Since the dawn of the iPhone, people have been switching their wireless phone carrier to AT&T and jumping on the Apple bandwagon. I, myself, am a big Apple fan and love playing with the features on my friends’ iPhones and using the Wi-Fi Internet connection. But I’m still with Verizon Wireless.
Why don’t I switch over? Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of AT&T’s service in a lot of areas. I’ve always liked Verizon on that front. Also, I should probably add, I’m still on a family plan, and really, what beats your parents footing the phone bill?
But it’s almost time for me to upgrade my phone with Verizon, and I am not happy with the selection of phones they have available. AT&T versus Verizon Wireless, for me, equates to cool phones versus good service. It seems like a lose-lose situation, but luckily, there is a flicker of hope floating around the online blogging and reporting communities.
Project Pink.
The Wall Street Journal reported rumors of a top-secret project in the works between Microsoft and Verizon Wireless back in April. The project was rumored to be the iPhone killer — or at least some real competition.
I’ve been anxiously awaiting more news on the project and dug up that Project Pink has been confirmed, while more details about its features are still being kept quiet.
Pulling from sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, PC World says, “The unnamed insiders suggest ‘Pink’ will be a souped-up Windows Mobile multimedia phone made specifically to compete with Apple’s iPhone. A third-party company will handle the actual hardware, the sources say, while Microsoft will focus on creating ‘new software capabilities’ and built-in access to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile (aka Microsoft’s answer to the App Store).”
So far, the minimum specs for the phone are rumored to have been leaked. These include a 3.5-inch or larger multi-touch display, 256MB or more of RAM and 1GB or more of storage, at least a 3 megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a compass and an accelerometer.
If Microsoft and Verizon Wireless do release this phone (although no release date has been set) and “Pink” does in fact live up to all the intrigue and mystery these countless Project Pink rumors have created, then I would be set. I’m sure a big chunk of other Verizon Wireless customers feel the same way.
However, to play a little bit of the skeptic, there have also been rumors circulating since last year of Apple bringing the iPhone and a future iPhone Lite to Verizon Wireless with Apple’s contract of exclusivity with AT&T coming to an end next year.
A phone worthy of being an iPhone rival on the Verizon network? The actual iPhone, or any of its kind by Apple, coming to Verizon? My head is still spinning from all of the techie blog rumors. Either way, I would be happy. It’s about time for Verizon to step up their game.
E-mail Shanen at
shanen.lloyd@asu.edu
