According to a source we believe to be familiar with the matter:
• Verizon held management training for iPhone sales last week
• Verizon had functioning iPhones (LTE-capable) in management hands for the training sessions
• Formal announcement coming right “after christmas”, was
• The formal announcement of the iPhones Verizon debut is coming right after Christmas; “Apparently ATT’s final demand so as to maximize ATT’s Christmas iPhone sales”
• The Verizon iPhone will be immediately available upon formal announcement
• Device has been “100% cooked for quite a while” and already shipping in bulk to Verizon warehouses
• The Verizon iPhone is not being shipped to any 3rd-party retailers in an effort to control leaks
• Verizon agreed to take 100% responsibility for security, so all the devices will be in their hands until the official announcement date, and they will then distribute thru channels in massive manner (hence early stockpiling)
• The new iPhone is an LTE device and that fact – the only “LTE iPhone,” exclusive to Verizon – will be the main marketing theme; i.e. “For the new ‘4G’ (cough) verizon network” that Verizon has already started promoting
• As rollout of LTE not actually widepsread, Verizon iPhone will have multi-band chip backward compatibility with regular CDMA
• iPhone 5 was planned to debut in summer as LTE-only, for all contracted carriers, but the clock is ticking and nobody thinks either Verizon or AT&T can get to critical mass to offer an LTE-only version
• Steve Jobs is said to be upset that carriers cannot seem to get their LTE act together more quickly
• Apple is “helping” U.S. carriers (money?) to build out LTE more quickly
MacDailyNews Note: The above information is from a sole source that we believe to be credible, but should be treated as rumor, since we cannot independently confirm the information at this time.
[UPDATE: 10:20am EDT; Fixed typo, added quoted info to bullet point #4, added quotes to bullet #6]
There are so many problems with all this speculation…
The last time all this started flying around, what did we get? We got an iPad from Verizon with a “package” that really isn’t anything special at all.
I would even go so far as to speculated that all this iPhone 5 4g/LTE on Verizon is really just a revised iPad with CDMA/LTE for Verizon to sell, so they can sell data plans.
The iPhone 5 will be released in June like all the rest. Verizon will get one in 2012 – 5 years after the exclusive contract with AT&T expires.
Well, I’m holding out for another month or two on AT&T, but plan to then switch to Verizon. By then, I can replace my iPhone 3G for one of the new Tegra 2 Android phones and my wife can replace her iPhone 3G for a Verizon iPhone. AT&T in my area keeps telling me that new 3G towers are coming, but after a couple of years of hearing that I’m growing tired of waiting.
As much as I’d like to see my long suffering US friends get the choice they want, I’m calling
Bullshit
MDN, I will be sending you an Emergency Room bill since I busted my gut reading this.
Verizon. Getting the iPhone any day now since 2006.
Here’s proof (via @Pendrag): Two years ago, I walked into a Verizon mobile store (out of curiosity). A salesman approached me and started offering blackberries (Storm was the new thing). I asked for the iPhone and he told me that they don’t have it now, but they’ll have it ‘in April’. April of 2009, mind you.
LTE? Considering ATT still only has EDGE coverage in my area. VZN will take at least 10 years to get LTE up here.
@KSH – Apple often pushes new technology on its devices. 3G was an exception to the rule because it was a battery hog, as was proven when the iPhone 3G was released. You assertion may be correct, but for the wrong reason.
A device can be “100% cooked” in terms of design and development without LTE being fully rolled out. There have certainly been opportunities to test LTE devices over the past year. Besides, if the rumors are true regarding the Verizon iPhone in early 2011, then the new iPhone design would have had to been “fully cooked” by now with manufacturing ramping up to generate inventory. The majority of the rumor bullet points sound reasonable to me. Time will tell…
The part about the iPhone 5 being LTE only is crap. No mobile service provider could possibly switch its network, and even if it did, Apple could never rely on it to work everywhere. Of course the Verizon iPhone, whenever it comes, will be CDMA-backward compatible. It has to be; there’s far too much area not covered by LTE now and in the next couple of years.
I believe the Verizon iPhone will be LTE-compatible. Why? Because Apple has promoted for a couple of years now that the iPhone can surf the web while making phone calls. To be CDMA only means the iPhone loses a feature. Apple wouldn’t like that, and it’s not like LTE was just invented last month. It’s proven technology, it’s just taking a long time to deploy.
@bizlaw
One thing… “To be CDMA only means the iPhone loses a feature”
Apple certainly isn’t afraid of dropping features. Just look at Quicktime 10 and iMovie09.
This is complete fabrication. I am in Verizon management, if there was iPhone training everyone would know about it and it would have been leaked/sold already.
Why do I say that? Because media is actively trying to buy this information from us. I can’t tell you how many times I have been contacted by media trying to buy info and tips about the iPhone, some of the offers have been quite high – high enough to make it worth losing a job over – if they include pictures or video and concrete proof.
LTE is even more absurd.
Predrag-
“Perhaps I’m too much of a skeptic, but I’ll continue to believe the only currently available information, which is the 5-year exclusivity contract with AT&T, expiring sometime in early 2012”
I assume you are talking the original contract? If so that was (totally) rewritten at the launch of the 3G iPhone (major concessions by apple allowing service contract lockdown) and I have not seen the particulars of THAT contract anywhere.
I don’t know that these verizon iPhone rumors are true, but using the original contracts time line to dismiss them is folly.
Personally I don’t care much, I have been a sprint, verizon and AT&T mobile customer and experienced “customer service” (or lack thereof) on all three. I will stay with AT&T regardless of what carrier gets the iPhone (unless verizon were to seriously revamp pricing structures, which is very unlikely)
“About 20 minutes later this guy approached me by the tv’s and told me this big long story about the verizon iPhone.”
That was me, and I was just pulling your leg.
…”And I don’t believe this was a plant put in place to throw off information, as he waited until I was in a less crowded area of the store, and he had three kids with him.”…
I’m sure the person was there, shopping with his kids. What I’m suggesting is, if you work for Verizon, and, while shopping at BestBuy, you see a person about to abandon a Verizon phone for an iPhone, if you have any loyalty to your company, you’ll find a moment, approach that person (with your three kids in tow, mind you), and serve him a story that will help him change his mind. Actually, I have done exactly the same thing (in the opposite direction, of course), telling people ready to buy a Droid about an imminent release of iPhone 4, and I don’t even work for Apple (I’m just a fan, like most of us here).
I don’t know what’s the loyalty level among Verizon employees (likely varies widely depending on levels), but I wouldn’t be surprised that those working in wireless have a strong reason to root for the home team whenever they get a chance.
…”I assume you are talking the original contract? If so that was (totally) rewritten at the launch of the 3G iPhone (major concessions by apple allowing service contract lockdown) and I have not seen the particulars of THAT contract anywhere.”
This is the first time I have heard that the original contract has been “rewritten”. I follow Apple in great detail. For sure, MDN never mentioned anything related to re-negotiation or “rewriting” of that agreement. Do you have any corroborating data to support what you’re suggesting (links to MDN or any other rumour or news sites)?
If there is any truth to this rumor, some confirmation should come as soon as this week since sales and sales support training needs to begin very soon and it’s impossible to control leaks from these folks.
@Predrag,
It was rumored by those “in the know” that Apple gave ATT the exclusive on the iPad 3G data plans in exchange for slashing a year off the original iPhone exclusive contract. That would make the current agreement 4 years, not 5 as in the original contract. That would coincide perfectly with the timeline we’re seeing now.
Combine that with all the recent “chatter” about Verizon/iPhone developments, much of which is very specific in nature, and this is the first time in four years that I actually believe the VZW iPhone is imminent.
Verizon iPhone — “Crossing my fingers since 2006.”
With respect to the training sessions, I do know someone who works in Verizon retail who said “January or February” for a release of iPhone on the network.
They didn’t say dismiss the question as stupid or unfounded — just couldn’t say exactly when it would be released. And this person’s not a bullshitter nor an Apple fan site reader, so I think there is more than a nugget’s truth to this chatter.
@Predrag Here is a USA Today story from 2008 (the iPhone 3G) where the following three sentences are why I’ve assumed the “five year exclusivity agreement ended at year #1 when Apple & AT&T renegotiated.
Link -> http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2008-07-31-att-iphone-stephenson-apple_N.htm
“In exchange for its payout, AT&T got a year extension, into 2010, on its exclusive distribution deal with Apple, people familiar with the matter say. Sources asked to not be named because the terms are confidential.
Under the original iPhone contract, Apple had the right to offer the device to other carriers beginning in 2009. If Apple exercised that clause, AT&T would have lost one of its biggest points of leverage with customers — exclusive access to the iPhone. Nailing the extension “is a very big deal,” Entner says.
Stephenson declined to discuss the contract, saying only that he is “very happy” with the arrangement.”
“It was rumored by those “in the know” that Apple gave ATT the exclusive on the iPad 3G data plans in exchange for slashing a year off the original iPhone exclusive contract. That would make the current agreement 4 years, not 5 as in the original contract. That would coincide perfectly with the timeline we’re seeing now.”
We DO know that there was a 5 year contract. I would think that if the length of contract has been modified, it happen when Apple and AT&T dropped revenue sharing.
The rumor is true! Verizon is set to release the iPhone. We have been In the padded room long enough.
What I want to see is the iPhone launched on multiple US networks so that competitive pricing drives down the cost of service…
While we’re at it, why dont we just treat ALL communications as data? (calling, texting, browsing, etc.) and just pay a flat $20-40 for x GB of data per month?
This absurdly false, these guys obviously know nothing about LTE, britons implementation of LTE will use LTE for data and CDMA for voice, if the verizon iphone was LTE only it wouldn’t be able to make calls, lol.
@DizzyFrizzy
You can SAY you work for Verizon but that doesn’t make it so. How about some concrete proof that you are in Verizon Management…
@kingmel
I don’t see Apple placing unproven technology into an iphone. Those last 3 bullets in this rumor are obviously fake, so chances are it is all false. I also see this as fake because no one else is reporting it.
Apple ceding security to Verizon seems so unlikely to me that the rest has to be discounted as well.
@Dinjin201 – you will get your wish soon enough. Give it about 24 months or so. LTE will level the playing field for all as the only advantage Verizon had or will have for a little bit is CDMA. this gives them the edge(no pun intended) with voice. LTE is just that, DATA. The phones will be VOIP so there will not be a cell signal for voice anymore. Once Verizon goes all LTE, there will be no difference in quality.
Currently, what carrier you go with should depend on what quality of service that carrier has in the areas you frequent such as home and work. All carrier have their drop zones. There are plenty of places where Verizon doesn’t even get a signal and ATT has perfect signal. This goes for all carriers.
Once the playing field is leveled, the only thing a carrier will be able to compete with is price. I see $40 plans coming for all. I wish all carries had access to the iPhone so our rates would drop sooner, but let’s not forget that it’s not just the apple and the carriers who make the pricing decisions. The government has a huge say as it will affect things such as our economy and the available airways for bandwidth, nit to mention the public IP issues we are facing that need to be corrected over time not at once.