We have another Verizon/iPhone rumor on our hands, but instead of coming from some no-name analyst looking to attain free publicity, this one comes from Bloomberg.
Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. mobile-phone company, will start selling Apple Inc.’s iPhone next year, ending AT&T Inc.’s exclusive hold on the smartphone in the U.S., two people familiar with the plans said.
The device will be available to customers in January, according to the people, who declined to be named because the information isn’t public.
Other reports have hinted that the iPhone will hit Verizon by November 2010 at the earliest, but more substantial sources suggest an early 2011 launch is more likely.
June 29th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
These rumors originate from Verizon and are spread specifically by Verizon. They are just trying to slow down the iPhone hype. The whole world makes GSM based phones. A CDMA based phone has no future. Apple couldn’t care less about working with Verizon.
Beyond that, Apple has no problem with people wanting out of AT&T, because their world-wide growth rate is off the charts. They’re just saying ‘take your chances with Android.’ The only other US carrier Apple would consider is GSM based T-Mobile. But until they build out a more mature 3G network, it won’t happen.
So, until Verizon’s LTE is up and running in mid 2012, then maybe, just maybe we’ll see multiple carriers in the US.