Cellular carriers are rarely looked upon in a favorable light when it comes to pro-consumer tactics, cellular plan pricing, contract changes, etc. The list goes on. At just about any chance to wring another dollar out of you they will. Similarly, when higher-up executives of major carriers open their mouthes regarding subjects dealing with the mobile market in general and even their own network, the responses are laughable at best.
Case in point: Verizon’s CEO Lowell McAdam.
Today during an investor conference, McAdams made the claim that Samsung “could be a major player if it launched their own operating system”. First of all, they did. It’s called Bada. It’s more-so a feature phone OS for overseas markets. And truthfully, it isn’t doing too bad — over there. It would never take flight in the U.S., though, where more and more people are adopting smartphones. And here in the U.S. there are only two names anyone cares about: iOS and Android.
McAdams further continues his idiotic diatribe by saying carriers are looking for a strong No. 3 competitor. Again, there’s already plenty of competition. While there isn’t a clear-cut #3 mobile player, there is plenty of activity for that hallowed spot from the likes of RIM and Microsoft specifically. BlackBerry 10 and Windows Phone 8 which are right around the corner and aim to bring completely different experiences and environments from what customers are currently use to with Android and iOS. Furthermore, another operating system which requires all-new code, app support, developer SDKs and a plethora of other supporting elements is the last thing we need. So the argument that another OS is needed is completely false.
On the subject of Windows Phone, new rumors that Windows Phone 8 mid-range hardware will once again be Verizon’s response to the newcomer paints a pretty telling picture. They don’t want to miss out on a potential user base that could explode in the next couple of years but at the same time, aren’t all that enthused about Windows Phone’s locked down nature.
Windows Phone, like iOS, doesn’t allow carriers much tampering at all in the way of branding, bloatware and other experience killing crap. Remember, carriers would like you to believe that you “need” their added apps/services. In reality you don’t. Carriers are not HW designers and they’re not software developers. Any claims to the contrary are sugarcoated lies. So, since Verizon can’t get their way with Windows Phone, they’re merely dealing with it “because they have to” for now.
I could go on and on about the anti-consumer practices of carriers. But the really maddening thing about McAdam’s statements is that this guy doesn’t understand the mobile market at all and he runs the second largest carrier in the country! Tell me that isn’t frustrating.
Via: Cnet
