New challenger calls out iPhone for a showdown
BY DON MECOY
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17
Published: November 6, 2009
It’s the young gun versus the 800-pound gorilla. Consumers will decide who wins.
In the world of smart phones, the iPhone reigns supreme. Apple’s device has become indispensable for millions. But competitors have begun to make some inroads.
Motorola Droid phone vs the iPhone, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2009. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman
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Not just for techies
T-Mobile and Sprint have been selling Android phones for several months, but the Motorola/Verizon Droid has been the subject of keen anticipation, particularly among techies who can exploit the open-source nature of the Android software.
"It’s geared toward people out there who can make applications,” Lambert said. "But we don’t want to put it in the category that it’s a tech-only phone because it is very user friendly.”
The Android employs applications, small downloadable programs that perform a variety of functions. However, only about 15,000 applications have been created so far for the system. That’s just a fraction of the number of applications, or apps, available for the iPhone.
The Droid does allow users to employ more than one app simultaneously, something the iPhone does not do.
Local Verizon Manager Thomas Howard said the number of people signing up for e-mail notification about the Droid has been two to three times greater than for any other product the company has released. The phone has received generally positive reviews from technology Web sites, Howard said.
"The hype is definitely there,” Howard said. "There’s a lot of interest there.”
After a $100 mail-in rebate, the Droid sells for $199 with a two-year service contract with Verizon.
Related Topics:
Electronics, Science and Technology, Consumer Electronics, Technology, Cellular Phones, Smartphones
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Verizon's ads ARE accurate - AT&T has very little 3G coverage compared to Verizon (or Sprint) so while their 3G data speeds CAN BE faster than Verizon or Sprint's, you have to be in 3G coverage to get those speeds (and even then, demands placed on their network by Iphone and other smartphone users can significantly slow this speed).
It's also important to know that Verizon (and formerly Alltel), Sprint, and US Cellular use a technology called CDMA, while AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM, so they are not compatible technologies.
The IPhone is a great device, but with a network like AT&T's backing it up, it can be worthless or frustrating to use.
As for the $350 Early Termination Fee Verizon is going to charge-that is true, but only for smartphones. Regular cell phones will still have the $175 ETF. I fully expect other carriers (including AT&T) to follow suit, as they are doing this since many customers are buying expensive smartphones for the lower price you get with a service agreement then cancelling-even with the $175 ETF the price is cheaper than the out of the box, no contract price, which can be north of $600 in many cases for some smartphones.
I'm not sure these guys are talking about the same exact thing.
Second, I have heard that Verizon is upping their cancellation fee to a massive $350. That's insane. Try to get everyone to switch to you, but once you do, really lock them in with an absurd cancellation fee. That "strong arm" policy makes me uneasy as a consumer. My attitude already is, if Verizon wants me to get their Droid, they'd have to pay for my current carrier's cancellation. If they aren't willing to do that, then they're relying on me being so in love with their phone and service that my cancellation fee is something I'd happily pay for the honor of being a Verizon customer. Not likely.