The struggle for fame between the two top CDMA carriers (inside the US) is always an exciting race. Back in the summer of 2006, the heat was on Sprint to release the Treo 700w and Motorola Q(later releasing the upgraded Treo 700wx) while Verizon Wireless was holding the reigns as the leader in exclusive smartphone launches. Times have changed since then and the exclusive handsets have no longer been in favor for Verizon as they botched the HTC VX6800 release while Sprint launched the Mogul as the first CDMA WM6 Professional device in the USA and recently followed up by making it the first EVDO Rev A through the latest firmware update.
Let’s fast forward to today where Verizon sits on a gold mine of opportunity, starting with the much anticipated Samsung Glyde. We saw some pictures this weak leaked off of howardforums of the Samsung Glyde (U940) and after confirming that the web browser supports full HTML, we are excited. The Samsung Glyde is still on track for a Q2 2008 launch and we can expect this device to really shake Sprint’s HTC Mogul since it packs a sexier style and UI, which the iPhone has proved will sell a device very well.
Verizon will be launching some new Nokia devices: Nokia 2605 and Nokia 7205. Both of these devices will launch in early Q3 2008. It will be interesting to see more Nokia phones launching on Verizon wireless and gives us hope that one day there actually might be a Nokia N95 CDMA variant. Until then, we will settle with what we have been offered and wait for the Samsung Glyde.
Today, Verizon Wireless added the Motorola Z6cx to their lineup, which is a camera-less version of the global Z6c. All the other features of the device are the same, but the lack of camera really make this niche non-camera corporate device. It will be difficult to see the Motorola Z6cx being a hit device when it lacks the functionality of the traditional camera-less smartphone/pocket pc used in the corporate environment.
There will be a couple color changes to the Verizon lineup for 2008. The first will be a maroon VX9100 expected to launch in Q2 2008 and the second with be a silver Alias (formerly known as the Samsung U720). With all the other carriers launching different color variants each week, we can only expect more colorful releases from all carriers in the coming year. The amount of color variations released would indicated that sales are strong around holidays with the new offerings, but we have yet to see confirmed sales data indicated this.
Also in the coming year there will be updates to two of Verizon’s best selling devices: the LG VX8350 and LG Chocolate. The rumors indicated that LG will replace its VX8350 and Chocolate, with respectively, the LG VX8360 and LG VX8560. However, the actual replacement of the Chocolate 8550 may be the VX8610.
The final news for Verizon 2008 handsets at this point comes from Samsung. The Samsung SCH-U810 will have the World Edition branding, just as the Z6c(x) and the 8830, which means it will have CDMA for domestic usage and GSM for overseas. The popularity of dual mode (CDMA/GSM) devices by both Verizon and Sprint is exciting and hopefully will lead to actual action on their open network policies for unlocking CDMA devices to other carriers. In the meantime enjoy the rumors and expect an exciting year for Verizon Wireless
[Credit: PhoneArena.com]
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