Feb 4, 2011 11:34 GMT  ·  By

Apple is widely believed to plan the launch of a dual-mode iPhone 5 that works on both GSM and CDMA networks, serving AT&T and Verizon customers simultaneously, though this may spell bad news for the latter carrier which just announced iPhone 4 availability on its network.

With just a few months to go until the very likely launch of Apple’s iPhone 5, Verizon needs to step up its game and sell as many units as possible, without even hinting at the upcoming availability of an updated Apple handset on its CDMA network.

[admark=1]Yet, it appears this will be the case, according to an admittedly vague comment by an Apple representative who was queried on the matter by New York Times columnist David Pogue.

The report reads, “Apple won’t say if there will be an iPhone 5 for Verizon this summer. (‘Let’s put it this way: We’re not stupid’, is all an Apple rep would say.) But if it does, and you buy an iPhone 4 now, you’ll be stuck with an outdated phone in only five months.”

This, according to a speculative report by Cultofmac.com, sounds like an implied admission that the iPhone 5 will be simultaneously launched through Verizon and AT&T this summer.

In related news, Apple is expected to unveil its next-generation iPad at an event scheduled for next week, though details are scarce (and quite possibly erroneous).

Going by these reports, Apple is allegedly planning the introduction of a new subscription model for iPad publications like ‘The Daily’ and an upcoming digital version of the ‘Playboy’ magazine.

These changes would be introduced alongside a new iOS software update (iOS 4.3) which will allegedly make the focus of next week’s event.

The iPad 2 introduction is expected to be Apple’s typical “one-more-thing” at the rumored media gathering.