Dear Verizon, Goodbye … for now

Dear Verizon,

Unfortunately there isn’t an easy way to say this so I’m just going to get it over with. You know band-aid style, right off.

I’m breaking up with you.

As you and I are both aware, my two-year contract ended with you today and I’m leaving you for someone else.

It’s not that anything was particularly wrong with you or your service. You and I have had a good four years together, but I’m needing something more in my cell provider relationship these days. When we first got together coverage was all that anyone could need from a provider, but over the past few years that’s changed and people are needing more. I still care about coverage, and you’re still the best in that area, it’s just that I’m a geek and I need much more robust handsets. More robust than anything you’ve been giving to me. Other networks are getting cool things like the iPhone or android phones when you’re still trying to sell me “feature” (read: dumb) phones. I need a network that can give me more than just coverage. It’s a big deal to me and you don’t seem to care.

Yes, I got your e-mail yesterday that was trying to tempt me into signing a new two-year contract by giving me a great deal on the Samsung Knack. But that’s exactly my point. I’m hours away from being free from a cell phone contract and the best you have to show is a phone that even your users give it a 3/5 stars rating. I know about your Blackberry Storm and I’ve also heard that you’re very likely to be getting the Palm Pre in the upcoming year, but it’s too little, too late. Neither of those are worth getting locked into another two years.

Who am I leaving you for, you ask.

Well if you really want to know, I’m switching to AT&T, or more accurately the iPhone. I know that the AT&T network is nothing compared to you, and that most people on AT&T are unhappy with their service, but the iPhone is worth the hassle for me. I’d much rather have the iPhone and your service, but since you rejected the iPhone when you had the chance that’s telling me that you didn’t care enough about this relationship to try. To be honest, I even gave you an extra year to try to impress me. I was fully prepared to break my contract with you last year, but decided not too because I wasn’t fully satisfied with all of the iPhone 3G’s hardware. In this past year though, Apple has impressed me with the upgraded hardware in the 3GS, while you on the other hand have done nothing to impress me.

Chin up now, don’t get a long face, I have a feeling I’ll be back in two years so long as you start caring more about other customer needs than coverage. I’m hoping with the upcoming LTE networks and the inevitable demise of the AT&T iPhone exclusivity that you will be easily able to tempt me back into your service with a brand new iPhone LTE HD in 2011.

Well, I guess I should go. I’m almost to the front of the line here at the Apple store and I don’t want to be rude talking to you while I’m buying my new phone and accessories.

See ya in a couple of years,

Jeremy