked down.
By people I mean EVERYONE BUT FARKING VERIZON, WHO HAS BEEN DOING FAR WORSE TO US FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO!
It’s a valid complaint, but could not come from a more absurd source than Verizon.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Look who’s calling the kettle black.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Keep these ads coming VZW, I love them. Not because I like the Droid or want a Droid, but because I love the Iphone.
I remember when the first Iphone came out, Steve Jobs said they believe they are about 5 years ahead of the competiton. Well I think his calculations are off a bit. For the most part the competition has caught up (or at least catching up rapidly).
This will force Apple to accelerate the road map they have for the Iphone. I believe this to be happening already. By now we should have heard some rumblings about 3.2 but we haven’t. Could It be that Apple has changed what 3.2 was going to be because of the increased competition, that’s why there appears to be a delay.
Apple can not afford to release, what people perceive to be, small software updates or they stand the chance of loosing ground to the competition. In the past they could because there was nothing out there that came remotely close to the iPhone, those days are gone for now.
Apple can get back to what they do best, “skate to where the puck is going to be.”
So again I say to VZW, “keep these commercials coming”, please piss off Apple, I am waiting for the next game changing Iphone. Thanks to VZW and Google it may come sooner than expected.
P.s. For all of those that are bailing on the Iphone, “PEACE OUT!”
November 15th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I find the total and sheer hipocracy of you apple fanboys to be amazing. You *****, moan, cry and complain about Verizon and Droid attacking the Idon’t and yet no one hears a peep from the apple fanboys when it comes to the Mac vs PC commercials. You apple fanboys crack me up. In a world of doesn’t, my Motorola Droid DEFINITELY DOES.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I tried the droid out yesterday and I must say, it is a work of art. The interface is in fact quite snappy, and the organization of stuff in the phone is quite nice. None of that trumps the iphone so much as the screen. The high res screen is absolutely BEAUTIFUL, and if Iphone doesn’t step it up next summer with the screen resolution (keep the screen the same size tho…) then I honestly might just switch to something with higher res because it makes me happy to look at it. PLEASE APPLE LISTEN!!! I’d be willing to pay a bit more for a higher res screen, don’t worry about us, just do what you usually do best.
November 15th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I for one don’t normally pay attention to ads. Especially long text ads in a magazine. If I were reading that magazine, I wouldn’t have stopped long enough to figure out what that ad was about. Maybe if it were only a couple of lines long, but I’m not going to stop reading what I enjoy reading long enough to actively read an ad a paragraph long.
Not when I can simply turn the page to “continue with my regurally scheduled programming”.
November 15th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
This is just so tasteless and low……
November 15th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Wow that’s Ad’s are something else. When’s it going to stop. Oh ya and 72 plus comments just goes to show attack their hero and the flamming fanboys come out in droves starting with the first comment.
November 15th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Simply put though…when you attack something, you go for the start player. You can not disagree that the star player is the iPhone.
Get off the “everyone wants to attack Apple” bandwagon and open your eyes. It’s simple business. If it was the other way around…AT&T had the only Android phone…and iPhonewas the “Android” Verizon would be doing the same thing. Simply because…it’s the pack leader. The head honcho. The big cheese.
As I stated before…would it make more sense to down Blackberrys (which are on their network too) or a feature phone that obviously can’t stand up to a smartphone?
The ONLY smartphone that AT&T has that Verizon does not is the iPhone. Add to the fact that the iPhone is what’s making people come to AT&T. It’s common sense to what phone would try and bash.
Some of y’all just need a basic business course or SOMETHING.
November 15th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
APPLE BETTER NOT LET THE iPHONE GO TO VERIZON NOW!
November 15th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Anyone know the new Troll Bridge answer for Appulous?
November 15th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
yeah i need the appulous answer too, they keep changing the question
November 15th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
like others, how is this really any different than the I’m a Mac commercials?” I don’t like the I’m a mac ads and I don’t think this is a particularly good ad either, however, its what the company chasing does. And when it comes to the next generation of smart phones, verizon/droid is chasing att/apple.
November 15th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Where is the line that ATTACKS… Steve Job himself?
November 15th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
@ carol RON JEREMY SAYS its called TIPB trying to get hits. RON JEREMY SAYS Pretty desperate move TIPB.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
@ Carol & Ron Jeremy
Per the Article, its CNET that thinks VZW is attacking Steve Jobs. TIPB is asking if you agree.
Ghop thinks people should read the article more careful.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/11/15/droid-experiencing-external-speaker-problems-could-be-a-softwar/
November 15th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I worked as a regulatory attorney at MCI WorldCom after passage of the 1996 Telecom Act. We worked tirelessly for fair access to Verizon’s ubiquitious network built on the backbone of the old AT&T monopoly. They fought us at every turn. It’s good to see them get a dose of their own medicine.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
I went and looked at the Droid yesterday and it’s outside design has nothing on the iPhone. I couldn’t tell you about the screen since they didn’t have a working model, how stupid. But I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t see the screen, but I have always thought the iPhones screen was good.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I seriously doubt Verizon will get the iPhone. Out of all of the carriers, VZW is the most capitalistic. They crippled their phones and branded all of them to hell. They may not be crippling their phones any more, but I seriously doubt they will let go of branding all of the devices. They have said that iPhone availability on Verizon is up to Apple. But I seriously doubt Apple will let anyone put any sort of branding on the phones. I can’t see an iPhone with a big red stamp on the front or back, or non removable vzw applications on the unit. So here we are at a standstill. Verizon won’t sell a phone without their stamp, and Apple won’t let branding on their device.
And if your thinking it’s no big deal … Apple should just let verizon brand it. I dot think so. Apple makes the device, and they are extremely conscious of their image. If verizon wants to market and sell THEIR device, they should do so under the conditions of the product owner. And if they don’t accept those conditions they don’t have to sell the device.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
From verizon website, at features: *The DROID by Motorola supports Bluetooth Profiles for wireless headsets, hands–free accessories, stereo and phonebook access. It does not support all object exchange (OBEX) profiles.
So, when you do an ad like this one, at least don’t show us on your network’s official site the things that your phone DOESN’T support.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
i love apple and the iphone, and i love competition, i mean look what apple did once the pre was announced? blew us all away with 3.0, so competition i do like, but verizon is just bashing apple now, its quite ridiculous. they really need to ease off, droid is just how it sounds, another one of the dozens of android phones
November 15th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
@Ghop: Nobody ever said Ron Jeremy had reading comprehension skills. It is quite obvious that the though of an attack on Steve came from the original article, and that Tipb is simply posing a question to the readers. But do you expect someone of 4th grade reading comprehension to grasp this? Give Ron Jeremy a break … We don’t make fun of retards for being stupid. He is just special.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Waaa! Verizon wants an iPhone and Apple isn’t giving it to them.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
It doesnt seem to me like they’re attacking any one device in particular, but many. The omission of iDon’t in this ad proves my point.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
This coming from Verizon, the leader of closed UI, bluetooth profiles, and crippling of phones? Ohhhkay.
I prefer functionality of my iPhone. The Droid has a few glitches that I could care less for right now.
And apps being rejected on the iPhone barely constitutes my desire to swap to big red.
i’Mfine for right now.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
This is proof that VZW will NOT get the iPhone or so I hope. I’d like to assume that they wouldn’t ***hole it up about the iPhone then come back half a year later and try to market it. If they do…they will get the honor of being the funniest joke of ‘10.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Verizon is the biggest joke of all time. Seriously, I can hardly believe this stuff. I was a Verizon customer for years. Pathetic handsets and ALL OF THEM locked in to Verizon. Then along comes an iPhone, and suddenly Verizon is the champion of openness or whatever they are calling it today – seriously, I don’t know how these Verizon executives sleep at night. It’s kind of pointless, though. People will buy phones based on their real experiences and those of their friends, not these dishonest statements. Why we like the iPhone : it ROCKS. Why we hate your handsets: they SUCK. Goodbye.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I agree that the iDoesn’t ad campaign is much the same as the I’m a Mac ad campaign (which is getting old), maybe not as humorous.
iPhone vs Droid = AT&T vs Verizon
^ that sucks!! Big consumer fail.
Here, iPhone is available with numerous telcos, some telcos promote it more than others but most offer competitve plans.
I don’t think Droid will be coming here any time soon.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
lmao that hillarious. iphone really does suck. i love my pre it does everything an iphone does only better and all at the same time. not like apple idea of “multitasking”. And now the makers of the facebook app said they are abandoning any further work with apple due to apples app policies and willl be focusing on palm’s webos!!! I must say though this is excellent marketing on behalf of verizon and droid!! palm and android are the future. and to all those who say apple started everything i say this so did ford and look at them now. iphone days are numbered
November 15th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
The ad agency had to come up with something for US centric consumers. It depends how you look at it all. Vodafone owns 45% of Verizon wireless. As we know, Vodafone operates around the world and sells the iphone in select countries. If Verizon is really so “angry” why doesn’t Verizon force Vodafone to stop selling iphones in other markets outside the U.S. since they are “partners”? http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/iphone/index.htm
November 15th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
I don’t think the ads are effective against the consumer market. I think it’s a waste of money. They are advertising it as a “geek phone” by mentioning open development. Generally, people who own an iPhone don’t really think about open development.
They are just basically reminding geeks about the android software development and not penetrating the consumer market. The people who have brought the droid just think it’s a cool phone, not because of open development and other geek terminology they mentioned.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
“Frankly, the things they say the iPhone does not do does not bother me. It reminds me of a political campaign! The best candidates don’t bash the others, they stand on their own platform! My vote is for ATT&T and IPhone!” - Jayelyne !
EXACTLY
November 15th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
@Akshun
It wouldn’t matter since Apple does all the advertising for the iPhone. Funny but one never hears AT&T mentioned in any of the iPhone ads
November 15th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
@harold that’s a big rock you have been under the Pre is a thing of the past, it’s a good phone don’t get me wrong but a iPhone competitor, nope. Then the facebook thing, I don’t believe they said they are leaving the iPhone development, it’s that one guy is going to quit working on it.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Just sounds like iHate. And if Apple had a CDMA phone for them tonight they would find a way to have it out tomorrow. I know it has everything to do with business but it’s wasted money. I admit it’s a nice phone and Android is making great strides. Hope it continues to push Apple. I wonder what they have up their sleeves. I really think OS upgrades are coming soon and it’s gonna be some subtles touches and maybe some big ones as well. We shall see.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Of course VXW would take an iPhone tonight if they could. Ivan Seidenberg has admitted to wanting it recently. if you think iPhone sells a lot now, wait and see what would happen if VZW offered it. I think records would be broken in one day.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
If iPhone users didn’t have to jailbreak, this ad would not even exist.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Then your a fanboy, nice to have you aboard and we’re glad you came out of the closet.
I like my iPhone and I’m proud of it. I agree there are other great phones out there but I’ll stick with the iPhone, it meets my needs and it will improve if not I will look into other options.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I still don’t think Verizon is counted out as not getting the iPhone.
For the simple reason that they are the largest wireless carrier in the US. It should be common sense to Apple that they know Verizon is only attacking the device because it is the ONLY device on AT&T attracting customers.
Steve Jobs is a brilliant man. He would not forgo a chance to make millions upon millions more dollars just because Verizon attacked the phone.
Then Verizon is really playing it safe. Yeah they’re using the “i” with the campaign. But by time the Verizon enabled iPhone come out, most of those things (besides open development) will be moot I’m sure.
The Island of Misfit Toys use an iPhone (clone) sure, but they are attacking the network, not the phone. So Verizon is still in a prime spot to take the iPhone after exclusivity ends.
And I’m sure many will go, because most people I hear complain about the phone only complain about the network…
November 15th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
@moosc in post #5, VZW does lock features, how long you work for VZW? Second, who gives a rip about VZW, the Droid line is nice, but if they ever got a huge influx of data hungry phones in a short period of time, “it’s the network” would have a totally different meaning. Third, I doubt VZW will get an iPhone, not worth the R&D for a technology that will be phased out (regular CDMA). And VZW’s LTE will not be as expansive as it 3G for a fair amount of time. It will still need CDMA for legacy.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:16 am
No one mentions the “im a mac and im a PC” commercials. Right now the marketing trend is bashing other products. complain about it all you want – at the end of the day is your little rant going to make a difference?
November 16th, 2009 at 2:04 am
Ok I went to a verizon store today to check the droid out. Felt ok in my hand the sliding keyboard was pretty solid. The keyboard was like typing on a wider palm pre keyboard horrible. The browser was alot slower then my iphone it only had 2 bars and that was in the VERIZON store. Sad. When scrolling on the screen it was very choppy also the zoom choppy. Half *** mt. The phone wasn’t all is was cracked up to be and the network is not any better then at&t. Atleast in my part of town anyway(upstate NY). I also talked with a sales guy when I was there. He thought it was a good phone. But he said it has limitations. Whatever that means. I asked him if he has one. And he said he has waited for the tour and he’s staying with that. Then I asked him what he thinks of the iphone. I didnt tell him I had one. He said he likes it his gf has one and loves it. And if verizon gets it he would get it in a heartbeat. Cause of a discount or something. He said he will be awaiting what apple has in store for next year. And that was my experiece with the droid. I stick with my 3gs.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:57 am
NO IPHONE ON VZW.AT&T IS BETTER
November 16th, 2009 at 3:44 am
THERES A REASON WHY APPLE WENT TO VERIZON FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE IPHONE AND NOT ATT, IM A WINDOWS MOBILE USER MYSELF AND BEEN RUNNING OPEN GPS AND WIFI ON VERIZON FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS, YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO, DONT GET ME WRONG THE IPHONE IS A COOL PHONE BUT ON THE WRONG NETWORK, HTC TP2 6.5 CUSTOM BUILD, YUP YUP
November 16th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Someone made some remark about Apple creating a closed system and they are doing the exact same thing as Verizon, and to you I say BULLSHIT. Apple only controls it’s own products that it creates. Verizon cripples other companies products. Major difference. A company is free to do with what they want with their own product and if they fail because of it, then it’s that own companies fault. But someone like Verizon shouldn’t be allowed to doom companies like RIM, Motorola, LG, etc. right from the start by telling them one they can and can’t do.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:34 am
All these ads are doing is ensuring that current iPhone users never ever switch to verizon lol. Talk shyit about a product that I made a decision to purchase means you’re talking shyit about my decision making ability. Yeah, fyuck you too verizon. I can’t make good decisions either way since I’m always plastered.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:28 am
There’s nothing ‘petty’ about Apple’s ‘tyranny’. It’s there with purpose aforethought to ensure the user experience envisioned by the CEO of the decade, and that experience is worth every penny Apple & AT&T charge. I carry around 300 songs and several symphonies, a couple of treasured videos, 200 photographs, around 30 podcasts, an audiobook or two, get my email, text my wife and kid daily, have half a dozen great games, carry/manage my to do list, read and edit my MS Office docs, read this and several other blogs plus the NY Times daily, check out movie trailers – with an 8GB 3G. Oh yeah, it’s all inredibly easy to use, and it’s a pretty good phone, too. Stood offers me what, again?
November 16th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Two things:
What? How on earth did you equate anything in that ad to Steve Jobs? Was it the background color of the article reminded you of his shirt?
There is a reason they spend money on these ads. They target a market of people who know the limitations of the iPhone. Nuff said. No one here is addressing this at all. Weird, eh?
What the fanboys here are missing is pretty simple:
The iPhone is the latest Razr. 3 generations. Pretty much exactly the same phone (same button, same shape).
I personally hope they don’t port google Nav to the iPhone just to stick it to the iPhone fanboys. Would be great payback for the google-voice rejection.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:48 am
@Omari James:
You wrote: Generally, people who own an iPhone don’t really think about open development.
Never a truer thing was said.
Those that do, for the record, have break the contract they signed in order to do something that the phone SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:57 am
What the fan boys don’t realize is that smartphones were around long before the iPhone. Apple’s contribution was to introduce a whole bunch of feature phone users to an entry level smartphone. Now, companies like Google, RIM, and Microsoft are just letting those users know what more advanced smartphones can do in the hope that some will upgrade to more powerful devices.
This kind of competition in the smartphone market is good for all consumers because it forces the manufacturers, developers, and carriers to continuously improve their products.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:47 am
It’s the pot calling the kettle black. Nothing more; nothing less. Become a Verizon customer and see how many “uh-uh’s” you get from customer service.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:50 am
@iDavey:
You’re totally right. I didn’t read any of the subsequent garbage on this comment thread. It’s marketing. VZW doesn’t give a **** what the flagship phone is as long as it can be targeted and slandered in order to bring users to its network – and away from ATT.
It’s service plans that matter, people, not phones. Phones are subsidized. They’re essentially a LOSS until you sign that service plan agreement/contract. Why do you think they’re cheaper with a long-term agreement than when you buy it up front.
Fanbois make ads like these personal. It’s ******* annoying how Apple fanbois are so sensitive and take everything so personally. Get over it!
Have you even taken a look at the Droid? It isn’t half bad. It’s actually a usable contender. The 3G-dependent tasks on that phone just pop up, as they should, unlike on ATT. A phone is only as good as the network it’s on. I sometimes feel like my iPhone is a Ferrari on a dirt road.
This ongoing battle between VZW and ATT is Capitalism at its best!
November 16th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
AT&T should just come back with an ad saying that there are twice as many Smartphones on AT&T as there are on Verizon.
AND… Verizon
“Doesn’t have the iPhone”
November 16th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
@Bob G. – So, yeah, I’m a fanboy (or girl), and what I ‘realize’ is that iPhone may be an entry-level phone, but Google/MS/Palm are barely entry-level pocket computers. I’d rather have a great video-mp3 player/browser/game-machine/mail client/camera that’s an OK ’smartphone’ than the greatest voice-text handheld ever devised that’s not computer-extensible/software-upgradable in a way everyone else is still trying to emulate years later. Why wouldn’t I be a fan?
November 16th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
It’s funny how all the Android fanboys are on this site (theiphoneblog.com). What a joke and you talk about fan boys having the problem, you have it backwards. I was reading comments how other phone sites don’t talk about the iPhone, it’s only iPhone users that are worried about the Droid, yea right. Do a search on twitter and see who is putting down who, it’s the Android fanboys.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Android fanboys, hahaha! Just admit that Apple made your phones just a little better than they would have been.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Christ, can’t we all get along? As an apple user I don’t get why people are so insecure whenever a smaller company, with a worse product attacks our holy grail. That’s the thing about being number one… you know it, you don’t freak out every time.
Plus, lets be honest, now Apple understands how Microsoft felt with the I’m a PC Ads… its business its supposed to be nasty.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
It goes both ways everyone. The Moto Droid is an amazing phone the Iphone is an amazing phone. Get over it the specs are as good. There are apps that both have.
Taking from the people above that verizon is so Jealous of the Iphone and Apple. Well I guess the same goes for all Apple people are Jealous of Microsoft. Its funny though now that someone is actively going after your product you scream you are so Jealous and whatnot.
Both phones are amazing and great. Things go both ways Apple does the same exact thing Verizon is doing right now. Learn to take it because both phones are great you can live in denial all you want.
Also for the people that say the Droid wouldn’t be around if the iphone didn’t exist. This would also be true apple would not be where it was at if Microsoft wasn’t the first to dominate the market.
This goes back competition makes everyone compete and grow faster if there was no reason to increase technology we would still be playing NIntendo’s and Zach Morris cell phones.
I personally hope apple comes out with something even better so in turn someone else will only makes my life easier.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
@DroidVZRocks:
November 16th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Droid….sounds like Roid…..which translates into Hemorrhoid……get it…..the new “dRoid” is a pain in Apples ******…..you get the picture…….. : )
November 17th, 2009 at 4:27 am
I just like seeing all the competition. The fanboys weren’t nearly this enraged when the pre came out. I’m happy with my droid and glad I switched from my iphone 3gs. I can’t stand apples policies. Vzw doesn’t have a good track record for crippling phones but I was happy last year when the storm came out because they released the gps on all blackberries including my curve. Unfortunately att service is so horrible I went back to vzw and the droid is a very sutable replacement and better in many ways
November 17th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
http://iphone.macnn.com/articles/09/11/17/analysts.see.palm.at.verizon.next.year/
November 18th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
@ brian. if the pre is an outdated peice of technology then why oh why will the palm pre be the first phone to run flash 10.1 and it was announced the the almighty iphone will not HAVE FLASH HA! it is already in beta. heres a video of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpI6gA9cuME
November 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Apple doesn’t want flash. It’s not that it can’t. If Apple does allow it, it will be because Adobe did lots of work to get it to perform better. I could really care less about flash I can’t stand flash sites, yes flash is good sometimes.
And really I didn’t put the link to be about the Pre, Mr. Harold it was about Verizon questioning the Droids market strength already the Pre is a thing of the past, now the next Pre might be great but I doubt it. I don’t have anything against the Pre, I would have one if the iPhone wasn’t around but that was also before the Droid came out.