The fiasco with the 735 and Verizon

[IMStrugglin]

Microsoft simply needs to inform Verizon to get lost and release this phone to AT&T asap. This could be a game changer and grab the teen / young adult market share from the competitors. Waiting for Verizon to carry it "maybe" in Feb is a huge mistake. I myself have 4 daughters wanting that phone right now; finally dumping their iCrap phones. To be frank it absolutely needs released for all US carriers. The word is spreading fast out there and typical MS is sitting on their hands.

 

[malman89]

The extended delay between announcement and release in the US is a big issue, if not a deal breaker for many. It was for me. My last phone was limping along for months. It had some water issues last year and seemed to get worse and worse. I waited as long as I could, was very interested in getting a WP device (so much that I made a name here, posted, researched phones), but the wait was too long.

I ended up with the Moto G with 4G LTE for $200 off Amazon unlocked. I switched from Virgin Mobile to Cricket and love the results. I would've snapped up a 735 for $175-250 in a heartbeat. While there's a very slim chance I could sell my Moto G, it's highly unlikely. I love it and probably won't be in the market for a new phone for another two years or so.

 

[xandros9]

I feel its more VZW seeing their superior position (power wise) and using it to toy with Microsoft.

 

[aximtreo]

How may know the meaning of the word "Spherical" ? To my way of thinking, Verizon management team is filled with a bunch of Spherical A holes. No matter how you turn them they still look like an A hole.

That said, telling Verizon to buzz off is not a smart idea. Verizon is key to the success of WP in the US. I say that because they have the best coverage and the strongest signal in most areas. What MS needs to do is do some internal research on what caused this problem between MS and Verizon. Then, the new MS CEO should hop on a plane and meet face to face with Verizon at the top level. Make apologizes, show them what MS/WP can do and how it can help them offset the downfall of Apple which I feel is starting to happen. It cost almost twice as much for the I6 phone as the equivalent WP.

One trip to Verizon Mecca won't do it but continuous visits plus Verizon being brought into MS future plans and offer Verizon a leading position in those plans. In exchange, Verizon has to change their overwhelming culture against MS/WP. MS should offer to train many of the Verizon top sales people in what WP is and what benefit it is to sell this system to their customer base.

I know that I have been very critical of Verizon with respect to how they don't handle WP but they are necessary in the long term success of WP in the US.

I would happily volunteer to go around to all the Verizon Corp stores and kick out the lame brain salespeople that Verizon now employs.

Just a thought from someone that has been there and done this very set of actions.

 

[anon(5348756)]

It's not even about releasing the 735 on ATT or TMo. Just put the darn phone on AMAZON so people can buy it even if unlocked, or locked, I don't care. I just want to get the 735 for around $200 and put whatever SIM I want in it. If it doesn't happen soon, I'm just gonna get a 635 for Tmo. I'm tired of waiting and it'll be MS's loss cos I would buy a better phone if it were available.

 

[theefman]

How may know the meaning of the word "Spherical" ? To my way of thinking, Verizon management team is filled with a bunch of Spherical A holes. No matter how you turn them they still look like an A hole.

That said, telling Verizon to buzz off is not a smart idea. Verizon is key to the success of WP in the US. I say that because they have the best coverage and the strongest signal in most areas. What MS needs to do is do some internal research on what caused this problem between MS and Verizon. Then, the new MS CEO should hop on a plane and meet face to face with Verizon at the top level. Make apologizes, show them what MS/WP can do and how it can help them offset the downfall of Apple which I feel is starting to happen. It cost almost twice as much for the I6 phone as the equivalent WP.

One trip to Verizon Mecca won't do it but continuous visits plus Verizon being brought into MS future plans and offer Verizon a leading position in those plans. In exchange, Verizon has to change their overwhelming culture against MS/WP. MS should offer to train many of the Verizon top sales people in what WP is and what benefit it is to sell this system to their customer base.

I know that I have been very critical of Verizon with respect to how they don't handle WP but they are necessary in the long term success of WP in the US.

I would happily volunteer to go around to all the Verizon Corp stores and kick out the lame brain salespeople that Verizon now employs.

Just a thought from someone that has been there and done this very set of actions.

Sorry, Verizon is a liability to WP, coverage or not. They get exclusive devices, denying other carriers who might actually try to sell them, withhold updates while they do their best to pretend like the phone doesn't even exist. And what exactly does the CEO of Microsoft have to apologize to Verizon for? If they didn't know the platforms capabilities in the first place why bother getting exclusive phones?

The only thing that's clear is that Verizon has no interest in selling WP devices and in that case they deserve no concessions from anyone, least of all Microsoft.

 

[aximtreo]

Sorry, Verizon is a liability to WP, coverage or not. They get exclusive devices, denying other carriers who might actually try to sell them, withhold updates while they do their best to pretend like the phone doesn't even exist. And what exactly does the CEO of Microsoft have to apologize to Verizon for? If they didn't know the platforms capabilities in the first place why bother getting exclusive phones?

The only thing that's clear is that Verizon has no interest in selling WP devices and in that case they deserve no concessions from anyone, least of all Microsoft.

I understand your point. I'm saying that unless old wounds are faced and overcome, WP will go no where. Try and think 3 years ahead and things remain the same with MS and Verizon. Do you think that AT&T will have sold their soul for 100% of the MS product and sales. I don't think so. A better marriage of MS and Verizon has to happen or MS will either shut down their phone business or sell it off to some other entity.

 

[Harry Wild]

The U.S. is not the entire world for WP.

Back around 2006; Windows Mobile had a 40% U.S. market share in smartphones.

Now is around 2%.

Microsoft has now an online store and retail stores in the U.S. where the can sell unlocked Lumia with all the radios built-in to one phone. The continue to go with the exclusivity marketing strategy that is not working.


Sent from my iPod touch using WPCentral Forums mobile app

 

[cgold1]

I don't understand why windows phone is going after Verizon at all. I mean, almost none of windows phones core strengths matter on Verizon. Cheap hardware? Verizon is the last us carrier clinging to subsidized phone plans and is the most expensive carrier, so you don't save money over other phones. They block compatible phones like the nexus 5 from their network just because they don't like the fact that it doesn't come with Verizon bloatware. And Verizon has great service in the middle of nowhere sure, but in the cities where there are younger, more open, more frugal customers that are the ones that windows phones strengths really play to, you are better off with T-mobile or virtual network operators like cricket anyway.

 

[wpfan2be]

You can get the 735 unlocked from B & H Photo and it is confirmed by another WP Central user that it has LTE on TMo and should be the same in AT&T. I will be getting one for my daughter.

 

[onlysublime]

It's not even about releasing the 735 on ATT or TMo. Just put the darn phone on AMAZON so people can buy it even if unlocked, or locked, I don't care. I just want to get the 735 for around $200 and put whatever SIM I want in it. If it doesn't happen soon, I'm just gonna get a 635 for Tmo. I'm tired of waiting and it'll be MS's loss cos I would buy a better phone if it were available.

I think $200 is wishful thinking. Looking at the pricing of the other phones, there's no way the 735 will be $200.

 

[Harry Wild]

I don't understand why windows phone is going after Verizon at all. I mean, almost none of windows phones core strengths matter on Verizon. Cheap hardware? Verizon is the last us carrier clinging to subsidized phone plans and is the most expensive carrier, so you don't save money over other phones. They block compatible phones like the nexus 5 from their network just because they don't like the fact that it doesn't come with Verizon bloatware. And Verizon has great service in the middle of nowhere sure, but in the cities where there are younger, more open, more frugal customers that are the ones that windows phones strengths really play to, you are better off with T-mobile or virtual network operators like cricket anyway.

Verizon is the largest U.S. cellular carrier with the most subscribers. Microsoft has decided right or wrong to have Verizon as their partner.

It to bad to; since I think in the U.S.; Verizon staff is sort of antiWindows!

 

[PerryStroika]

I think $200 is wishful thinking. Looking at the pricing of the other phones, there's no way the 735 will be $200.

It sells unlocked for $299. Locked phones go for about 100 bucks cheaper than locked phones, so by that theory the Verizon LUmia 735 should go for around $200.

 

[xandros9]

It sells unlocked for $299. Locked phones go for about 100 bucks cheaper than locked phones, so by that theory the Verizon LUmia 735 should go for around $200.

Many of Verizon's phones are unlocked. (Such as the Lumia's.)

 

[onlysublime]

It sells unlocked for $299. Locked phones go for about 100 bucks cheaper than locked phones, so by that theory the Verizon LUmia 735 should go for around $200.

All of Verizon's 4G LTE phones are now sold unlocked.