Verizon is focused on changing its revenue mix from its broadband, wireless and FiOS businesses, president and COO Denny Strigl said at Goldman Sach’s Communacopia. Following a short introduction full of optimism that covered much of what the investors in attendance so badly want to hear, Strigl weaved through a series of questions about the company’s various business units and where its strengths lie going forward. Still it’s all about the network at Verizon (NYSE: VZ). “I’ve been a big proponent of network quality ever since the beginning of this industry in 1984 and my view of this doesn’t change going forward.”

—Business: Strigl: “On Verizon business I think looking at the financial services sector in particular we’ll see more impact in the fourth quarter than in the third quarter.” Revenues from business on the wireless side are not “substantial,” however “we have seen price compression. It’s an extremely competitive marketplace… In Verizon business you’ll see us do less discounting going forward… Although revenue is strong for us, we do see compression on the margin side.” Strigl: Price compression is coming from all sides, not just the top down. Most companies are focused on increasing revenues including Verizon, but going forward the company plans to shift more of its focus on the margins.

—FiOS and cable competition: Strigl: “I would never write off our cable competition.” Initially, Verizon is seeing competition at the lower range. “Do I see anything that keeps me up at night? No.” FiOS business plans are running ahead of schedule. In New York City, Verizon’s FiOS is having some early success. “There’s some good sign-on rates in Staten Island and beginning in other places also… I’m bullish on what we can do in New York City and of course in other cities to follow.” Verizon has at least 80,000 marketing agreements with landlords in the city. “The marketing and the cost of marketing we anticipate being less.” Strigl frowned upon the need for in-house content to compete effectively. “I don’t think we need content in house to be competitive… We see an ability to improve content costs (from partners) over time”

—Labor: Strigl: “I think there are a couple things that we needed and we got.” Verizon was able to lower medical costs and got some flexibility in terms of movement and work hours. “I think the labor agreement that we reached was fair for our employees, but also fair for our company.”

—Smartphones: Smartphone ARPU is about double what Verizon gets from other users so while there’s a short-term margin impact on smartphone sales due to the higher subsidy cost, revenues make up for that handily in the long run. “You all worry about the voice ARPU probably more than I do. I’d rather you worry about revenue.”

—LTE: Still planning to begin trials next year and roll out commercial availability in 2010. “Of course it’s aggressive… certainly it’s my expectation that we will have commercial availability in 2010.”

—Alltel: Strigl: “Our expectation is that we can get this deal closed by the end of this year.”

—Credit markets impact: Strigl: “Is it a tedious process? Yes. Are we any less confident in our ability? No.”