Rumors: A Verizon iPhone in 2010
Two sources say Apple is building a hybrid "worldmode" phone that Verizon could use
Judging from reader comments in this space, there are a lot of cellphone owners in America locked into Verizon (VZ) contracts who would buy an iPhone in a minute if they didn't have to switch carriers to get it.
Verizon has made it pretty clear that it would cut a deal with Apple (AAPL), were it not for a couple of impediments: 1) the contract that makes AT&T (T) the iPhone's exclusive U.S. carrier, and 2) the fact that Verizon's network (based on CDMA2000 technology) is incompatible with Apple's smartphone (which uses W-CDMA (UMTS)).
The first roadblock — AT&T's contract — is set to expire next year, according to a widely cited 2008 USA Today article that included an interview with chairman Randall Stephenson. (Stephenson declined to comment on the details of the contract.)
The second barrier could also disappear were Apple to build a new iPhone that is compatible with both AT&T and Verizon's networks.
Last week, AppleInsider reported on rumors that Apple may be doing just that. Its source was a leaked OTR Global report, based on unnamed sources in Apple's Taiwanese supply chain, that said Apple was making a "worldmode" phone using a new hybrid chip from Qualcomm (QCOM).
On Wednesday, a second source for the rumor emerged, this one with a date attached. According to GigaOm's Colin Gibbs, Northeast Securities has issued a research note, based again on supply chain sources, that says Apple will launch a W-CDMA/CDMA2000-enabled iPhone through Verizon by the summer of 2010.
This assumes that Apple and Verizon can cut a mutually satisfactory deal. But judging from the tone of bitter resignation coming from AT&T executives lately, it sounds like Steve Jobs and Randall Stephenson may have finally come to terms.
UPDATE: AppleInsider on Thursday claimed to have found additional evidence that Verizon is getting an iPhone, but offered conflicting scenarios about when and how that might happen. See here.
See also:
[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]
"More bars in more places" and "the internet cannot hide anymore". What a joke! AT&T Mobility is simply a pathetic greedy company. As a former AT&T employee I was surprised to learn how they neglect their network. Dirty circuits relates to drop calls, and their list of dirty circuits in their switches goes through the roof. And who takes care of it? Nobody does, because their fat and lazy Network Operations Center techs along with switch techs are too busy complaining of how they are getting screwed. And they should be complaining because AT&T and their partnership with the union Communications Workers of America decided that they should pay workers 20% below market rates and pocket the difference 50/50.
U.S. Cellular (west coast) has better phone reliability than ATT. Have one of each so that when I travel I will always have phone available. Lots of time back east or in southern states ATT can't get a data or phone signal when U.S. Cellular can (or whoever they partner with back there). In two years of U.S. Cellular, while using in my area, I only had 4 dropped calls. I have had ATT now for about 6 months and have had 13 in same areas.
The iPhone is the worst cell phone and the best hand-held computer. The App Store is an ingenious approach to providing enhancements and tools without costing apple huge amounts in development costs. I can get apps like Nok Hockey and Neuro Mobile for next to nothing. People who complain about it not being open source do so from a conceptual level. No malware or other issues. And the apps are fantastic. AT&T, well, go back to my first sentence. I think there would be issues with every carrier.
The i-phone is phenomenal — way ahead of any other phone I've owned. Unfortunately, AT&T service in New York is terrible. I suffered through months of missed calls, dropped calls, and spotty coverage. I finally paid to get out of the contract and switched to Verizon. Verizon is great — would love to see them carry the i-phone
I have an iPhone that is unlocked to t-mobile. I absolutely love the phone (even without the "all the time internet" that att customers enjoy). I have been patiently waiting for apple to get in bed with verizon, so I may finally switch to a company that knows how to do business and to a phone that is truly revolutionary.
Phone carrier has to make a difference. I live 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia and have 3G coverage about 75% of the time with AT&T on my iPhone. A few of my friends just bought the Droid on Verizon and outrace me on every search. Eventually, iPhone will need Verizon and I hope they tell them to shove it. The iPhone is not a giant like many Apple-enthusiast writers claim. It has flaws, many flaws.
Next time learn more about the phones before you say somthing. The droid has turn by turn directions for FREE while an app on the iPhone cost money. And for rural coverage it's the edge network not 3G.
FYI I'm an iPhone/AT&T user but it's uneducated ppl that speed rumeres
I have AT&T in New England and the service fine.I get 3g signal almost everywhere i go, I have had Verizon and nextel in the past and Verizon was good as well. Nextel was not so good even on the higways. I dont see much difference between Verizon and AT&T except in NYC AT&T is better in Manhattan,
@Jon
On issue one: The reason Verizon turned down Apple was left out by you. Apple demanded that Verizon pay revenue for every iPhone that was sold. Verizon has always been a profitable compnay with whatever device lineup they currently offered. So why pay Apple money when they don't have to in order to remain strong?
On issue two: You won't see a device running on LTE until 2011 or later. Although Verizon intends to roll out LTE mid 2010, it will be for data solutions, not phones. If verizon sees an iPhone next year, it will not be 4G.
I've had At&T for 8 years and have never had a problem with service or dropped calls… until I got an iPhone. Anyone else notice the same thing?
I love, love, love my iPhone. But, ATT really does stink. I can rarely pick up the 3G anymore. Even on a recent trip to the Bay Area, the cradle of technology, I was having trouble downloading information. This happens to me in DC, FL, NC as well. And I'm not travelling far off the beaten path in these places either. This happens in the midst of metropolitan areas for me. The dropped calls seem to be getting worse too. It rarely happened a year ago, but now its commonplace.
On issue one: The reason why AT&T has the exclusivity contract was left out. Apple went to VZW first and those idiots weren't going to play ball with each other with conflicting requirements and controls; it's been said that VZW pretty much just brushed them off during their initial talks about requirements and control.
People have said that Steve doesn't easily forget being brushed off like that.
On issue two: I have some thoughts on this one. Yes the technologies are incompatible, however the next iPhone doesn't have to support both CDMA and GSM. VZW is rolling out LTE which is GSM based. Though the linked AppleInsider article does hold weight, it just seems silly to me if VZW's iPhone doesn't support LTE.
you probably travel all over the world on the internet and worse yet a LongHorns fan no-doubt. There are 3rd party companies that compare these two carriers and hands-down the Verizon Network continually ranks the highest.
i can honestly say that with AT&T , i drop calls about once a week… and i travel all over the world frequently
and Verizon's phone are so plain and bland i would go nowhere near it
dropped calls happen on all carriers, but for people to claim it happens on 95 percent of their calls with ATT is just silly
i know people, nerds especially, like to hop on bandwagons.. but this ATT has no coverage thing is overblown
and if the sheer volume of Iphone users did affect AT&T's UMTS network, then imagine what i would do to Verizon's ancient CDMA network
it's unfair to compare Verizon's 3g network to ATT's. there's no comparison ( oh i forgot, Verizon's "3g" gets to more rural customers)
AT&T's 3g network is newer….smaller.. and has twice the consumers…
Verizon is simply patching up it's old network that it had forever…but they still charge you as much as AT&T does… even though AT&T's 3g network is NEW.
It isn't that we're "…locked into Verizon contracts…" (after all, a contract is for only 2 years). Verizon provides the best service where I live and in the areas to which I travel. I have no wish to leave them (especially for AT&T).
Ah! The same moronic mantra of the pseudo-geek, repeated senseless again and again: "iPhone apps policies are too restrictive." "We want open development!" "Blah, blah, blah… and more useless blahs."
Look around! Jailbroken iPhones are getting infected by malicious applications. I would -and I have- gladly taken the restrictions imposed by Apple. It's peace of mind… it's freedom for me! A real user, not a fanboy of any brand or side.
Go people and enjoy your open development Android, Symbian, etc., universes with all that it could bring, including poor coding and malware.
How will Apple/Verizon handle those who ALREADY own their Verizon-specific iPhone? Will they force existing customers to buy a new phone that will work with Verizon?
I think Apple will need to grandfather them in and issue them a new, compatible phone, or at least offer them a significant discount/incentive.
Phil: Only some hints. First, work a source in Apple marketing. Second, check out the A-TeK/P-tron discussions with Hon Hai for a P-tron sell off cornering of the production market for iPhone. The rest is up to you.
This rumor is an obvious leak by Apple to help stall the adoption of the Droid. I was thinking about switching to Verizon but did not want to give up my iPhone and some apps that I use everyday like NeuroMobile. Because of this rumor I'm going to see if I can hold off until the iPhone is available on Verizon. So leaking these rumors seems to be working – at least in my case.
Actually the point being missed here is that the US is the only cell phone market on the planet that I am aware of that forces you to tie a specific cell phone to a specific cell phone carrier. Travel to Europe, Japan or most other areas and you buy the phone and choose your carrier. It is true free-market competition as it should be. If we could get that to happen here, this wouldn't be an issue. That being said I painfully switched to AT&T 15 months ago just to get the iPhone. Prior to that I had been with Verizon for 12 years and enjoyed their service. While I haven't experienced the dropped calls on AT&T many of you speak of, I would quickly go back to Verizon if they had the iPhone. Like many of you I hope that happens sooner rather then later.
I have an iphone with AT&T and have found it to be reliable with no dropped calls thus far. Customer service – when needed – has been acceptable as well. I don't know why everyone is bashing At&T but I suspect its just the "in thing" to do. Whatever….
I've never been a fan of AT&T nor will I become one. When the iPhone first came out, I wanted one, but not so much as to be completely locked into AT&T. I'm with Sprint and am very satisfied with coverage AND price. If the iPhone becomes available to any other carriers other than AT&T, I think it should come to Sprint. Think about it, 4G network, no miscellaneous fees for this or that, great coverage, did I mention great price? It would work with Sprint! Something to think about.
i left verizon simply because i had to have the iphone. if verizon gets a version of the iphone i would gladly pay an early termination fee to leave at&t whose service is horrific!
Tom in Wooster is, unfortunately, a slack-jawed moron. He's saying the exact same things that idiots like him were saying back in 2007. The iPhone will continue to improve, and Apple will continue to lead the market in consumer computers as well as smartphones – not "at a snail's pace" but at the same pace that has put its products ahead of most for years. A restrictive app market? How is 100,000 in any way restrictive? In the end, the men and women who are running Apple are brilliant, innovative, and just damn smart. People like Tom will go to their graves having achieved far less of significance and contributed far less to our economy and society.
Who cares? With Apple's restrictive App market, I don't care where they take that over-rated locked-down bar-of-soap-sliding junker. It took them until version 3.0 to have half the features of other smartphones– put shortly, Apple moves at a snails pace. Heck, even DevTeam is faster. The iPhone on AT&T just got MMS in the summer of 2009? Wow! Also, from my personal experience with AT&T's 3G service– it is laughable in the Cleveland area. I'd estimate that 90-95% my calls dropped when I was getting pwned by AT&T with the 3GS and I know that's subjective based on location, but it IS called an iPHONE. So when it fails at the primary function of being a phone you can't justify the cost… no matter how you look at it unless you're a rabid fanboy (or fangirl). Now that the new offerings of 2009, including Android OS 1.5-2.0 (Google) or webOS (Palm) are available on almost every US carrier (including AT&T), and the fact that they are coming in at cheaper price points, coupled with Apple's hardening stance against jail-breaking and unlocking are all strong indicators that 2010 will mark at least the begining of the end of Apple's dominance in the smartphone market. In the end, they have only raised the bar for what a cell phone can/should be able to do.
Apple went to Verizon first with the iPhone but Verizon insisted on branding the phone. Steve Jobs said "No way."
Whoever was the fool at Verizon who thought they could tell Apple how to market a product is probably unemployed right now. Apple really had no choice since Verizon didn't want to play nice. They could have had the exclusive contract that basically saved AT&T's bacon (and will be it's demise when the contract expires), but they blew it.
I hope Steve Jobs reminds them of this as they try to come up with a deal now. Verizon better be making it very sweet for Apple and iPhone users if they want the business i.e. the plan should be better and cheaper than what AT&T offers.
I've been with the Verizon network for almost several years. The network has not caused any trouble for me since then and that's why I've been with it for so long. As new technologies come out with new features and companies that merge together, the future brings new avenues for people to choose and follow if they desire. If a Verizon iPhone were to come out next year, I may consider switching but I'm not a cell phone junkie like some of my friends are. As time progresses, I believe if the Verizon iPhone comes out, a new branch of techhnology will merge for people of all ages.
"Bring the iphone to sprint" have you seen sprints data coverage map? Its double that of AT&Ts. They may have 4g but its not everywhere like verizon. Glad my AT&T plan is up next year 
As a business and leisure traveler, I've found that AT&T's coverage is at equal footing with Verizon's at major cities and suburbs but where it lacks is once you get 20-30 miles away from these populated areas. Verizon has much greater area of coverage. The upside to Verizon is that you'll have great reception almost anywhere while AT&T has great reception in populated areas. Downside, Verizon nickel & dimes you 4 everything just so that you can have reception in places where there's no civilization.
I'm calling BS on you Phil. These rumors were floated out there by Apple/AT&T to slow roll the Verizon/Gooogle Droid sales by influencing Verizon customers to hold out for a iPhone. It's not going to happen. Given the relationships between the two CEOs, Verizon wil never see the iPhone. Phil: Do your research better next time.
ex ped: If you have evidence that these rumors were floated by Apple and AT&T, Ben, perhaps you could share it with us. As near as I can tell, the source for this stuff is Taiwanese parts manufacturers.
My entire family uses Verizon except for me – had to have the Iphone. Generally I am the only one without coverage… AT&T should focus more on their network than on Verizon's ads!
It will be interesting to see how many iPhone loyalist "jump ship" and float over to VZW. If the family plans move "en masse," it could be devastating for ATT.
I love my iPhone and will use nothing else. I am with AT&T for one reason, the iPhone. Since AT&T took over Cingular the service has consistently gotten worse. Everyone I know that has the Iphone would switch to ANY other carrier that supports the iPhone. I am currently holding on to my old 2g iPhone waiting to see if anyone hopefully Version gets it. I will early terminate my AT&T contract and have a Verizon iPhone the day they release it!!!!
Bring the iphone to SPRINT. Sprint has the best CDMA 3G network, and while at&t and verizon are fighting for 3g scraps SPRINT already has a 4G network. The iphones advantages are becoming marginal if apple wants continued success they need to get on the 4G wimax train that is SPRINT and CLEAR 4G
I am a long time VZ user and have a storm. it is OK, but I am waiting for iPhone, so please hurry. I hate AT&T like everyone else seems to. going to check out the storm2 next..maybe that will tie me over until iphone comes in.
There is this place online where i can get a sim card for my iphone 3g or 3gs for 79.00 (US) then get 500 minutes a month from tmobile and unlimited internet and text ing from mr.simcard.com, is that a scam?
ex ped: Yes.
My wife has the iPhone and of course AT&T. She gets dropped calls all the time, work, home, and all around So. Cal. I have Verizon and an old razr phone. I can't remember the last time that I had a dropped call or no coverage. I paid the AT&T penalty to switch back to Verizon a couple of years ago. It was worth it to me.
I've been waiting for Verizon to get the iPhone, looks like it may be happening. Good news for me!
The only reason I don't already have an iPhone is ATT. Would not give up my Verizon coverage for love nor money! My iPhoned friends drop calls left and right, while I talk away. Apple is missing out on SO MUCH money by having made ATT the exclusive carrier.
Boyfriend just got the Motorola Droid and i have MAJOR phone envy – it is amazingly fast, easy to use, has a great screen. My contract can't expire fast enough!
I have AT&T and 3 IPhones 3GS but with all honesty, AT&T has refused to inprove there services, My bill is well over $200 a month and there is nothing more frustrating to pay a lot for service and it not work when you need it. One the other hand if Verizon supports the Iphone I will drop AT&T in a heart beat and take my 5 lines and all my money to a provider that actually works when I need it!!! AT&T better do everything in their power to stop this from happening- otherwise without the Iphone they can't be stupid enough to think they can compete
1
still no google voice app because of apples stranglehold on iphone app developers. time to move on to a more open platform: ie. the droid
Keith Schilling
http://www.ontopresults.com
I was on Verizon and wanted an iPhone, but wouldn't switch because of all the bad AT&T reports I read in the press. After playing with an iPhone 3GS though, I decided to make the switch. I have to say I feel really lied to by all the bad press. I find AT&T coverage to be equal to Verizon's, and AT&T service to be much more customer friendly. Not to mention AT&T doesn't have all kind of fee gotchas like Verizon. If the iPhone comes out on Verizon, I will still stick with AT&T.
I find it funny that so many AT&T employees’s want to bash Verizon! I know that the new ad campaign Verizon has launched is getting to you but don’t forget your "Nation's fastest 3G" network is actually only .1kb faster and only covers 75% of America, so when bashing Verizon remember the 700 MHZ spectrum they just won at auction? Can you say 4G 100% saturation Nationwide, all 50 states?? Can you hear me now?? Good P.S: I am an AT&T customer with a paper weight of an IPhone. Love Apple, hate AT&T.
Well, AT&T needs to develop a cool phone cause they may lose tons of customers if Verizon begins to carry an iPhone, obviously since Verizon's network is better.
iPhone IS THE PHONE–end of debate! Apple is always way out front of the competition. They built ONE phone–the iPhone. Look at all the other companies that have tried… and failed, to compete with iPhone. Every couple of months or so someone touts the next "better than iPhone" phone… never happens! ATT on the other hand SUCKS! If Verizon and Apple work a deal I'm on board faster than I can post a comment. If not, I'll end up with my iPhone for everywhere i do get decent service and get a cheapie Verizon phone/plan for everywhere else.
Just got the HTC Eris and I have to say, Verizon 3G service is amazing. I live in the "boonies" and even get it in my basement! This will be a great addition to the Verizon family!
I thought this rumor was allready dispelled? iPhone users must have restarted it hoping Verizon had a change of heart.lol. Lets be honest, AT&T service/reception sucks. I remember I was the only one sitting in class with my Verizon phone soaking up all the service. AT&T kids were putting tin-foil on their phones or putting them next to mine hoping they could get a signal & if I remember correctly, Apple first brought the iPhone to Verizon in the first place and got turned down for various reasons. Personally, I cant wait till my re-newel date is up and I upgrade to the droid and breeze past yall no service having iPhone users.lol
As a owner of an iphone 3G I can, without reservation, say the iphone is a GREAT, TRANSFORMATIONAL product tied to an awful cell carrier. Three facts: ATT coverage in my home town of San Diego is spotty at best; 3G is a myth and; even within 1/4 of a mile of Apple's HQ in Cupertino, coverage is awful. ATT had 3 years to fix the problem and they did not. If a CDMA iphone is available in July, I will switch immediately, otherwise, when my contact is up with ATT, it is Hello Droid!
CNNMoney is one story behind Apple Insider, see: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/12/conflicting_reports_within_qualcomm_suggest_verizon_only_iphone.html
This article suggests a CDMA only iPhone and not the world phone. The world phone is suggested to be ready in 2011.
I also agree that these "articles" are just rumors.
Ken of course iphone users use more data that normal phones, however version supports both Blackberry and now Android powered devices. So i think it would be safe to assume that version would be able to handle iphones on their network.
A Verizon IPhone would only be useful to me if it contained a SIMM card that I could replace with that of another cell phone carrier when I am traveling overseas. I spend a considerable amount of time abroad and regularly swap out my SIMM card when I am in other countries in order avoid the exhorbitant phone call costs imposed by US carriers when you use their phones abroad. I would love to get an IPhone, but not being able to use it with other carriers when abroad is too great of a liability for me.
I honestly don't think Verizon really wants the iPhone. iPhone users use MUCH more data than normal phone users. Dropping a bunch of iPhones on Verizon's network would be… interesting. Any of you know the typical data speed on Verizon's network? 600 to 1.4Mbps. A huge increase in data traffic, combined with the turtle-speed of the data transmission would result in a bunch of unhappy customers. "Can you hear…" "Yeah, I can hear you, but I sure as heck can't download those pictures you sent me, or check my email, or browse the web…"
I love technolgy and I love my iPod touch. I also like being able to pick up my phone and make a call. I also like receiving all of my calls. I haven't been able to do that with AT&T and therefore is the reason why I have been on Verizon since '01. I'll get my hands on a Droid and compare it to see if it is worth getting. It would be great to see an iPhone on Verizon but if not I am sure there will be some mighty competitors in the next year available.
there's a reason AT&T has twice as many Smartphone customers as Verizon.
and if Verizon had not bought ALtel, AT&t would have the most subscribers… in fact… AT7t signed up more new custoemrs this year than Verizon
the "ATT coverage" thing is a bandwagon deal. pure and simple
ATT data coverage reaches 97 percent of the country…
Verizon fails to mention this i their misleading adds
JUST BOUGHT THE DROID LAST WEEK!! yeah iphone is awesome girlfriend has one but guess what! droid is awesome lightning fast with the app list growing by the day. sorry next year the iphone we be just another awesome phone on the market. check out the new sony erickson coming in the first part of the year.
i am one of those loyal VZ customers that refuse to go to ATT. I dont care if the phone is free. SERVICE is a priority for me and VZ is the best in the market. If VZ were to get the iphone I would give it a try. As for now I will keep using my BB and enjoying my continuous connection to the VZ network!
This is simply "another" rumor started by Verizon and it's shareholders due to Apple and AT&T kicking their butts in the marketplace. They want to freeze customers in place hopoing the rumor will keep them around for another year. Verizon uses CDMA which is NOT used by the bulk of the world and will not be as potent with the coming 4G all the carriers will be marketing shortly. If Apple wants to ensure a teeny tiny market share across the globe, the best way to do it is make CDMA phones. Apple has shown no interest in being a regional maker of equipment, you can purchase and use Apple products including your iPhone from the USA, Saudi Arabia, or Panama, all of which I've done. Hell you have a hard enough time getting Verizon to work in your house in Nashville, much less expecting coverage outside the USA. Go Apple and go AT&T, thanks for catering to the globe and GSM/UMTS.
i dont understand why Verizon continues to brag about having more high speed data coverage (3g) in more RURAL areas than ATT…
if you people knew what you were talking about, you'd know that AT&T does provide 3g coverage to about 90 percent of it's customers
not having high speed rural internet access is really not a big issue for ATT Smartphone USers
the only thing a RURAL AT&T SMartphone customer suffers is slower internet speeds…. which is a non issue if there's a wifi connection around…. and with most iphone users, there usually is
the other thing you suffer is not being able to surf and talk at the same time… BUT YOU CANT DO THAT ON VERIZON'S INFERIOR NETWORK ANYWAY.
16GB DROID on Verison costs 299.99 out of pocket (before rebate)
32 gb APPLE iphone costs 299.99 out of pocket
12,000 android apps….100,000 i phone apps
you can use the droid in 37 countries… you can use the iphone (because of AT&T's network) in 220 countries
no navigation on droid except for google
iphone has google and about 20 other options through apps
let's not even mention cameras…the droid's '5 megapixel' camera doesnt even come close. you cant edit videos or crop pictures…
I don't see why everyone complains about AT&T so much. i've never had problems with their signal. in comparison, i couldn't get a signal inside my own home with Verizon.
lmao the droid is crap. im sorry to all you droid owners but you get 256 mb of internal memory and a 16gb sd card. you can only put pictures music movies etc on sd cards you CANNOT put applications. an application could be anywhere from 2mb to 15 mb. good luck with your droid lol. Apple has 0 plans to give the iphone to verizon. Hence the new droid commercials mocking the iphone. dream on.
WOOHOO!! This is fantastic news. My husband has an iPhone, so we're locked into AT&T. I hate AT&T and would switch to Verizon in a second if he didn't have the iPhone. This couldn't be better news!! AT&T is soooo bad! Whenever we're on a lake somewhere fishing, everyone with Verizon has a signal – and we don't. It's so frustrating. When ATT had analog, their coverage was great. They need to get up to speed with the other carriers.
The only reason I have NOT gotten an IPhone is BECAUSE of ATT. I will be one of the first in line when it comes to Verizon!!!!!
I am very unhappy with my WIndows Mobile Samsung Omnia. I ended up sending it back to them because it had so many issues. Verizon locks down its apps so that makes me very displeased with their services. But I have experimented with iPhone and I love the ease of use. The coverage areas are troublesome, so is the fact that it can't easily be used as a modem. And the current iPhones are still slow. If they can resolve even half of these issues I would be one of the first in line for an Apple iPhone. I'm not concerned about Apple's dominance. Microsoft and Dell locked down the PC world for years – so having Apple dominate the SmartPhone market isn't an issue for me.
GO VERIZON!!!WHOHO!!! GET THE iPHONE!!! Just make a deal where you can either keep your old one and switch it over or exchange it for a new one. AT&T sucks!!!
The signal issue is with the iPhone because if you happend to have someoneone with you with a regular att phone it has full bars and the iPhone can't get a call through.
I switched to the IPhone/AT&T from Verizon in August 09 and absolutely HATE the AT&T phone service!! I will switch back to Verizon next week. FYI regarding AT&T's contract termination fee = it's prorated, so you do not pay the full $175 breakup fee. The breakup fee will decrease $5 per month until you contract is expired.
The second — I mean the SECOND — Verizon gets the iPhone, I'm paying whatever I need to cut my ties with AT&T. I drop a call every single day. I had AT&T back in 1998, and the same thing happened then. Nothing has changed.
I have had a Verizon phone for 5 years and love their service. I would love an iPhone but will not switch service to get it.
I have had both ATT and TMobile phones through my job and the service was horrible compared to Verizon. If Verizon does get an iPhone, ATT might as well kiss everyone goodbye. Because that has always been the knock on Verizon is the quality of phones they offer. With an iPhone Verizon will dominate cause they will not only have the best network, they will then have the best phone too.
I have no issues with AT&T. It work all the time every time with my iPhone. Not that I like the company but it is as good as any other carrier.
Now, the big problem with iPhone that I cannot use local SIM card when I go to Europe because iPhone doesn't accept it. And using AT&T or Verizon kills in roaming and data charges. So I had to buy a pay-as-you-go Motorola phone and unlock it use it everywhere except the US. I don't really see why American telcos are charging so much for the service which normally cost as mach as 10 pence per minute on local cards.
I am a long time Verizon customer & last year I decided to make the leap & get the iPhone 3G. I absolutely loved the iPhone….except AT&T's service was HORRIBLE! I had no signal in too many important places, where Verizon did have signal. I'm talking all over the country too! I cancelled AT&T after 13 days, sold the iPhone on EBAY. I went back to Verizon & vowed NEVER to stray again!
As soon as the iPhone is released to Verizon I will be the 1st in line!
My wife's got an iPhone and she's jealous of my new droid! She's gonna switch when her contract is up. Also gets us on the same network which is a plus for minutes usage.
Imagine the iPhone on Sprint. The only Big Three network to offer an affordable unlimited plan. If it wasn't for the shitty service they might stand a chance against verizon/att. But if verizon gets ahold of the iPhone it will dominate the market and overtake blackberry. If it already hasn't/
This rumor is obvious leak by Apple to help stall the adoption of the Droid. I was thinking about switching to Verizon but did not want to give up my iPhone and some apps that I use everyday like NeuroMobile. Because of this rumor I going to see if I can hold off until the iPhone is available on Verizon. So leaking these rumors seems to working–at least in my case.
I have been patiently waiting for Verizon to take over with an iPhone of its own. Love Verizon and will never switch. They might as well be given the royal crown.
Given that ATT is subsidizing the iPhone at couple hundred each, how much will they cost if others providers get them? Will Verizon pay Apple for each one sold? If not, it's going to cost $300+ each, at this price, sales number will be drastically reduced!
How lucky was AT&T to land that exclusive rights deal with Apple?? Basically enslaving iPhone technology to a less-than-stellar network. I expect a Verizon version iPhone to gobble up market share and leave the original in the dust.
I just read RattyUK's comment. If an iPhone were to come to Verizon, I do wonder if it would have the same bells/whistles/perks as it now has.
Sorry, Verizon…love the service but gotta wonder about these things.
Oh, if only this were to come to fruition, I'd be as giddy as a pig in mud! I'm with Verizon with NO plan to switch.
What will those Droid users on Verizon do if a modified iPhone actually became available??
What will I do when my upgrade through Verizon comes up before the summer of 2010??
This is not fair!
I really hope there isn't one, I like the feeling that i have something not everyone can have lol
Posted By Joseph Scott, Sterling Heights Michigan: November 12, 2009 11:33 AM
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I prefer having something that works, which in the case of a cell phone, means something that actually connects to the provider's network most/all of the time. So I'll stick with Verizon and I'll stick with my Pocket PC, at least until I see what comes out next year.
Well, The iPhone is available on all of Canada's major networks now including Telus and Bell. Thanks to the money spent by those companies to improve wireless infrastructure for the 2010 Olympics, 4G is alive and well in Canada. Given that Telus will now be selling the iPhone, it is not out of the realm of possibilities that Verizon will carry the phone soon since the 2 companies share each others networks when it comes to roaming.
While I hope this is true, I question whether it will happen given Verizon's current marketing campaign for the DROID which is to highlight all of the iPhone's inadequacies, e.g. "Everything iDon't, DROID does."
Look again please! Those VZ commercials are NOT trashing the iPhone like some of you ignorants are saying. The commercials are trashing AT&T coverage!
If I-phones could be used on any network then they would be the most commonly seen phone anywhere. Start selling your stock in every other phone mfg.
I imagine that if this were to happen they would all come with a giant, Verizon swoosh on the back. I thought a factor in not bringing the iPhone to Verizon was that Verizon loves crippling the features on their phones.
I am on the verizon network after being with sprint for years. I have the storm which sucks. I know many people say that they love the vz customer service, but I have not had many positive experiences with vz customer service or their phone service. I get many dropped calls and even though i pay my bills way ahead of time a few people tell me that at times they call me and it says this person's service has been terminated. They have not fixed the problem. I wish i was not in contract with them and would love to get the iphone via att.
Hopefully if the deal goes through, it will force AT&T and Verizon to drop the data charges in a bidding war for all of the iPhone addicts. I wish Sprint was in the mix!
yeah I am sure Steve Jobs will take it personally…all the way to the Bank of "thank you Verizon for exponentially exploding Apple's profit margin by simply agreeing to pay us money so you can sell our product". He isn't in the business of protecting his feelings b/c a company spent money stating the obvious and is now making overtures to give him more money. Please…
Let Verizon try to handle all the data the iPhone uses and Verizon customers will happily pay the $350 early termination fee!!!
Rumors, these are all rumors. They have been saying this every year since the iPhone has come out. And it still hasn't happened yet. I'll believe it when i see it.
Notice that all the new Verizon/Droid commercials are NOT attacking the iPhone. Verizon is now attacking AT&T instead.
I wonder why the change of heart.
I'm sure Apple is thrilled with Verizon, since Verizon has just spent $100 million on their Droid campaign that trashes the iPhone. Apple may want to sell lots of iPhones, but Steve Jobs will take Verizon's ad campaign very personally.
All the fear-mongering is probably unfounded.
Verizon is a business, they do what makes them money. A CDMA/EVDO iPhone will make them money. They will not gimp it — notice, they didn't gimp the Droid, aside from a logo.
Nor will they overcharge for it, at least no more than AT&T already overcharges. Wait until AT&T finally allows tethering, you can bet your iPhone it'll cost around $30/month.
So, while I personally really won't care unless Apple's 4th generation iPhone makes some serious business enhancements, the Apple fans out their can safely look forward to an iPhone that doesn't drop calls and that actually has broad 3G coverage.
But the question is – would Verizon give the iPhone the freedom to be the iPhone or would they make it the Verizon iPhone? Which features would they want to clobber to make it available to their customers? Or have they learned the error of their ways and keep the thing open. I know people think that Apple is an overly-controlling company – but can you remember how many half-hobbled phones companies liker Verizon shipped before the iPhone? Features available on models throughout the world seem to go mysteriously absent when they hit Verizon.
A Verizon iPhone is very attractive, but it's not a Slam Dunk. Much depends on the terms of the total package costs. If Verizon provides a costing package like their Droid (see the analysis of tethering, etc here: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/181590/verizon_droid_tethering_will_cost_you.html), then I'll stick with my plain-old-phone. Here's another price and capabilities comparison with Verizon Droid: http://www.billshrink.com/blog/total-cost-of-ownership-motorola-droid-versus-iphone-3gs-versus-palm-pre/
I would buy an iPhone on Verizon in a heartbeat. Since I switched from AT&T to Verizon 2 years ago, I can count on one hand the number of calls I have dropped since then. With AT&t, it happened all the time.