4G Verizon iPhone to Debut After Christmas?

[c-ker]

need more than a grain of salt for this. These rumours come and go all the time. I doubt it will happen. In the summer? yes, but not now

Maybe VZW will bundle their only current 4G device -- the Mi-FI gizmo -- with a 3G CDMA iPhone 4. Would be similar to what they are doing with the iPad.

Before you ask if VZW is stupid enough to do that, remember that VZW ninnies nixed the iPhone way back when.

 

[chrmjenkins]

And if you're wrong and it's announced in January?

I don't see that happening. It's just not how Apple works.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (BlackBerry; Opera Mini/5.1.21052/22.401; U; en) Presto/2.5.25 Version/10.54)

And why in the world would they launch after Christmas. Either do it before or wait until people recover financially

Yeah, that would be a complete disaster. Everyone knows after christmas, people are broke and unwilling to spend a dime until hopefully April.

 

[utazdevl]

For what its worth, when I was at Radio Shack last week talking to the guy about the iPhone trade-in program, he mentioned they were told the iPhone 5 (iPhone 5 being my words) was going to be 4G compatible. I assumed he meant on AT&T and in June 2011. I thought it was odd he would know any details 6 months in advance of release, but perhaps he was briefed because the launch was imminent.

 

[BHP41]

A verizon phone without that ugly ass logo on the front and back. No way!!! LOL. The next iPhone will have hsdpa+ not CDMA. Does verizon need the iPhone. Yes. Will they get it next year. No. To all those that say "I can't wait because I "need" better service". Sit down please. If you "needed" better service you'd be with verizon,sprint or tmobile already. It funny how people will buy the iPhone, comlaon about service then start threads like this. News flash.... A PHONE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE NETWORK IT IS CONECTED TO. In my case, it doesn't matter. I don't live in the hills so I have great service from all the wireless providers. I choose the iPhone 4 as my main device for work and play even though I have many BB's,a nexus 1, and a incredible. Verizon is stuck so far up motorolas,htc,and samsungs ass that they can't handle apple. Their too busy releasing and stocking a new android every 3 weeks.

 

[ghostlyorb]

How could Apple keep production of an LTE iPhone so completely quiet when a release is pending in two weeks? We would have heard something in the supply chain before this.

This supposed source also says that Apple may be financing some of the carrier's LTE buildouts -- if Apple were doing that they would be asking for exclusive use of those LTE networks for a period. It would also set a terrible precedent.

Also, I don't imagine that AT&T & Apple signed a contract that had exclusivity expiring on December 26, 2010. It would make far more sense for a contract to be written that extends through the end of 2010, though some have even speculated it extends through 2012 (heaven help us and Apple if that's the case).

Nothing in this article from MacDailyNews seems close to the truth.

EDIT: In other news, rumor has it that Apple and NASA are launching a series of iPhone satellites on December 26th that will support the iPhone-SAT which will have 100MBps speeds with worldwide coverage using a series of Apple-owned satellites and taking the carrier completely out of the equation. There will be no more carrier exclusivity, because there will be no carrier. Apple will sell the phone for $700 unlocked with no monthly service charge, but will require you purchase an annual subscription to MobileMe for $99 for service.

I'd buy that... If it were true, it would be legit.

 

[BHP41]

Yeah, that would be a complete disaster. Everyone knows after christmas, people are broke and unwilling to spend a dime until hopefully April.

Depends on your business but I get what your saying. Apple announces in January, this gives time for people to save and create hype over the white model.

 

[ghostlyorb]

Maybe VZW will bundle their only current 4G device -- the Mi-FI gizmo -- with a 3G CDMA iPhone 4. Would be similar to what they are doing with the iPad.

Before you ask if VZW is stupid enough to do that, remember that VZW ninnies nixed the iPhone way back when.

Interesting idea... sounds practical.. but the CDMA part is what I don't believe.

 

[robo74]

Consequently, we are publishing this rumor on Page 2 for interest and discussion.

Discussion? I cant remember when a article about a VZW iPhone ever lead to a discussion. Just a bunch of know it all's with every excuse in the book for it not to happen.

 

[kdarling]

Also, I don't imagine that AT&T & Apple signed a contract that had exclusivity expiring on December 26, 2010. It would make far more sense for a contract to be written that extends through the end of 2010, though some have even speculated it extends through 2012 (heaven help us and Apple if that's the case).

Summertime seems more likely.

We know that the original contract was signed in the Summer of 2006. (Five years from then would be Summer 2011.)

We know that an amended contract came almost exactly one year later (ATT said so), which dropped royalty payments and allowed subsidies.

Rumors say that a two year extension came in 2008.

Patent dispute documents brought up that there had been a five year contract at one time, but didn't mention whether it was still in force.

 

[willzzz88]

UML290 on Mac

For those with a LTE VZW data-stick, get the UML290 and you can use it on a MAC with these instructions I posted here:
http://community.vzw.com/t5/4G-Disc...inux-Windows-other-authentication/td-p/347794
http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/3479/63/

Now that's cleared up...
Where the hell is my LTE iphone on VZW Apple!? !? !? The rumors BETTER BE TRUE! ;-)

 

[SpaceKyd]

Fact: Verizon is not expecting LTE-capable hardware until mid-2011. There's no way Apple magically has an LTE phone ready to go while everyone else won't have one for 6 months.

Ahh, but you must be forgetting that Apple is Magical!

 

[yanki01]

i think its too late to start the adds for this if they want everyone to jump and buy before christmas.

 

[Geckotek]

Ill be handing out grains of salt.

<-----Takes one

I just don't see Apple creating a situation where they're going to have 2 separate refresh dates for the iPhone. Whatever they do, they're going to make it so they refresh ALL of their iPhones around June of every year. Otherwise they're going to put one of the carriers at a distinct disadvantage because Verizon will have the latest technology for up to 6 months before it goes to ATT--which will hurt apple sales overall.

Why on earth would they create such a manufacturing and delivery nightmare??? OF COURSE they would put Verizon and AT&T on 2 separate refresh dates, it only makes sense. The situation you describe is perfectly normal and happens all the time. It's only practical for Apple to do the same.

Will it come in white?

Is this the same Verizon LTE network that takes about 2 minutes to handshake between the LTE and 3G network?

Yeah, that isn't happening.

Not that I think this is happening, but isn't that issue getting fixed with a simple firmware update?

I'm getting really tired of reading "iPhone on Verizon 4G after Christmas!" rumors on here. WHy is it that every time someone says "Oh, I've heard the iPhone's coming to Verizon in January," MacRumors puts it on the front page or Page 2? Are enough people so totally obsessed with the iPhone, they pee their pants if they don't hear a Verizon iPhone rumor every day/every other day?

Uhhh...because that's the purpose of MacRumors??

Not that I believe the rumor, but the phone being LTE only will simply mean that there's one version between the AT&T and verizon phones that supports CDMA and GSM networks. Instead, there will be a CDMA/LTE phone and a GSM 3G phone. Thus, AT&T's LTE network being infantile/non-existent throws a wrench in that.

That being said, I highly doubt an early 2011 verizon iphone. LTE, doubly so. If it's coming for Verizon, it will be unveiled/launch the same time as the AT&T iphone 5.

Once again, this makes no sense. There are already capacity issues keeping up with demand. Apple already rolls out to other carriers globally on a delayed schedule. Why would Verizon be any different? That being said, it would be easy for Verizon to tweak a few issues found in the iPhone 4 *cough-antenna-cough*

How about not even putting it up on the site? My question was why do they have to have a new article for every time someone says that?

As for peeing pants, ok, maybe people aren't peeing their pants. But obviously people care enough to post these this rumor every time another site posts the rumor. I'm just tired of seeing dozens of new articles about this place or that place saying "iPhone on Verizon after Christmas!" Ok, I get it! People expect a Verizon iPhone. Get over it. This is kinda like the Beatles on iTunes, or people talking for months that Michael Jackson died, etc.

Anyone know a good news site that says what has happened and then move on to the next news item? If this is all that MacRumors is going to post, I think it may be time to say goodbye to MacRumors. Just tired of seeing the same rumors repeated over & over again.

B-BYE!

Y would they make a verizon iPhone before July when they come out with a new one anyway. It's stupid I'm shure that they will come out with one when they always come out with them in JULY. They will make more money (maybe) if they do what they always do, unless apple is becoming like the driods and make a new one every month. Whatever the case may be this verizon rumor is getting pushed back and back

Wrong, they will make more money if they stagger the release. Think about the additional hype that comes with a release. Now do that 2x a year. Yeah...it's the best thing for Apple to do...2 release cycles. One major release with a minor update on the second release.

Actually I think this is what might happen, eventually. But rather than AT&T getting the same spec iPhone "A" 6 months later, they will get the "B" with some improvements, then the next year Verizon gets the "C" 6 months after that and so on... Where they will just keep leap frogging each other. I think the market is moving too fast for Apple to continue with just yearly updates.

Right. One of the problems people have when they try to predict what Apple might do is they assume the past = the future. "Oh, Apple only does yearly updates, so this rumor is impossible." Well, Apple does what it does . . . until it doesn't. They don't do books, but now they do. They don't do movies, but now they do, etc.

Apple is not a MacRumors poster stubbornly sticking to the only thing they know. Apple changes as market conditions change. If they think they can increase profitability and market share by making semi-yearly phone updates, they are going to switch to semi-yearly phone updates. Simple as that.

So a Q1 2011 Verizon phone is quite possible.

^^AGREED^^

I'm not buying it (either in terms of the story, or in terms of a supposed hybrid phone if it does make it to market).

The baseband chipsets don't exist as mass market components (either in supply or feature set).

If they did, they'd suck down battery faster than you could keep the damn thing charged. I think it is pretty clear where Apple plays - technology that is applicable, relevant, and usable.

I don't think 4G is there yet, unless Qualcomm et al are hiding some major hybrid CDMA/LTE chipsets (the LTE-only chipsets themselves are power hogs - why do you think VZW hasn't rolled out handsets, they've limited 4G use to people hooking USB cards into a 3000mAh battery that can feed that 500mAh - 1000mAh draw).

Battery technology is getting better, and the chipsets are getting better, but not in time for a device in January. Maybe I'll eat crow, but I doubt it. If this happens (and it might), it's not going to be a great device that everyone is expecting (read: keep the 4G radio off and use it as a CDMA iPhone 4) or it's simply not going to exist. It's possible VZW needed a retort to ATT's simultaneous voice & data ploy so they included it to check that off the list and the phone will stick to EVDO for nearly everything...but the EVDO<->LTE carrier handoff isn't transparent (far worse than EDGE<->3G), so that is a usability issue in and of itself that I think Apple would not like.

Not that you're definately wrong, but it crosses my mind that we are all assuming that the LTE chipsets will be power hogs when they first come out. But we have no idea if this is the case. They could easily take what they learned from developing the 3G chipsets to start off more efficient with the first get of LTE chipsets.

Like I said, I'm not saying that's the case, it just came to mind that we are all making an assumption re: this aspect of it.

I don't see that happening. It's just not how Apple works.

Really, because Apple never changes right? Excuse me while I go buy that new MacBook Air with the PowerPC chip in it. Oh...wait a tick!

 

[chris975d]

<-----Takes one



Why on earth would they create such a manufacturing and delivery nightmare??? OF COURSE they would put Verizon and AT&T on 2 separate refresh dates, it only makes sense. The situation you describe is perfectly normal and happens all the time. It's only practical for Apple to do the same.

I was acutally going to say this same thing. It makes more sense for Apple to put a Verizon/CDMA/LTE...whatever phone on a different release cycle than the GSM phone, as they typically can't even handle the logistical nightmare of releasing the current phone with adequate supply. How long is the thing backordered now when an iPhone is released? How nightmarish is it for them to produce and keep adequate supply of only a GSM iPhone? Now imagine if those production numbers were divided between a Verizon AND the GSM iPhone....you'd never be able to get one! A 6 month split would be almost perfect for releases...it'd give the production lines ample time to get decent numbers of both phones built up. The dual release (unless Apple can get a single chip LTE/CDMA/GSM solution) would be a potential nightmare for FoxConn's assembly plant.

 

[penter]

EDIT: In other news, rumor has it that Apple and NASA are launching a series of iPhone satellites on December 26th that will support the iPhone-SAT which will have 100MBps speeds with worldwide coverage using a series of Apple-owned satellites and taking the carrier completely out of the equation. There will be no more carrier exclusivity, because there will be no carrier. Apple will sell the phone for $700 unlocked with no monthly service charge, but will require you purchase an annual subscription to MobileMe for $99 for service.

Sounds like an awesome business plan to me

 

[zenntench_oni]

my friend told me that LTE is not that "mature" yet. i had to LOL when he told me that. of course LTE is not "mature" yet.. verizon is just full of themselves

 

[christian_k]

Not that I believe the rumor, but the phone being LTE only will simply mean that there's one version between the AT&T and verizon phones that supports CDMA and GSM networks. Instead, there will be a CDMA/LTE phone and a GSM 3G phone. Thus, AT&T's LTE network being infantile/non-existent throws a wrench in that.

That being said, I highly doubt an early 2011 verizon iphone. LTE, doubly so. If it's coming for Verizon, it will be unveiled/launch the same time as the AT&T iphone 5.

Many GSM-operators in Europe are building LTE networks and will start commercial LTE-service in 2011. But you will need UMTS (and even GSM) as a fallback for a long time. This means sooner or later an iPhone with LTE, HSDPA,UMTS and probably even GSM will be needed.

But I don't think we will see that in 2011. Maybe in 2012 or 2013.

Christian

 

[JoJoCal19]

I was acutally going to say this same thing. It makes more sense for Apple to put a Verizon/CDMA/LTE...whatever phone on a different release cycle than the GSM phone, as they typically can't even handle the logistical nightmare of releasing the current phone with adequate supply. How long is the thing backordered now when an iPhone is released? How nightmarish is it for them to produce and keep adequate supply of only a GSM iPhone? Now imagine if those production numbers were divided between a Verizon AND the GSM iPhone....you'd never be able to get one! A 6 month split would be almost perfect for releases...it'd give the production lines ample time to get decent numbers of both phones built up. The dual release (unless Apple can get a single chip LTE/CDMA/GSM solution) would be a potential nightmare for FoxConn's assembly plant.

Geckotek and you are correct. When the iPhone 4 was launched Apple couldn't come close to keeping up with demand. The lead time was 4+ weeks and it only pissed people off. If you add in a Verizon model, which is likely to meet or even exceed the demand for an AT&T model if the device were launched at the same time, the lead time would be much longer and Apple would not be able to meet that demand. 6 month in between is not too long. It also keeps Apple launching an iPhone every 6 mos in the US and keep them in the news and take attention away from the Android devices being launched every couple of months.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Story lost me when it said Jobs was upset that LTE won't be widely available this summer. I don't recall either ATT or Verizon ever giving a rosy scenario that that would be the case and I don't think Jobs would have that expectation of a brand new tech rollout that involves a lot more than just pushing out product.

 

[Digitalclips]

On your first point: It is also the company that came out with the iphone 4 and its antenna problems.

Oh you mean the problem they have actually done nothing about (other than a perceptual one to show weak signal strength more accurately) and yet the iPhone 4 doesn't seem to have any such issue now?

 

[carlgo]

Yay, satellites. Or drones. There you go, so much cooler. Space age instead of silly towers.

How a little iPhone could transmit to hundreds of miles into space is problematical, but there is all of this alien technology...

Maybe the data centers are sat communications facilities.

Ahhh, not likely but it is fun to think about.

 

[ThirteenXIII]

seems sketchy, Apple wouldnt put it all in VZ's hands at all to keep it secure, Apple does a fine job at that already.

And i dont think itd be that much of a difference if they release att / vz iphone separately they do device updates for portables, desktops differently and the usual ipod updates etc.

But the fact remains how are they going to exactly implement two separate phones for carriers that use different cell tech, and implement them properly

I highly doubt there will be a vz iphone for as much as id like one...not until other 4g/lte services are out in the wild

 

[rdowns]

But the fact remains how are they going to exactly implement two separate phones for carriers that use different cell tech, and implement them properly

Exactly why you won't see a Verizon phone until Apple decides to adopt a chip that handles GSM and CDMA/LTE. One phone for both (all?) US carriers.

 

[Geckotek]

But the fact remains how are they going to exactly implement two separate phones for carriers that use different cell tech, and implement them properly

You act like this is some impossible task that's never been done before. Or is Apple just not as capable as every other cell phone manufacturer in the world?