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vrijdag, 6 november 2009 om 08:47

So, Verizon unleashed today its “pièce de résistance” named Motorola Droid in the battle with the so praised Apple’s iPhone (on ATT network ).

According to many reviews, Droid is the most fit contender for iPhone’s reign but it’s not there yet.

Now, after launching, we see Droid not being there yet with regard the cost of ownership as well.

I mean, if you compete with the hottest smartphone around (iPhone) and you are not yet the equivalent (user-friendlines and software especially) it’s expected that at least you can compete in the price.

It seems it’s not Droid’s case and that thanks to Verizon, the single network which carries this smartphone.

Let’s see what Verizon offers if you want to go Droid’s route (this offer is, of course, only for US based residents – Verizon being an US network carrier).

The phone itself is price at $199, while iPhone 3G is priced at $99 (and iPhone 3GS is $199) for a two-year contract. That’s a pretty big handicap for Droid (and other competitors) because iPhone 3G is a pretty solid device and it’s not far from iPhone 3GS in terms of features (I own a 3G version and I wasn’t convinced to switch to 3GS – maybe I’ll switch to another new version of the iPhone when it comes out). If the price would be the solely criteria of choosing between these two phones which one would you choose?

Next, Verizon asks you for $30 mandatory fee for “unlimited” data plan. ATT asks the same amount. But Verizon’s “unlimited” data plan is capped at 5Gb/month. How’s that unlimited? ATT doesn’t have that cap, at least not yet, and maybe this is one reason their network is crumbling sometimes. But at least you get what’s advertised.

If it’s unlimited then it should be unlimited, otherwise don’t use that misleading word, Verizon.

More about Verizon’s demands after the jump…

Another features Droid has and iPhone doesn’t (except jailbreaking it) is thetering. That allows the mobile device and its data connection to be used as an Internet connection for another system (like a laptop, foe example). Verizon allows you to do that IF you pay another fee of $30 for the “unlimited” plan. Yes, i used quotes again for unlimited because this data plan is also capped at 5Gb/month! I am not an native English speaker but even I know what “unlimited” word means. This is clearly misleading.

You want to hear more about the Verizon’s strategy to kill the iPhone? Hear this then.

Verizon’s early termination fee is doubled for smartphones as of November 15 and if you do that you have to say bye-bye to $350 (ATT has it at $175 for all phones).

It gets even better! If you want to use the Droid for work email (like you are using a Blackberry or even an iPhone) don’t try to use it with Microsoft Exchange server. It will cost you an additional $45 fee for, yes, an “unlimited” plan (we know by now that this also is capped at 5Gb/month).

Verizon’s network might be better (never tried) but is that enough to pay extra to own a Droid which isn’t an iPhone killer? ATT’s network isn’t that bad, at least in my region. I was satisfied with it and I bet they’ll improve more (they probably didn’t expect this kind of success from iPhone and they were caught somehow with a low guard).

If Verizon wants to really compete (because it has the means) then they should revise their pricing policy.

How they are having right now it’s like shooting yourself in the foot with your own gun.

Bron: The Next Web