Apple and AT&T reported profitable fiscal quarters despite the U.S recession. Verizon, however, hasn’t been as fortunate.

Despite the recent iDon’ts and app rip-off ads, Verizon just couldn’t get into the black. Why? Are their devices inferior? It’s hard to believe that the iPhone has nothing to do with it; AT&T earned $3.2 billion while Verizon netted a paltry $1.1. Verizon’s CEO, Ivan Seidenberg, glossed over the financials saying:

“As the U.S. economic and employment picture improves, and as we accelerate reductions in our own cost structure, we are well-positioned to quickly and significantly improve our growth profile.”

The company with the cable repairman mascot plans to catch up; they will restructure their organization to improve productivity and team up with Google in a “strategic partnership” aimed at leveraging the Android.

Of all the things the iPhone can’t do, making a profit for its carrier isn’t one of them.