iDon't Have Market Penetration

iDon't have a real keyboard.
iDon't run simultaneous apps.
iDon't take 5-megapixel pictures.
iDon't customize.
iDon't run widgets.
iDon't allow open development.
iDon't take pictures in the ark.
iDon't have interchangeable batteries.

Too bad Verizon forgot to mention this other truth about the iPhone:

iDo have massive market penetration.

Last week Verizon released the Motorola Droid as its latest smartphone offering. Quite honestly, it is the first smart phone Verizon has supported that is mildly appealing. As a former Verizon customer, the lack of decent phones was my biggest complaint and ultimately led to my departure as a Verizon customer.

I really like Android though, from what I've seen of it at least. Had Verizon announced plans to support an Android phone around the beginning of this year, I would have stuck around. I love Verizon's network and service. But I needed a smart phone worth a darn to support me in my budding freelance career.

What did I switch to? Why of course, I switched to an iPhone.

Already being a Mac OSX user, I figured I put away any reservations I had about the iPhone and AT&T and just get an iPhone. I have not regretted it. I love everything about the phone basically. And mind you I'm not even running a jailbroken phone - I like the base user experience and apps in the app store as they are. AT&T has had great coverage here in Northeast Florida so I can't even complain about them yet either.

But that's now. In my honest estimation, I expect Android to really be an awesome platform now and later. I admittedly also have a soft spot for Verizon's service - they have had great coverage every where I've ever lived or visited in the continental United States. But I'm not switching now... Verizon was too late.

What would it take for me to switch? I'm guessing it would probably take what every other iPhone owner on AT&T's network would require to take the risk of jumping to another phone platform and carrier - it would take Verizon offering some type of credit to iPhone customers canceling their AT&T contract early to cover the switching costs. For all of the things that Droid can apparently do better, the one thing it doesn't have right now is the user base and appeal that the iPhone has. It won't get those two things either unless it does something to woo those iPhone users away. It's going to be those users raving about how Droid is better than the iPhone (assuming it truly is), not Verizon's ads, that draw the masses to Droid.