Verizon Launch Feedback

[Chuck Schwartz]

Is any information available yet about the success of the San Diego Verizon launch in terms of such things as number of users, number of downloads, user demographics, user feedback etc? Would be very useful in helping to formulate our strategies for system development plans.

[psycho-]

Originally posted by Chuck Schwartz
Is any information available yet about the success of the San Diego Verizon launch in terms of such things as number of users, number of downloads, user demographics, user feedback etc? Would be very useful in helping to formulate our strategies for system development plans.

I can't tell you much, but I can give you feedback:

As a general phone nut who browses these forums, I can tell you that most people aren't impressed. I can tell you that, as nice as the Z-800 is, it is severely lacking in features that I expected from a japanese phone (as opposed to the phones i used there in Japan when I studied abroad).

But, features aside, BREW is a big dissapointment to me personally. The lack of applications, plus the high rates for the quality of the applications make it very hard for me to adopt the usage. Compared to the services I got on J-Phone, these "services" on the average cost between 20-100 yen/usage or per month. That averages out to 13 cents to approx 75 or 80 cents/month or per usage (depending on the level of quality of application). Comparatively, applications are relatively expensive.

Of course, as it becomes more widely implemented, my hope is that they (VZW) figure out how to adapt their pricing structure to make itself more attractive.

Of course, everything is at a premature state, so everything will work itself out sooner or later.

I hope that helps.

[SteveA]

The initial launch of BREW in San Diego has exceeded Verizon Wireless' expectations in handset sales and BREW application dowloads. Verizon has not released sales figures but did offer that information.

We're very much looking forward to the upcoming national launch of BREW!

Tks,

--Steve