Verizon advertising partner rumored to be working on iPhone campaign
Rumors of a Verizon iPhone arriving this summer continue to surface, with CrunchGear claiming Landor Associates, which handles Verizon's branding, is working an advertising campaign regarding Apple's next-generation handset.
Author John Biggs simply cited a "tipster" in Tuesday's report, which said that Landor Associates are "hard at work" in preparation for the fourth-generation iPhone. The report said Brad Scott, senior director with Landor, is believed to be in charge of the team.
"Because Landor focuses a bit more on branding -- they, for example, created the dual-B logo for Blackberry -- don't expect TBWA, Apple's current iPhone agency, to get pushed out when it comes to TV advertisements," the report said.
Biggs went on to say that the rumor "very nearly confirms" a Verizon iPhone "at the end of the summer."
The rumor comes just a day after Engadget confirmed that AT&T and Apple originally agreed to a five-year exclusive deal for the iPhone, which would have extended through 2012. However, contracts can be amended, canceled or breached over time due to a variety of factors. Some believe that AT&T's contract for the iPhone was modified after it agreed to $30-per-month unlimited data plans for Apple's 3G iPad.
Last year, talk of a Verizon iPhone picked up when various reports alleged that Apple's deal with AT&T expires this summer. However, the Verizon-related rumors quickly cooled earlier this year, when Apple executives defended AT&T, and partnered with the wireless carrier once again for the iPad.
But the rumors picked up once again in late March, when The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is working on two new iPhones, including a CDMA-compatible model that could run on the Verizon network. The report alleged that the CDMA iPhones will not go into mass production until September, and when the hardware would go on sale was "unclear."
Apple is expected to introduce the new fourth-generation iPhone at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, to be held June 7 through June 11 at San Francisco's Moscone West. In years past, Apple has used the stage at WWDC to introduce its annual iPhone upgrade.
Author John Biggs simply cited a "tipster" in Tuesday's report, which said that Landor Associates are "hard at work" in preparation for the fourth-generation iPhone. The report said Brad Scott, senior director with Landor, is believed to be in charge of the team.
"Because Landor focuses a bit more on branding -- they, for example, created the dual-B logo for Blackberry -- don't expect TBWA, Apple's current iPhone agency, to get pushed out when it comes to TV advertisements," the report said.
Biggs went on to say that the rumor "very nearly confirms" a Verizon iPhone "at the end of the summer."
The rumor comes just a day after Engadget confirmed that AT&T and Apple originally agreed to a five-year exclusive deal for the iPhone, which would have extended through 2012. However, contracts can be amended, canceled or breached over time due to a variety of factors. Some believe that AT&T's contract for the iPhone was modified after it agreed to $30-per-month unlimited data plans for Apple's 3G iPad.
Last year, talk of a Verizon iPhone picked up when various reports alleged that Apple's deal with AT&T expires this summer. However, the Verizon-related rumors quickly cooled earlier this year, when Apple executives defended AT&T, and partnered with the wireless carrier once again for the iPad.
But the rumors picked up once again in late March, when The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is working on two new iPhones, including a CDMA-compatible model that could run on the Verizon network. The report alleged that the CDMA iPhones will not go into mass production until September, and when the hardware would go on sale was "unclear."
Apple is expected to introduce the new fourth-generation iPhone at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, to be held June 7 through June 11 at San Francisco's Moscone West. In years past, Apple has used the stage at WWDC to introduce its annual iPhone upgrade.
Comments
Here we go again!
Who knows, maybe there really will be a Verizon iPhone this summer/fall. I'll be glad to see the iPhone on multiple networks finally.
Don't get me wrong, I like competition. However, Verizon can not compete: High termination fees ($350), no concurrent voice/data, slow speeds (CDMA).
Don't get me wrong, I like competition. However, Verizon can not compete: High termination fees ($350), no concurrent voice/data, slow speeds (CDMA).
Don't forget Verizon demands crippled versions of cell phones from manufacturers.
I once sat down with a friend to pick a Verizon phone that would be best for sync'ing with his Mac.
EVERY one of their phones didn't support the open standard sync'ing even when other phones made by the same manufacturer DID support the standards.
It sounds to me like a desperate attempt by Verizon to keep its current installed base. If they did not have to worry, why do the two-for-one deal with Android phones? In addition, knowing how Verizon was notorious in the past for crippling phones, they would have to suck down their ego quite a bit to let Apple call the shots on how the phone works. I believe that is the main reason why Verizon blew the chance back when the iPhone was first introduced and I'm sure Verizon's execs got serious static for it.
...No it's not a mercy call, but proof that if Verizon was truely getting an iphone, the Ipad wouldn't be tied to the partner Apple just left, think about it...
No one ever said Apple was leaving AT&T. If they did decided to open up to Verizon (which they eventually will), they're still going to continue to have the iPhone on AT&T's network. I'll be staying with AT&T regardless as I can't stand VZW.
There are also enough pissed AT&T customers that can't take any more dropped calls. It is really a pain when you are on a conference call with a 17-digit pass code that you have to re-type after redialing in. Likewise a pain when you have to wait a minute or two when calling another phone to avoid being dumped into voicemail. Breaks train of thought.
AT&T and Apple have a contract for 5 years. Apple doesn't have to give Verizon an "iPhone".
2. Apple keeps all ads in house on their products. Even the iphone. No way would they let Verizon do anything like this
3. they turned down a CDMA phone for China etc. Despite that standard being well over half the market in that area
4. the talk of a dual CDMA/GSM chipset which started last summer has disappeared.
5. no claims from Foxcomn etc that they are making said CDMA phone.
6. there is no US law requiring a company to have a limit on an exclusive contract or to unlock a device at any point. nor a law requiring a company to support both tech.
yeah, we are getting a Verizon iphone this year. it's 100% a done deal.
Hopefully we get to see a Verizon Iphone. However till there's more concrete substantiation or evidence, I'm not ready to believe it.
Just add another 3G band, Apple!
Don't get me wrong, I like competition. However, Verizon can not compete: High termination fees ($350), no concurrent voice/data, slow speeds (CDMA).
ETF: You signed up for a contract with Verizon and that's the penalty to break it. If you're happy with the service, then this is a non-issue. It's also prorated depending on the length of time you're in the contract. That said, I also don't like how it jumped from $175...
Voice/Data: Not as much of a problem as you make it out to be. My roommate used his iPhone to call me while he was using the Navigon app to navigate in his car. It didn't make for a pleasent conversation when the woman tossed in directions every few minutes. Most times I've had to ask someone to repeat themselves... Plus for some tasks, we do have the ability to use this thing called WiFi.
Speed: Unless you're Jack Bauer and the fate of the world rests on those few precious seconds to defuse that bomb and you need the schematics from Chloe, this isn't as big of an issue as you make it out to be either. Both my roommates have iPhones and the difference in time it takes for browsing or downloading apps isn't earth-shattering.
I suspect we will see any of the following:
1: more carriers
2: different iPhones, like different versions of the iPod
3: better plans, even pay as you go monthly plans
Apple is going to do to the iPhone like they did to iPod knockoffs, just blow the others out of the water.
Guess this means the stock is going to rise soon.
1. No proof that the contract was amended.
2. Apple keeps all ads in house on their products. Even the iphone. No way would they let Verizon do anything like this
3. they turned down a CDMA phone for China etc. Despite that standard being well over half the market in that area
4. the talk of a dual CDMA/GSM chipset which started last summer has disappeared.
5. no claims from Foxcomn etc that they are making said CDMA phone.
6. there is no US law requiring a company to have a limit on an exclusive contract or to unlock a device at any point. nor a law requiring a company to support both tech.
yeah, we are getting a Verizon iphone this year. it's 100% a done deal.
7. No hiring surge of CDMA engineers by Apple
8. Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg practically begging for the iPhone a couple of months ago. Apple partners generally clam up real tight when there's a deal in the works.
1. "AT&T has an excusive agreement until 2012" Nobody knows the terms of this agreement or if its still in force. Its been reported by multiple sources that Verizon and Apple have tried to work out an agreement. Verizon's CEO recently said its up to Apple whether they wanted to make a Verizon compatible iPhone. None of this would have happened if there was a true exclusivity agreement in force. Besides, how likely is it that Steve Jobs would enter into an exclusivity agreement he couldn't get out of ?
2. " Its too much trouble to support an 'obsolete' CDMA technolgy at the same time as GSM, especially when LTE is on the way"
How is GSM a "better" technology than CDMA and how is CDMA an "old" technology but GSM isn't ? LTE will eventually replace them both. The idea that developing a CDMA cellphone isn't worth Apple's effort is nonsense. Every other manufacturer make both GSM and CDMA phones. By the time LTE gets rolled out, whatever iPhone comes out in June as well as every Droid, Blackberry and Palm/HP device will be obsolete for reasons other than protocol.
Its true that Verizon has insisted on crippled phones in the past, although that doesn't seem to be the case with the Droid.
Who knows ? A deal could be in the works only to be scuttled at the last minute because Apple and Verizon can't agree to terms. Or perhaps some idiots at Verizon really believe that Android will kill the iPhone.
.would Apple waste it's time and money developing an iphone to run on a network that is out dated. Also, would they develope an iphone to run on a network that the carrier is switching away from?
Two big reasons:
That network has 32% of the US market.
That network is a huge seller of Android phones, which are giving the iPhone a run for its money.
Don't forget Verizon demands crippled versions of cell phones from manufacturers.
.
That is true of some Verizon phones, but certainly not all.
EVERY one of their phones didn't support the open standard sync'ing
What is open standard syncing? Does the iPhone use it?