Verizon's iPhone rival to be a downgrade?
updated 01:15 pm EDT, Thu November 1, 2007
Samsung F700 as U940
The expected launch of the Samsung F700 touchscreen phone with Verizon may reduce the device's functionality by the time it reaches American shores, according to purported internal sources in contact with Phone Arena. The new information corroborates earlier reports which suggested Verizon would use the handset as a response to the iPhone, but indicates both a new name and a reduced feature set: the Americanized version would be called the U940 and shed the 3-megapixel camera in favor of a 2-megapixel model. As before, the U940 would need to adopt CDMA phone network support and EVDO access to function on the new network.
Whether any substantial changes to the touchscreen interface would be made for the launch was unknown. The F700 is known in Europe as the Croix courtesy of a cross-shaped menu system. However, Verizon is known to demand interface changes to highlight its services and may include a new front-end rather than the stock Samsung layout. This newest report maintains that the US carrier will release the phone sometime in early 2008. Costs are still unknown but should climb above that of the less professionally-oriented LG Voyager.
and that, friends...
11/01, 01:20pm reply
...is why Verizon was never going to get the iPhone. They insist on taking decent phones, crippling their features, and putting their own hideous UI on it.
phillymjs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2000
stoopid US cell co's
11/01, 01:25pm reply
once again, Verizon helps lead the US even further towards the bottom-of-the-barrel as far as cell phone technology.
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
big surprise there
11/01, 01:27pm reply
Verizon reducing a phone's default feature set? Haha yeah right, they'd never do that.
Can you imagine what a Verizon iPhone would be like? First it would have a bright, painful-to-the-eyes red Verizon background. The four icons along the bottom would point to four different software rental demos. YouTube would be a $5/month software rental. Same goes for Photos. Maps would have GPS but would also cost $5/month.
The iPod and store will be combined into one app and every song you loaded up would have a link to buy more for only $2.99 per song. Again videos won't play unless you pay for the $5/month video player rental.
Syncing wouldn't be allowed. You have to bring your phone in to copy your phone book to another phone. Or you can pay $49.99 for the USB cable and CD with crappy software that will never again be updated.
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000
hate verizon
11/01, 01:42pm reply
I hate the way Verizon cripple their phones but I really like their sound quality (in San Francisco bay area). I switch from Cingular a while ago to Verizon and the voice quality of calls are so much better. I really want an iPhone but I don't want to give up the sound quality. Arrgh, the dilemma.
pt123
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2007
Shocker
11/01, 01:54pm reply
"and a reduced feature set: the Americanized version"
That's why my family and I are saying 'so long' to Verizon December 1. Crippled phones, expensive data plans, and no roll-over minutes. Sounds like a great deal...no wait, maybe not.
mgpalma
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2000
2 > 3
11/01, 06:09pm reply
2 megapixels is technically superior to 3 megapixels. i mean, this is america. repeat it often enough, and its gotta be true.
darkelf
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2003
Hahaha
11/01, 06:10pm reply
Read this article and everybody beat me to what I was going to say. Verizon blamed Apple for their deal not going through citing that Apple was asking for too much. It boggles the mind how a company that has never before produced a phone can understand the market better than a company that's been doing it forever. I hate Verizon, not b/c of the network, but b/c of all the other S*** they pull. Unfortunately I'm stuck with them b/c AT&T isn't in my area (so no iPhone for me, at least not yet).
slider
Mac Elite
Joined: Oct 1999
Dominus vobiscum....
11/02, 01:11am reply
or should I just say Rest In Peace. This Cross is going down on a headstone along with Verizon's arrogant ideas about competing against the iPhone.
Constable Odo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2007