Verizon Wireless and Google 'Talking' → Perfect Match

I know (IMHO) that if the iPhone had been on the Verizon network it would have caught on faster than the California wildfires.
They need some edge to differentiate them in the minds of the public even though they do have a good network.

I think a partnership with the big G will be a killer app.
Now to just select the perfect name for the partnership.....

Verizogoog?

Googizon?

I don't see Verizon going for anything "open" at all. I love my Verizon service but these guys try to squeeze every single penny out of you that they can.

You can't put "music" on your "music phone" unless you subscribe to their music service. You can't install Java apps by default on a Treo because of their Brew system that locks these things out.

Verizon, Google and open are not three words that I would use together. I would love it if it happened because I am due for a new phone soon and I am sure that Google would underwrite some part of this with their ad dollars. I stay with Verizon because my phone just works regardless of where I go.

I don't subscribe to it. But I have a music phone, and using thier software CD, I am able to put my music from CDs or DRM free MP3s and don't pay anything to Verizon for them.

Sure you can. Just copy your music from your PC to the Micro-SD card; insert card; and play all the music you want on your Verizon cellphone using the phones MyMusic option. It works fine with my Verizon LG phone.

It was what I was told by THEIR people when it comes to the music thing. No worries for me. I play my music on my iPod. Much better suited to the task.

If Google apps are all they're going to do, they're going to have to work harder... I have the apps listed on my Samsung, the main reason that I am not with Verizon is the locking down of the phones, and the issue that data doesn't work when in Extended Network (Roaming) pushed me over to Sprint SERO. While Verizon may have the better network in my area, Sprint works well for me, and Sprint has unrestricted roaming, meaning that if a CDMA signal is there, my phone will pick it up.

Another nice feature is the Force Roaming in the menus on most current Sprint Phones.

In my area Verizon doesn't allow roaming onto Sprint at all, so when in Massachusetts, some areas were Sprint only, and I would have no service whereas a US Cellular phone would roam onto Sprint and be fine.

What I'm saying is that if Google is to make a deal with Verizon, they are going to have to make it unlike any other service, as I and many others won't switch if it isn't significantly different than the other phones currently on the market.

You may not switch. But your claim that "many others" won't seriously underestimates Google's drawing power for many users. IF, and that is still a big IF, Verizon and Google do a deal, then it will draw many users to Verizon - speeding the loss of Sprint users(assuming Google doesn't cut a deal with Sprint too) that has been going on now for several quarters.

Step one open phone...

Step two press ok...

Step three press 7 zeros like this 0000000... lol

Step four scroll down the menu for music settings press mp3 format

Step five get external sd card load mp3 and insert in phone then press play...

While I agree with you in some of the points, mainly in the drawing power of Google, I also don't think that Sprint is that bad considering what I can do on my phone that I couldn't do on the several phones that I had while I was on Verizon.

Apps that I now have on Sprint that I could not get on Verizon:
Mobile GMaps (Free GPS), eBuddy Beta (AIM,Yahoo,MSN), Gmail, Opera Mini, ThumbXP Facebook, TinyTwitter, Yahoo! Go

The big selling point for me is that the Sprint phones can run Java apps, which means that most games and apps that have come out on other carriers (ie T-Mobile, Cingular/ATT, Overseas providers, etc.) may work on Sprint with minimal modification.

Obviously this isn't a selling point for many non-technical users, but for the techies, I think that this is a big plus with Sprint.

Disagree. How many people left Sprint to go over to VZW just to get the ESPN sports. Might be able to count them on 1 hand. I associate GOOGLE with the internet search eng. Years ago, it was Alta Vista. Just because YouTube is the hotspot videos, doesn't mean I don't use google's video search. My point is this. Just because google is onboard with VZW doesn't mean I would drop my provider. They would have to be cheaper, covering more area and having a phone in their inventory that I would want over what I currently have. People leaving AT&T, TM or Sprint just because of google to me is stupid. It's like a person trading in their car just because another brand has a color they like, though they will pay more and get less.