14 DAY TRIAL // Speculations regarding the possibility that the Apple iPhone might become available for purchase in the United States via Verizon Wireless emerged quite a while ago, and now they make it to the headlines once again. This time around, however, a few more solid details on the matter seem to be available, and the speculation is that Big Red would start carrying the iconic device come September.
Verizon Wireless, the US carrier owned by Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC, is expected to launch a CDMA version of the iPhone on its network this fall, soon after the production of the device kicks off in September at Pegatron Technology Corp., a subsidiary of Taiwan's ASUSTeK Computer Inc., people familiar with the situation told WSJ. Moreover, it seems that the CDMA handset could also work on the airwaves of other carriers, including Sprint Nextel in the US.
As most of you might already know, the iPhone is currently available in the country via AT&T, which uses the GSM technology on its network and which has had the device exclusively since 2007. AT&T's model is being manufactured by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., and WSJ reports that an upgraded version is in the works at the manufacturer, and that it might land this summer. For what it's worth, this should be none other than the iPhone 4G that will be launched on AT&T's airwaves in the end.
“There has been lots of incorrect speculation on CDMA iPhones for a long time. We haven't seen one yet and only Apple knows when that might occur,” an AT&T spokesman reportedly stated. AT&T has had a lot to gain from its relationship with Apple, as its growth was based mainly on the iPhone, WSJ notes. The availability of the iPhone on other carriers in the US will certainly cause some damage to AT&T, but the move is expected to prove beneficial for Apple, which might even double the sales of the device in the US.
You are probably aware that Verizon has already expressed its interest in the iPhone. Last year, speculation arose on the launch of a possible LTE-enabled iPhone, yet it seems that Apple turned to CDMA as the deployment of Verizon's 4G network takes longer than expected. Big Red accounts for more than 91 million customers, and the launch of a CDMA model could spur iPhone sales significantly.