We may not get an iPhone 5 until September but don’t loook forward to an iPhone 4G LTE until 2012, according to analysts.
The 4G LTE chipsets for the Verizon next-generation network just aren’t at the point where Apple would be comfortable with how its phone is designed, analysts say. The first batch of chips are relatively large and you need one chip for 4G LTE and one for Verizon’s 3G network.
That type of setup probably wouldn’t work with the iPhone 4G LTE, as Apple said during the launch of the Verizon iPhone that it wasn’t willing to make the “design compromises” required with the first generation of chips.
“They’re right that there’s nothing out there that fits the bill, and likely nothing will until the fourth quarter of this year,” said Will Strauss, president of wireless chip tracker Forward Concepts, in an interview with Forbes.
Interestingly enough, Verizon Chief Financial Officer also said that the carrier’s next version of the iPhone would be a “world phone,” meaning it will have a GSM radio inside that will work in other countries. Could this next version also be the one that includes 4G LTE support and does this mean Big Red users won’t see another iPhone until 2012?
It’s interesting because you used to be able to set your watch on the fact that a new iPhone would come out every summer but the Verizon deal, along with the 4G LTE market may have muddled things a bit. Apple would like to position these devices closer to the back-to-school and holiday selling points.
Still, there are throngs of iPhone 4 owners who would gladly plop down more money for the fifth version as soon as possible and I don’t think the company has to worry about losing those to the Thunderbolt or any other device.
[Via Forbes