Apple, Verizon mulling iPhone deal for next year?

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.

[macrule36 @ Apr 26th 2009 10:08PM]

I would love to be FIRST in line to dump AT&T...

[yopladas @ Apr 26th 2009 10:09PM]

I guess I'd be second?

[Tinu @ Apr 26th 2009 10:17PM]

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.

[cmsb55 @ Apr 26th 2009 10:22PM]

I would be the first to stay with Verizon.

[Jared @ Apr 26th 2009 10:23PM]

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.

[scott @ Apr 26th 2009 10:44PM]

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.

[TheSuburbanWhiteBoy @ Apr 26th 2009 10:57PM]

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.

[SimbaDogg @ Apr 26th 2009 11:39PM]

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.

[Knee to the Groin @ Apr 27th 2009 1:12AM]

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?

[AJC @ Apr 27th 2009 2:14AM]

Actually SimbaDogg Verizon's Data is the EXACT same price as ATTs.

[NeoJew @ Apr 27th 2009 7:13AM]

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.

[scarse3 @ Apr 27th 2009 7:34AM]

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.

[jared @ Apr 27th 2009 7:35AM]

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.

[SaltyGary @ Apr 27th 2009 10:34AM]

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.

[mythicflux @ Apr 27th 2009 10:41AM]

@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. )

[scott @ Apr 28th 2009 1:25PM]

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!

[yopladas @ Apr 26th 2009 10:08PM]

Very good picture.

[Mike @ Apr 26th 2009 10:10PM]

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.

[DBinSD @ Apr 26th 2009 11:17PM]

Yur spelchek cold yuze an upgraid two

[nerdtalker @ Apr 26th 2009 10:09PM]

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.

[From My Cube @ Apr 26th 2009 10:24PM]

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

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Apr 26th 2009 10:36PM]

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.

[NOB @ Apr 26th 2009 10:50PM]

They can piggy back Tmobile's CDMA network and just eat roaming.

[nitrous9200 @ Apr 26th 2009 11:52PM]

@NOB: I wonder where that t-mobile CDMA network exists, in your fantasy land somewhere? Not on this Earth it doesn't.

[jeesusfreek @ Apr 27th 2009 5:29AM]

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/

[cocoviper @ Apr 27th 2009 10:48AM]

@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.

[Frankenstein Black @ Apr 27th 2009 12:39PM]

@ 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

[reinfected @ Apr 26th 2009 10:10PM]

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.

[Greg @ Apr 26th 2009 10:23PM]

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).

[Mike @ Apr 26th 2009 10:13PM]

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.

[Rage @ Apr 26th 2009 10:19PM]

I love MS Paint.

Wish I had it on my computer :(

[FNG @ Apr 26th 2009 10:23PM]

get a PC

[NoAndThen @ Apr 27th 2009 12:13AM]

Get paintbrush. It's pretty much exactly MS paint for OS X.

[Mike @ Apr 27th 2009 1:45AM]

get photoshop u noobs

[CoolBone @ Apr 27th 2009 1:59AM]

Oh, but doesn't photoshop come free on all apple computers? *snickers*

[STINK @ Apr 27th 2009 2:22AM]

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?

[p.flynn2 @ Apr 26th 2009 10:16PM]

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.

[DBinSD @ Apr 26th 2009 11:19PM]

I completely agree - this seems like a nice, albeit obvious, way to jam AT&T for more cash.

[Sam @ Apr 27th 2009 12:13AM]

I completely agree.
AT&T has gained MILLIONs of new customers solely because of iPhone.

[HAL-9000 @ Apr 26th 2009 10:19PM]

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.

[damiaking @ Apr 26th 2009 10:24PM]

are you sure the pre is going to verizon???

[Will @ Apr 27th 2009 11:45PM]

the pre is going to sprint not verizon

[tweak @ Apr 26th 2009 10:20PM]

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."

[cmsb55 @ Apr 26th 2009 10:25PM]

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.

[Templarian @ Apr 26th 2009 11:13PM]

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).

[FNG @ Apr 26th 2009 10:23PM]

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.

[D.C. Meese @ Apr 27th 2009 11:43PM]

I agree.

P.S.
I like your username.

[a ham sandwich @ Apr 26th 2009 10:23PM]

for the love of all that is holy please make this happen!

[Towncivilian @ Apr 26th 2009 10:24PM]

Foregone, not forgone, Chris!

[Chris Ziegler @ Apr 26th 2009 10:26PM]

Both spellings are accepted!