Verizon Wireless changing to Verizon this Sunday, massive new branding campaign plann

[Shadez]

Verizon Wireless changing to Verizon this Sunday, massive new branding campaign planned?

By Chris Ziegler posted Jun 25th 2010 12:24PM

So Droid Life -- which has earned itself a solid record in the rumor game as of late -- is reporting that Verizon Wireless will be dropping the "Wireless" portion of its name this weekend and announcing that it won't be carrying the iPhone 4, instead concentrating on its high-end line of Android devices that it's done an admirable job of building up lately. We can't speak to the validity of the iPhone stuff, but we're starting to believe the rest now that we've been independently tipped on a new branding campaign that'll focus on the tagline "Rule the Air." Interestingly, it would seem that changing the name to Verizon risks confusing the company with one of its two corporate parents -- Verizon Communications -- which leads us to wonder whether this is a sign that Vodafone could be getting close to relinquishing control of its sizable minority share after years of speculation. That, however, is pure speculation -- but regardless, it looks like the bright red theme ain't going anywhere. More on this as it develops.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/v...assive-new-br/

(Update: No name change)

[justin82]

interesting.. it will be interesting to hear what verizon has to say about this.. as far as the IPhone 4 goes i dont think that we will Ever see the iphone on Verizon,, but if it were verizon would be the celluar company of choice in united states..

[Mule65]

I'd rather see something less than a $30 data plan.

[Twoo]

Guess I won't be renewing my contract come November.

[kodiak799]

I always kind of wondered why it was Verizon Wireless.

I say, great news on the IPhone! First off, who wants all the fanboys coming over and taking up bandwidth? Second, while I think Android has long since surged past critical mass, I like the prospect of a closer alliance between VZW and Google and VZW not being distracted with IOS and so forth.

A new branding campaign, huh? I've been wondering what might become of all this with FIOS. If nothing else they should start offering some sweet bundled packages. Surprised cell is not already included, but unfortunately it's not offered in my area.

[Darkseider]

Gonna be interesting to read the announcement. Especially the whole "WE ARE DROID, RESISTANCE IS FUTILE" part of it.

[kodiak799]

Gonna be interesting to read the announcement. Especially the whole "WE ARE DROID, RESISTANCE IS FUTILE" part of it.

I wonder if Jobs tried to play hardball with VZW and they told him what he could go do with his IPhone (and for visual illustration, they could have even pulled up a flash video on the Droid).

IPhone obviously has a solid market (although I think it wlll be increasingly under tremendous pressure), but I think Jobs needs VZW a lot more than VZW needs the IPhone.

[New2u]

interesting.. it will be interesting to hear what verizon has to say about this.. as far as the IPhone 4 goes i dont think that we will Ever see the iphone on Verizon,, but if it were verizon would be the celluar company of choice in united states..

You won't see the iphone on verizon at least until the LTE network is up and going.

[Shadez]

interesting.. it will be interesting to hear what verizon has to say about this.. as far as the IPhone 4 goes i dont think that we will Ever see the iphone on Verizon,, but if it were verizon would be the celluar company of choice in united states..

You won't see the iphone on verizon at least until the LTE network is up and going.

Well according to the 'rumors' their wont be an iphone at all on VZ - W ...

[Twoo]

Gonna be interesting to read the announcement. Especially the whole "WE ARE DROID, RESISTANCE IS FUTILE" part of it.

I wonder if Jobs tried to play hardball with VZW and they told him what he could go do with his IPhone (and for visual illustration, they could have even pulled up a flash video on the Droid).

IPhone obviously has a solid market (although I think it wlll be increasingly under tremendous pressure), but I think Jobs needs VZW a lot more than VZW needs the IPhone.

I think it's more an issue that bringing the Iphone to Verizon would single-handedly cannibalize the Verizon Android phone market. The Iphone has become THE phone for a lot of businesses, colleges, hospitals, etc. To be an RA at my old college you needed an Iphone for the RA program or you weren't eligible. Our nurses at the Hospital all use Iphones that are provided by the hospital- HECK... my last semester of medical school required an laptop or mobile computing device that could run Mac OS. REQUIRED.

Just a random figure, but I'll be bold enough to guess that 60-70% of Verizon users with smartphones would switch to the Iphone within 12 months if it was available to them.