Apple looking to bring iPhone 3G to Verizon Wireless?!
By Will Park on Monday, February 23rd, 2009 at 4:56 PM PST In AT&T, Apple, Devices, Rumors, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, iPhone OS
That’s the rumor at least.
A tip to 9to5mac’s rumor hotline claims that Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) is prepping their iPhone 3G with the CDMA guts it will need to work on Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless’s network. The rumor apparently comes from a Verizon Wireless insider privy to the inner-workings of Verizon’s corporate dealings with Apple. If accurate, we may see Verizon Wireless dropping the iPhone 3G as soon as Macworld 2009!
The arrival of the iPhone 3G on a CDMA network like Verizon Wireless opens the door to the iPhone 3G penetrating Sprint (NYSE: S)’s CDMA-based network. And, as a sign that Apple is willing to let the iPhone 3G stray from AT&T (NYSE: T)’s network, the launch of a CDMA iPhone 3G might very well signal the release of the iPhone on competing GSM networks like T-Mobile USA.
With the Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre threatening to steal the iPhone 3G’s thunder and hurt its otherwise meteoric rise to fame, it makes sense that Apple exploit ever larger markets in the US. There’s no way Apple is happy with their iPhone penetration on AT&T’s No. 2 network. But, it remains to be seen whether early reports of a five-year AT&T exclusivity agreement hold true.
[Via: 9to5Mac]
The article was from September 2008… Someone just dug it up again to stir up trouble.
That’s the rumor at least.
Ah, that would explain the Macworld 2009 reference.
While Apple would love to offer the iPhone on other networks, I don’t think it will happen this soon. Doesn’t AT&T own the rights to sell the iPhone in the USA for 5 years at least? Why would AT&T ever allow a competitor with a much larger 3G network to offer the same device that has been helping them add new customers?
Apple customers are so brainwashed that it wouldn’t matter what network the iPhone was on, they would switch.
This won’t happen.
I really hope so, I am a Verizon costumer very happy with the coverage, but not so much by the phone selection. If the iPhone came to Verizon I would buy a couple in a heartbeat. I will be taking my business somewhere else if Big Red does not come out with some cool phones this year. Storm Sucks!
Just to tell you, Russ. Apple and AT&T originally signed a 5 year agreement (until 2012), but when Apple released the iPhone 3G, they only extened the contract untill 2010. I am not sure how or why AT&T agreed to this, although i like it since i am a happy verizon wireless customer. I would love to have the iPhone, but i am reluctant to switch to AT&T due to the lack of coverage in my area. I have heard multiple rumors about it, this being one of the recent. I feel that Apple will release a CDMA version of the iPhone on Verizon and maybe even Sprint’s networks, especially if Apple plans to keep up with all of the other smartphone companies like Blackberry, Palm, or Android. Either way, i feel an iPhone will probably be released at WWDC ‘09, but i want everyone to know that i am not just saying this becasue i am a jealous verizon customer who wants the iPhone. I would not be talking about this if i hadnt been exposed to some inside info. (Which i was. i am just not supposed to mention my source!
I LOVE VERIZON… Until I need to sync ANY of my stupid ass Blackberry phones to ANY of my Macs! I have been calling Verizon for about 6 months SOLID, having to replace phones, re-download/ install PocketMac for Blackberry– WHICH SUCKS DONKEY DICKS & NEVER WORKS, or replace/ repair my hard drives after the damn Blackberry program messes something up! I agree– Apple AND Verizon need to get their heads out of their asses and just start thinking about customer satisfaction!
I would rather choke on my own vomit WHILE setting MYSELF ablaze… that become an AT&T/ Cingular/ T-Mobile/ Sprint customer!!! ALL of those companies suck ass & NEVER work properly!
While you stated things a bit more graphically than I would, many of us share your wish for a sync solution. The Blackberry Desktop for Mac page says that a version of Desktop for Mac will be arriving in September. Still says it, this 27th day of September. Tick-Tock, RIM & Apple folks! Tick – Tock.
FYI, I downloaded and attempted to sync PocketMac – but it failed. After reading user comments, I am very thankful. With all the other challenges in our lives, I don’t need my calendar/contacts/etc. corrupted beyond repair.
Based on comments from others on existing sync options, I don’t think I want to be first at bat with ANY new software but the sooner Blackberry Desktop for Mac is released the sooner that those more daring than I can test the waters and see if it’s safe for us less-technically-inclined to jump in.