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Microsoft Surface Duo

Hello again!

My Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is showing its age.

As a potential replacement, I've been keeping an eye out for any indication that Microsoft's next foray into the mobile device market (the Surface Duo) will be coming to Verizon Wireless.

To date, Microsoft has been tight lipped about an actual release date and network availability.

Has anyone else stumbled across anything that would indicate whether or not the Duo is VZW bound?

If it is...I'll hold onto the S7E until I can try out the new device.

Comments

Nordiskskier

The Surface Duo is scheduled for Verizon. I have a Windows phone that works on Verizon until December - so I've been watching the internet for updates on the Duo for some time. Indications are a possible launch and shipment in August 2020. The Duo was sent for FCC inspection last week. Winbuzzer has great updates on the Duo.

https://winbuzzer.com/tag/surface-duo/

pacmusicman

Hi Nordiskskier,

So far, I've only been able to find references to the Duo being made available for AT&T users. Online documents seem to point to Verizon Wireless's bands being included, but, if Microsoft doesn't send the device to Verizon Wireless for acceptance testing, the company could simply disable the bands in the phone and we'll have a repeat of the Lumia 550, 650, 950 & 950XL.

mikerogers0

It's one of my pet leaves that cell phone service providers dictate what cell phone I can use. That is like Comcast telling me what tv I can buy. I am a 20 + year Verizon customer but I will be gone if this happens again.

pacmusicman

The ball is really in Microsoft's court.

If Microsoft doesn't submit the Duo for acceptance testing, Verizon Wireless can block the phone from being brought onto the network.

If Microsoft is serious about the Duo, it will try to get the Duo onto as many networks as possible.

Verizon_Support

mikerogers0 I understand there may be a phone that you want. Please note, the carrier does not determine who the manufacturer will sell the device to. We have a great selection of devices available. Here is our link for your review:http://spr.ly/6604G5MEk

Synical

Surface Duo is available for pre-order now through the Microsoft store, with delivery tentatively scheduled for September 10th. From the pre-order screen: "Surface Duo will work on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon networks including subsidiary and international partner networks."

Price tag is a bit hefty at $1399 for the base 128GB model, or $1499 for the 256GB version. Can be offset by up to $700+ credit for existing phones (my current iPhone 11 64GB was worth $550, if that helps).

Hope that helps... and hopefully it's available through Verizon soon, so I can use these device bucks I've been saving up!

pacmusicman

Yup. I saw that information earlier this morning. I'm hoping that Verizon Wireless will make an official announcement so I can head over to Best Buy and give the Duo a once over.

pacmusicman

I just checked the Duo's technical specs over on Microsoft's website...

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/devices/surface-duo?activetab=techSpecs&icid=mscom_marcom

There is no mention of Verizon Wireless for either locked or unlocked models....just AT&T and T-Mobile.

vchat79

I would not hold my breathe waiting for Verizon. I remember a similar incident with the release of the Samsung Gear Frontier LTE smartwatch. They kept promising they would carry it but kept us waiting for months after other carriers was selling it. Finally I got tired of waiting and being told update delivery lies until I ordered the watch from T-Mobile and forwarded my Verizon smartphone number to the T-Mobile smartwatch, it worked great, no regrets. Verizon is slow with new releases of products especially if they have to re-program to delete features they do not like. Still don’t know why they don’t allow calls from my I-pad, it has it own number and service.

pacmusicman

Microsoft created a locked version of the Surface Duo for AT&T.

Customers of T-Mobile, Sprint & Verizon Wireless have to purchase the unlocked version. Sprint customers actually have to utilize the T-Mobile network rather than the legacy Sprint.

The inability to utilize some carrier features when using unlocked phones on a particular network isn't anything new.

In recent history, Microsoft and Verizon Wireless haven't exactly had a friendly relationship. The last Lumia telephone to offer a locked VZW version was the 735. Microsoft even skipped submitting the final group of Lumia models for CDMA certification. The final Windows 10 Mobile phone was the HP Elite X3.

Unless Microsoft creates dedicated Duo variants for Verizon Wireless some carrier features will be unavailable. But Microsoft seems to have a better working relationship with AT&T than with Verizon Wireless, so, AT&T customers are getting dedicated/locked devices while customers of Verizon Wireless and other carriers make due with unlocked units that don't support all carrier features.

This may change in the future. But Microsoft has to make the first move. Right now, I don't think that Microsoft is going to make such a commitment.

______________

I switched from AT&T to Verizon around 12 years ago after some bad customer service. However, I have been interested in the Microsoft Surface Duo since it's announcement and it is super-tempting to switch back for it. After all, they had to have improved customer service by now, right? I am holding out for now in hopes Verizon picks up the Duo, but can't wait forever.

pacmusicman

The decision to produce Verizon Wireless versions of the Duo is solely Microsoft's. Verizon Wireless really can't force Microsoft to do that.

Over the past several years, Microsoft has had a better working relationship with AT&T than with Verizon Wireless, thus the final set of Lumia phones were never submitted for CDMA certification.

Until Satya Nadella, Panos Panay and/or Amy Hood decide(s) to spend the money to produce Verizon Wireless variants, all that will be available are unlocked models that cannot access all of Verizon Wireless's features.

Verizon_Support

We will be happy to address any concerns that you have in mind with this device. Please tell us, what exactly is it that you like of this device? DavidR_VZW

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