Edible Apple

Though not official just yet, rumors of the iPhone landing on Verizon in early 2011 seem more plausible than they’ve ever been before. Not only have reliable sources like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported as such, now comes word via CNET that call centers connected to Verizon are hiring hundreds of new employees in the next three months, presumably to handle an influx of new iPhone customers.

Hiring companies Teleperformance and Ryla are both advertising for 1,700 positions in states like Indiana, California, Virginia, and Colorado. And while the job descriptions naturally don’t divulge what company the position is for exactly, they do mention that it involves fielding calls for a “major wireless cell phone service retailer.” More specifically, job descriptions in Utah, for example, note that employees will be charged with giving technical support for “personal computers and portable devices like MP3 players and smartphones.”

Lastly, Teleperformance VP of recruiting Marcie Ballard recently divulged in an interview with the Augusta Chronicle that new positions in the company’s office in Augusta, Georgia will be for a “major wireless company.”

The connection between these job listings and the iPhone hitting Verizon is admittedly tenuous, but remember that a similar dynamic presented itself in the weeks and months preceding the iPhone launch on AT&T. Apple can keep the Verizon/iPhone announcement under wraps until the very last moment if it wants, but one thing it can’t keep a lid on are all the logistical moves Verizon needs to make in order to be prepared for when that fateful day finally arrives.