If the NoDo silliness hadn’t happened, my number one question about Windows Phone this year would have been, “When is Verizon going to start selling a Windows Phone?” The answer to that question, finally, is soon.
Of course, we’ve heard that before. Months ago, I started receiving emails from various Verizon employees that the first demo devices had appeared in retail stores, an event that usually occurs just weeks before the public launch. Some sent along photos of the device—the HTC Trophy—along with various demo station materials.
And then silence. I’m not sure if it was the NoDo disaster—which sort of makes sense—or the launch of the Verizon iPhone—which sort of makes sense too—or something else entirely, but the Verizon Windows Phone launch, which was going to happen in February, and then March, and then April, just kept getting pushed back.
But it appears that it’s finally happening. There are two pieces of new evidence:
Verizon Windows Phone at Best Buy. PocketNow has published a screen grab of the Best Buy web site which shows the HTC Trophy on Verizon. “The unsubsidized price shows up as $600, although that figure could well be just a placeholder,” the site reads. “Notably, the listing confirms the model number we had been anticipating for this device, which is MWP6985.”
Verizon launches Windows Phone help forum. Verizon Wireless has launched a Windows Phone help forum (and yes, it’s live) where users will be able to discuss the device and OS in community forums, learn about products and services and so on.
So you have to think this device is going to appear soon. I just wish that Microsoft and/or Verizon would break the silence and explain when.
Verizon stated that they don’t “need” Windows Phone. It almost feels like this is a half-hearted effort. Maybe the Kin deal burned the bridge a little?
This almost feels like Verizon is patting their dumb little brother (Microsoft) on the head and saying “Ok, we’ll make sure people get your little phone”, and then drives off to go make out with Android.
So, that’s a bit unfair. Verizon never issued a statement saying anything like that. Verizon CTO Tony Melone told CNET (http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13970_7-20031988-78.html):
“I do want a strong third OS out there. It gives the carriers more flexibility and balances the interests of all the parties. But I still have doubts whether Microsoft will get the traction they are hoping for with Windows Phone 7.”
But to your point. His “need” quote was in response to whether Verizon would “need” Windows Phone and Nokia in order to compete effectively going forward. So what he said was the right thing, with regards to his now-current partners, all of which are performing strongly for the company:
“I don’t think Verizon needs the Nokia and Microsoft relationship,” he said. “Right now the three OS players we see for our network are Android, Apple, and RIM … I think it would take a really compelling device from Nokia or any new vendor to break in. It doesn’t mean that it can’t happen, but it would have to be really good.”
I wouldn’t read too much into this, and certainly wouldn’t worry about it. That one guy doesn’t set Verizon’s phone strategy. And the day Verizon announces its first WP7 phone, and the day that it signs on with Nokia/WP, it will announce officially how happy it is to be a part of this ever-growing ecosystem. And they can say, wow, they really did release something really good, so we jumped right in.
I probably should have clarified that these were my views (and interpretation) of the whole situation. You’re right though. I’m personally excited to see WP7 on all major carriers, I just wish VZW wouldn’t be such a laggard about it.
Yep, agreed. It seems like more choice is better for everyone, including the carriers.
Verizon President and COO Lowell McAdam also made disparaging remarks as well, although nowhere near as vitriolic as Melone’s insipid remarks.
I’d also like to say hello. I’m a long time follower of Paul’s sites.
I’ve been waiting for Windows Phone on Verizon.. but unfortunately upon closer inspection I found out that you are absolutely required to have the data plan.. this wasn’t the case years ago with My Windows Mobile device. It’s making me rethink my move to Verizon. I’m tempted to drop my iPhones all together and just keep AT&T for Voice only. It’ll be easier that way. My iPhones should sell for enough on eBay to cover the early termination fees.
I don’t mind having a data plan.. but I hate that it’s so expensive considering how rarely I use it. Why not just limit me to 2G data and charge me $5/month along with a reasonable family plan. I’d be more than happy with a solution like that.
Then again, more and more i’m feeling like the wireless carriers are the modern version of evil monopolists. Unfortunately when your customer base is John Q. Public, bad behavior (sky high early termination fees, required data plan even if your out of contract, confiscatory txting charges, etc…) becomes very well known very quickly. This isn’t so much the case when your a B2B only company with a monopoly position in a market.
I have also been wondering if I’m the only one who’s thinking like this. I wonder what the percentage of people who choose voice-only after smart phone is? Hey, Maybe I just coined a new term. I’m a VaSP! I’d like to think I’m on the leading edge of a wave, so that market pressure will force lower network access prices.
Sadly I don’t think any carriers allow you to buy or activate a smartphone on their networks without a data plan anymore. I would like to have an ala carte offering so I could get smartphone for my wife as she hardly ever roams and would be using wifi almost all the time.
Oh and as far as Verizon getting a Windows Phone 7? Yeah I’ve heard that for going on five months now. It’s all talk until I have one in my hands. It’s almost like the HTC Trophy on Verizon has been like their Windows Vista. Sure it’s going to release…eventually.
Wow, $600,- !! Amazon Germany sells a Vodaphone branded (but NOT carrier-locked) version for 175,- euro, which is way less:
http://amzn.to/k8eqEJ
Although that’s a GSM device and not CDMA.
To quote The Smiths, “How soon is now?”
Right. Or Spaceballs: “When will then be now?”
It should’ve been “White”, just for the fun of it… I mean even CNN makes this a headline news that Apple was finally able to get a hold of some with BEHR paint on their phone after 4 years? Anyways, no one will know about this Windows phone, since none of the major news sites are carrying this news.
They force us to get a data plan because they know we’ll be using Facebook and Twitter to be “social” without actually socializing with anyone, that we’ll want to buy fart apps the very instant we think about it, and that we’ll need to watch Two and a Half Men while waiting in the drive-thru at McDonald’s, being the anti-social, impulsive, and half-witted American consumers that we are.
I cetainly have been very frustrated since following the product family from last summer and expecting to be on Verizon before the end of the year. Well I was way off on that point. When the only official word was first half of 2011, I thought there was no way they would get near the end of that time frame (wrong again monkey boy!) , So here I sit, waiting for VZ to announce a date still, shaking my head about this. I certainy agree that VZ iPhone and other new Andriods w/LTE have been the priority for VZ. I thought the WP7 would be out about the same time as Sprint’s. Now it’s something close to 5 weeks since that device has been out, yowza…it’s just a phone but there clearly is no priority from VZ’s side to get this out. I’m still going to get one day one (actually closer to 6 between coworkers), but I hope that Mango goes more smoothly and that there are some nice LTE phones in 2012 to pick from.
Hey Verizon, I’m trying to give you a bunch of money, hello? hello? Can you hear me now?
It’s not like anything happens quickly with Windows Phone. In the scope of things, this is pretty much unfolding as expected, with the benefit of hindsight.
While I twiddle my thumbs, now my main grief is the gap between the Sprint release and Verizon’s. Everything else can be rationalized about cdma code availability etc. etc etc.
One might argue that Sprint needs to move a bit quicker than Verizon. After all, they’re at the bottom of the heap, while Verizon is the number one carrier. So that doesn’t excuse it, but it may explain the lack or alacrity on the Verizon side.
Even if Verizon puts out a Windows Phone now, it may just be a half-hearted effort.
HTC Trophy specs reflect a first generation Snapdragon processor. I’m not interested in out-dated hardware, even if the Phone rolls out with 7.5.
Hey Paul, don’t forget to source your articles.
Sincerely, another Paul.
What’s that supposed to mean exactly?
It means he doesn’t know what a hyperlink is.
Yeah, that’s how I took it. When I find out about something on another site and then publish it myself, I always provide a link. I kind of resent the insinuation that I do otherwise.
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