As expected, the massive popularity of Verizon’s highly anticipated release of the iPhone 4 forced the cell phone provider to suspend sales of popular Apple smartphone. For Google, Sprint and HTC, this may be music to their ears.
“There are so many Verizon customers that are trying to use up their upgrade credit; customers that have been waiting patiently for a Verizon iPhone and now they’re sold out,” says smartphone pundit Kristal Meigs. “You can imagine the anger and frustration that these Verizon customers may have and while one would expect that some of these people would go over to AT&T for their iPhone offering, but I don’t think that’s the case.”
Meigs says that according to market research, Verizon fans like one thing less than waiting for an iPhone: AT&T. According to a recent poll, Verizon customers are more likely to head over to Sprint Nextel than leave for AT&T even for a chance at finally getting that iPhone 4 they’ve been patiently waiting for.”
Verizon’s pre-sell of the iPhone 4 ended with the firm suspending sales. Experts believe that Verizon has saved enough product to ship to Verizon stores across the country.
“The first thing [Verizon customer who want the iPhone 4] need to do, is contact their local Verizon store and see if they can reserve an iPhone or, better yet, purchase one outright,” says Meig. “That way they will know for sure that they will get one.”
If Verizon customers are still unable to get their Apple-loving hands on an iPhone, Sprint Nextel may see a surge in customers, which may lead to more sales of their celebrated HTC product, the HTC EVO Shift 4G.
“Sprint’s best smartphone is the EVO Shift 4G and Verizon customers would probably gravitate more towards that phone over other Android-based products,” Meig went on to say. “It more closely resembles an iPhone. Actually in most cases, the Android based phones are better than iPhones.
Verizon’s iPhone 4 will cost $199.99 for the 16 GB model and $299.99 for the 32 GB model with a new two-year contract. Voice plans start at $39.99 for 450 minutes or talk-and-text plans starting at $59.99. This includes unlimited texting, picture and video messaging.
