Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
After AT&T, Verizon prepares for the iPhone
By siliconindia
|
Friday, 18 December 2009, 18:33 IST
Bangalore: In case Apple opts to partner with other mobile-phone service providers, for being a carrier of the Apple iPhone, Verizon Wireless says that it is up to the task, reports Business Week. So much so, that Verizon has made upgrades that would make its network more capable of handling extra traffic that would be generated by the iPhone, Verizon Wireless Chief Technology Officer, Anthony Melone said in an interview.
"We have put things in place already," Melone told Bloomberg BusinessWeek. "We are prepared to support that traffic." Vexed by dropped calls and slow download speeds of AT&T, some consumers say that the company was unprepared for the surge in traffic that resulted from iPhone use. Melone on the other hand has said that his company's equipment would do a better job catering to the heavy data demands of iPhone customers.
Although Verizon Wireless officials have in the past said that they occasionally discuss partnerships with Apple executives, Melone didn't address the prospect of landing a deal to carry the iPhone. Earlier this year, the companies were considering releasing iPhone-like devices that would run on the Verizon Wireless network, people familiar with the matter said.
Though AT&T Spokesman, Mark Siegel declined to address the readiness of the Verizon Wireless network, he said, "We think we are leading the way in how people use their wireless phones. We operate a great network."
On December 9, the Head of AT&T's wireless unit said that the carrier was working to improve its network for smartphone subscribers in New York and San Francisco. "Parts of those markets are performing at levels below our standards," said Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility, at an investor conference. "This is going to get fixed. In both of those markets, I am very confident that you're going to see significant progress."
At that same conference, de la Vega said that the company would offer some subscribers 'incentives' to reduce or modify their usage of bandwidth, reports Business Week. By contrast, Verizon's network often wins raves from U.S. consumers and independent reports. In fact, in a December 2009 survey by Consumer Reports, Verizon Wireless received the highest overall satisfaction score for wireless service. AT&T came in last, while T-Mobile came in second and Sprint Nextel came in third.
