Qualcomm, a large maker of CDMA chips, is reportedly looking for an “iPhone developer guru” to work on a secret project. Could this be a sign that a Verizon iPhone is on the way?
Apple Insider first spotted the job posting but it has been pulled as of press time. The post did say, ” … join us and develop the most challenging product of your life!”
Of course, it’s easy to jump to the assumption that this means Qualcomm is prepping for a new version of the Apple iPhone that works on CDMA networks. This could also mean Sprint but everyone and their mom is likely waiting for that much-wanted Verizon iPhone.
The biggest rumor was that the Apple iPhone was first shopped to Verizon but Big Red turned it down because it wanted to have some branding on the phone, as well as preload some of its services like V Cast. Apple then went to AT&T and a few million iPhones later, we’re at the point where Verizon has publicly stated it wants Apple’s smartphone.
We’ve also been hearing reports that Apple and Verizon are in the middle of ironing out details of a Verizon iPhone and betting people are looking at an early 2011 launch window. This Qualcomm “guru” could help optimize iOS for the company’s chipsets.
A CDMA iPhone would probably mean a lot of cash for Qualcomm, as rival Infineon has been pegged to provide the chips for the ultra-popular iPhone 4. One of Apple’s handsets on Verizon is bound to sell a few million units in the launch weekend alone, I’d say.
That may just be wishful thinking though, as Qualcomm does produce a lot more software than what it seems like. Its BREW platform is still widely used by a lot of handset makers and this new “guru” could be working on some app or app platform.
[Via Apple Insider]