Remember how Steve Jobs said no one wants a video iPod, right up until the day he pulled one out of his pocket? Apple COO Tim Cook (pictured) is trying to fill his boss's shoes with the same tactic. Less than a week ago, trigger-happy bloggers let everyone know that no, there won't be a Verizon iPhone anytime soon because Cook said on a conference call that Verizon's CDMA technology "doesn't really have a life to it after a certain point in time."
Now, USA Today reports that yes, there will be a Verizon iPhone that runs on Verizon's bigger-than-AT&T CDMA network. America's most-read newspaper says this comes from "people familiar with the situation," by which they mean upper management at Verizon. On a conference call this morning, Verizon operating chief Dennis Strigl told reporters he had "no announcements to make relative to Apple today." That translates as "Yes, but shh!"
The most likely scenario: Yes, there's a CDMA iPhone deal in the works. But no, Apple doesn't want you to wait for it. They want you to buy an AT&T iPhone today. Tim Cook has learned to bluff effectively with that "after a certain point in time" qualifier. But he hasn't got Verizon's blabbermouth executives under control. Jobs is so much better at that.
Photo: Apple
Comments
I'm guessing if this is true, it's not going to be revealed in June. It will be another year (after the 3rd-gen is released, presumably this summer) or so before Apple/Verizon is ready to go. It'll be the "3G" version update for the 3rd-gen iPhone, if that makes sense. 3rd-Gen v.2, so to speak.
Where's the Palm Pre, by the way?
A CDMA iPhone? Highly unlikely. Any fruitful discussion will center around LTE-based iPhone which will not be finalized until next year. In the meantime, all these talks will only give Apple an upper hand in the "re-negotiation" with AT&T.
This article hits the mark in the analysis.
BTW, Palm Pre launch will be announced sometime in May, at earliest.
CDMA iphone or not, the (re)opening of the relationship w/ Verizon may likely focus on the 2nd device, the wifi/3g tablet.
Different enough not to pose a conflict with any ATT contracts but growing the Verizon relationship for the future whether it's based on a nearer-term CDMA iphone or an LTE model a bit later on.
The real news here is Verizon's possible willingness to tear down their long-standing "disencouragement" towards wifi-enabled devices on their network.
I hope it is true, I cannot wait for it to be available. I love the IPhone but I hate AT&T and will not use it.
I too was waiting for Verizon to carry iPhone because I didn't care for AT&T for a lot of reasons - for two years. Then I said; "What the heck!" At my age, I can't be waiting forever. So I held my nose, signed with AT&T, and got one.
Though the initial sign-up was a bit of a pain (mainly due to the new rules imposed by AT&T), and though I don't use many of my monthly minutes (which, however, roll over with AT&T) or the unlimited (and expensive!) data plan, I was blown away with the phone, its great GUI and of course interoperability with my Macs, and the convenience - not to mention all the cool apps!
Also, AT&T surprised me pleasantly with a much improved signal (even though we are in a remote rural area) and much improved customer service.
I LOVE my iPhone, and my only wish is that AT&T had a lower-level monthly voice and data plan for people who don't use the service fully.
Post new comment