Another Verizon iPhone rumor

[Ballatician]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-...ffering-iphone-ending-at-t-s-exclusivity.html

January 2011.

Still think I am going to go with a Droid X but I am sure A LOT of people would be happy to see a CDMA iphone in 6 months.

 

[jpeyton]

AT&T's 5-year exclusivity runs out in 2012 IIRC. Until then, expect a CDMA iPhone rumor every month or two.

 

[Bateluer]

I'll believe it when I see it on verizonwireless.com along with a press release from VZW.

 

[TheWart]

AT&T's 5-year exclusivity runs out in 2012 IIRC. Until then, expect a CDMA iPhone rumor every month or two.

Well, a lot of stars are aligning for a VZW iPhone in 2011.

-in March of this year, the WSJ reported Apple was gearing up to offer a VZW iPhone in early 2011
-Bloomberg comes out with this report (and the feel strongly enough to word it like a fact)
-AT&T "generously" allowed current customers to upgrade early, and this has/had the side effect of locking people in for 2 more years from right now

I think there is a very good chance it is coming next year. What I wonder is if it comes in early 2011, will it be an updated model? Will AT&T get a new model too?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Well, a lot of stars are aligning for a VZW iPhone in 2011.

-in March of this year, the WSJ reported Apple was gearing up to offer a VZW iPhone in early 2011
-Bloomberg comes out with this report (and the feel strongly enough to word it like a fact)
-AT&T "generously" allowed current customers to upgrade early, and this has/had the side effect of locking people in for 2 more years from right now

I think there is a very good chance it is coming next year. What I wonder is if it comes in early 2011, will it be an updated model? Will AT&T get a new model too?

AT&T allowed people to upgrade early for the 3G version too.... not the 3GS.

Plus, doesn't look like LTE will fully deploy by then LTE phones aren't going to be mainstream, and why would Apple employ a CDMA radio? Just doesn't make sense.

As most people have said, they will wait till VZW gets onboard fully with LTE and then deploy an LTE phone when the rest of the world moves from UMTS to LTE.

 

[dwell]

I think that AT&T has screwed up so bad lately that no contract on Earth is going to be binding at this point.

 

[akugami]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Unsealed court documents have the AT&T iPhone exclusivity. It also makes sense for Apple not to move to Verizon yet. The reason is two-fold. First, they'd have to break their existing contract with AT&T and that likely has some penalties involved. Second, they'd have to design the internals of the iPhone for CDMA. This phone design would only last two years tops. With both Verizon and AT&T moving to LTE for their 4G networks, it's easier to just wait another year and design a dual carrier phone with one hardware revision.

I find the following quote laughable in some ways.

For Apple, a partnership with Basking Ridge, New Jersey- based Verizon Wireless is a victory over rivals such as Research In Motion Ltd. and Motorola Inc., whose smartphones are currently promoted by the carrier.

While Apple would definitely benefit from a partnership with Verizon, at this point, Verizon is probably wooing Apple more than the other way around. After all, even with the surge of Android devices, Apple's iPhone is still an attractive product (customer loyalty!) for any carrier.

Also, Apple has already "won" against RIM and Motorola. Hell, beating Moto isn't too difficult since they've been on a huge decline even before the iPhone's release. Apple has been beating RIM in the consumer smartphone front as RIM devices currently doesn't have the polish of either the iOS or Android. The only area where RIM still really dominates is the corporate front but both Android and iOS are making progress on that front.

 

[Bateluer]

will it be an updated model? Will AT&T get a new model too?

Either way, Apple needs to release a Rev B that addresses the iPhone 4's antenna issues.

 

[boomhower]

Either way, Apple needs to release a Rev B that addresses the iPhone 4's antenna issues.

According to Apple their isn't one. They won't fix a problem they insist doesn't exist and I certainly don't see them changing it January when a new model will be released in a for more months.

 

[compbuilder00]

not gonna happen. I have a better chance of growing 6 inches than Verizon grabbing the iPhone.

 

[akugami]

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/07/ff_att_fail/all/1

Adding more fuel to the fire. My opinion still hasn't changed. The iPhone will come to Verizon when Verizon launches its 4G network.

From the article, it also seems like Apple was bending AT&T over a bit with the early dropped call issues. Not that AT&T deserves any pity since they had network issues and all of the major carriers are a-holes in one fashion or another. Not to mention Apple's iPhone has undeniably helped AT&T obtain and retain customers.

One of the most interesting nuggets is that Qualcomm is working with Apple on a chip to allow iPhones to co-exist on Verizon and AT&T's network.

Another thing is that I think Apple ultimately helped all users. It loosened the grip of all US carriers from dictating to cell phone manufacturers what can and can't be included in a device on their network. While carriers in the US will still try to dictate what features are and aren't allowed in a phone, I think it's largely a foregone victory for the manufacturers and ultimately for users.

 

[JS80]

AT&T's 5-year exclusivity runs out in 2012 IIRC. Until then, expect a CDMA iPhone rumor every month or two.

My guess is there is an "out" option for the 5th year, or Apple renegotiated/are negotiating now the contract to end early due to breach of contract for shitty service).

 

[Patranus]

Typically Apple likes their products to "just work" and the fact of the matter is that any iPhone will not "just work" on the Verizon network. Apple is not in the habit of giving some features to some users while giving other features to other users.

Until Verizon and AT&T can offer identical services (See internet+talk) you will probably never see an iPhone on Verizon.

(Couple that with multiple manufacturing lines and the fact the the majority of the world uses GMS and it seems even more unlikely.)

 

[JS80]

Typically Apple likes their products to "just work" and the fact of the matter is that any iPhone will not "just work" on the Verizon network. Apple is not in the habit of giving some features to some users while giving other features to other users.

Until Verizon and AT&T can offer identical services (See internet+talk) you will probably never see an iPhone on Verizon.

(Couple that with multiple manufacturing lines and the fact the the majority of the world uses GMS and it seems even more unlikely.)

I don't follow your identical services comment. Can you explain?

As for multiple mfgr lines, it doesn't matter as they outsource it all. As long as the price (cost) difference of a CDMA phone is merely a Qualcomm royalty (which is what? a few bucks?) I don't see it as a deterrent and I doubt it'll cannibalize GSM sales even if it's more than a few bucks.

 

[nickbits]

Why wouldn't they make a CDMA version for other countries. I think apple like CDMA as much as they like blu ray.

 

[theeedude]

I think that AT&T has screwed up so bad lately that no contract on Earth is going to be binding at this point.

Try that argument when you get dinged with an early termination fee. See how far that goes.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Plus, doesn't look like LTE will fully deploy by then LTE phones aren't going to be mainstream, and why would Apple employ a CDMA radio? Just doesn't make sense.

Yea, people said the same thing when the original iPhone was EDGE only.

 

[theeedude]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/200520/verizons_droid_x_ad_takes_aim_at_iphone_4.html

You don't put out this kind of ad if you are about to start selling iPhones.

 

[tatteredpotato]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/200520/verizons_droid_x_ad_takes_aim_at_iphone_4.html

You don't put out this kind of ad if you are about to start selling iPhones.

Is it possible that even VZW's marketing department doesn't know about any possible deals? We know how much Apple loves extreme secrecy.

 

[theeedude]

Is it possible that even VZW's marketing department doesn't know about any possible deals? We know how much Apple loves extreme secrecy.

Possible that the executives at Verizon marketing department who would have to approve this ad don't know about iPhone 4 that is coming in January? Yes, if it's not coming in January

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Why wouldn't they make a CDMA version for other countries. I think apple like CDMA as much as they like blu ray.

Apple doesn't like Blu Ray? The problem is there aren't many other countries who use CDMA. I think what needs to happen is a large enough incentive for Apple to build a CDMA version. Usually this involves heavy negotiations with VZW for some money or whatever. If you can cover like 95% of the cell phone market with a GSM version, is it worth stopping, negotiating, building a separate version to cover another 5%? And we all know the iPhone isn't available EVERYWHERE. There's a reason iPhones still sell for $800 internationally. Even though they're boasting 88 countries or whatever, it's carrier exclusive in some regions and not fully unlocked like in Canada and the UK. Apple can simply continue expanding its market by opening up unlocked versions or negotiating with more carriers. All they have to do is ramp up production. To me that sounds easier than building a separate CDMA version for US distribution only.

Of course I'm hoping that when the US goes LTE that all this carrier exclusivity crap goes out the window. It's time to have a phone as a phone. Cross carrier compatibility should be an industry standard.

 

[Patranus]

I don't follow your identical services comment. Can you explain?/QUOTE]

Apple wants their user experience to be uniform across their product line.

Having a phone on with service offering X features while having a phone on another service offering only Y features (Y being a subset of X features) is very "un Apple".

 

[tatteredpotato]

What features are available on GSM that aren't on CDMA (or vice versa).

 

[sciwizam]

What features are available on GSM that aren't on CDMA (or vice versa).

I believe on GSM you can access data while talking.

 

[sswingle]

I believe on GSM you can access data while talking.

Yup, and is something that Apple/AT&T have capitalized heavily on with anti verizon ads