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Verizon Wireless and Surface Phone Revisited

Just restarting discussions about Verizon Wireless and Windows Mobile devices.

Currently, the Lumia 735 is the only Windows Phone left in Verizon Wireless's catalog.

With the HP Elite x3 following the path of the most recent Lumia models by being released as a GSM only device, I'm starting to get the feeling that the Surface Phone will also be released as a GSM only device. In one of my recent discussions on a disqus.com message board, another member posted that Microsoft does not have any CDMA coders on staff. Of course, I can't prove or disprove that, but if it is true, it would make a Surface Phone for Verizon Wireless, Sprint and US Cellular all that more doubtful.

What I'm starting to think is going to happen is that Microsoft is going to not offer any new phones for VZW, Sprint and US Cellular until the carriers are off of their CDMA networks.

Do I hope to be proven wrong? Yes. But, I can't shake the feeling that the Surface Phone will be another lost cause for us.

Comments

primortal

I highly doubt it's a "lack of CDMA coders". The OS and device firmware already supports CDMA; proof is in the Lumia Icon and 735.

It's the pain VZW is putting Microsoft/HP through to get the devices certified. From what I understand is it's not a cheap thing to do.

For now I'm done with VZW and I have my 950XL in hand and just waiting for my wife to go through her voice mails before I go to AT&T and switch later this week.

dexman

I'm not sure that Verizon Wireless is the full culprit as there are other CDMA carriers like Sprint and US Cellular. Certify for CDMA and you should be good to go for each CDMA carrier.

primortal

Then it's most likely that cost of certifying the device for CDMA which probably out ways the number of devices sold without carrier support; advertising.

Both the 950s and the HP Elite x3 have the CDMA antenna's and are capable, but CDMA is disabled in the firmware for some reason.

dexman

I remember Tidbits posting that the costs associated with CDMA certification are higher than GSM. I wish that Microsoft and other OEMs would flat out state their positions as it relates to Verizon Wireless. How much longer will VZW users....who would like to give a high end WM device a try....wait before switching carriers or platforms?

I know that rolling out CDMA variants won't catapult WM marketshare substantially, but, to see these companies rake such restrictive positions and then wonder out loud why sales figures continue to stagnate and contract is mind numbing.

Jmthomas1987

From what I have seen and read about, it sounds like with the ridiculous process OEMs have to go through to get "certified" on CDMA, it is not a money making venture really unless you sell several hundred thousand units.

Basically they are getting extorted by Qualcom for licensing the hardware on each phone, and then they have to submit their phones to each CDMA carrier to let them dissect the units to then see if they will work with their particular hardware/backhaul setups. Can't blame OEMs for dropping CDMA since it is a dying technology anyway.

Verizon seems to take the longest of the three from what I have read, plus even if you do get "certified", VZW seems to not want to provide any service after the sale for Windows phones.

Last time I went into a VZW store, I went through 4 reps, plus a field tech before finding someone who knew ANYTHING about Windows phones. Most looked at me like I was talking Martian or something. Now I just buy on-line and cut out any middle-men.

Ann154

If it is such a "ridiculous process" why is Apple, Motorola, Samsung, Google and other manufacturers getting their devices certified by the FCC for the CDMA radios used by Verizon Wireless and a few other carriers?

primortal

Ann154 I think you're missing the key point

jmthomas87 wrote:
From what I have seen and read about, it sounds like with the ridiculous process OEMs have to go through to get "certified" on CDMA, it is not a money making venture really unless you sell several hundred thousand units.

Apple knows they can sell million of devices so the cost is worth it. Plus I bet the carriers are confident that the devices would work so don't scrutinize them as much as an unknown devices.

Ann154

I noticed you didn't address the other manufacturers that have universal devices that work on Verizon Wireless and likely sold a lot less than Apple devices.

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