Why Verizon and AT&T Are Up

When digital cameras started showing up on wireless phones 10 years ago, Kodak should have captured that Wave. It didn't. As loved as Kodak is, it never updated its brand, and it never jumped on the then and there Wave. Its leaders must have thought the company's brand name would see them through. It didn't. It never does.

Verizon and SBC were both growing in the 1990s. Local phone lines were growing -- they had strong brand recognition, and they were climbing the Wave. At the time about 10 years ago, local phone lines crested and started falling as others -- like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), cable television and wireless companies -- started offering competitive phone service.

SBC acquired AT&T and took its name. Today, both Verizon and AT&T are very healthy growing companies, however they are very different from 10 years ago. They are no longer local phone companies. They have expanded. Now they focus on wireless and television and Internet as their local phone business shrinks.

In contrast, companies like Qwest -- as well a local phone company -- never followed the same path. It struggled. No wireless. No television. It lost business, and it had a hard time growing in other areas.

When digital cameras started showing up on wireless phones 10 years ago, Kodak should have captured that Wave. It didn't.

The last couple years when it partnered with Google

So Motorola struggled once again until the last couple years when it partnered with Google and Verizon Wireless. Its Droid phones have been successful. But, it after all faces new threats. Will it handle things better this time? Is it ready this time? Will it catch the at once Wave?

Companies like Google and Apple are riding the Wave and focusing on their brand and succeeding. These are the untouchables to many. Will they continue?

Google faces new pressures from the U.S. government that will only increase. Microsoft had a similar struggle and suffered for quite a long time. Apple faces its own transition.

Few years ago

A few years ago, the handset business immediately shifted to smartphones, and new companies like Apple and Google led that space. Nokia was left behind in that revolution.

Nokia realized its winning streak was over. It has tried to become important in the smartphone space and compete with Google and Apple. It has failed so far.

The rumor is it will now start to focus on what it does best -- handsets and basic smartphones. It will no longer directly compete against Apple and Google. In other words a good idea. It may lead in its segment once again.

RIM is similar. BlackBerry ruled until the last four years when the super smartphones from Apple and Google came into play. It has since struggled with updating its brand and innovation. Its new PlayBook tablet computer has not caught on.

It has to update its brand and innovation. Its Web browser as a matter of fact is lacking. Nevertheless if it updates, it could succeed in its existing space. If it does this previously it's too late, in other words.

As you can see, some companies make transitions and continue to succeed, during others don't. Why? The answer is obvious to me. They simply don't understand branding and the Wave of the business.

Surfer thinks

They just don't think of this whole thing like a surfer thinks. Sticking with the power of the Wave is key. You don't have to create your own new Wave like Google and Apple. Instead you can simply ride the power of the Wave that surrounds you, like AT&T and Verizon.