Seriously. I’ve been reading various accounts about how Verizon refused to capitulate to Apple’s demand to restrict the distribution channel for the iPhone (hello, quality control?) and as a result didn’t see that light that ended up shining on Cingular. But I’ve got to say, if you’re going to pick a single carrier with which to mate your cell phone, I couldn’t pick a better one than Cingular. Come on, fellow bloggers, think about this.
Verizon has a sucks-o-meter rating of 9 or so, while phone swaps require a store visit and their network capabilities are arguably inferior in most pockets of America to those of Cingular. So, as far as the Verizon-vs-Cingular debate goes, there’s certainly no love lost for Verizon at the Wallingford household. And just so you understand that I’m credentialed, realize that I used to be a Verizon subscriber. Emphasis on used to be.
What I find most astonishing about some bloggers’ reactions to the Verizon self-shafting is the seeming and sudden loyalty to Verizon that, until now, I never realized existed out there. These bloggers are often the same ones who bitch about how Wal-Mart is taking over the world, yet lampoon Apple for choosing a carrier who allows them to cut Wal-Mart out of the channel. It’s a shame that people are so prone to receiving poor customer service and inadequate product knowledge that they actually want to see iPhones (and perhaps even Macs) being sold at Wal-Mart. I mean, in all seriousness, I would rather buy a product from the Apple store or the Cingular store and pay the extra 10% just to have my questions answered by somebody who actually knows what he’s talking about and isn’t busy putting smiley-faced mark-down stickers on a kiosk full of elastic scrunchies.
These bloggers are also the same ones who claim often-times to be pro-consumer, ie. pro-disclosure and pro product-knowledge. Yet when Apple makes strides to put the iPhone in the capable hands of Cingular (ever compared the call centers of Verizon and Cingular? I have.) these same bloggers get all up-tight about walled-gardens and closedness. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Apple chose Cingular because they wanted the iPhone to JUST WORK. That means voice packets sent through the airwaves, customers made happy when their screen breaks (thank you, Applecare), and somebody who actually knows a thing or two for product education (thank you, Geniuses).
I have had Cingular for 2 years now and I have had massive problems with their service. A year ago my calls were cut off every 7 minutes. It was like clockwork. I had to complain 4 months before it stopped. Now I have so much noise on my calls its nuts. I also have call volumes running up and down from unable to hear to having my head blown off. I have had 3 bluetooths, 2 phones and 3 sim cards. It’s all the same. They won’t admit they have a problem. OH..and I have had to replace my Motorola twice and so has my girlfriend. I’ve owned MacIntosh since 1985 and love the machines…the stores are worthless unless you want an iPod. Sorry…but I think Cingular is singularly terrible. Apple has gotten itself into a major nightmare….trying to use someone else’s service to sell their product… that’s like Microsoft designing the operating system for a Mac….sorry…it’s doomed.