I'm Confused

My contract is up on my Verizon cell phone in about one month. I'm currently rolling with the original LG Dare. It's a decent phone but doesn't compare at all with the touch screen phones that are currently on the market. I'm looking to make the leap to a smart phone when I'm eligible to upgrade phones for the discounted price. I have two particular phones in mind when it comes to upgrading - the Apple iPhone and the Google Nexus One. Sounds like a simple decision considering I'm sticking with Verizon and the iPhone is currently not available. In fact, the decision is not simple at all and gets me thinking about Apple and Google business decisions.

My thoughts on Apple's stubborness are well documented. I believe they have made a poor business decision by not manufacturing an iPhone for the Verizon network. However, I must admit that at this point, the window for an iPhone to hit Verizon in the near future has closed. Verizon is currently testing its next generation network (LTE), which is the future of cell phone networks. Apple will likely wait until this new network is fully functionable before investing in a new iPhone for Verizon. The Verizon LTE network is in testing now and is due to hit the ground running sometime in the middle of 2011. That said, the best case scenario for an iPhone to hit Verizon is summer of next year. In other words, that sucks for me. Do I ride out my Dare for another year with the hope that Apple releases an iPhone on Verizon in 2011, or do I get the next best touch screen smartphone next month?

The next best phone, in my opinion, would be the Google Nexus One. However, that presents an entirely different issue that has me scratching my head over Google's rationale. It's documented that the Nexus One is coming to Verizon in the next few weeks. Well that's great news! I can go to the Verizon store and play around with the phone and decide then and there if I'll take the Nexus One or wait for an iPhone. Not so fast. It's very possible that Google will not allow the Nexus One to be sold in Verizon stores. That means that the Nexus One will be available only via Google's online store. Say what? To me, this move is even more dimwitted than Apple's decision to stick with AT&T. Google has already put up the investment to release a Verizon compatible Nexus One. Why in the world wouldn't you make it available for purchase everywhere, which would extend it's reach and increase sales. In fact, this possibility has caused Goldman Sachs to severely cut down the forecast of Nexus One sales. I thought Google was a top notch company with some intelligence. I haven't tapped into their logic on this one.

So I'm confused. Logic tells me that I should be patient and wait for the iPhone because that is the phone I really want. The "high maintenace" side of me doesn't want to wait and tells me that the Nexus One is a viable alternative. However, I'm not dishing out the cash for the Nexus One without a chance to thoroughly play with it. Maybe Google will decided to wise up because if they don't, sounds like I'm going to ride the Dare into 2011.

AT&T is weak ... Apple a Tech God?

This article I found when skimming the news today makes me laugh. AT&T is falling apart at the seams. The iPhone's handcuff with AT&T is likely limited, but that is all that AT&T has when trying to attack Verizon.

On a separate rant, while the iPhone has some bad-ass features, I'm still not convinced that Apple is capable of making a reliable phone (Keyword: Phone). While AT&T's network certainly deserves part of the blame for iPhone customer complaints, Apple's inability to deliver a quality phone device should receive more attention (poor voice and sound quality). Oh, I forgot, Apple is looked at as the tech God. No matter what they come up with, the world loves it and marks it as the best thing ever. Does anyone truly review Apple products or just assume they are the benchmark? Got to hand it to Steve Jobs, though. His company does a great job marketing their products and the success of the iPod has made his company the benchmark in every device that they produce (whether or not they deserve that distinction). Does the world forget that their products are severely overpriced? Of course not.

It's All Your Fault

As a follow-up to my Apple's Stupidity blog entry, check out this ridiculous claim from Apple. Even if this is true, it's all your fault Apple. You made a fantastic phone and limited it to one, lousy wireless network. Therefore, you should have known that hackers would figure out a way to get around it. If the "jailbreaked" iPhones really could cause a problem then I say it's all your fault, Apple.

Oh, and I'm a Verizon customer, so if a hacker brings down the AT&T network, this guy could careless.

Apple's Stupidity

First things first. Apple makes some beautiful, extremely innovating products. Their computers are slim, sexy and powerful. Their iPod's revolutionized the music industry. The iPhone and iPod Touch have created a touch screen trend which is forcing all competitors to play catch up. In this world of innovation, however, Apple has made some very poor decisions in my opinion.

The only place that Apple has gone right is with the iPod and iPod Touch. These devices are incredible. While the price is still relatively high compared to its MP3 player competitors, no other device offers the functionality and flexibility than that of the iPod. I own an iPod Touch and love it! My only beef with the Touch.....having to pay for the software updates! That is ridiculous in my opinion, but that's an argument for another day. Onward...

Mistake #1 -- Who is Apple targeting with their computers? Are they really trying to compete or are they going after a niche market. Like I mentioned previously, their computers are great, but who in the hell is pricing these things? I understand that Windows Vista is awful. I understand that PC's and Windows based products are more vulnerable to hacking, viruses and worms. However, for the average computer user in this country, Apple computers aren't even considered as an option. I could walk into Best Buy right now and buy a HP laptop with a dual-core processor, 4 GB of memory and 320 GB hard drive (among other things) for $585. Look at the laptops that Apple offers by comparison. Specifically, look at the price vs. features noted above. What person wants to spend an extra $1,000 to get a laptop with similar features? Certainly not your average American.

Mistake #2 -- I sure hope that AT&T is paying Apple LOTS of money for their exclusivity agreement surrounding the iPhone. This deal has been fabulous for AT&T, a great business decision, but what was Apple thinking with this one? T-Mobile customers have the fortunate ability to hack the iPhone to use it on their network. Customers of Sprint, Verizon and the rest of US cell service providers are stuck. Sure, the appeal of the iPhone has encouraged many people to switch carriers, but that's not always convenient. Contract cancellation fees are outrageous if you bow out early. If you can't wait for that 2-year contract to expire, you'll be paying 1) cancellation fees, 2) the high price for the iPhone itself and 3) the iPhone plan price (which for what you get, far exceeds any other plan).

I'm a very satisfied Verizon customer. Verizon has been easy to deal with , reliable and fair priced. I'm not interested in switching carriers despite my heavy interest in the iPhone. Nearly all my friends and family have Verizon so I have the enormous benefit of free Verizon to Verizon minutes/texting. It allows me to opt for a cheaper plan, saving me money. That would go away if I switched carriers. Granted, I'm only one customer, but I absolutely guarantee you that there are throngs of Verizon and Sprint customers who would already own an iPhone if it wasn't for Apple's bone-headed business decision to be AT&T exclusive.

Unless the price of Apple computers comes way down, then I won't be considering an Apple the next time I'm computer shopping. And I sure hope that when the iPhone exclusivity contract expires next year, Apple decides to expand their iPhone to other cell carriors. If not, LG and RIM will be my cell phone companies of choice.

It seems to me that Apple is extremely innovative and tech savvy. As far as business savvy, not so much.