Verizon Wireless insists on flawless iPhone launch

Verizon Wireless sure would like people to believe that its network is ready for all the iPhones it can sell. Lowell McAdam, president and COO of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), walked investors through the carrier’s 3G network strategy, beginning with its launch in 2004, to help underline the parent company’s confidence in the network.
“Since (2004) we’ve doubled our 3G capacity every year, consistently investing in cell sites, spectrum and backhaul and increasing our throughput speeds. We’ve bulked up our 3G capacity again in advance of our iPhone launch,” he said during an earnings call.
“I can tell you, I’ve been using this personally and this is a terrifically performing device and we expect great things of it as we add it to the network,” he added.
Fran Shammo, president and CEO of Verizon’s telecom and business unit, reiterated that confidence as he talked about plans for the iPhone launch in a couple weeks.
“We are not going to have any flaws on the execution of the iPhone launch,” he said, adding that the company has been training employees and hiring new employees in anticipation of Feb. 10.
“We’ve been preparing the network for the last year anticipating the launch of the iPhone,” Shammo added.
Indeed, if Verizon is able to pull off a smooth launch of the iPhone it would contrast markedly with AT&T Mobility’s (T) numerous hiccups and snafus that plague the carrier every time a new iPhone comes on board.