RUMOR: Microsoft dropping Verizon: No more windows phones?

[bgoodbody]

Will this prove to be the case?

We should know before Christmas.

[Snn5]

I think that was Verizon dropping Microsoft.

[demmo86rt]

I think even more correct is that Microsoft is dropping phones.

[Snn5]

Well, I think if the next round of Win 10 phones fizzles then, yes, most likely.

[windowsguy]

If Verizon ends up not supporting Windows 10, I  will have to switch to AT&T.  I have been waiting for  Microsoft Lumia 950 XL.  I have been a Verizon customer since my first cell phone.  I will hate to  leave, but looks like Verizon is given me no options.  .... 

[dexman]

The 950s are not compatible with Verizon Wireless's network.

Now...if the next set of Windows Mobile phones...which are expected to be wholly designed by Microsoft...are still not compatible with VZW...even if the decision to skip over VZW was Microsoft's alone...I'm going to give serious consideration to switching over to at&t.

[47seijar]

They always make the GSM version first. It's compatible with the European carriers as well as AT&T and T-Mobile, so that's the default model. There is always a chance Microsoft will make a CDMA version but it will probably depend on how sales go in GSM-land.

I wish Microsoft would just do what Apple does and make one version for everybody. If the lads in Cupertino can cram all those radio bands into an iPhone then why can't Microsoft do it on a thicker phone?  Time for Microsoft to step up and take a chance. If they are serious about promoting WP and growing the platform, maybe they should act like it?

[primortal]

The thing is that Microsoft did make a version for everyone, just that they disabled CDMA via the firmware.

[Tidbits]

They also didn't pay for Qualcomm licensing and did not run it through the FCC for approval either.

[bgoodbody]

You are wrong so far Verizon and Microsoft have not abandoned each other

[primortal]

It goes in-line with my post, Re: when will verizon wireless get new Windows phones?

I can't find the quote from Nadella that he said something like the markets that were doing poorly for Windows Phones he would pull out. Would you consider VZW a market or the USA a market?  Market is a broad term.

We'll know sure enough by the end of the year.  As it stands AT&T is said to only be selling the Lumia 950 (Talkman) and no news on who will carry the Lumia 950 XL.

VZW did get the Icon which was a 930 equivalent where no other carrier in the US carried.  Though VZW did sit on it for a few months before sell then disconnected a few month later....

I don't know how the Lumia 735 is selling; similar pattern though, sit on it for a few months and then sell it.

Now the question is Microsoft not going to release devices to VZW but OEMs will or is the whole platform dead on VZW?

[McKeown_molly]

I want to know about how long is the battery life on the window phone I'm thinking about getting one

[dexman]

Seeing how at&t and T-Mobile are now offering the 4G/LTE version of the Microsoft Surface 3 while Verizon Wireless has remained silent doesn't appear very promising. The last time I was at a local VZW store, the manager checked the network database and didn't find a code/profile for the Surface 3. Without codes, the only way to get a tablet/computer onto the network is to tether a WiFi only version to either a smartphone or Jetpack.

[47seijar]

It's a numbers game, plain and simple. If only a relative handful of customers want WP it's just not worth the commitment Verizon has to make to get a CDMA-version of a phone made, not to mention the cost to support such a platform.

The Lumia 735 is on the list for first round updates to Windows 10 Mobile, which is a good sign. Since they're already supporting WP it's just a matter of convincing Microsoft to make a CDMA 950/950XL. Like primortal said, Lumia 735 sales will be telling. The 735 is by no means a flagship device, but it's priced pretty aggressively. Fingers crossed! I'd love a good reason to ditch my iPhone 6.

[mama23dogs]

I Agree.  ATT seems to be headed the same way.  It seems there is still a pocket of dedicate windows and blackberry fans who are doomed to be disappointed by major U.S. Carriers.

[Khines5705]

Windows 8 and 8.1 drove away many folks considering a windows phone, myself included. I avoided 8 and 8.1 like the plague!!

[mama23dogs]

Ttrue.   My father bought a laptop off the floor to avoid windows 8.  My son just updated his new computer to 10 and loves it.   Takes all kinds.

[primortal]

Khines5705 wrote:

Windows 8 and 8.1 drove away many folks considering a windows phone, myself included. I avoided 8 and 8.1 like the plague!!

Please elaborate on why  Never mind though you were talking about Windows Phone and not Windows.

[Snn5]

Windows 8/8.1 was fine, except Metro UI.  That's the only bad thing to me.

[ilikeverizonwireless]

8.1 was not bad at all.

[Triakel]

Much of the Internet buzz on this is coming from Satya's Nadella's comments and news reports citing this Windows Central article.

Not much hard evidence is given for a split, but there are several good arguments:

• Microsoft-Verizon relationship has been rocky since Kin
• Verizon isn't keen to promote a third operating system/hardware combo that is not particularly profitable
• Microsoft may not be providing sufficient incentives to get the promotion it needs AND it's likely severely cutting even that investment after the recent reorg
• The purported Lumia 9xx/9xxXL phones could very well be GSM/LTE only, without CDMA radios (i.e., compatible in Europe where Windows phone does better, as well as with two of Verizon's U.S. competitors).

I'm most worried about the last point, because it makes a lot of sense for MS to not bother with a CDMA variant for Verizon. It's market share is horrible anyway, and it's investment with Verizon probably isn't paying out for either company.

I'm due to upgrade my Lumia 928 but haven't because there isn't a clearly superior option on Verizon at this point. The Lumia 735 has a comparatively mediocre camera, the HTC One has an arguably bad camera, and the current LG model seems decidedly "budget" and uninspiring. Two family members still like their sturdy, two-year old Lumia 822s and aren't compelled by anything in the current lineup. A fourth family member upgraded from her HTC 8X only because it had persistent overheating issues (as did my old HTC Trophy) and had become unusable. She is done with HTC and only had the option of the 735 or switching back to Android, which she hates. iPhone isn't really an option in our group. None of us wants to pay the premium for getting sucked into that ecosystem.

I'm going to hang on for a while and see if Verizon and MS part ways in the next few months. If they work things out, we may soldier on with our Windows phones for a couple more years (I'm actually considering a used Lumia Icon at this point, geez). If there are no more good phones (or the relationship ends), I suppose we will have to look at the competition. Unfortunately, the competition in our area of the U.S. doesn't maintain as good of a network as Verizon, so bummers all around. : (