Apple looking to bring iPhone 3G to Verizon Wireless?!

That’s the rumor at least.

A tip to 9to5mac‘s rumor hotline claims that Apple is prepping their iPhone 3G with the CDMA guts it will need to work on Verizon 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’s CDMA-based network. And, as a sign that Apple is willing to let the iPhone 3G stray from AT&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 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]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

[TheBORG]

The article was from September 2008… Someone just dug it up again to stir up trouble.
izuka01

That’s the rumor at least.
wvallen

Ah, that would explain the Macworld 2009 reference.
Russ

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.
Angelo

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!
BIGDOGG

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!
Sagittarii Phoenix

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!
Buzzwriter

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.
gina

I am still waitin on the i phone i want one really bad but would never give up my good service to get it. I had T mobile and it sucked i changed to verizon years ago and would never change again. I have the Dare phone and i love it but i want the i phone.
Dominic

Well I really hope that you’re wrong bcuz I reall y want an iPhone and my pArents aren’t switching and my girlfriends parents aren’t willing to pay for us to have iPhones!!!!!

This message is for Russ
Levi

My B-day is coming up soon and I want an iPhone but the thing is we have a verizon wireless family plan and it sucks that the iPhone is an at&t exclusive I see why my mom and dad won't change at&t sucks.
Sami

i really want the iphone but i costs like $90 a month on AT&T!! thats insane! me and my family are on kajeet and i have the rumor and its a good phone and all and the service is AWESOME! but it would be great if the iphone came to verizon or even kajeet(i doubt it will go to kajeet though) because me AND my brother would get the iphone and almost $180 a month! we cant afford it….im just gonna wait it out because AT&T sucks! and we'll never do it