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I want to hear everyone in the gdgt community's answers. When do you think the iPhone will come to Verizon, announcement and release, and under what terms?
I believe that an announcement will be either on the 18th or 25th of January, coinciding with the the 2nd generation iPad. Just as Apple did the day before Macworld 2008 for the Air announcement posting "There's something in the Air" on the homepage, I can see Apple doing a post. The trick could be similar to the Beatles announcement with, "You've caught us Red-Handed," indicating that Verizon is "red." All a red hand making a Verizon V could be placed underneath. Then Steve Jobs could announce it in usual fashion. There will probably be a white one. I see a release in February. LTE is still up in the air. Thoughts, your own ideas?
I may rant here, I'm sorry.
I don't think the iPhone will come to Verizon this year. Of course I could be 100% wrong. My guess is that the iPhone will be available on Verizon when LTE can be used for more than just data. Why? A few reasons:
1) CDMA+LTE at this point are awkward bedfellows. LTE is a GSM network, the chips are huge and generate a lot of heat, and CDMA chips are generally also larger and use more power than comparable GSM chips. If Apple waits a few years, inevitably chips will be smaller and more efficient. This is still happening with 3G chips.
2) Waiting until LTE is a standard for voice and not just data means that Apple can market one device between companies. It could have quad or penta band LTE.
3) If and when Verizon enables LTE for voice (rumoured to be 2012), a CDMA+LTE iPhone will have been pointless.
Of course there is another side to this: There will be no LTE iPhone at first. Apple could do this as well. After all, 3G was out and popular when the first iPhone came out. However, it seems as though this is unlikely given that "4G" has been on the horizon with everyone for quite a while now, Apple is solidly in the smartphone game, and it's been clear for quite some time that VZW has at least one, likely two, LTE smartphones on the way for 2011. And finally, a bit of a minor detail, people who had an iPhone on AT&T and switch to VZW will be annoyed when they figure out that they can talk but not browse at the same time on VZW.
I don't think the iPhone will come to Verizon this year. Of course I could be 100% wrong. My guess is that the iPhone will be available on Verizon when LTE can be used for more than just data. Why? A few reasons:
1) CDMA+LTE at this point are awkward bedfellows. LTE is a GSM network, the chips are huge and generate a lot of heat, and CDMA chips are generally also larger and use more power than comparable GSM chips. If Apple waits a few years, inevitably chips will be smaller and more efficient. This is still happening with 3G chips.
2) Waiting until LTE is a standard for voice and not just data means that Apple can market one device between companies. It could have quad or penta band LTE.
3) If and when Verizon enables LTE for voice (rumoured to be 2012), a CDMA+LTE iPhone will have been pointless.
Of course there is another side to this: There will be no LTE iPhone at first. Apple could do this as well. After all, 3G was out and popular when the first iPhone came out. However, it seems as though this is unlikely given that "4G" has been on the horizon with everyone for quite a while now, Apple is solidly in the smartphone game, and it's been clear for quite some time that VZW has at least one, likely two, LTE smartphones on the way for 2011. And finally, a bit of a minor detail, people who had an iPhone on AT&T and switch to VZW will be annoyed when they figure out that they can talk but not browse at the same time on VZW.
