Bloomberg: Verizon iPhone by Valentine's Day

[Michael Essany]

Bloomberg broke the story on Wednesday evening that Apple will hold one of its grand media events "very soon" - likely on or before Valentine's Day 2011 - to announce a new partnership with Verizon. According to the report, Apple will use this occasion to reveal a new CDMA version of the popular Apple handset - one that is compatible with Verizon's network.

Customers are expected to stampede to the new pairing, leaving AT&T (T), until now the exclusive U.S. distributor of the iPhone, with an enormous problem.

It is clear, however, that Apple will not be ending its relationship with AT&T. Instead, Apple will simply be ending its exclusive relationship with AT&T - an agreement that has been in place since the iPhone's 2007 debut. Bloomberg's coverage asserts that Apple's introduction of the Verizon iPhone will not take place at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week as initially thought. This information comes "a person familiar with Apple's plans who is not authorized to discuss them publicly."

While many prospective iPhone buyers and current owners are dubious about the carrier expansion, AT&T has not taken any chances during the past twelve months. Like at no time before in the carrier's history, AT&T has been rolling out one promotion after the next to convince subscribers to extend their contracts for another two years. And, for the most part, it's worked. "In part by easing the cost of upgrading to Apple's new iPhone 4," Bloomberg reports, "it enticed 15 million of its 23 million iPhone subscribers to sign new two-year contracts."

Bloomberg/Businessweek

[romeo_herman]

Ending its exclusive relationship with AT&T...it's mean can be unlock...right?....

[EmmanuelFuentes]

Uhhhh, and maybe along with the white iPhone?

[Nielsenius]

So, based on the picture can I conclude that Verizon customers will be receiving the iPhone 3G running 2.x? I feel sorry for them.

But seriously, talk is cheap and this rumor needs to end.

[exNavy]

mod edit: unnecessary statement.

[delusion950]

Mr. Essany you've been writing about iPhone and Verizon for quite some time now. You just might be right this time unlike with past rumors we've heard from you.

[whereswaldo]

Bloomberg: Verizon iPhone by Valintine's day
The rest of MMi: Shut up

[Cowboy]

I believe it when i see it.
Not saying its not going to happen just alot of people have been waiting a while for it.
And whats this 2 years now of rumors?

[thacarta1]

It's gonna b a CDMA iPad!!

[Channan]

"It is clear, however, that Apple will not be ending its relationship with AT&T. Instead, Apple will simply be ending its exclusive relationship with AT&T - an agreement that has been in place since the iPhone's 2007 debut."

Apple is not going to stop selling the iPhone to AT&T. Anyone who thinks otherwise is straight up dumb.

[whereswaldo]

From the picture, it looks like Verizon is getting the iPhone 2g

[NSXrebel]

It's gonna b a CDMA iPad!!

Greater chance of this happening sooner than iPhone.

mod edit: unnecessary comment.

[Lombardo Joe]

Bloomberg: Verizon iPhone by Valintine's day
The rest of MMi: Shut up

Hahahahha, I lawl'd.

Seriously, though... Bloomberg ain' no Gizmodo. This is by far the most credible source I've personally seen. IF and when it happens, I may go back to Verizon, depending on how the CDMA handles. If they get that 4G ish running, definitely. I dumped Verizon in July for the iPhone 4, and I kinda miss it.

[santacruzlocal]

No seriously everyone go to Verizon and I'll send you a Thank You for the extra bandwidth !!!

[NSXrebel]

No seriously everyone go to Verizon and I'll send you a Thank You for the extra bandwidth !!!

They'll all gonna run back once they figure out that they can't place calls and access data at the same time! lol

[Lombardo Joe]

They'll all gonna run back once they figure out that they can't place calls and access data at the same time! lol

See, that's where my problem is. Is that a CDMA standard or can they make it so the band can do more than one task at a time? Because that was the biggest problem I had with my BlackBerry when I WAS on Verizon.

[mi1knc0okies]

I remember a post saying that it'll be a while before we see a 4G iPhone.. I think when apple makes a 4G capable iPhone we'll see it on Verizon... From what I hear with LTE you should be able to make a call and access data at the same time. But eventually Att will surpass Verizon with 4G speeds because of the limits of CDMA technology.

[NSXrebel]

I remember a post saying that it'll be a while before we see a 4G iPhone.. I think when apple makes a 4G capable iPhone we'll see it on Verizon... From what I hear with LTE you should be able to make a call and access data at the same time. But eventually Att will surpass Verizon with 4G speeds because of the limits of CDMA technology.

They will be the same once they both move to LTE. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T will all be using LTE in the future. It will come down to who has the better plans.

As for the best nationwide coverage, they will all have the same coverage, since I'm sure there will be roaming agreements between the providers. In that sense, the customer wins.

Now if you're with Sprint, you're gonna be a**ed out since they are doing their own 4G/Wimax technology, won't be as big as the other 3.

[whereswaldo]

I remember a post saying that it'll be a while before we see a 4G iPhone.. I think when apple makes a 4G capable iPhone we'll see it on Verizon... From what I hear with LTE you should be able to make a call and access data at the same time. But eventually Att will surpass Verizon with 4G speeds because of the limits of CDMA technology.

I agree with this post, but what Verizon and T-Mobile are calling "4G" is really just 3.5G

[NSXrebel]

I agree with this post, but what Verizon and T-Mobile are calling "4G" is really just 3.5G

I've even read on wikipedia being it called 3.9G, but yeah, not quite 4G but it's getting there.