Verizon: We may be talking to Apple about the iPhone at this very second...maybe not

Chauncey Dupree
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April 27, 2009
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Sick of the Verizon/iPhone news yet?  Here's another tidbit:  SAI is reporting that a Verizon spokesperson gave them the "I know something I won't tell, I won't tell, I won't tell":

A Verizon Wireless spokesman, reached for comment, did not deny that Verizon is in talks with Apple to sell the iPhone. "We're always ready to talk with suppliers, but nothing to announce today," he said.

Wow, we love PR speak.  We'd also love a Verizon iPhone, if only to light a fire under AT&T's backside.  More iPhone Verizon coverage.

Update:The WSJ reports:

President and Chief Operating Officer Denny Strigl took a slight shot at AT&T in addressing a USA Today report that Verizon and Apple Inc. (AAPL) were in talks to bring the iPhone to the carrier after AT&T's exclusivity agreement ends in 2010. While he declined to comment on the iPhone, he said that Verizon Wireless isn't dependent on one device, and that it already has a strong base of high-value customers.

 

Comments (7)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | April 27, 2009 - 9:09am

It's coming....all this buzz doesn't just magically appear everywhere if absolutely nothing is in the works. We've heard nothing for 2 years and all of a sudden an avalanche of stories about this--something is definitely going on. And to all the idiots who point out that Apple said this or that--please, get a clue. There was no point to video on the iPod remember? And how many times did they deny the very existence of the iPhone project when they had been in the works on it since like 2003?

Of course Apple will deny everything, and so will VZW. And as far as the LTE roll out, it is not simple or quick. It won't magically cover the country coast to coast in 2010. It will take many many years to cover enough people to be worth not making a CDMA iPhone. In the intervening 5-6 years Apple would be retarded not to tap into the 80 million Verizon subscriber base once the ATT exclusivity expires.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | April 27, 2009 - 10:27am

I've got to think that Apple has had a working version of a CDMA iPhone for some time.

As for the network, ATT&T vs. Verizon, I know a bunch of people that have the Blackberry Storm and have had the same network problems that we have with the iPhone (dropped calls, wild swings in reception with the phone in a static location). I really don't know if things would improve on the Verizon network the way that people think that it would.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | April 27, 2009 - 11:32am

This is purely a negotiating ploy. I highly doubt the iPhone will be coming to VZW anytime soon. This is just Apple (and Verizon's) way of making sure that AT&T pays the highest subsidy possible.

przemekspider (not verified) | April 27, 2009 - 12:22pm

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wonderer (not verified) | April 27, 2009 - 12:44pm

Unlike many here, I waited until the first price break (~Sept 2007) to purchase first iPhone. Last summer, when the 3G came out, I didn't rush to upgrade and therefore extend my ATT contract another 2 years. The feature bump wasn't significant enough, and ATT's coverage in my area is poor. Now we're faced with all of these Verizon rumors (coverage in my area=GREAT), but I think an updated iPhone is probably in the cards prior to 2010. I'd love to hear any prognostications and recommendations.

Do I:

1. Upgrade to the next version of the iPhone at/near the end of my contract (Sept 2009)

2. Wait until the Verizon version in 2010

I know scenario 1 assumes a new iPhone model this fall, and scenario 2 assumes a Verizon version in 2010, but I'm just curious what others might think.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | April 27, 2009 - 1:55pm

Personally, I'd wait to extend my contract with AT&T until news comes out that the exclusivity agreement for another year with AT&T has come to fruition. Otherwise, I'd begrudgingly hold out for an iphone on VZW. I'm hoping that the iphone comes to VZW by the end of next year. It would be perfect timing as I currently am using a Storm with my contract going up at the end of next year. My only qualm with my BB is that it has limited compatibility with Mac computers and seeing as those are the only computers I run, would def switch to an iphone just for that reason alone. All my problems with the iphone are looking to get squashed with the release of OS 3.0. So here's hoping to big red scoring an iphone next year! I also can't imagine all these rumors of talks and leaks about this to have the whole thing be entirely untrue.

Jason (not verified) | April 27, 2009 - 8:34pm

I am a mobile-only user with no land line. I can tell you that for me, quality of voice service is TOP priority. If you get lousy voice service, consider changing your handset and/or provider.

You may want to check out 3G. Remember, 3G is a different service than the EDGE-based service, and quality of voice calls under 3G can be strikingly different. Ask a friend with 3G service to let you give it a try. For instance, my brother gets awesome 3G service at his house (full bars); EGDE is decidedly weaker there (1-2 bars).

Happily, in my region of the country, we get kick-butt service with the iPhone - rarely do I see less than full bars, and rarely do I get drops. I had a horrible time with my previous carrier, which I left primarily due to poor service quality and frequent call drops.... even though I lived in a densely populated area, within a half a mile of the intersection of two major interstates.