vB Easy Archive - Android Phone

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Android Phone - Verizon Wireless
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Posted by: overmetal61

I am eligible to upgrade to a new phone from Verizon Wireless shortly and wanted to get some opinions/thoughts. I would like to get an Android SmartPhone but since they are not expected until mid to late 2008/early 2009 would it be in my best interests to choose another phone in the meantime?

I can obtain a phone for little to no cost with a new contract. Is it even likely that Verizon Wireless would sell an Android Phone through their store so you would be able to get discounted pricing, or do you feel that it will be primarily sold outside having to pay full retail price for the phone and then activated on their network using the open handset/standards which they recently supported.

I feel that it would be in my best interest to upgrade now if it is unlikely that Android would ever be sold through the Verizon Wireless store, which is the only way I would be able to obtain discounted pricing.

Posted by: FL1134

The point of Android is to get wireless carriers out of hardware (and customers from purchasing contracts). It doesn't make much business sense to sell an unlocked, unbranded, uncrippled, android handset next to their current line up. I would venture that VZW will not carry the phone in store but will sell online only. They may be discounted but I doubt it. Either way, you will probably be able to get android phones cheaper at walmart, target, etc.

Android on VZW will require a new plan and they will treat you like a third class citizen i.e. no more calling CS except for network issues.

Posted by: protectyaneck

vzw isn't even part of the open handset alliance (per http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/oha_members.html), so I would guess that the chances of them offering an android handset are slim at best at this point.

Posted by: jeffro21

Well it would not matter sometime in the fall this year because Verizon has stated they are going to open up their network and allow any device on, well CDMA that is. But so if any carrier or any phone company develops a device running Android with a CDMA radio in it, you can bet it will find it onto Big Red's "Network"!