Verizon’s smartphone sales remain dominated by the iPhone, even in the face of a 24% drop in Verizon iPhone sales last quarter – but the carrier is keen to ensure that it doesn’t put all of its eggs in the same basket. Yesterday, we reported on comments made by the company’s chief financial officer, Fran Shammo, who voiced his support for a third ecosystem on the network, to complement sales of Apple’s smartphone and Android handsets.
Shammo told investors during Verizon's quarterly earnings call that the network is “fully supportive” of Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform – but so far, that seems to have been little more than talk, given that the operator continues to sell just one first-generation Windows Phone handset, the HTC Trophy.
Despite this 'support', we were still left wondering if Verizon would ever launch new Windows Phone devices. But in an interview following the call, Shammo said that the company is in fact committed to delivering new handsets: “We’re really looking at the Windows Phone 8 platform, because that’s a differentiator. We’re working with Microsoft on it.”
Shammo also told Reuters that Verizon plans to make its new Windows Phone 8 handsets available later this year, in time for the holiday season, which should see the devices on sale shortly after Microsoft publicly launches the new mobile OS in the fourth quarter.
Interestingly, it seems that Verizon is finally preparing to put some serious effort behind its promotion of the Windows Phone platform when those new devices go on sale. Shammo drew comparisons with Verizon’s marketing efforts for its Android handsets, which have been heavily promoted under the company’s own ‘Droid’ brand.
It’s too early to say exactly what Verizon has planned to promote Windows Phone on its network – but even at this stage, it seems clear that the company has rediscovered its enthusiasm for the mobile platform.
Microsoft’s efforts to provide improved carrier and manufacturer customizations on Windows Phone 8 may well have influenced Verizon’s new-found love for the platform.
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