Like many other people, I’m just barely holding back from switching over to the iPhone. But, alas, I’m still on a two-year contract with Verizon. I know that there are plenty of ways to get out of the contract. So, I decided to call them to ask how much the early termination fee would be, and what other options I have.

Almost immediately after I said I was considering other options, the Verizon rep jumped to attention. Here’s how it went:

Verizon rep: So why are you considering leaving? Any problems with the service?
Me: No, I’m just considering some other options.
Verizon rep: Are you consider moving to AT&T and that.. iPod.. iPod phone?
Me: Umm.. yes, actually, I’m considering that.
Verizon rep: Oh, really? I just got training on that today. And I was so surprised by how limited the iPhone is.
Me: Oh, please do tell. (thinking to myself: this is gonna be good)
Verizon rep: Yes, well, there are a few phones coming out that just so much better. They’re AWESOME!
Me: Okay..
Verizon rep: Yeah, well, there’s that new Blackberry that we have. I’ll send you the info.

The rest of the call was basically me waiting patiently for her to compile the desperate marketing email. From the way she was talking, it was apparent that she had never touched an iPhone. And, even if she did, she probably had no idea why its features are compelling.

The fact that Verizon reps are getting specific training to battle against the iPhone shows that Verizon is at least a little scared of Apple, contrary to what the CEO has said before. In my case, I’m going to be thinking hard about the price of getting out of a contract along with the sky high price of the iPhone before I make my purchase.

Or, I could just wait until the hackers successfully unlock the iPhones from the AT&T network. That would probably make me switch in a pinch.

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