News
Verizon attacks iPhone with new ‘Droid’ campaign
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Monday, October 19, 2009
News Category: iPhone
Verizon has launched a new TV ad campaign and matching website for its upcoming “Droid” Android phone, directly attacking the iPhone using a list of features that are unavailable on Apple’s handset but which will be available on Verizon’s upcoming device. The ad uses an Apple-like presentation of text on a plain white background with upbeat music playing in the background, beginning each statement with “iDon’t.” Examples used in the commercial include “iDon’t have a real keyboard,” “iDon’t run simultaneous apps,” “iDon’t allow open development,” and “iDon’t have interchangeable batteries.” The commercial ends with the slogan “Droid Does,” and notably does not feature the Verizon logo. The commercial can be viewed in embedded form below.
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21
RE Virtual keyboards vrs “tactile” (ie clunky) keyboards. Verizon just needed another bullit point for their power-point commercial. Like the weak “widgets” point….
iDon’t have an original name…. note the legal shout out to Lucas Film at the end for using the name “DROID”
Posted by David on October 20, 2009 at 8:52 AM (PDT)
22
To go along with what Code Monkey was saying, among people I’ve talked to who regularly text/email/etc., having a hardware keyboard IS a big deal. I know plenty of people who haven’t bought an iPhone for just that reason, and personally, it’s the main reason I decided to choose a G1 instead of Apple’s latest product craze.
I think the iPhone is a great phone when all is said and done, but I’ve got an iPod touch already, and I can tell you this: The iPhone/Touch has about the best touchscreen keyboard I’ve ever run into, but it still can’t keep up with keyboards like the one on the G1 or the Sidekick.
At the end of the day, it comes down to this: Do you like what the iPhone offers enough that you’re willing to overlook the lack of customization? Do you care that 3rd party apps can’t run in the background? Do you type enough that a hardware keyboard is important to you? Personally, Verizon’s ad hits home for me, and probably for a lot of other people, too. But then, there are also millions of people out there who don’t particularly care about any of those things; the iPhone is slick, fast, features great apps, and has a wealth of accessories available for purchase due to its popularity. The iPhone is sort of a “form over function” smartphone, and for a lot of people, that’s more than enough.
Posted by Sean Bond on October 20, 2009 at 10:21 AM (PDT)
23
I love my touch, but will NEVER have an iPhone as long as it’s exclusive to AT&T.
Posted by RM on October 21, 2009 at 5:44 AM (PDT)
24
“I love my touch, but will NEVER have an iPhone as long as it’s exclusive to AT&T.”
I couldn’t agree more. Verizon has a much better network, and until Apple and Verizon can iron out their differences, I won’t have an Iphone either. A phone without a good network behind it is worthless, and so far no one even comes close to Verizon’s network reach.
Posted by RedTomato on October 21, 2009 at 10:58 AM (PDT)
25
Yea, to heck with the keyboard issue. That’s all a moot point. Get the Iphone on the Verizon network and I’m a customer. The exclusive contract between Apple and AT&T does not bode well for the Iphone’s future.
Posted by Ralph290 on October 21, 2009 at 11:00 AM (PDT)
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