Prospects of a Verizon Nokia phone running Windows Phone 7 appear bleak

February 15, 2011 | By Surur

Despite Nokia saying they have spoken to a number of carriers and were making approaches to Verizon prior to their Windows Phone 7 deal, it seems Verizon is not particularly receptive.

Speaking at Mobile World Congress Verizon Communications Chief Technology Officer Tony Melone says they did not think Windows Phone 7 would be a major player.

"I do want a strong third OS out there," Melone said. "It gives the carriers more flexibility and balances the interests of all the parties. But I still have doubts whether Microsoft will get the traction they are hoping for with Windows Phone 7."

"We have good and deep strong relationships with Google and Apple," Melone said. "But it’s good to have balance in these relationships. As a carrier we want to make sure there is flexibility. We don’t want to be viewed as a dumb pipe. And it’s good to have choices for us and our customers."

Verizon is however betting on RIM to be a balancing force between Android and iOS.

"People are still buying BlackBerrys on Verizon’s network," Melone said. "And I do consider RIM a strong third player. I know the momentum is not in their favor right now. But they have been strong in the past and there is potential for them to rebound. So I wouldn’t discount them."

Melone even preferred webOS over Windows Phone 7, despite the moribond OS selling at half the rate of the very new Windows Phone 7.

"If HP decides to license WebOS that could also become a third or fourth player that is used by OEMs," he said. "I’m more optimistic with WebOS developing into a strong player, just based on the strength of the OS. It has some very unique and good characteristics."

Since Nokia does not at present make CDMA devices the carrier does not have an existing relationship with the carrier, and it shows.

"If you look at our device pipeline for 2011, we have very strong relationships with LG, Samsung, Motorola, HTC, and now Apple," he said. "So I think it would take a really compelling device from Nokia or any new vendor to break in. It doesn’t mean that it can’t happen, but it would have to be really good."

"I don’t think Verizon needs the Nokia and Microsoft relationship," he said. "Right now the three OS players we see for our network are Android, Apple, and RIM. "

The animosity may be related to the KIN disaster which saw Verizon in the end offering consumers replacement handsets to swap for the devices.

Despite this Verizon is expected to release a Windows Phone 7 handset, the HTC 7 Trophy, in the first half of 2011.

Via CNET.com

Thanks JustVisiting for the tip.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged cdma, verizon, windows phone 7

Joseph Heath Wallis

Well I got bad news for him. RIM is going the way of the dodo bird.
zzz

They don't have a WP7 device yet so they have to bash it. They will change their tune once they get their wp7 devices. Note that they are launching Palm Pre 2 (this week?) so they are trying to hype it up.
Paul

Wow. Whoever is responsible for selling the WP7 vision to V should be replaced.

chinch

since fall 2009 Verizon launched a $150 million marketing campaing for the lame "droid does" and now has finally got iPhone. Oh yeah and the overhyped 4G rollout.

Sorry but as ignorant as V is as a carrier and with their terrible phone selection you can't blame anyone from MS from failing to "sell "WP7 to them in a timely manner.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Levar-Mouzone/717959225 Le'var Mouzone

Excuse me for cursing. But what the fuck is up with these fucking ass holes that have so much doubt or more critical comments about Microsoft. They have been proving themselves over and over again, and Microsoft has been in this game long enough not having to be treated like a outcasts. Just makes me so sick.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Mj-Williams/100000096491109 Mj Williams

verizon
late to the android party
late to the iphone party
…
need I continue

bigbing

dead on comment
applejack

Verizon clearly has the best network coverage (perhaps slightly slower than ATT, but no one cares about fast if you have no service 50% of the time.)

they were 2nd to the Android party (after T-mobile) and have about 1/2 of the US Android marketshare.
they are 2nd to the iPhone party (and probably got a much better deal than ATT) They'll start taking major share from ATT unless ATT gets it's network fixed.

In other words, they are the #1 provider for the #1 smartphone OS and the #2 provider for the #2 os. A few years out they may be able to pass ATT for iPhone especially if ATT continues to lag on their infrastructure upgrades. I can't really fault any of their moves.

bobk

Verizon had no lines of people waiting for iPhone. Only Verizon could botch an iPhone launch.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Mj-Williams/100000096491109 Mj Williams

…that's not completely true
they were fourth to the android party after at&t and sprint already had established android on their lineups in early 2009 with samsung specific android phones. Apple approached verizon first for the iphone when verizon shunned apple in 2007 and went with AT&T and we know how all of that went.

They are only the number 1 cdma provider in the United States

Hatorade

You Sir just stole the show

http://www.facebook.com/SeragKamal Serag Kamal

He's a MORON. He's lucky they have an awesome network, but he's a MORON.
JoshBennet

Of course this is so transparent. iPhone is(or was) their baby and having Windows Phone 7 on board, this would kill the opportunity(or a threat) with iPhone success. They worked so hard to win Apple back, they know AT&T is winning the iPhone battle and they are trying to save faces. VZ…that is WRONG thinking!
The dudeness

Three things…either this moron representing Verinzon gets a new job, Verizon gets a new WP7 or I get a new network once my contract is over….Hey, Tony Melone …can you hear me now!
cyarr

Carriers don't want to be seen as "dumb pipes" but I sure wish they were. A dumb pipe would give the user more freedom in device choices and more competitive rates among carriers. Instead we get carrier crapware on locked devices stuck in 2-year commitments.
Just Visiting

Ha! Love the upside down 'V' for Verizon that you put up there. Funny! Verizon was my carrier at one point, and the service was great; but fortunately for me, ATT, Sprint, and T-Mobile all provide good coverage in my area, so at least I won't have to sweat Verizon. Verizon seems really sour on Microsoft and Nokia, for whatever reason. I just really hope that Nokia produces handsets that sells millions stateside – then Verizon will change their tune and will be begging to get these devices on their network!

guest

yes but it'll be at least a year before any great handsets from nokia show up stateside. So it's not wise to totally disregard cdma carriers or (in microsofts case) show favortism to nokia. They still need to keep htc,samsung etc

http://twitter.com/mayor4reel @mayor4reel

Its a shame..let WP7 owners be real for once. I must say RIM has way more traction than WP7…more people are buying blackberries and frankly speaking nobody cares about WP7. case in point. i got a blackberry 9780 about two months ago but i didn't like it (the web browsing was TERRIBLE even on OS 6.0) so i decided to sell it on craigslist..to my surprise, I got offers to trade for high end android phones but i chose cash so I could buy the Samsung focus. I made huge profit on the sale and I got the Focus. The REALITY: after being confronted with the many downfalls(and the hopelessness that came with the lack of a swift update cycle), I decided to trade/sell the phone on craiglist and to my surprise..NOT EVEN ONE OFFER…even when the phone was unlocked..Microsoft needs to work on the image imprinted by windows mobile and the slow release of updates is not helping..

Bob

RIM users are just sheep. They are either locked in by their company or lifelong users. The question is having used both platforms which is better? We ALL know answer to that.
Danny

RIM market share has fallen 6% quarter over quarter for the last year. Whatever traction they have is simply the inertia of a huge corporate presence but everyone knows they are in trouble. Yet by your story people are trading their high-end android phones for a phone you can get for $300 on ebay? How strange! It seems in most parts of the country people are giving up RIM and going android, not they other way around. I mean that 9780 is cheaper to buy on ebay than the focus! Either you are a terrible phone salesman or your story is rubbish.

tjarren

I've been loyal to Verizon for so many years. I've loved their network.

But I'm more interested in WP7 than Verizon. I've patiently waited and waited …….. and this is the reward? I … I think I'm done.
Bob

That Verizon exec is probably an expert in nickel and dimeing customers to death. He sure doesn't know anything about user experience. 93% of WP7 users are very satisfied or satisfied with the OS. But Verizon doesn't care about user satisfaction! Verizon is probably also pissed because MS won't let them put all their bloatware on the phone.
jimski

Another article that needs to be archived and then resurrected maybe around April 2012, hopefully in time for Mr. Melone's annual review.
Moki

It's kind of looking like a few folks at the top of Verizon are in some kind of pissing contest with Microsoft. Too bad. WP7 has more promise in the long run at this point than Android. Verizon may not be my carrier of the future.
Guest

Where can we complain? I want Verizon to hear from everyone that will ditch them if they don't get a decent wp7 phone by Christmas. No the trophy doesn't count. Is there some sort of form we can all submit?

Moki

How about this for a form?

Make your hand into a fist; raise middle finger; point in the direction of Tony Melone.