Businessweek: Verizon in talks to distribute iPhone Lite, Tablet as early as this year

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 5:25pm — Seth Weintraub

Starting to see a pattern here? We are. According to Businessweek:

Verizon Wireless is in talks with Apple to distribute two new iPhone-like devices, BusinessWeek has learned. Apple has created prototypes of the devices, and discussions reaching back a half-year have involved Apple CEO Steve Jobs, according to two people familiar with the matter.

One device is a smaller, less expensive calling device described by a person who has seen it as an "iPhone lite." The other is a media pad that would let users listen to music, view photos, and watch high-definition videos, the person says. It would place calls over a Wi-Fi connection. One of these devices may be introduced as early as this summer, one person says.

Are you starting to believe that this Verizon thing might actually be true? Whatever the case, this rumor just got a whole lot more interesting! Is Apple just playing hardball in its negotiations with AT&T or is it interested in selling two different portable devices on Verizon's network, including the mythical tablet device? We're kinda wondering why Verizon would be carrying a device that would place calls over Wifi...but don't let the details get it the way. There's more!

Businessweek continues:

The new Apple devices under development, if introduced, hold the potential to shake up the tech industry. The media pad is smaller than an Amazon (AMZN) Kindle electronic reader, but its touchscreen is bigger than the Kindle's, says the person who has seen it [The Kindle has a 7-inch screen]. Carriers such as Verizon and AT&T are keen on striking deals to supply wireless Internet access to these new small computing devices, such as netbooks, which represent revenue growth opportunities. Phone carriers also fear being cut out of their core markets for supplying land-line and wireless voice services.

"The media pad category might go to Verizon," said the person who has seen the device. "We are talking about a device where people will say, 'Damn, why didn't we do this?' Apple is probably going to define the damn category."

The new iPhone-like device is slightly thinner and smaller than the existing iPhone, people say. The reason the device is much cheaper than existing iPhones is that it relies on a so-called system on a chip, which incorporates many types of chips and drives down the cost of silicon in such devices, says one source familiar with the design. This new chip could also potentially be used in the media pad. "It will have a much lower cost that will blow away the margins on the BlackBerry and the iPhone," the person says.

Wow.

( Filed Under:

iPhone - iPod

)

Comments

I want one, no two, gimme,

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 6:10pm — David (not verified)

I want one, no two, gimme, when????

Yes two for me please...

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 9:38pm — Olternaut (not verified)

Yes two iPads for me please. :)

Count me out...

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 6:20pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

Count me out if it requires a contract! You can count me out of ANY product Apple releases if it *requires* that I sign a lengthy contract with any service provider. There is so much Wi-Fi out there now that anywhere I might go and want to use this device long enough to warrant establishing an internet connection (i.e. rather than watching my content already stored onboard) will probably already have wi-fi anyway. So why charge me $60/month for a data plan to listen to my music or look at my photos or watch 10-inch "hi-def" movies?

Netbook + iPhone = Phonebook?

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 6:35pm — M@ (not verified)

Perhaps it will be a new category. How about:

Netbook + iPhone = Phonebook

perhaps a reincarnation of

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 7:14pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

perhaps a reincarnation of the ibook name?

unless every journalist has

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 6:47pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

unless every journalist has planed the biggest conspiracy theory in modern day history, we might just have a true device.

One of the vendors I work

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 7:39pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

One of the vendors I work with told me that verizon was their biggest client and that they were going to have the iphone by this summer. I kinda wrote it off as wishful thinking considering all the LTE news. I was telling him I am due for a new phone on april 30th and he told me to wait till the summer.

I may actually have to wait now. next time i will post the info he gives me to everybody because he told me this about a month ago and now it seems credible.

Seriously...

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 8:31pm — Mat (not verified)

Today my 32 GB iPod Touch 2G was stolen along with my Verizon phone. I have decided not to run out and buy another one and wait until the next product refresh. If Verizon releases a 32 GB iPhone this July I will fucking flip. And yes it would make my year.

Is this how Apple plans on....

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 9:20pm — Olternaut (not verified)

Is this how Apple plans on circumventing the AT&T iphone exclusivity contract?
I guess it could work because these new devices technically are NOT iphones.

But seriously, why would Verizon be needed for wifi only devices? Can the devices be hard locked so that phone calls are only done on wifi while verizon could still charge for a data plan???

I suspected this!

Mon, 04/27/2009 - 9:38pm — Olternaut (not verified)

Ya know, I suspected Apple might pull a move like this. Debut mobile devices that are NOT iphones so they can be used on other networks.
Hell, why not sprint too then? That oughta screw with the the guys over at Palm. ;)

I'd trade my gramma for a VZ

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 12:08am — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

I'd trade my gramma for a VZ iPhone, but I don't know about an iPhone lite. What's "lite" about it? I love the iPhone for every single one of it's features, so I don't know if an iPhone lite would be for me. But if both devices can give me all the features of the iPhone I'd consider buying them both.

I absolutely need a keyboard.

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 1:56am — lamont (not verified)

I absolutely need a keyboard. So no tablet with stylus or virtual keyboard for me. This mythical device that apple may be developing is going to have to pack a whole lot of punch, bells and whistles and a below $700 price tag to garner serious attention. What might it feature: a tv tuner, 3G connectivity. Not from apple. Apple occasionally gets things wrong x two. I think they are soon going to remind us of this. Their relentless drive to leave out keyboards is a mistake until voice recognition is 100% accurate in a noisy room. Can't wait to see the apple flop!

"Their relentless drive to

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 10:26am — daPrinz (not verified)

"Their relentless drive to leave out keyboards is a mistake"

In what world are you living in?

about tv tuners...

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 10:55am — terry (not verified)

lamont wrote: "...What might it feature: a tv tuner, 3G connectivity..."

i'd like to know more about tv tuner-capabilities. are devices with that feature limited to over-air broadcasts? Or have any of the cable networks provided a feed that could be picked up by such a device, allowing a broader spectrum of channels? And if that's not been done yet, what's the technical feasibility of it happening--of a device being able to view 50, or 100, channels?

thanks.

No Keyboard!

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 2:38am — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

Those ongoing keyboard wishers really don't get it at all... the whole point of the device is to be touch interface, AKA iPhone on steroids...
If you want a keyboard... go the wireless or bluetooth option...

You betcha

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 9:30am — ulfoaf

I would probably not use a BT keyboard, certainly not on the go, but having it available would be nice. If it has BT anyway, why not?

As much as I understand a

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 5:42am — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

As much as I understand a cellphone requiring a contract, I really hate the trend of selling subsidized computers tied to a carrier... I understand it, just really hate. I'd rather spend $1000.00 on a netbook or whatever than, say $500 (or less) but have monthly service fees. I'm sure there are people on either side though, so I'll just keep my fingers crossed.

um...

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 7:25am — sinn01 (not verified)

It's probably going to be a new verizon hub made by apple with voip calling. I think the current hubs started to go on discount a week or two ago...prob to clear out inventory. I could see the screen being dockable. Could be pretty cool.

So...it's a UMPC.

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 8:18am — bkharmony (not verified)

I thought we Apple faithful didn't like UMPCs.

Oh yeah, I forgot. We hate something til we barge in and redefine the category. Carry on...

Nice image of "media pad"

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 9:26am — ulfoaf

I sure like this concept for the "media pad" ...

http://zollotech.com/content/apple-media-pad-iphone-lite-our-near-future

Being a media/entertainment device would distinguish it from the laptops. I saw Seth Weintraub (I believe) has mentioned a possible 5MP camera element? I can't quite see taking pictures with a "camera" with a 10" screen, but who knows? Wouldn't knock it 'til I tried it. Record hidef video?