Verizon Wireless is pulling out all the stops to compete with AT&T and its exclusivity contracts with Apple. Verizon’s already likely to lose out on getting the iPhone despite it having been predicted to debut this September, supposedly in a quid pro quo for dropping the price of data connection fees for Apple’s iPad.
So to hedge its bets it’s been working ever more closely with Google and its emerging line of Android OS-based gadgets. Google is carving out an increasing share of the mobile phone market and Verizon’s been keen to make sure it takes advantage of any opportunities it sees along the way.
In fact, Verizon’s chief executive, Lowell McAdam, says that the two are even partnering to develop and carry a rival to Apple’s iPad.
“What do we think the next big wave of opportunities are?” he told the The Wall Street Journal. “We’re working on tablets together, for example. We’re looking at all the things Google has in its archives that we could put on a tablet to make it a great experience.”
There’s no mention on when we can expect a rival tablet, but knowing Apple has some competition in the iPad game is alone welcome news.
