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.
I would love to be FIRST in line to dump AT&T...
I guess I'd be second?
I wonder how much will Verizon cripple the iPhone? Apple likes to control things and so does Verizon so it's a match made in technology heaven.
I would be the first to stay with Verizon.
Isn't the Iphone inline for it's next yearly update? If they released a new LTE Iphone on Verizon that had "America's largest network" and "America's Best smart phone"... It makes sense to me at least. I would love for the Iphone to come to Verizon, because I refuse to switch networks. I have yet to find a dead zone.
I wish it were going to T-Mobile...It's the only company i've ever felt comfortable with..AT&T charges way too much...even with the 15% student discount.
This would rock. I hate AT&T and have been contemplating going back to T-mobile with my iphone because the 3G is spotty and really not worth the price for the so-called speed.
considering how ripped off w/ att i'm beginning to feel lately, i hope this would happen. verizons data/txt packages are much cheaper than att...and surely they'd have to drop their priced to compete. att is WAY overpriced when it comes to data/messaging.
Uh, about 3 years (and counting) too late VERIZON. Shouldn't the morons who passed on the iphone be long since shipped the the research facility in Siberia?
Actually SimbaDogg Verizon's Data is the EXACT same price as ATTs.
Man, ATT must really suck if you'd be willing to switch to Verizon. They cripple their phones with shit firmware and charge ridiculous prices. If I remember correctly, the HTC Touch Pro has a weaker CPU, less RAM, but still costs $50 more from Verizon than it does from Sprint Nextel.
The Blackberry Storm isn't too bad in that sense as Verizon for some miraculous reason decided not to block the GPS from 3rd party applications, but it's still very buggy.
If it weren't for the excellent coverage of Verizon, and the mediocre coverage from everyone else in my area, I'd leave them in a heartbeat.
THERE BETTER NOT BE A DEAL WITH VERIZON! VERIZON AND SPRINT SUCK! ALL CDMA NETWORKS SUCK.
I'M STAYING WITH THE BEST NETWORK IN THE US, AT&T. AND THEY BETTER CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT.
I'll start camping out today. AT&T service has got to be the worst service in the area. I can't wait to be able to switch back to verizon and still have an iphone.
Oh Please make this happen. Switching from Verizon to get this stupid phone was such a bad decision. I love the phone and love the fact that I consolidated my devices, but AT&T BLOWS. There coverage blows and their service blows and the price blows. I doubt the price would get better on Verizon but at least I would be able to make a phone call. I would be willing to cough up another $300 to get a new iphone just to get off of AT&T.
@NeoJew
The Verizon Touch Pro has the same CPU as the standard Touch Pro. There was a false rumor a while back that Verizon was using going to use a slower CPU. Of course the memory on the phone is less that non VZW Touch Pro's. And GPS for older phones requires a firmware update to enable it without Verizon's shitty software.
(And as for why it costs more, well that's Verizon's way of making money. Since they have a solid network they aren't worried about subsidizing the phones as heavily. )
There's a LOT of AT&T customers who would LOVE to leave!!! I'm not sure what is worse, their phone service OR customer service!??!? Counting the days... I wish!
Very good picture.
if this happens i gaurentee you the iPhone will be the top Smartphone in the market and i know i will welcome a iPhone on verizone as it would come out probally the time my current phone will be ready for a upgrade.
Yur spelchek cold yuze an upgraid two
Even so, Verizon doesn't exactly have their LTE network *built* yet, and knowing how slowly they roll things out, I can hardly see this happening in less than 2 years.
That gives AT&T plenty of time to do the same, and still enjoy exclusivity for a while longer.
verizon rolloed out 3g covereage much faster and in more locations the ATT and they will do the same with LTE
proof : http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3168555
Even when Verizon does get an LTE network up and even if it has the same coverage as their current 3G (CDMA200) network an iPhone for Verizon will still need to have CDMA and CDMA2000 chipsets to fall back on. The idea that any handset manufacturer would release a device that only has one radio type for a burgeoning network type is just shortsided and ignorant at best.
More importantly, we don't have any radios for LTE that will work in a phone. The tech is too new. First, we get USB and EC/34 cards for notebooks where the size and power drain is less of an issue. Then we get it for smaller devices. To think that the thinnest smart phone on the market will be getting LTE next year is just someone at Engadget not thinking this through.
They can piggy back Tmobile's CDMA network and just eat roaming.
@NOB: I wonder where that t-mobile CDMA network exists, in your fantasy land somewhere? Not on this Earth it doesn't.
wow, do you even read any other news? verizon's specs for the first LTE devices calls for NO CDMA chipsets whatsoever
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/04/17/verizon-releases-early-data-focused-lte-specs-cdma-nowhere-in-s/
@From my cube
Verizon rolling out their 3G network faster than ATT really isn't that impressive considering ATT is still rolling out said network...
Sprint completed their evdo rev A rollout before verizon if we want to go down that road.
@ Bender Bending Rodriguez
BBR the phone will have GSM/UMTS as its "fall back" (i.e. GSM/UMTS/LTE) for technology compatibility and to appease Vodafone, you know, the other Verizon partner. It would also open up a world of global roaming for Verizon users. No CDMA fall back, watch!
Oh and Mr. Ivan S. sir (or someone who works for you directly), hit me on the cell or email for a job when you start to deploy LTE and LTE devices. I have a plan that can "save you multi Millions of Dollars guaranteed, that’s GUARANTEED! Let me repeat that, GUARANTEEEEED!!!"
Sincerely
Frank Back
About damn time.
Now if only they'd included a slide out thumb board on there and I'd be sold. 'course apple is a firm nonbeliever in the actual button movement so it won't happen.
You mean believer in the whole non-button movement. Buttons were always there. Less of them is the next big thing (not from a functionality or usability standpoint, but most companies are moving towards less and less buttons).
Would Apple's revenues from new apps and phone sales exceed what it would cost to develop a CDMA version? That's the most important thing for Apple.
Verizon... well, I'd be amazed if they were willing to give up so much control on a phone. Even their WinMo phones are usually late and crippled in some fashion.
I love MS Paint.
Wish I had it on my computer :(
get a PC
Get paintbrush. It's pretty much exactly MS paint for OS X.
get photoshop u noobs
Oh, but doesn't photoshop come free on all apple computers? *snickers*
Free CS4, Office, coupons for 5 free upcoming games of your choice, and free 100mbps Internets for the life of the computer.
I can dream, can't I?
I really just dont see this happening. if anything, apple will leverage deals with verizon to get even BETTER deals from at&t. I cant see at&t letting exclusivity go in the near future. theyre making a killing off of it.
I completely agree - this seems like a nice, albeit obvious, way to jam AT&T for more cash.
I completely agree.
AT&T has gained MILLIONs of new customers solely because of iPhone.
I guess the terms of the deal would be the devil in the details. However Verizon gets the Pre in six months, the Storm 2 in September. For Verizon to cough up God-knows how much dough and control to get the iPhone on a CDMA network...I don't know. The benefit would only be relevant for what, a year assuming these things hit the ground on New Year's 2010?
I would suspect Verizon isn't looking at huge revenues for them so much as hurting AT&T's. It seems to me ATT has the iPhone, some WinMo yawn-gadgets, and some Blackberries. The iPhone is what is keeping them relevant it seems, if Verizon could pull the carpet out from under ATT relevance, that would seem to be the only real reason to pay such a ransom to Apple.
are you sure the pre is going to verizon???
the pre is going to sprint not verizon
I wonder who has more bidding power if it came down to a price war between AT&T and Verizon...Personally I'd love to see Verizon get the iPhone because their network is superior when it comes to coverage in the places I need it, but it won't matter in the end as I'll be snagging the Palm Pre once it hits shelves.
I can't wait to ditch AT&T's pathetic excuse for "service."
I would love to get a Pre when it comes out but it is much cheaper to get a smartphone on my parents' plan. Unfortunately Verizon doesn't have many good smartphones so I would be extremely happy if this happened.
Yea, when I get the palm pre I'm just adding it to the family plan, I think its only 20 extra from what I'm paying now. I'm just happy they are letting us use the everything data plans. So cheap for a smart phones.
(never leaving these family plans, unless I get work to pay for a phone).
the sole reason i don't have an iphone is I have verizon and I'm not going to switch to att. apple, CDMA iphone plz, then LTE when it's ready.
I agree.
P.S.
I like your username.
for the love of all that is holy please make this happen!
Foregone, not forgone, Chris!
Both spellings are accepted!
Chris - WRONG! Forego and forgo are two different words with two different meanings.
From Common Errors in English:
The E in “forego” tells you it has to do with going before. It occurs mainly in the expression “foregone conclusion,” a conclusion arrived at in advance. “Forgo” means to abstain from or do without. “After finishing his steak, he decided to forgo the blueberry cheesecake.”
~ http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/forego.html
@Joseph Mama: Merriam-Webster lists "forgo" as a variant spelling of "forego." Good enough for me!
Could this be something that would possibly be announced this june?
that would be sweet. its either stick with verizon's crappy phones or switch to sprint for the pre.
It figures I've had to wait all this time to get out of my contract with Verizon and now this rumor surfaces. If it is true, I'm going to be mad, because it will mean waiting that much longer while using Verizon's craptastic handsets.
But really, how could this ever actually go through? Both companies are control freaks.
Exactly...Verizon wants its OS on all of their phones. The CEO said this. And also, what about V Cast. I'm sure Apple won't let V Cast got anywhere near the iPhone. It just doesn't seem plausable at the moment. It seems like this is just a rumor.
If Verizon sells the iPhone, will it come with lubricant?
Of course. They're very loving that way!
Considering Verizon's CEO said there would be no CDMA iPhone, and Apple said in their quarterly earnings report that they are in a happy, healthy relationship, this sounds like someone digging up old dirt.
A happy, healthy deal with AT&T.
It does, and theres also a lot of evidence suggesting that the iPhone would not be with Verizon for a while. And besides, Apple is very loyal to their partners. I think the iPhone will be with AT&T for many more years to come.
The iPhone has been around for almost 2 years. Cell phones themselves have been around for over 25 years. And it's safe to say that we will have cell phones for the rest of our lives.
So, it's pointless for us to talk about what *might* happen between one phone and one wireless company over the next 50 years...
It's amazing how a company with 80 million customers can change your mind. Apple would be crazy not to do this deal. They have saturated AT&T's customers, why not have the ability to sell to 80 million plus new subscribers on America's largest network. Also, Apple would benefit from all of the AT&T customers jumping ship to Verizon as they would be selling them new CDMA/LTE iPhones. Sounds like a good financial decision for Apple...and Verizon.
Why has Apple been hiring CDMA engineers like crazy in the last six months?
Apple said years ago Apple was not interested in making a phone and won't make one. Along with saying iPods would never play video and many other things that Apple would "never" do. It's all part of how these companies work, they say a flat out no to anything until something is actually announced. People are so excited with the announcement, they have no time to be angry at the fact the CEO lied earlier.
That would be GREAT... I would love to have an iPhone... but I will NOT switch to ATT...
Then your not getting an iPhone. . . .
Its not that everyone loves verizon. Lets face it, all the carriers nickle and dime us. But bottom line is, the best carrier as far as COVERAGE ( the most important thing in my eyes) is Verizon. I got an iphone with at&t about a year ago and left verizon...2 weeks later, i returned the thing because AT&T sucks A**. Went back to Verizon. If they get iphone, i'll be getting it.
I don't understand why everyone loves Verizon so much, i got terrible service between LA and San Diego on multiple phones and i just couldn't take it anymore sprint is a much better carrier i never had a single problem since i have switched.
I'm guessing all the people who love verizon don't live between SD and LA. I know here in MN verizon kicks ass.
I live in central PA. Verizon has the best coverage, and is the only carrier that has 3G in the area.
I live in central pa also and have att with the iphone and get great 3g service.
Not sure what Eric is talking about. Verizon has some of the best coverage in southern california. I travel from LA to San Diego a few times a year. I've never had a problem. Were you on Verizon 10 years ago or is it that you had a 10 year old phone?
meh
Are we all forgetting that the supposed deal would not be on CDMA?
It'll be on the LTE network, so not matter how much backwards compatibility LTE will claim with legacy networks (GSM etc.) the phone will still find times when it will drop the call.
Not saying ATT will be better (it's gonna have the same problem) but all you Verizon loyalists who swear by the network will be in the same boat as sprint/t-mobile once LTE comes out.
and btw, I've had maybe one or two dropped calls in the past year on ATT so I can't say the service sucks, I do know in 2003 while they switched to GSM (well, when I switched to GSM atleast) that the service was bad but for a few years (cingular bought att wireless) it's be exceptional, my verizon bb (work phone) loses service before my iPhone does
Yes, because it takes 18months to roll out a complete network transition. LTE in phones barely exists yet.
exactly, a complete network launch will take much longer than 18 months.
it'll be ready but it won't be "complete"
hence, all that excellent service you taut will be incomplete across the nation.
It doesn't make too much sense yet to make an LTE iPhone in 2010 just yet, unless Verizon quickly expands their LTE network. Also, Verizon, along with a couple other operators, are gunning to be the first operators to launch LTE, but most other operators are holding back until 2011 or so. A CDMA iPhone is more likely in 2010 until there is a bigger market for LTE phones.
and since a CDMA iPhone isn't coming out....a verizon iPhone isn't either.
Last week, I went to the store, as i recall it was a verizon store
walked inside into the store
checked my iphone and when it rang
i JIZZED in my pants
but in all seriousness, this would be amazing, however much they crippled it. And i bet it would also require some spectacularly expensive data plan, but hell, my family isn't leaving verizon anytime soon, so an iPhone on verizon would make me very happy
its ironic that i was listeining to this song while reading your comment.
+1 for SNL/TLI reference!!
Verizon is shit. . . . .
make a wimmax iphone for sprint !
Verizon reports its earnings tomorrow. This is high up sources driving stock
apple will find more people buying the iphone under verizon
Exactly!
Apple needs another provider. They've sold millions and millions iPhones on AT&T... but they will not sell millions more until they go to another provider.
Apple wants to sell hardware, and with it apps and music. Everyone on AT&T who wanted an iPhone got one. And then there were a couple million who switched from Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc. Then what?
Next year is too early for LTE. Verizon won't have much in place and the chipsets will still be in their infancy.
cdma2000 would be a much smarter choice.
This is VERY UPSETTING as I just bought a Slingbox to get TV on my phone and now they are making that illegal
lol wut?
Why do they have to complicate things. I have Verizon and had finally decide to switch over to AT&T for the new iPhone coming in ~June. Now they plan this.
I'll probably switch anyway. I doubt that we'll see this before holiday 2010 at the earliest, and that would mean enduring 1.5 more years of useless Verizon phones. The iPhone hardware isn't fast enough to render websites at even the 3mpbs 3G as it stands anyway, and there are strong rumors of upgrades to 7mbps.
Verizon is terrible. I used to have it and when I would drive I would drop calls. When I went in buildings I would drop calls. Oh and then I would try to send a text message with signal and it wouldn't send. It would take five mins of trying to send one message. I have tried different Verizon phones... didn't help me at all. Im glad AT&T has the iPhone. Im very happy with it. Signal EVERYWHERE i go. Even in my basement where no other carrier gets signal. I laugh when my friends come over because I have full signal and they have none. I can now drive and have NO dropped calls. I can go in buildings and stay on the phone. I can even go in elevators and be able to talk. I love AT&T. I hope they always have the iPhone. I am willing to pay a little extra for service I can actually use where I want it to. Thanks Apple and AT&T for providing such great products/service for me. I know cell phone signal varies by location but where I am AT&T is the best and all of my friends have switched to AT&T because they didn't have service and now they couldn't be more happy.
one positive experience with At&t among a sea of negative ones...
I've put off buying an iPhone for one simple reason...AT&T. If the iPhone comes to Verizon, I'll definately pick one up. Or TMobile/Sprint. Anyone but AT&T.
this also means it may come to alltel (when ever they fully merge) :D
Well, Sprint's deal on Palm Pre exclusivity is six months. Palm Pre is already Verizon-compatible CDMA platform. Verizon has twice as many subscribers as Sprint. Given Palm needs every penny they can find in their corporate couches these days, I'd say it's a safe bet there will be Pre on Big Red by this time next year in a big, big way. This is of course assuming Palm itself is still alive at all this time next year.
In regards to back-compatible CDMA2000 necessity for any Verizon LTE device and such, that makes perfect sense. But what doesn't make sense from a financial POV is for Verizon to cough up something like the ATT deal, where they kick the Fruit ~$400 dollars for every widget sold, widgets that Apple I am sure insist would have to "unplug" from Verizon world. No Rhapsody, no V-Cast, no Get-it-Now, etc. Verizon essentially subsidizes the demolition of their own content network.
Returning to the Pre, if that thing does half its hype, it inversely dilutes the premium the Big Fruit can command for access to its widget, because at that point they won't be the only desirable lifestyle phone in town anymore. Verizon doesn't even have an Android device on it, and the way open-source works, its like compounding interest on a stock. Doesn't look like much now, or even much on a quarter-to-quarter basis, but its growth will be logarithmic like all things open-source.
Verizon shelling out God-knows how much $ to the Fruit at this point in time is like buying the McMansion in Chula Vista in 2007, they're buying at the top of an inflated, hyped market. Like I said in earlier post, the only reason I see for Verizon to do something like that is to hurt AT&T, not to make gazillions for Verizon. Maybe a iPhone Nano-on-a-budget or something like that to be announced at WWDC will change that rationale, but as it sits, I just don't get it.
>> "No Rhapsody, no V-Cast, no Get-it-Now, etc. Verizon essentially subsidizes the demolition of their own content network."
Wouldn't Verizon rather have someone paying $80 a month for an iPhone with a data plan, rather than someone who buys a crappy game on Get-it-now for their RAZR?
I've never met anyone who uses VCast music downloads either.
Yes, Verizon does have a "content network" but they are primarily a cell phone provider. When I think of Verizon, I don't think "oh that's that great place to buy music and games." Get-it-now and VCast must make some money for Verizon, but I hardly think that Verizon is relying on VCast to survive.
Forget about iphones and america's ridiculously expensive phone plans. We need to somehow get wimax for itouches seeing how we can now use skype and bluetooth (coming june 2nd generation).
No such thing as an "iTouch"
I have however, heard of an "iPod Touch"
There's the Logitech iTouch wireless keyboard, the best one I ever had!