Dear Ms. Walden,
I am writing to you as a concerned subscriber, having heard some negative rumors regarding Verizon?s future with Microsoft. I have been hearing that Verizon will no longer carry Microsoft?s phones, and I find this very disconcerting. Frankly, the Nokia Lumia Icon that I have (which is now Microsoft?s brand) is the best phone that Verizon has ever carried, and before that, I was exceedingly happy with my Lumia 928 and 822. The only problem I had with the 822 is that Verizon was the last company out of the gate with a flagship Lumia, the 928, which didn?t come until many months after the launch of Windows Phone 8, when other companies had the 920, 925, and 1020, all of which were superior to the 822. I was relieved to see the 928 come out, and even more elated when the Icon came out, as it seemed that perhaps Verizon was finally done throwing its temper tantrum over the failed Microsoft Kin of 2010.
Now it seems the rumors are back to a rift between Microsoft and Verizon, and the losers will be your customers. Rumors of Microsoft?s upcoming flagship phones, the phones code-named Cityman and Talkman suggest that there will not be a Verizon copy of these phones, and there is no mention of a CDMA radio in any of the rumored specs. This is quite disturbing.
Verizon has the best coverage in the area where I live, so I have stayed with Verizon through all of this. But ATT?s signals have improved enough that it is actually very likely that I will become an ATT customer should Verizon not carry either of these two new phones this fall. With the launch of Windows 10 next week, and the expectation of Windows 10 for phones coming this fall, I will definitely be purchasing a new phone, and it will be a Microsoft phone. Whether that phone is on Verizon?s network or not is up to you. I would prefer to stay with Verizon, but Verizon?s network is no longer worth giving up the benefits that I gain by staying with Microsoft?s ecosystem.
In the April 2012 earnings call, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said that the third ecosystem is important to Verizon, and even said, ?We are fully supportive of that with Microsoft.? Verizon has since shown fits and starts with that third ecosystem. The 822 started late with the Windows Phone 8 launch, the 928 was a many months later flagship that many of us waited for, and the Icon finally brought us up to par with ATT?s offerings on some levels. But since then, Verizon has wavered in support. We were among the first to get the Windows Phone 8.1 update, quite a pleasant surprise, but now we?re hearing that support for that third ecosystem that is so important to Verizon is not much more than a vapor. Is a third ecosystem important to Verizon or not? If not, please let me know so that I can start paying more attention to ATTs offerings.
As I said, I WILL be purchasing a new phone this fall. I would LIKE for it to be a Verizon phone, but I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty, it WILL be a Microsoft phone. I have been a Verizon customer for many years, and only wavered in that loyalty when Verizon failed at launching the Trophy in a timely manner. I would prefer to stay put, but I am a consumer who knows what he wants. A Windows Phone with the best camera available ? a Microsoft phone.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns.
Richard XXXXXXX
. So switching wouldn't be too much of a financial burden. My wife likes her 822, and since it is unlocked, we could use it on ATT. She wouldn't notice the 3G vs 4G. My step-son is 36, and on my account, so he can go back to a flip-phone for all I care. He can do what he wants. The only hitch for me is coverage. :straight:
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