Apple, Verizon mulling iPhone deal for next year?
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Apr 26th 2009 10:04PM
posted Apr 26th 2009 10:04PM
We've been down this path countless times, but rumors are once again heating up that Apple and Verizon are actively discussing the possibility of creating an iPhone to work on Big Red's airwaves, according to USA Today's infamous "people familiar with the situation." The juicy gossip claims that discussions kicked off a few months ago when Steve was still running the day-to-day show out in Cupertino, but that the conversation has continued in his absence -- and they'd like to get a product on the shelves next year, likely much to AT&T's chagrin. The article claims that this would be a CDMA product, but given that Verizon boss Ivan Seidenberg himself ruled out a CDMA iPhone and opened the door for an LTE one, we're inclined to believe that the carrier would like to see this product help inaugurate the first slivers of its commercial 4G network in 2010. Since AT&T (along with the rest of the world) is moving toward LTE, an LTE-powered iPhone is a forgone conclusion -- it's really just a question of when Apple will make it happen and whether Verizon will be able to seal the deal.
Yea Right!!
The VZW Iphone plan would prob run you 200$ a month!
Why would VZW be any more than AT&T? Their plans for voice and PDA data are practically idenctical.
What an ingorant statement.
Actually, my phone bill is about 250$ every month with verizon. It's pretty expensive, I think, but my dad got me set up with it and i just kinda stuck to it :)
fingers crossed
God NO!!! I really hope this doesn't happen. I left Verizon 3 years ago for AT&T and I couldn't be happier! I'd really hate to have to switch back, cuz I freaking love my iPhone 3G...
Um, how on earth would it bother you that VZW would ALSO sell an iPhone. You are aware AT&T will keep selling them as well, so by all means if AT&T makes you happy in the pants, you actually can still stick with AT&T even if VZW ends up offering an iPhone.
Really, that is just a retarded post.
don't tease us bro!
The deal would mean the app store would be replaced by vcast store, and as a matter of fact, not only do they have to create a new model that includes CDMA chipset, but also rewrite the OS X software so it looks just like every other phone verizon sales. And you wonder why Sony Ericsson refuses to answer Verizon's phone calls. I think Verizon has a great network (best 3G coverage in the country) and great customer service, but I don't think they could hand over that much control. As all carriers in the good old US of A are guilty of, I think Verizon is the worst at keeping the country in the technological dark ages. Not to take away the blame from those customers that "don't need that internet crap and those damn text messages or camera cause if I wanna take a picture I'll take with my camera. A phone's made for talkin' and there always free cause I've been paying the company $20 a month for 10 years, and that means I'm a good customer."
WOW! All I have to say is, your an idiot...Look at the storm, sure it has a Verizon wallpapaer or too but is it completely Verizonized with Vcast (which is music not an APP Store) It has its own Blackberry APP World...Same witht the HTC Touch Diamond has HTC's original interface...Now sure all of our other phones have BREW or Get It Now but thats because the Phone manufacturer hasnt had anything PHONE SPECIFIC, APP Store by Apple isnt At&t's product its APPLES!! WOW, Learn to read before you throw something THAT DUMB out here...did you know the iTouch has the App store too? Guess you can thank At&t for that too huh? People.....I tell ya...
Dumbest post on this thread by far. Seriosly, what a clown.
VZW doesnt put their UI on smartphones genius. VZW wont mess with the app store either, because if they did they would allow the Blackberry App World on their phones, but guess what?!?! THEY DO!!!
Moron. Go troll and spread blatant lies elsewhere.
what a stupid post: apple will only carry there itunes store, their software, their everything. thats why their so exclusive. vzw will let them do what they want, they've already proven they know how to make computers, music players and now phones with their beautiful OS X
Only Verizon "Dumb" phones are restricted to the brew interface... but vzw has a habit of locking things like gps and wifi. If they get the iphone though i don't think that would be an issue, who wants a crippled iphone?
Yep- SE makes loads of brilliant CDMA phones (S001, anyone? Premier3?), but to stuff Verizon's standardized core into them would be to kill most of the reasons they're brilliant.
i invented the iphone and LTE
disgusting.
I almost got excited. I love my iPhone on AT&T. The only thing I loved when I was at Verizon was VZNavigtor, and the GPS on the iPhone doesn't compare. It's a love-hate relationship with VZW here.
Not gonna happen, AT&T has a deal for five years, there is some lee way in there, about if product slumps are down, but wont happen, AT&T has it till 2012, plus CDMA sucks, GSM rocks!!!, verizon already spent a deal to get the blackberry storm for them, they should be more focused on that and improving that, not gonna happen, IF IT DID. im sure AT&T will come up with an agreement to become more exclusive and not have apple give the iphone to another carrier, look at people with like sprint and the PALM PRE, sure it looks good, but wont compete, people leave other companies for exlusivity, its a love hate thing, I dont perfer verizon, i like AT&T, but if i had to switch i go to them, until tmobile becomes bigger and has better phones, and better coverage, especially 3G
1st. This is comming to Verizon.
2nd. It can be a dual CDMA/LTE iPhone.
3rd. Verizon doesnt mess with Smart Phone OS/UI.
4th. Apple did not allow AT&T for a contract till 2012.
5th. 85% of iPhone users will switch for Verizon because AT&T has a crappy network.
6th. V Cast is not on Smart Phones.
7th. Why are you all dumb?
1. Thank You!
2.Thank You!
3.Thank You!
4.Thank You!
5.Thank You!
6.(except Vcast IS on Smart Phones (i.e. Q9m, Storm, etc) but its not an APP store like the bone head up there said...;)
7. VZW FTW
one word: IDIOT
verizon is crap, cdma is worse
GSM iwns
Don't mean to start flamin' on the other comments on here but this has to be said. Did some of you even read the story? It won't be CDMA. Nothing in the story about AT&T not having the iPhone if Verizon gets it. And you can't be serious about the App store going away for the Vcast store? There is also no way in hell the OS would change. I for one think the iPhone on every network would be a good thing. In fact iPhone and at least one Andriod phone on every single network would be the best consumer news we could here.
Well, since Ivan Seidenberg is a bigwig with Verizon Communications, not Verizon Wireless, I'd say the possibility exists that he may not be keen on all the going ons within VZW.
VZW is correct on all his points especially the 7th point. Luke, you obviously don't read much because there have been many articles, namely one in the wall street journal, about AT&T trying to renew their expiring contract with Apple. Also su2lly is correct in that this would bring be great for the consumers because there would be choices, which relate to be lower prices.
I love it when people say Apple has it until 2012 when the contract has never been made public. Now, we know by articles that it's 2010 and ATT is trying to get 1 more year out of it.
However, Apple is very smart in not signing it if Verizon really wants this. it's a win win for ATT and VZW customers. Why ATT customers even care is beyond me... nobody is telling them to leave ATT.
Why would ATT customers care if VZW got the iPhone? Sounds a little high school to me. I say let there be competition.
And, it would be CDMA and LTE most likely. VZW will not have full LTE in 2010, and they won't tell their customers they can't have it. I could care less, I live in Columbus and we are an LTE test market for VZW, so LTE will be here as one of the first 3 cities.
Maybe now ATT will start seriously considering improving their network for real in places like NYC instead of pretending to do so. What do they think will happen if this goes down next year? the biggest market in the country will be controlled by VZW.... ATT better wake up.
Oh, if you have ATT stock, u might want to sell now.
VZW, glad you give me straight numbers like the 85% att defectors and 98% of Sprint's calls are roaming off vzw. Your 2nd point just adds to speculation because Ivan already said there won't be any LTE phones for a while, Apple probably is planning one though
easy fellas, just buy an ipod touch if your that hard up lol.
it could easily be a dual mode cdma/hspa phone dont forget that people. just like the storm was
Do we really think Verizon would release a CDMA iPhone so close to LTE being up and running?! a CDMA/LTE iPhone maybe, but seems more reasonable that the iPhone would be LTE.
OMG! please! i wnt a iphone on verizon!!!! please ! i just hope if they ever make one for bigred that they dnt
put vcast crap in it just a good web, app store, voice comand, good cam, video,
Please! I've wanted an Iphone from the beginning but don't wanna switch to ATT.
God lord pliss let VZW have the iphone so the fanboys can have a life. Btw according to then a vw iphone should be on their shelves 2 yrs ago and apple many times said cdma iphone never gonna happen so let them keep dreaming. Fanboys do ur own research cdma is diying, many carriers around the world are switching from cdma to gsm and none the oposite. I gonna let u this for home work, china has the biggest cdma market in the world with like 3 times users that vzw has and why apple told them no for a cdma chineese version.....???
If CDMA is a dying tech why does GSM always seem to follow in its footsteps? TDMA --> GSM air interface.. CDMA --> 3G or WCDMA Air interface.. and for them not making a Chinese version is just a foolish on there part they have the potential to make a boat load in sales if its as popular over there.
Ooh, I can answer that one! It's because of Chinese government regulations! They spent so much time going back and forth over the fact that the phone has WiFi in it (Chinese regulations supposedly prohibit WiFi-enabled phones on the local market that don't also support their barely-used variant of 802.11) that when they finally got an agreement together they decided "screw it" and went with a regular 3G iPhone. Also because CDMA in China uses R-UIM, an equivalent to SIM cards on GSM (you probably aren't familar with them because Verizon and Sprint don't use it- wonder why?). It'll take more work to make a model that's only good for China and a couple of surrounding countries.
He justin I don't know where u got ur knowledge about networks, first of all GSM was created in Europe they share some core compatibility with TDMA an 3GSM/UMTS the same with the early stages of CDMA2000 but that doesn't mean one is copying each otther make ur research on the web is for free. And about the chineese iphone apple told them get a compatible network in other words GSM so the chineese are doing so.
win city usa
Me and my friends switched to AT&T for the iphone from verizon because we are making apps. I no longer get reception in my apartment and neither do my friends. Calls are constantly dropped...and I live in LA, not the middle of nowhere. I will gladly jump back to Verizon if they get it!
hi
I distinctly remember EVERYONE exclaiming a PowerPC smoked ANYTHING Intel would have to offer, is it just me or those pigs flying, it's a cold day in hell, and we've all witenessed a historic moment in the history of our country?
I must be dreaming!
What confuses me is EVERYONE at Apple bet their lives and swore not only did Intel just palin suck but there would NEVER EVER be an Intel Chip in an Apple!
Go figure.
I taught my kids never to say never because the faster you say it the faster it happens.
End of lesson. Your excused.
1. I'll try not to be too judgey about it until I see it.
2. The LTE part better be cross-compatible with other carriers. I'm not even touching the CDMA part.
3. Whether the iPhone is a smart phone or not is still up for debate (it's not fully expandable the way Windows Mobile is without help).
4. Oh really? Proof please.
5. VZ isn't all honey and peaches either.
6. See 3.
7. Dumb? Me?
Is the the iPhone a smartphone?...Is that a serious question?
It's like the freaking professor at Harvard of phones. It can be fully expanded (not sure what you mean that it can't be..themes?-who cares?)
If Verizon got the iPhone (which I hope happens), it would fundamentally change the way the cell phone industry is run.
I hope Verizon comes out with an iPhone when they come out with their LTE network (probably next year). Only, I would like to see an iPhone just like the one on AT&T now. I would like to have the App Store, because I just think the whole VCAST thing isn't very good, and the App Store is pretty awesome. I have Verizon right now, and I'm not gonna switch to AT&T, but I really want the iPhone, so I hope the iPhone comes to Verizon eventually.