In a refreshingly open, straight-shooting interview with the
Wall Street Journal, Verizon boss Ivan Seidenberg -- who has a reputation for being candid -- talked about virtually every hot-button topic facing its business today, starting with the love-hate relationship it shares with fellow partner Vodafone in its Verizon Wireless joint venture. Seidenberg
reiterated that he'd love to take Vodafone's 45 percent off its hands, but admits that the prospects are unlikely in the short term; he goes on to say, though, that he's convinced they'll be willing to dump it once the wireless industry cools off. The next target of his ire is archrival Sprint, which he says will "self-destruct" by failing to meet capacity demand following the launch of the
blowout $50 unlimited deal on its
iDEN-based Boost subsidiary -- fightin' words from a guy whose ad campaign has revolved around a smug dork in a jumpsuit touting network reliability for half a decade. Finally -- and this is kind of juicy -- Ivan talks up the iPhone, saying that Apple
had never seriously considered a CDMA version, but that he thinks the company will be much more receptive to talks once Big Red moves to LTE and everyone gets on the same page technologically. Of course, if
AT&T has anything to say about it, it won't happen -- but it'll be a fun drama to watch unfold.
[Via
Phone Scoop, image via
I Can Has Cheezburger?]
posted Apr 16th 2009 at 5:41PM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael @ Apr 16th 2009 11:30PM
iPhone?
I don't want an iPhone.
HTC Touch Pro 2 please, Verizon.
Oh, and maybe don't @#*@ the insides up on this one.
Or the keypad. Floating M, seriously?
Don Louie @ Apr 16th 2009 8:22PM
Nothing bad can be said about CDMA though, it'll take a while before IDEN hits capacity since there are only roughly 13M of them now and network improvements have been done
Galen20K @ Apr 16th 2009 8:34PM
I don't care HOW many Times I've seen that Picture above, it NEVER gets OLD!!! Ahahahahahaaa
Once Verizon, ATT, and T-Mobile are all on LTE then all the Phones on LTE should work on all 3 networks so I look forward to that day.
- D
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Apr 17th 2009 12:07AM
wouldnt get my hopes up on that bud, especially with Verizon involved. there are already rumors flying around that Verizon may not let customers access their SIM card once they go LTE. i mean Verizon and Sprint use the same technology now but it's next to impossible (if not completely impossible) to put a Sprint phone on Verizon or vica versa.
Don Louie @ Apr 16th 2009 8:46PM
T Mobile hasn't picked a platform, att is 4 to 5 years away so hold tight to those device swapping plans
Galen20K @ Apr 16th 2009 10:32PM
T-Mobile Definitely Already has Picked LTE and its European Branch has started testing a while back near the End of 2008 and has Suggested its American Branch will do the same.
So yeah, the Magenta confirmed LTE also.
bernardino @ Apr 16th 2009 8:54PM
B.S. Verizon dumped Apple because Verizon was too picky and didn't think Apple was good enough for them. Now that Apple is the prom queen and thus rich and famous, Verizon looks like a douche for dumping her. Verizon secretly asked Apple to get back together, but Apple gave Verizon the finger, so now Verizon is claiming Apple dumped them so as not to look like the idiot who dumped the chick who turned out to be totally hot later on.
vectormanzeta @ Apr 16th 2009 9:54PM
How is this not CEOh no he didn't!? ?:D
SimbaDogg @ Apr 19th 2009 1:33AM
seriously...i swear the engadget family isn't using that anymore.
moochy989 @ Apr 16th 2009 10:00PM
I don't understand how Sprint would "self-destruct" from capacity issues considering the fact that they now have 3 live networks...one being the very first 4G available. If capacity is ever an issue for pre-paid customers, I think they can migrate Boost back to some CDMA plans like it was before...not an issue. There's a reason Virgin Mobile and Helio continue to use Sprints CDMA.
VZW @ Apr 16th 2009 11:00PM
Sprints 4G is the first for data, they still have 0 phones with WiMax. I doubt they will for a while. And Verizon will have 4G LTE in more places then Sprint will. 1 is because Verizon has more licens, 2 is because Verizon has the money to do this. Sprints 3G network still has a lot of work. They think Roaming is helping out there 3G network when is dont. Verizon will end the EVDO Roaming contract as soon as its up, then Sprint will be worthless for 3G. And when Verizon cuts off CDMA, good bye Sprint. =]
Cris @ Apr 17th 2009 12:54AM
Are you effin kidding me!?!?! Verizon can talk the talk! But can they walk the walk?!? Sprint is already a step ahead of every carrier out there! What makes you think verizons will be any better!? By the end of 09, most sprint phones will have 4G while verizon will start to roll out their 4G!
Jason @ Apr 17th 2009 11:24AM
Sprint is ahead of every carrier out there. Ahead of them in line to bankruptcy court that is.
VZW @ Apr 17th 2009 12:15PM
Umm.. no. Verizon will have 4G in more places then Sprint will. 1 is because we can cover the whole US with the 700 block we have. Verizon is already adding LTE in major cities. Sprint will have it in a few by the end of the year. Also, LTE is being used all over the world, unlike WiMax which will be useless in 3 years. And Yes Apple and Verizon are talking about getting a LTE iPhone. There are already LTE phones in the make, just not released. I know alot more then you idiots know. Sprint is not on top of things. There is no need for Verizon to keep the Roaming EVDO contract. Verizon covers all the place Sprint does plus tons more with EVDO. And Verizon will shut down CDMA when LTE is up, like TDMA to GSM was, but at a much faster rate. Sprint sucks. If it were so good, it would cover 3G in Baton Rouge, LA where I go to alot. I can name lots of places Sprint doesnt even cover and needs Verizon for Roaming.
Dan @ Apr 17th 2009 12:13PM
Sprint only has a voice and 1x roaming agreement with VZW. The only EVDO agreement is with Alltel which is for 10 years and started back in 06.
VZW @ Apr 17th 2009 12:18PM
Yeah, but as soon as its up, Verizon will have CDMA shut off. LTE will be put up very very fast. Theres a meeting in May comming up about what we will see as for data and phones.
moochy989 @ Apr 17th 2009 5:26PM
"I know alot more then you idiots know." - Contradiction.
It would be: "I know a(SPACE)lot more thAn you idiots DO." The extra "know" at the end is redundant.
1. Sprint has no EVDO roaming agreements with VZW, as mentioned above. So sorry, no accurate knowledge brownie points given there, either.
2. I can say the same thing about VZW not covering certain areas that Sprint does. Prime example - the entire U.S. Virgin Islands. VZW doesn't even have extended coverage there, it's non-partner roaming on guess who? Starts with an S, ends with a T.
3. If you really did "know alot more then" us, you would be smart enough to be a Sprint subscriber with your phone set to roam only, paying cheaper monthly rates with no roaming charges on your beloved VZW network. - Just saying...
Get that big red check mark out of your rear and then come talk to us.
VZW @ Apr 17th 2009 10:29PM
Sprint does not cover all 100 major cities in the US. For one, Baton Rouge, LA is not covered. And Sprint is not worth it. There 3G is horrible for coverage, and there plans with WiMax is not going to be going anywhere like Verizon and LTE will. There are many more areas that Verizon covers and Sprint does not even Roam off of. And Sprint will cut you off for too much Roaming. Sprint sucks, there coverage is weak, and if it wernt for VZW you would be dead. I pay for what I get, Americas largest 3G network, Americans most reliable voice and data network, the largest network and calling network with top rating CUSTOMER SERVICE, and the best call ratings in the US. You pay for what you get.
Dogiefresh @ Apr 18th 2009 6:55PM
I knew it by the very begining of the iphone era, apple never is gonna make a product limited to a crapy CDMA network so fanboys swallow it, that's why VZW is rushing to LTE to have a chance to get decent phones
B------ @ Apr 17th 2009 6:54AM
I am waiting for the storm 2 to come out. Then if that is as big of a flop as the first storm was, then I am going to probably switch over to either Sprint or At&t for the I-phone.
I do feel that the first company to fully initiate, in all phones, either 4G or LTE will definitely also sway my cell phone provider decisions.
DPL @ Apr 17th 2009 11:19AM
I don't think Sprint will self destruct either. I also think VZW will renew their roaming agreement with Sprint for business reasons, "Money". And 2016 is quite a little far away.
And even if VZW does not renew, Sprint has coverage in all 100 major Metro Cities in the US. That is more than enough to keep going and rolling out 4G technology.
The iPhone is not going anywhere. It's staying with AT&T. I don't like the iphone but can't see AT&T letting Apple go. They will probably give in to whatever Apple is asking. Apple has the leverage and by the sales numbers, Apple will get their deal.
hitdog @ Apr 17th 2009 6:36PM
so basically, this confirms Verizon will not be getting the iPhone any day in the near future, so all those rumors were false.
Commentator @ Jun 25th 2009 10:42AM
Really guys... if you want to be taken seriously in your carrier bashing, do a little proofreading. I have a hard time trusting anyone's comments with basic spelling grammatical errors.
The truth is that coverage depends on your proximity to a tower. Any carrier can have bad coverage. Despite what Verizon says (and I am a former employee), their coverage isn't perfect everywhere. I can say that Verizon locks down, uses non-compatible proprietary technology, and is the most expensive carrier for what you get. Personally, I rarely use customer service anyway so I would prefer not to pay for someone sitting in the call center. I prefer the actual cellular and data services.