Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
primortal
Master - Level 1

Khines5705 wrote:

Windows 8 and 8.1 drove away many folks considering a windows phone, myself included. I avoided 8 and 8.1 like the plague!!

Please elaborate on why  Never mind though you were talking about Windows Phone and not Windows.

Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
Snn5
Legend

Windows 8/8.1 was fine, except Metro UI.  That's the only bad thing to me.

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Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

Seeing how at&t and T-Mobile are now offering the 4G/LTE version of the Microsoft Surface 3 while Verizon Wireless has remained silent doesn't appear very promising. The last time I was at a local VZW store, the manager checked the network database and didn't find a code/profile for the Surface 3. Without codes, the only way to get a tablet/computer onto the network is to tether a WiFi only version to either a smartphone or Jetpack.

Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
Triakel
Enthusiast - Level 1

Much of the Internet buzz on this is coming from Satya's Nadella's comments and news reports citing this Windows Central article.

Not much hard evidence is given for a split, but there are several good arguments:

  • Microsoft-Verizon relationship has been rocky since Kin
  • Verizon isn't keen to promote a third operating system/hardware combo that is not particularly profitable
  • Microsoft may not be providing sufficient incentives to get the promotion it needs AND it's likely severely cutting even that investment after the recent reorg
  • The purported Lumia 9xx/9xxXL phones could very well be GSM/LTE only, without CDMA radios (i.e., compatible in Europe where Windows phone does better, as well as with two of Verizon's U.S. competitors).

I'm most worried about the last point, because it makes a lot of sense for MS to not bother with a CDMA variant for Verizon. It's market share is horrible anyway, and it's investment with Verizon probably isn't paying out for either company.

I'm due to upgrade my Lumia 928 but haven't because there isn't a clearly superior option on Verizon at this point. The Lumia 735 has a comparatively mediocre camera, the HTC One has an arguably bad camera, and the current LG model seems decidedly "budget" and uninspiring. Two family members still like their sturdy, two-year old Lumia 822s and aren't compelled by anything in the current lineup. A fourth family member upgraded from her HTC 8X only because it had persistent overheating issues (as did my old HTC Trophy) and had become unusable. She is done with HTC and only had the option of the 735 or switching back to Android, which she hates. iPhone isn't really an option in our group. None of us wants to pay the premium for getting sucked into that ecosystem.

I'm going to hang on for a while and see if Verizon and MS part ways in the next few months. If they work things out, we may soldier on with our Windows phones for a couple more years (I'm actually considering a used Lumia Icon at this point, geez). If there are no more good phones (or the relationship ends), I suppose we will have to look at the competition. Unfortunately, the competition in our area of the U.S. doesn't maintain as good of a network as Verizon, so bummers all around. : (

Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

I stopped by a local VZW store an hour ago. Still no code for the Microsoft S3 active or pending. I might get a 735 to replace my Samsung Galaxy S4. Our state's Tax-free weekend is this weekend and I'm seriously considering purchasing a 4Gig/128Gig WiFi only unit from Microsoft and either tether it to my smartphone or pick up a Jetpack.

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Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
windowsguy
Enthusiast - Level 1

If Verizon ends up not supporting Windows 10, I  will have to switch to AT&T.  I have been waiting for  Microsoft Lumia 950 XL.  I have been a Verizon customer since my first cell phone.  I will hate to  leave, but looks like Verizon is given me no options.  Smiley Sad.... 

Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

The 950s are not compatible with Verizon Wireless's network.

Now...if the next set of Windows Mobile phones...which are expected to be wholly designed by Microsoft...are still not compatible with VZW...even if the decision to skip over VZW was Microsoft's alone...I'm going to give serious consideration to switching over to at&t.

Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
47seijar
Specialist - Level 2

They always make the GSM version first. It's compatible with the European carriers as well as AT&T and T-Mobile, so that's the default model. There is always a chance Microsoft will make a CDMA version but it will probably depend on how sales go in GSM-land.

I wish Microsoft would just do what Apple does and make one version for everybody. If the lads in Cupertino can cram all those radio bands into an iPhone then why can't Microsoft do it on a thicker phone?  Time for Microsoft to step up and take a chance. If they are serious about promoting WP and growing the platform, maybe they should act like it?

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Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
primortal
Master - Level 1

The thing is that Microsoft did make a version for everyone, just that they disabled CDMA via the firmware.

Re: RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?
Tidbits
Legend

They also didn't pay for Qualcomm licensing and did not run it through the FCC for approval either.

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