Yes, I know this is a win-win for Verizon.
Just going off the internet buzz, the iPhone's release is something like the 21st of October. while the buzz on the 'net shows Radio Shack getting the Vigor/Incredible HD on the 20th.
Just seems real close to each other, especially when Verizon tends to release high-end phones about a month apart.
Yeah. I know, I take all this with a grain-of-salt. But it's not really adding up.
Well, if the Vigor is released in October, it will be before the iPhone, and probably not a huge launch. Nothing will get launched for two weeks after the iPhone, since Verizon will be scrambling to fill that demand. So I'd say middle of October.
As a side note: I realize that Verizon holds all the cards, but can a phone manufacture have any sway when their phone get's released? At least for competitive reasons.
Nope. Not at all. The only company that has that power right now is Apple, and that's because Apple dictates to the carriers when the phones will be announced and available. Apple also provides all of the marketing, so that's why the carriers don't put up a fight.
For HTC, they depend on Verizon to market the phones, so they have no choice but to go with what Verizon says. If Verizon needs a delay, there's a delay. If Verizon wants a week window between the Vigor and iPhone launches, they'll get it.