VerizonIphone
Latest
Universal iPhone bumper found in Apple Store, mute button gets more space (video)
We were wondering how Apple was going to handle two different button configurations for its AT&T and Verizon iPhones, and well, the solution couldn't be simpler. One reader visiting the Apple Store stumbled upon a bumper with a slightly different packaging. Thankfully, this intrigued him enough to pick one up and do a side-by-side comparison between this new "universal case" and the old first-party solution. The only change, since volume buttons are mapped identically between the two, is a slot for the mute button that's decidedly less mute. Definitely works with his AT&T model and should theoretically fit Verizon's model, too. Tough luck if you're making a move to Big Red and trying to bring an old case, but let's be honest... you'd be paying a pretty penny for the new device anyway, so what's a few more dollars for physical protection? Video comparison after the break. [Thanks, Alex!]
Verizon's iPhone commercial hits YouTube
Tick, tock. "To our millions of customers, who never stopped believing this day would come... Thank you." Oh, Verizon, you wry cad. Your iPhone 4 commercial is a gentle jibe at the anticipation and endless patience of those who would be among the first to own a new VZW iPhone. Ha! So witty. And not at all insanely annoying. Video is embedded in the second half of the post. [via Daring Fireball]
Talkcast tonight, 7 PT/10 ET: Verizon iPhone Edition!
Sunday can only mean one thing: Talkcast! Tonight we will have the episode we have been waiting to have since about an hour after the iPhone was announced exclusively on AT&T: Verizon iPhone! We'll talk about what to call it, what this means for the white iPhone and more. Since I am hosting this evening, there will be plenty to chat about in the Aftershow as well. Your calls and questions help us make the show the best it can be, otherwise I'm just talking to myself! To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, the embedded Facebook app, or the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 PM EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (yay for free cell phone weekend minutes!): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8. If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free Gizmo or X-Lite SIP clients; basic instructions are here. Talk with you then!
Verizon was "never in the running" for original iPhone
Verizon CEO Ian Seidenberg sat down with Charlie Rose of Business Week and confirmed that Verizon was never in the running for the original iPhone. Though Verizon and Apple discussed the iPhone early on, Seidenberg claims that Apple was only interested in choosing one carrier per market and that carrier was AT&T in the US. AT&T was selected first because its network was GSM-based and compatible with other carriers worldwide. This revelation is contrary to the popular belief that Verizon was offered the iPhone first and turned it down. After a few years, Apple began to expand to alternate carriers in Europe, and Verizon positioned itself to be Apple's #2 pick when it was ready to branch out in the US. The carrier installed CDMA towers on Apple's campus and let Apple test out its CDMA technology. Seidenberg says this about Verizon's preparation for Apple, "when they (Apple) were ready to make a decision to add a second carrier, we made sure that they had a favorable impression." Now that Apple and Verizon have come together to offer an iPhone, the next evolution, according to Seidenberg, will be in LTE. The wireless carrier is ahead of AT&T in LTE deployment, and Apple will benefit from Verizon's advanced position. Seidenberg notes that Apple gets "to establish a relationship with us early in their cycles to take advantage of the 4G stuff that's going to come out over the next 12 months." It's not a confirmation, but Seidenberg's comments strongly suggest the next generation iPhone for Verizon will include LTE connectivity. [Via AppleInsider]
A brief and anecdotal history of the Verizon iPhone 4 deal
It's time to start penning the epilogue to the story of how Verizon and the iPhone came to be happily betrothed yesterday. We've already heard a good deal about how the last suitor failed to live up to expectations, but this report keeps the focus predominantly on the newlyweds and their courtship. The agreement came last year and was brokered by Verizon President Lowell McAdam and Apple COO Tim Cook, with input from CEOs Ivan Seidenberg and Steve Jobs (naturally), and though the commercial aspect only took about a day, the preceding technical hurdle was a six-to-nine months ordeal. That entailed putting Verizon cell towers at Apple HQ to check signal and avoid reliability troubles, as well as having Verizon's Executive Director of Technology David McCarley work in Cupertino for more than a year. As for the rest of the deal, both parties agreed to share inside knowledge (Verizon's network plans for Apple's device plans -- wouldn't you like to know) and Verizon had to agree to a logo-free device. Which, given the sure-to-be mindblowing sales, probably isn't a hard pill to swallow.
The Daily Show takes on the Verizon iPhone
While the tech world debates both the merits and the shortcomings of the Verizon iPhone, The Daily Show's Jon Stewart and John Oliver used the occasion to do some good ol' AT&T bashing. They celebrated the announcement of the Verizon iPhone with a rousing chant of "Freedom!" and poked fun at the dropped calls that plague iPhone owners on AT&T. The pinnacle of the seven-minute skit occurred when a band of frustrated iPhone owners trampled an AT&T sign. You can enjoy watching the segment in its entirety after the break. The video comes straight from The Daily Show's website, which uses Flash; sorry!
iPhone Personal Hotspot feature headed to all iPhones in iOS 4.3?
So, by now you've had a chance to digest the fact that Verizon's getting the iPhone, right? A standout from yesterday's news is of course the iPhone Personal Hotspot feature that those lucky red devils are being treated to. Hopefully the rest of us won't have to remain envious for to long, though -- BGR says its sources have confirmed that that feature is headed to all iPhones once iOS 4.3 lands. The word is the OS version with this shiny treat will be 8F5148B with a baseband version of 04.08.00. Of course, your carrier is likely going to have to be on board, a-la tethering support, but once that dust settles not only will you be able to tether your device, but your friends will be able to join in -- and rack up your data usage, too. So sit back, relax, and all will be revealed if and when this bridges the gap between rumor and reality.
Simultaneous voice and data: there was an ad for that
Who remembers the great carrier wars of 2009? Yes, back before Apple and Verizon became best buddies who worked together for years to create the ideal iPhone experience for VZW customers, Verizon was aiming for the jugular with the "There's a Map For That" and "Misfit Toys" ads poo-poohing AT&T's network coverage. In fact, things got so tense that AT&T and Verizon sued each other over the claims in those blue and red ads. Now that everyone's friends again, we've pointed out the fact that Verizon's version of the iPhone, like all the other phones on its CDMA network, will not support simultaneous voice and data; this despite the rumors from last summer that the carrier would roll out VoRA technology to do exactly that. More than a few readers and Twitter followers have said "Who cares? I don't use simultaneous voice and data, and I can't see why it matters." The answer to "who cares," at least if you go back to late 2009 and the VZW/AT&T caterwauling, is Apple's marketing team. Let's set the Wayback Machine to this delightful iPhone ad, visible in the continuation of this post, and think about sending email while we chat and ordering flowers during a call. Yes, apparently those who cannot remember the past actually are doomed to repeat it.
Why I'm staying with AT&T
With all the excitement over the Verizon iPhone announcement, I'm not sufficiently moved to make the break. I admit, AT&T has been sloppy and at times downright incompetent. Who can forget the massive foul up when the first iPhone came out and literally millions of customers couldn't get AT&T servers to sign them up? It happened again with the 3G iPhone and the iPhone 4. There's the really nasty rate of dropped calls, lousy or inconsistent reception, and how AT&T always seemed to put endless roadblocks before developers who wanted to use the iPhone in the way it was designed. Months of delays on the SlingPlayer app, no Wi-FI tethering, and more delays delivering a 3G tethering plan that was overpriced and forced you to give up your unlimited data plan. Oh yes, AT&T dropped unlimited data so it could start enabling some of those features that might force you to go over AT&T's newly imposed limits. Nice. The list goes on and on. Still, I'm staying. Here are my reasons: Big Fee to drop my AT&T plan. Way too much. $325 for those who purchased after June 1, 2010, and $10 off of that for every month of completed contract. Coverage. We all know that AT&T coverage is generally worse than Verizon, but AT&T ponied up and let me have a MicroCell device for free. It solves the 'no coverage at home' problem, and after some initial growing pains it works well Competition is good. I expect AT&T to step up and compete, not because they want to, but because they have to. Maybe there will be a reinstatement of unlimited data plans. Maybe FaceTime will finally work on 3G. Simultaneous voice and data are huge. I often fire off an email or web link when I'm on the phone. Going to Verizon means I kiss all that goodbye. Speed. At least here in Arizona, I get really fast data on the iPhone. Yes, the Verizon voice network is more reliable, but in local side by side tests on the data side, my AT&T phone really is faster than a Verizon smartphone. New iPhones. There will likely be a new iPhone this summer. I expect it will be a lot easier to talk AT&T into an upgrade than Verizon.
Why Verizon needs a copy editor
Dig a bit deeper into Verizon's iPhone announcement and you see something that was overlooked from this morning's announcement -- namely a white iPhone. Apple has made it perfectly clear that the Holy Grail of iPhones won't be available until some time this spring. So, is this the real thing? Most likely not, I don't see anyone other than Apple announcing the white iPhone, and certainly not by burying it in a subsection of Verizon's site. Steve Jobs is most likely frothing at the mouth over this slip-up by Verizon -- but as of a little while later, it's fixed, so maybe nobody noticed. That's not the only error Verizon's announcement had. There's no mention of CDMA at all -- the specs listed are GSM/EDGE. Maybe you have to roam onto AT&T to actually use the data plan. It's pretty much last summer's iPhone 4 announcement plopped onto a Verizon server. You'd think that with Verizon and Apple having this under wraps for the past two years, someone would have bothered coming up with a better site -- or at least making sure the AT&T-specific information was changed to Verizon. Or, better yet, hire a copy editor. [Yes, we know we made an 'a/an' error in this post and a typo in a headline earlier, thanks to all you clever wags for pointing them out; they are fixed now. Of course we make mistakes too -- however our mistakes are not on the same scale as Verizon inadvertently advertising a color that isn't available, on a network they don't support. –Ed.]
Verizon iPhone first hands-on! (update: video)
We just got a look at the Verizon version of the iPhone 4. Guess what? It's just like an iPhone 4! There's no custom pre-loaded Verizon software (like VCAST or some such bloatware), just that mobile hotspot tweak in the settings menu. There's also no Verizon branding on the phone, though that's hardly a surprise given Apple's hatred of all logos that aren't its own. The only real physical difference we can find are those tweaked CDMA-compatible antennas running around the edge -- four in all, placed symmetrically and bumping down the volume / mute buttons. Interestingly, the phone is running iOS version 4.2.5, so perhaps that mobile hotspot functionality will make its way over to other iPhones when they sync up on iOS updates. We did try a speed test, clearing the cache and loading various sites simultaneously on the Verizon phone and our AT&T device, and while there were variations in the load times, there were too many external factors to really make a judgment call just yet. %Gallery-113856% %Gallery-113857%
Verizon iPhone: Hardware is still the iPhone 4
Sure, it would have been more exciting if Verizon launched its version of the iPhone with an incremented version number and splashy new hardware capabilites -- LTE! Super-Retina display! Downward-facing camera! -- but as expected, the new beastie is essentially the same as the existing iPhone 4 model. The primary difference is that Verizon's iPhone 4 is a CDMA unit, not GSM. This of course means that users cannot migrate their handsets between AT&T and Verizon; they have different radios and will only work on their respective network flavor. (Worthy of note, though, the Verizon agreement is non-exclusive, so a Sprint-centric CDMA iPhone is not an impossibility.) The CDMA phone is also far more limited for international roaming, so if you plan to travel overseas with your phone please think ahead. As Steve notes, CDMA is still not capable of simultaneous voice and data, so phone calls will interrupt your data sessions; you might consider letting the calls go to your voicemail, and using a Google Voice mailbox so you can get those messages while you're surfing (although it's possible Visual Voicemail will work when a data-only session is active; we'll have to try it out and see). Along with the different radio config comes a slightly different antenna arrangement, with another infamous air gap associated with the 'grip of death.' It's not clear yet whether this will have any bearing on the phone's connectivity, but since the working assumption is that Verizon's network > AT&T's network, dropped calls and dead spots are theoretically going to be less of a problem on Big Red than on Big Blue. The new VZW phone also sports the ability to behave as a MiFi hotspot, giving WiFi connectivity at 3G speeds for up to five devices. Although this isn't available on AT&T's plans as an official capability, the $10 $19.99 Cydia app MyWi for jailbroken phones already enables it, so it's reasonable to think that there's not a hardware-specific change in play; Verizon already offers the capability on several Android phones. Be aware, though, it will chew through battery like a gopher in a cabbage patch. That's another reason to be happy the VZW iPhone isn't shifting form factor at all; existing cases, battery packs and audio accessories should all continue to work unmodified. If only that were true! Laptop Mag and Slashgear both confirm that the mute switch and volume buttons have moved, meaning many (but not all) existing cases won't fit (see here). D'oh. Developing story: stay with TUAW today for all the Verizon iPhone news.
Verizon iPhone has relocated buttons, might require new cases
The leaks suggested that the Verizon iPhone would have slightly relocated buttons, and it's true -- as you can see in the photo above, the newly revised CDMA antenna notch has pushed the volume and mute controls down a hair from GSM version. That means a lot of cases -- Apple's current bumpers included -- won't fit properly on the Verizon version, although many third-party cases feature an open slot for the buttons that might still work. Either way, we'd bet Apple and third-party manufacturers are scrambling to have compatible cases in stores before the February 10th launch date -- just make sure to check yours first if you're switching from AT&T.
TUAW Poll: Will you buy the Verizon iPhone?
Now that the cat's out of the bag, here at TUAW we're wondering how AT&T will answer to Verizon's iPhone announcement -- specifically the part where the iPhone 4 will be a mobile hotspot that supports up to 5 devices. It's definitely an extra incentive to lure AT&T customers, already unhappy with tiered data plans and extra costs for tethering. When the Verizon iPhone makes its debut on February 10, will you be among those in line to get it? %Poll-58557%
Verizon iPhone can't handle data and voice simultaneously
For those who are interested in the Verizon iPhone, one of the most pressing questions was whether or not the phone would be able to allow simultaneous use of data and voice. This is currently not possible on Verizon's CDMA network, and is sure to be one of the big points in future AT&T advertising. Since the Verizon iPhone operates on the CDMA network, it will not be able to handle voice and data at the same time. When you get a phone call while using data on a CDMA phone right now, that phone call goes directly to voice mail. that phone call interrupts the data connection. Likewise, you need to hang up voice calls before trying to bring up websites or capture other data. Want to use that built-in tethering app to send a 3G signal to five devices? Just don't try to talk on the phone at the same time. This will not happen if and when Verizon and Apple create an LTE-based iPhone. LTE can handle both data and voice at the same time, as it is based on the current iPhone's GSM technology.
Verizon confirms the iPhone with personal hotspot
Verizon announced the CDMA iPhone today and put some pressure on AT&T by offering the smartphone with a personal hotspot feature (like the MiFi, but built-in) that supports up to 5 devices. Pricing for the mobile hotspot was not announced, but select Android smartphones include this feature for an additional $20 per month. This charge is on top of the unlimited data plan which is available for $30 per month. Presumably, the mobile hotspot will be a Verizon-exclusive app or preference setting that enables this functionality. [Techcrunch showed the interface for this, it is enabled through the Settings app.] Currently, AT&T offers the iPhone with the 2 GB DataPro and tethering plan for $45 per month. This is a one to one tethering option that lets you connect one phone to one device. The Verizon option lets you add up to five devices that are WiFi-capable. The next question is, how will AT&T respond?
iPhone 4 will be available through Verizon starting in February
Verizon has acquired the right to sell the iPhone starting February 10 with pre-orders beginning on February 3, the company announced this morning in one of the worst-kept secrets since the Beatles appeared on iTunes. The iPhone will connect to the CDMA network and will be $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model (with a 2-year contract and required data plan, of course). The big news? A mobile hotspot is included, allowing you to connect up to five devices through the iPhone. The talks began in 2008, when the two companies began to discuss bringing over the iPhone over for the CDMA network, and indeed the release of the iPad on the carrier last year was proof of the iPhone's imminent arrival.
Verizon iPhone 4 will have 3G mobile hotspot (update)
It'll probably be subject to an additional fee as usual, but Verizon and Apple have just revealed that the new CDMA iPhone 4 will act as a mobile WiFi connection for up to five devices. It'll come with an iOS-specific version of the Verizon 3G Mobile Hotspot that folks have been enjoying on their Droids for many moons now. That should allowing for laptops, tablets and the like to get online via iPhone without a pesky cord, and almost certainly make the long-verboten iPhone - iPad tethering connection finally attainable. Joy to the world! Update: Verizon called it an app, but getting hands-on we can see that's not the case at all -- Personal Hotspot is built right into the CDMA iPhone 4's build of iOS 4.2.5. Perhaps we'll see it migrate to other devices as well?
The Verizon iPhone
Update: We now have our full review of the Verizon iPhone up! You'd be a fool not to click. We've waited and waited, and now Apple and Verizon have made a million dreams come true: the iPhone is coming to Big Red. After talking up his new LTE network a bit, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed a CDMA (non-LTE) version of the iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon Wireless next month. Talks started way back in 2008, and the phone has been in testing for a year -- it sounds like they wanted to get this one right. Current Verizon customers will be able to pre-order on February 3rd for the standard $200 price for the 16GB model on a two year agreement, $300 for the 32GB version -- everyone else can order on February 10th (see it compared with AT&T's iPhone 4). Just to clarify and put any wild rumors to bed, the phone is Verizon 3G (EV-DO) only, no 4G data or GSM roaming. It's not a world phone or an AT&T + Verizon phone, it's just a Verizon phone. Outside of Verizon connectivity, the phone is basically unchanged, although Verizon's CDMA network doesn't support simultaneous voice and data as with the GSM version. It does have the new antenna design we were hearing about last week, but that's just because CMDA requires a different configuration of antennas. (Apple says they didn't go LTE just yet because first-gen chipsets would force unwanted design decisions, and customers want a Verizon device now.) That slight modification also equates to a slight bump in where the volume buttons and mute switch -- a new case might be required. Software-wise the big innovation is five user WiFi hotspot functionality, something that's standard on Android phones, while Apple has kept the iPhone only able to tether directly to one computer. Check out our full hands-on with the Verizon iPhone right here, and stay tuned -- we've got lots more coming up. %Gallery-113857% %Gallery-113856% .vi-wrapper { text-align:center; text-size:28px; } .vi-box { width:400px; height: 170px; background: #CCC; margin-bottom:10px; position:relative; margin: 0 auto; display:block; } .vi-box.everything { background:url(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/01/ver-ip2.jpg); } .vi-box.liveblog { background:url(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/01/ver-ip-2.jpg);} .vi-box.handson { background:url(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/01/vzw-iphone-600-rme_400x170.jpg);} .vi-box p { background-color: rgb(0,0,0); background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.8); color: #0EADDC; font: 900 14px/17px normal Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; padding: 7px 10px; bottom: 0; letter-spacing: -0.02em; } .vi-date { font-size:79%; } History lesson: the run-up to the Verizon iPhone January 11, 2011 @ 11 AM ET Verizon iPhone Liveblog Verizon iPhone hands-on
Live from Verizon's iPhone event
We've waited. We've watched. We've wondered. And now, by the grace of Steve Jobs and Lowell McAdam, we're supposedly going to see a reveal of the mythical Verizon iPhone. Of course, there's always a chance that Verizon just wants to reveal more details on LTE, or talk about the company's commitment to openness and Android... but according to the rumor mill, it's time for Big Red to get some Apple magic. No matter what happens, we'll be there live, reporting on the news as it happens with the best liveblog in the business. Tune in at the times below on Tuesday, January 11th to see it all go down. 06:00AM - Hawaii 08:00AM - Pacific 09:00AM - Mountain 10:00AM - Central 11:00AM - Eastern 04:00PM - London 05:00PM - Paris 07:00PM - Moscow 12:00AM - Perth (January 12th) 12:00AM - Shenzhen (January 12th) 01:00AM - Tokyo (January 12th) 03:00AM - Sydney (January 12th)
