One of the most popular posts here on RIMarkable over the passed few months was one where we asked how long it would take for a Verizon BlackBerry Curve to hit the street. To date that post has 41 comments which is a bit more than the average but nothing out of the ordinary. What is out of the ordinary are the number of people that are searching RIMarkable for Verizon BlackBerry Curve or sending emails asking if I know when it is coming out.
A lot of folks are looking for a Verizon BlackBerry Curve
Verizon BlackBerry Curve is searched for 9 times more often than any other carrier / blackberry model combo here on RIMarkable and I receive on average 20 to 30 emails a day asking if I have any information on when it is coming out. Whats even more telling is that the Google, Yahoo and MSN, are sending thousands of visitors here that are searching for Verizon Blackberry Curve and the device doesn’t even exist (yet) as far as we know.
A Verizon BlackBerry Curve would be a hit
If any of the 16 or so regular RIMarkable readers that aren’t related to me just happen to work in the marketing department at Verizon, you may want to tell someone that a Verizon Blackberry Curve, and probably a Verizon BlackBerry Pearl, would be a huge hit and may even clot some of that 25% of iPhone buyers you are speculated to be hemorrhaging to AT&T.
Amen, amen, and amen.
Verizon should get a clue. I am one of those 25% that you are talking about about. I still have my BlackBerry 7250 and would have upgraded to a BlackBerry Curve if they had it but since they didn’t, bought an iPhone.
I check various Blackberry blogs regularly for news on the upcoming BB Curves. I am locked into a Sprint contract until 1/08, but I’m seriously tracking the Curve and hoping that when I’m free of my contract I can get into a Curve that, by that time, should have GPS and 3G. The HTC Kaiser may be more attractive at that point, but probably not.
I really don’t get the Vzw World Phone campaign. Do they really think that everyone who wants a smaller, thinner trackball-based BB needs global capability?
Also, does it never occur to them that BB users might want to take pics of their kids when they are out and about? Or that people don’t really want to attach a GPS puck to their phone if they don’t have to?
I get the feeling Vzw might be overestimating the extent to which their network trumps their equipment and (lack of) features thereof.
Good point REV,
What good does it do to have the best network if everyone is leaving it because you have the worst hardware?
I too am one of the Verizon customers who would love to get a BlackBerry Curve. My contract is up in September and if they don’t have it announced by then, I’ll be jumping to AT&T. I’m sick of the “we have the best service so we can have the oldest phones” position Verizon seems to be taking.
My contract isn’t up until next May, so I have to sit tight for a while, unfortunately.
My company gets a 50% discount on phones with AT&T (except iPhone, of course), so with rebates and all, I could get a Curve pretty cheap if I switched. Maybe I could start calling Vzw every day to complain about something and they’d release me from my contract like Sprint does? 😉
I agree Verizon needs a swift kick in the pants. I’ve contacted them numerous times about “possible” new BlackBerry devices coming to VZW and always get the same speech about not being able to guarantee the release any phones/services (and don’t even get me started on the whole GPS issue with the 8830). All the while, it seems like every week I read about AT&T getting a new smart phone.
I don’t even bother with calling Vzw for info anymore. Either folks don’t have a clue, or they give you conflicting information.
Honestly, I find this site and BGR to be much more reliable than Vzw’s own reps. How sad is that?
Probably testing to make sure it is compatible with the system/network.
If not, then people will get mad…
I’d be interested to know what kind of calculus is used on figuring out when to release a CDMA BB. Is it that RIM and carriers like VZW don’t have a clue, or do they know but just don’t do anything about it? In this day and age they should be able to release a CDMA model concurrently with a GSM version.
I’ve said it before, but if I were RIM, I would make VZW my best friend in the US. Businesses love to use VZW, and a 3G multimedia BB with camera is the best innoculation against the iPhone that VZW would have. And regardless of the number of GSM subscribers vs CDMA worldwide, the bottom line for RIM is that the US is by far and away the largest market for RIM, and in the US VZW does matter.
I’m a regular reader, but i don’t post much. I’m a blackberry admin at work and I would sure love to have a Curve on our Verizon plan. I currently have a curve as my personal line and I love it.
My contract has been up for over a year but I am waiting for a Verizon Blackberry Curve. If it was available, I’d buy it tomorrow. Come on Verizon; Let’s get with the program!!! ATT is eating your lunch. What good is the best network when your phones suck?
give it up verizon won’t be getting anything new from BB till next year. verizon already got its BB for this year. verizon can only cripple so many phones a year and with so many cheap ass LG’s and Samsung’s coming across verizon’s counters customers WILL learn to wait, because we’re verizon and we said so.
I”m jettison as soon as the Tmo BB Curve is out. Unless I hear a release date for a Verizon model by that time.
Verizon wants nothing to do with style. According to this USA Today article Verizon had first dibs on iPhone and rejected it. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-01-28-verizon-iphone_x.htm
Yet, different article calim they are coming out with an iPhone killer later in summer, why develop a clone when you can have original? Oh so they can control it and suck any bit of cache out of it.
Verizons infinite wisdom is anything butt (_|_)
SO frustrating. I need a BB device, and love the Verizon voice coverage in my area (MUCH better than Sprint was, and I have a personal distaste for Cingular – now AT&T). TMo is my only other option, and their coverage sucks in DC and up and down the East coast (where I live/work/travel). And I REALLY want a camera phone – I use my camera on an almost daily basis. An integrated device (Curve/Pearl) is EXACTLY what I want, and I can’t get it from the provider I want. Like I said, SO frustrating!
Wally,
Well, in Vzw’s defense, it doesn’t sound like Vzw had any problem with the iPhone itself, but rather the terms of the distribution and support deals with Apple.
While it would be nice if Vzw got the iPhone instead of AT&T, I can’t blame Vzw for passing on the iPhone if Apple’s terms just didn’t make sense to them. I don’t care how stylish the phone is.
I was a loyal Verizon Subscriber. I loved their extremely reliable service and coverage. I purchased the Motorola Q and initially thought it was a good phone but after using blackberrys I soon relized the Q is a junk. I left Verizon for ATT and got myslef the Curve and LOVE the Phone. It just plain works well. Its a real smart phone and doesnt constantly freeze or crash
Yup Verizon…you see? We want the Curve!
We should monitor Verizon’s financials through their SEC filings and look at their attrition rate on customers (losses to other carriers) and increases in early termination fees. Hopefully a finance guy there will ring the alarm bell and show them that keeping customers in long-term contracts is much better than receiving early termination fees. I cannot rationalize how a high profile company who has such a great tangible asset (their network) provide such horrible customer service (product offerings, communication, etc…). Unbelievable……dying to have a VZW BB Curve, considering leaving just to get one.
VZW passing on the iPhone will go down as one of the greatest corporate mistakes in the wireless industry. From now on AT&T will add more subscribers than VZW; VZW’s churn rate will go up; and keep in mind that as time goes by, Apple’s iPhone offerings will only get better and less expensive, as with the iPod.
VZW has a great network, largely due to a very conservative mgmt style, but that style cost them dearly. They are totally fooling themselves if they believe they can release any Windows Mobile phone as an iPhone killer. In fact, attempts at an iPhone killer will be just as fruitless as all of those attempts at an iPod killer.
What VZW can do though is release the cutting edge BB’s; that will keep some customers happy, esp those looking for strong texting capabilities on a mechanical keyboard.
Thought, you stole my thunder as I am writing an aritcle on this very topic. Someone within Verizon will forever be known as the genious who shot down the iPhone. Talk about a career ender.
In the coming years, this blunder of epic proportion will cost Verizon hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars and millions of lost actual and potential subscribers.
I’d reserve judgment on that until we see how Apple’s deal with AT&T turns out.
If the distribution and support deals with Apple wind up in the long run to be a logistical and/or financial nightmare for AT&T, Monday-morning quarterbacking may award Vzw kudos for having the foresight to know a raw deal when they see one.
I don’t think that’s what’ll happen, and Lord knows I don’t think Vzw’s doing a good job counter-marketing against the iPhone. But I also think it’s a little too soon to be christening AT&T the unequivocal “winner” and Vzw the “loser”. It may wind up that the only winner will be Apple.
I really wanted a Curve but since I am locked in a family Verizon contract, I went with the 8830. I like it but still wish it was a Curve.
REV: I appreciate what you’re saying, but as long as AT&T makes any profit per iPhone customer, and rest assured they will, they will also win huge in this deal. Of course Apple will win big, but thanks to Apple, AT&T will now be seen as the premier mobile provider in the US, no doubt about that.
All you have to do is play with an iPhone for a few minutes to understand. I spoke with an AT&T sales rep and she alone was selling multiple iPhones per day (at least 6 to 8), and this is in a mall that has an Apple store no less. Her coworker was ringing up 2 iPhones as we spoke. Everyone in that store was congregated around the iPhone display. I also went to a VZW store that usually is pretty busy, and you could hear the crickets chirp. Now these are only anecdotes, and may mean nothing, but the iPhone is a tsunami in the cell phone world, and will only get bigger.
I agree with you Robb…whoever made the decision at VZW to turn down the iPhone deal should be fired. I do believe the cost to VZW will be in the billions.
Thought,
I”m 99% certain that you and Robb are right on the money. I have played with an iPhone for about 45 minutes; it’s great and I can see the mass appeal.
All I’m saying is that I think the jury is still out on the new distribution and service paradigm that Apple wrangled out of AT&T.
REV: When will you become REV A?
Pardon my very weak attempt at cell phone network humor! And thanks for your comments!
I would SERIOUSLY break any contract to get the BB VZW Curve. Last I was told from my Vz salesperson, 4th quarter 07 is the target date for release.
I have the 7130 now, I love it, but I know I would love the new phone more. I am waiting, rather impatiently, for the next step.
Verizon, are you listening?
I think you mean:
“Verizon – can you hear us now?” 😉
The sad thing is that Verizon will not hear anyone until it impacts their bottom line. The good news is that the iPhone will do just that, and so may serve as a wakeup call of sorts. I’m sure they’re not going to like seeing so many upper end data customers migrate to AT&T.
Robb,
For the good of RIM, and to prove verizon’s games once and for all can you do a story on this? As you know I don’t think much about verizon for many reasons. It’s wrong for verizon to have LIED and blamed Moto for the bluetooth crippling and now verizon is LYING and throwing RIM under the bus for GPS being crippled on the 8830. As RIM loyal users, verizon’s LIES should NOT tolerated NOR should any blame be LIED about towards RIM and it’s Blackberry’s. A FULL and complete investigation is in order, which will prove among other things RIM did nothing wrong, and verizon is finding new ways to SCREW its own customers.
http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-8800-series-discussion/87003-proof-vzw-advertised-8830-gps.html
http://blackberryforums.pinstack.com/38063-proof_vzw_advertised_8830_gps.html
http://forums.crackberry.com/f61/proof-vzw-advertised-8830-gps-2876/
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1206306
http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/2007/07/verizon-gets-me.html
If verizon doesnt get their act together, I am bailing to get the device I want… Another hemorage to ATT and its NOT because of the iPhone…
Count me in. I call the local verizon store once a week asking when they are getting the curve. Not getting any info there so I check regularly with this site for any drumbeats that may be out there.
If a blackberry curve was available with Verizon, then I would stay a loyal customer. However, if they wait too long, then I will jump to an iphone.
Yeah, I’m waiting on it Verizon or RIM! Get your arse in gear and get it to the CDMA world!!!
Why is Verizon so behind the times on their phones?! I do think that they have the best reception, but they have the absolute worst choice of phones! Why don’t they have the Blackbery Curve!! Also why are they so slow to offer world phones?? I bought the 8300 because it is supposed to be a world phone, had to pay extra monthly charge for it to operate, only to get out of the country and not have it work!!
Still holding on to my treo since I use it mostly for
business and no I don’t want the global bb.
I can’t wait for the curve, but hated ATT in the past.
Come on Verizon…get with it!
Also heard that Vodafone is interested in Verizon.
Does anyone have opinions on how this would help their
phone line-up?
Whether the IPhone is cool or not, it’s a non-starter for a lot of business users because of Apple’s policy on third party apps. (My firm uses Goodlink e-mail.) I’m on VZW with a 700P, which is no longer properly functioning on their data network. I’ve been pricing out the move to AT&T and unless VZW comes out with the Curve soon I’m making the move.
Verizon, for God’s sake quit bullying your customers. We can only be patient for so long. Please look into getting the curve. you are not invincible, your ADS on “your phone is only as good as the network its on” really sucks. you are the only one limiting yourself from having good phones. Wake the HELL
UP!
I run my business with Verizon but I’ve had enough of their lack of phones selection. We want the Curve and our VZ contracts are starting to expire…. Hello AT&T??? Hate to do it as a long time VZ customer but it might be about time so we can get the latest technology. Get with it VZ – soon!
I have tried several different other cell phone providers before going to Verizon and I also do think their service is the best. However their phone selection isn’t to great. I almost got the BB World phone but I saw a commercial for the curve and fell in love with it. I was only lead to dissapointment when I saw AT&T is the only one offering it right now. Hopefully Verizon will smarten up and get the curve!!
I came across this link not sure how reliable it is.
I’m leaving Verizon after 6 years to Tmobile because Verizon continues to cripple their phones and cannot get the latest and greatest phones. Yet again they are behind in the game. No Blackberry curve, No iPhone… when will they catch on?
I have a 30,000 minute/month contract with Verizon for my office group. We just bought 40 “World Editions”. I kept my old BB because I want a CURVE. If Verizon doesn’t offer the Curve soon, my next deal, probably for 40k minutes/month will be with Sprint. VZW: GET ME A CURVE! Can you HEAR me NOW?
First of all let me start by saying SPRINT SUCKS!! I am about to cancel my contract with them, their network sucks, their service sucks, and their plans are over priced. I am about to get a BB 8703e through VZW, because I think the 8830 is unnecessary. I was thinking of going with ATT just because of the CURVE. The only thing that keeps me from doing that is the horrible reception anyone I know with ATT has around here. The company I am with right now has all vzw and their network is definitely the best I’ve seen in my area. But, I hear ya about the lack of good hardware. That is freaking ridiculous, what a waste of a good network!
ok finally Verizon got a clue and is introducing a BB Pearl, but pa-lease!! Get rid of the older BB’s and get us the Curve!! Since Verizon doesn’t like to listen to the consumers requests, we probably won’t see it ’till RIM makes another device that’s even better. Then Verizon will come out with the Curve and we’ll all want the new BB. Come on Verizon, lets do consumer research!!
Verizon needs a curve! I want a BB curve (or better BB). Yes, yes, yes. Please, please, please. This is bordering ridiculous.
Verizon, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!?
after 9 flippin years with Verizon since the day of Airtouch, i think i’ve had enough. Bought the BB8830, found out GPS is disabled, no camera, returned it for the Pearl 8130, nice lil phone but the keyboard is killing me. However i’m getting addicted to the trackball. I’m going to return it and maybe shop around. The BB Curve is perfect but knowing Verizon and their idiotic way of doing thing….probably won’t be out for another year that if they decided to go with the Curve. WTF were they thinking, the 8830 is useless, and no MMS because Verizon says “No camera, NO MMS”. Aggggrhh
Is it really true that Verizon will start offering the BB Curve March/April 2008?
Just spoke with Verizon and they told me the Curve was in testing currently and should be released May of 08 but no later than 3rd quarter of 08. Good luck waiting this out. I cant stand the garbage they keep releasing and holding back the Curve.
I’m very excited to pick up a curve for verizon the day they release it (which I hear May 31st as the date–I’m hoping sooner) It’s so annoying that verizon always gets the really hot phones right when they begin to cool down (remember the razr) cingular/Att gives you the option of the newest hottest phones and you dont have to deal with the stupid upgrade policy; the problem is that Verizon has the best service, i dont think ive ever dropped a call seriously and my phone works in almost every basement–this is will always be more important than how stylish my phone is. They’ve got us inbetween a rock and a hard place. Best Service but Worst Phones
Just waiting for the BBC for Verizon, anyone heard anything yet?
Rumor has it.. Verizon BB Curve May sometime