Verizon to prospective iPhone buyers: 'Stay near a plug'

[AppleInsider]

Like other AT&T rivals, Verizon Wireless has issued a list of talking points to help its employees encourage customers not to drop their service plans and switch to iPhone. "Stay near a plug," reads one of the points to be conveyed to potential switchers. "The iPhone battery can't be removed or swapped for a spare."

The multi-page document, labeled "Proprietary & Confidential. For Internal Use Only," offers Verizon's take on why it "more than holds its own" against Apple, AT&T and the iPhone.

"Sorry, iPhone can't send picture or video message -- only e-mail," the carrier wrote. "No over-the-air downloads. You have to connect to a PC to load music." For its part, Verizon offers both features through certain of its service plans.

In the documents, the AT&T rival also suggests that employees tell prospective iPhone buyers to "watch their wallets," as the "cheapest iPhone is $499."

OK, but what about customers who talk about iPhone's "cool features" like Wi-Fi access and the touch screen?

"Wi-Fi is not a mobile technology," Verizon explains. "You have to be in a fixed location to use it -- and that's if you know where to find it. And some Wi-Fi hotspots make you pay to use them. There're also those pesky concerns about security of Wi-Fi."

As for the Apple handset's touch screen, "it sounds cool," claims Verizon, "but if you're a heavy text or email user, it could be challenging not being able to feel the keys as you press them."

"And how are you going to type without looking with a keyboard you can't even feel," the carrier adds.

For those interested, both Verizon documents can been seen after the jump. Slightly more entertaining talking points issued by Sprint were covered on Monday.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[anantksundaram]

How does Verizon have a clue about the multitouch/touchscreen? Have they used an actual iPhone?

[fizzmaster]

I personally think that the battery not being swappable sounds like a big deal, until I realize that I have never needed to swap the batteries in either my phone or iPod.

[TitoC]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

"Wi-Fi is not a mobile technology," Verizon explains. "You have to be in a fixed location to use it -- and that's if you know where to find it. And some Wi-Fi hotspots make you pay to use them. There're also those pesky concerns about security of Wi-Fi."

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

So I guess all of those "Business People" using Wi-Fi with their laptops this whole time have been doing so with little or no security. Interesting . . . . .

Love seeing the last-minute scrambles by Verizon and Sprint.

[ajhill]

More Verizon FUD!

[quinney]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

"And how are you going to type without looking with a keyboard you can't even feel," the carrier adds.

It sounds like Verizon are encouraging people to send text messages
while driving. This seems like a risky thing to do, liability wise.

[docprego]

WOW, Verizon and Sprint are obviously shaking in their boots......

[johnsharrington]

Maybe they should explain how you don't have to worry about security with Verizon because they put crappy proprietary software on their phones. They limit bluetooth functionality, and their "over the air MP3" downloads are $3 a pop.

I just got my new AT&T W810i and my Apple Macbook recognized it, and isync loaded up my contacts, calendar, and retrieved photos without a hitch. I can't believe I've been with Verizon all these years. I even loaded 2 GB worth of music onto my free W810i and I didn't have to buy a PC-Kit like I would have from Verizon. (they don't allow file exchange over bluetooth with their similar phones)

Now I have a free pocket sized phone from AT&T to use on the weekends when I don't feel like luggin' around my iPhone.

I am so excited to be done with Verizon forever. Many of my friends and coworkers are doing the same.

[bdj21ya]

Haha! I love these. As though there isn't going to be a charging accessory out by sometime in July. These things make them sound desperate. I almost wish I was a customer so I could toy with the reps calling in to cancel. I guess that makes me a jerk.

[CosmoNut]

Originally Posted by fizzmaster

I personally think that the battery not being swappable sounds like a big deal, until I realize that I have never needed to swap the batteries in either my phone or iPod.

Yes, but we both likely know how to take care of a lithium ion battery. LOTS of people out there still think that they're supposed to use their cell phones or iPods until the battery dies to avoid the battery getting a "memory." Some have even told me that the cell phone store told them to do that!

There's a lot of bad information out there and I imagine we're going to have the iPod battery effect all over again in about a year because the Josephine Schmoes of the world abused their batteries.

[LordJohnWhorfin]

But a gazillion accessories designed for iPod that use AA, AAA, or Li-ion batteries to extend battery life. They're clearly scrambling to find nits to pick, especially now that the announced plans are extremely competitive.

[BlackSummerNight]

All the Wifi statements are true. Seems like they are trying to use scare tactics to keep customers from switching, but the wifi statements are true.

The sad thing is, this might just keep some people from switching. Some people are so non-technical, something like this could scare them away from the iPhone.

Originally Posted by TitoC

So I guess all of those "Business People" using Wi-Fi with their laptops this whole time have been doing so with little or no security. Interesting . . . . .

Love seeing the last-minute scrambles by Verizon and Sprint.

[HCrefugee]

are for the desperate and the authoritarians.

[icibaqu]

you can't send picture text messages? that's lame.

[BlackSummerNight]

Yeah, no MMS.

Originally Posted by icibaqu

you can't send picture text messages? that's lame.

I still want to know can the camera be used to record video.

[EagerDragon]

A little gum being push in the crack of the Dam. That should hold off the flood for a few seconds.

[Clive At Five]

Page 3 of the Verizon document says that the iPhone doesn't have ring-tones!

Damn, it must be a bitch having a phone that you have to stare at for the visual cue that someone is calling. A lot of missed calls, I'd assume.

What a bunch of pansies.

-Clive

[dr_lha]

Originally Posted by icibaqu

you can't send picture text messages? that's lame.

You can just email pictures instead, which is much more useful.

I'm hoping that the iPhone will basically remove all the annoying TXT variants we have now ("TXT, PIX, FLIX etc..") with standard email that works on all phones. Sure the birthing pains may be hard, and we can't give up SMS just yet, but eventually we'll be free from those annoying 50cents a go multi-media messages.

[joeYYY]

This is a weak argument as I think that most folks would not need a replacement battery.

But, if you still need a replacement battery you can always get a universal USB charger such as this one:
http://www.radioshack.com/sm-lenmar-...sb-powerport-b...
This is even better than a standard battery as you don't need to bring the device down (when you are taking the current battery out). It may even cost you less than buying a replacement battery at premium price on the carrier store.

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by icibaqu

you can't send picture text messages? that's lame.

Just curious, but what is the advantage of MMS over sending the same picture via regular email?

[mariofreak85]

Originally Posted by icibaqu

you can't send picture text messages? that's lame.

I thought so too until I realized that I rarely send them.

and can't you send an email to phonenumber@mobile.att.net? Does that work with pictures?

[BlackSummerNight]

More people have phones that do MMS that do real email. The problem wouldn't be sending pictures/video, it would be receiving.

Originally Posted by JupiterOne

Just curious, but what is the advantage of MMS over sending the same picture via regular email?

[BlackSummerNight]

Are you saying keep SMS because it's something the iPhone can do?

Originally Posted by dr_lha

You can just email pictures instead, which is much more useful.

I'm hoping that the iPhone will basically remove all the annoying TXT variants we have now ("TXT, PIX, FLIX etc..") with standard email that works on all phones. Sure the birthing pains may be hard, and we can't give up SMS just yet, but eventually we'll be free from those annoying 50cents a go multi-media messages.

[nagromme]

Stay near a plug... your iPhone will only have 8 hours of battery life! Here... have one of our 2-to-5-hour models instead

And in four years when your iPhone's life has dropped to the same life OUR phone has now, you'll have all kinds of iPhone battery replacement options Which you'll probably never need anyway.

Imagine the iPhone-haters with the 4-hour batteries who will be bragging, "See! My battery just ran out! And I have the privilege of lugging along spares, so it doesn't matter! Click!" (Meanwhile their poor iPhone-burdened friends are still talking on the original charge.)

Originally Posted by Clive At Five

Page 3 of the Verizon document says that the iPhone doesn't have ring-tones!

Damn, it must be a bitch having a phone that you have to stare at for the visual cue that someone is calling. A lot of missed calls, I'd assume.

What a bunch of pansies.

-Clive

I think they mean you have no CHOICE of ringtones.

Which obviously you do, as seen right in Apple's demo

[BlackSummerNight]

And I'm sure Cingular will be more than happy to sell you a 7 second ringtone for 1.99 through their Tones service!

Originally Posted by nagromme

Stay near a plug... your iPhone will only have 8 hours of battery life! Here... have one of our 2-to-5-hour models instead

And in four years when your iPhone's life has dropped to the same life OUR phone has now, you'll have all kinds of iPhone battery replacement options Which you'll probably never need anyway.



I think they mean you have no CHOICE of ringtones.

Which obviously you do, as seen right in Apple's demo

[emdeesee]

I'd like to read what they'd be saying if the iPhone was coming out on their network. They'd turn around 180 degrees and be claiming it's the best phone in the world.

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by BlackSummerNight

More people have phones that do MMS that do real email. The problem wouldn't be sending pictures/video, it would be receiving.

Well I cannot receive MMS from outside my network (though sending seems to work). But I can receive email from anyone. And this is from a 4 year old Nokia 6820.

[Matthew Yohe]

Originally Posted by nagromme

I think they mean you have no CHOICE of ringtones.

Which obviously you do, as seen right in Apple's demo

But... there hasn't been a confirm on ringtones from your iTunes library... It's looking like that may not happen.

[BlackSummerNight]

What network are you on. I send receive MMS from people who have Tmobile and Sprint. I'm a Cingular customer.

Originally Posted by JupiterOne

Well I cannot receive MMS from outside my network (though sending seems to work). But I can receive email from anyone. And this is from a 4 year old Nokia 6820.

That's strange.

http://www.nokia.ca/english/products/6820/6820.asp

Share information and experiences with Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), which allows you to send and receive messages with image, sound and text.

It's a service you have to sign up for. You can't just start sending MMS messages if you haven't signed up for the service.

[purpleshorts]

Verizon's job in the short run is to stop anyone from leaving for iPhone... and in the long run, to copy the iPhone as closely as possible!

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by BlackSummerNight

What network are you on. I send receive MMS from people who have Tmobile and Sprint. I'm a Cingular customer.

That's strange.

The same.....Cingular. As a matter of fact, I remember the last time I looked into this, a couple of years ago (back when it was AT&T Wireless), a rep even told me that it would not work (receiving) outside the network. However, I have sent a few MMS messages to Sprint friends and they said they received them.

[crees!]

Originally Posted by fizzmaster

I personally think that the battery not being swappable sounds like a big deal, until I realize that I have never needed to swap the batteries in either my phone or iPod.

I agree. I charge my phone every night that i remember to. I don't have a 2nd battery laying around and never have. Personally, no one in my family or anyone else I know is that hardcore in having a 2nd battery with them at all times. So to me, that point is mute about the iPhone not having a replaceable battery. That will suck though if/when the battery needs to be replaced.

By the way: I have Verizon. When my contract is up nothing they say will stop me from switching. Free phone, discounted plan, not gonna work on me.

[deepkid]

Who the heck owns a cell phone and isn't *already* camped out near an outlet? And i have the original iPod and a 3rd gen. I bought my 3rd gen early in '04 and I still get 4+hours of use out of it after using it nearly everyday.

[EagerDragon]

Originally Posted by nagromme

Stay near a plug... your iPhone will only have 8 hours of battery life! Here... have one of our 2-to-5-hour models instead

And in four years when your iPhone's life has dropped to the same life OUR phone has now, you'll have all kinds of iPhone battery replacement options Which you'll probably never need anyway.

Imagine the iPhone-haters with the 4-hour batteries who will be bragging, "See! My battery just ran out! And I have the privilege of lugging along spares, so it doesn't matter! Click!" (Meanwhile their poor iPhone-burdened friends are still talking on the original charge.)



I think they mean you have no CHOICE of ringtones.

Which obviously you do, as seen right in Apple's demo

Like I care about the ring tones. I never purchased one, the ones that come with phones are more than fine.

[jrepici]

I never take my battery out of my Blackberry, I just plug it in. The only time I take it out is when it crashes and I have to reset it.

[BlackSummerNight]

Not many non-business users carry around a spare battery. I know people who use car chargers, but that's as far as it goes.

The only thing that scares me about the battery not being removable is that with my past experience with cell phones, sometimes they lock up, and the only way to get them to power off is to remove the battery. This is Apple, so hopefully I won't have this problem. Maybe some type of force quit built in.

[mstone]

Originally Posted by purpleshorts

Verizon's job in the short run is to stop anyone from leaving for iPhone... and in the long run, to copy the iPhone as closely as possible!

Verizon doesn't make phones, but my prediction is by 1st quarter 2008, we'll see Windows Mobile 6 supporting as much as they can legally copy from iPhone's functionality as well as a Nokia phone running Linux with Opera browser, including Java.

[sandro]

Verizon obviously is crapping their pants. I rather have an iPhone with 5 minutes battery time than being stuck with a crappy phone company that cripples my phones. I just hope they lose as much business as they fear they will.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by TitoC

So I guess all of those "Business People" using Wi-Fi with their laptops this whole time have been doing so with little or no security. Interesting . . . . .

Love seeing the last-minute scrambles by Verizon and Sprint.

What they say about WiFi is correct.

It's harder to find than you might think, except in limited areas.

It's also only a mobile technology in that you can use it outside the home or office.

But, you can't walk down the streets while on a call, or be in a car, on the highway. That's true mobile.

[noriyori]

Originally Posted by dr_lha

You can just email pictures instead, which is much more useful.

I'm hoping that the iPhone will basically remove all the annoying TXT variants we have now ("TXT, PIX, FLIX etc..") with standard email that works on all phones. Sure the birthing pains may be hard, and we can't give up SMS just yet, but eventually we'll be free from those annoying 50cents a go multi-media messages.

as a workaround for no mms you can simply email a photo to the number@mms.att.net

ex: 5555555555@mms.att.net

this also works with t-mobile, but I don't recall the mail address.