Verizon iPhone Release Date: Fall 2010? Apple Rumours 2011

Photos

The Apple iPhone 3GS

see larger image

uploaded by Jacob Zinn

The Apple iPhone is heading for Verizon wireless and is expected to be released in 2011—or as early as this fall.

Release dates for the Verizon iPhone vary in speculating Internet reports, but a Apple Insider rumour from November hinted that it could be available by the third-quarter of 2010—shortly after the summer unveiling of the iPhone HD.

Verizon and Apple stocks rose Tuesday after the unofficial announcement Monday and buzz about it has increased on the Internet, making it one of the top trending topics.

• Stanford Survey Rates iPhone Addiction: 44% of Students Obsessed

Verizon Challenging AT&T's iPhone Support

Since its release in June 2007, the iPhone has only been available on AT&T in the United States.

An estimated 1 to 2 million iPhone users are expected to switch from AT&T to Verizon, which already has 6 million more customers. But even after Verizon starts supporting the iPhone, many will have to wait for their 2-year contracts with AT&T are up.

The Verizon iPhone will likely be compatible with Verizon’s high-speed CDMA network, currently in development.

CDMA, which stands for “code division multiple access,” is a communications standard for cell phones. The advanced technology offers a higher user capacity and is free of interference from other signals.

Verizon iPhone Scepticism on the Internet

Rumours of Apple and Verizon teaming up date back to 2008, but this seems to be the closest both companies have gotten to an iPhone partnership. AT&T’s exclusivity deal with Apple is said to expire sometime this year, opening the door for Verizon.

Apple had said they would only go with Verizon once its 4G network was set up—which isn’t expected to cover two-thirds of the United States until 2012. It seems Apple is willing to settle with CDMA technology (which is still faster and more reliable than some networks) if the Verizon iPhone is released before then.