Remember how in grade school, you usually made fun of the people you had crushes on? Verizon -- hot on the heels of some surgically strategic anti-iPhone marketing to promote its
upcoming Android line -- is singing a very different tune in the corporate boardroom, with CEO Ivan Seidenberg (who has a
storied reputation for running his mouth) saying during the company's earnings call today that the company "obviously would be interested at any point in the future that they would be interested in having us as a partner." He went on to say that the decision to bring the iPhone to Verizon is "exclusively in Apple's court," though we doubt that's entirely true -- Verizon has a reputation for putting manufacturers and devices through the wringer, and if any carrier in the world were to spike the iPhone for failing acceptance testing or throw its gargantuan weight and reputation around to put pressure on the contract, it'd be Big Red. Either way, though, it's an olive branch and a potential start to the near-constant cries of "if only the iPhone were on Verizon" that we've been hearing for the past two years; we're still having an awful hard time picturing a CDMA-equipped version ever happening, but with Verizon's
LTE network progressively lighting up over the next few years, it might just be the perfect opportunity for these wayward souls to finally find common ground, especially with the
tune AT&T's singing these days.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dylan @ Oct 26th 2009 3:10PM
I never understood why it would be so difficult to make a CDMA iphone. Yeah yeah, I know that making one provides for a smaller market than GSM, but they do it with other phones all the time. Palm Pre, Razr, Blackberries, etc. What makes the iphone so special?
Kar94k (PSN & Live: Kar94k) @ Oct 26th 2009 3:12PM
There is two things I find strange about this article:
1. Verizon bashes the iPhone so much and then it expects Apple to give them it
2. "we're still having an awful hard time picturing a CDMA-equipped version every happening", every should be ever
Mike Parsons @ Oct 26th 2009 3:26PM
A) Apple would not be "giving" the iPhone to Verizon. Saying that implies Apple would get nothing out of it. Apple would be getting access to another 80 million potential customers and all their app purchases and whatnot. Plus, with a developed CDMA version, who says Sprint would not get to carry it?
B) Business bash each other all the time and still work together. They bash when they need to to compete, and they collaborate when it's in both their self-interests. The bottom line is money, and Apple is not going to say "We won't work with you because you made fun of us" if Apple can gain financially.
Larry @ Oct 26th 2009 7:33PM
You know Verizon just can't wait to put their craptastic Vcast on the iphone. It will take them years to make it work right and push the launch date out to 2015! Okay, I know that was mean. I'm sorry Verizon..
Roger Alford @ Oct 26th 2009 3:24PM
Is this a news story, or just a commentary?
Cause its not news, we already know about it everyday when the AT&T and Verizon and Apple fan boys remind us that its not on Verizon and "it will be soon". Its been 2.5 years, and its not happened, so "soon" cant be said anymore.
And its written like a commentary, simply because its telling us what again, we already know... nothing new here other then Verizon CEO hinting that they want it and its up to Apple to produce it. Apple doesnt want to produce a NON-GSM technology phone for ONE major carrier thats been pining after it. Hell Telus and Bell Canada went HSPA and carry it now...why didnt Verizon and Sprint team up and do something? Why didnt Verizon team up with AT&T and co-brand it?
Simply stating the obvious...yet again.
joon @ Oct 26th 2009 3:23PM
does anyone remember when verizon REJECTED APPLE and the IPHONE
because it will never work or sell. apple should teach verizon a lesson and sign with sprint
Griffon @ Oct 26th 2009 3:34PM
Translation: we will sell iPhones just as soon as Apple agree that we are right, in control and calling all the shots.
I'm sure that will happen anyday.
Peter @ Oct 26th 2009 3:46PM
Verizon wants the iPhone on their terms, take the phone and put their stupid GUI and dictate what application it could run etc. etc. this is against Apple's policy and their GUI.
Verizon should stick to their Network Services and leave everything else to the Phone Manufactures/Software Companies.
Versed @ Oct 26th 2009 4:01PM
If Apple made a CDMA iphone, VZW would take it asap and would easily sell 20 million of them, if not more. Apple's plan is to open it up to multi-carriers so I'm sure Sprint as well, toss in another 5-10 in million sales. Then add the Canadian CDMA carriers. Not as large as a world wide gsm market, but its not nothing either.
netviper @ Oct 26th 2009 4:04PM
iPhone on AT&T will have HSPA+ support out there by end of next year. Does verizon have any equivalent to that? I know sprint is going right to 4g.
theknowitall @ Oct 26th 2009 4:07PM
sheesh.. you guys know nothing. Dealing with Verizon is a DREAM compared to dealing with qualcomm. OEMs cant just go "create" CMDA phones without mother Qualcomm getting in there a f'ing it up. Why do you think verizon is foaming at the mouth to fast track their LTE deployment?
DavidB @ Oct 26th 2009 4:49PM
Well duh, of COURSE the ball is totally in Apple's court. No existing iPhone will work on Verizon's network so no duh it's in Apple's court to make one that DOES work. Apple would be FOOLISH to wait for LTE or WiMax to have a large footprint. What Verizon is rightfully pointing out is that Apple is essentially telling what, about half the USA population (~85M on Verizon and ~40M on Sprint plus the Alltel/USCellular/etc. numbers) that Apple doesn't care to bring their device to them. ATT fanboies can extoll the virtues of GSM all the want but the simple fact is the CDMA carriers currently have THE BEST coverage nationwide and in most instances (speed tests show Sprint's network to be fastest) faster than the oversaturated ATT wireless network can offer.
Superdude @ Oct 26th 2009 4:30PM
Hey Peter, check your facts first. If the iPhone came to Verizon, they would still use their GUI. Verizon is getting the Palm Pre next year with their own GUI and rumour has it that Verizon is getting the HTC HD2 with their own GUI. And don't forget the Droid too. This is just a power play to get Apple in VZW. I think Apple probably needs Verizon more than Verizon needing Apple. AT&T sucks and nobody else can compare to what Verizon can offer as far as coverage and service.
Jamar @ Oct 27th 2009 3:04AM
VZ definitely needs Apple more. Remember, Apple sells iPhones all over the world. If Verizon tried to set up shop anywhere else they'd be out of cash by the end of the year (Vodafone is NOT a direct comparison, especially due to the endemic phone crippling on Verizon that you just about never see on Vodafone).
bernardino @ Oct 26th 2009 5:03PM
The iPhone is helping AT&T and hurting Verizon:
"The New York telecommunications company has done an admirable job of keeping pace with AT&T, which has an exclusive deal to sell the iPhone, but finally faltered amid record sales of the Apple device, as well as heightened competitive pressure on the low end. The number of new contract customers fell more than 50% from a year earlier, largely because Verizon lacked any new high-profile devices in the period."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704335904574496954080545902.html
As long as AT&T doesn't let its network go completely to pot, this will continue to be a huge advantage to them. Verizon can have a gold plated network, but as long as AT&T's network is good enough for their users, the fact that they continue to be the only carrier to have the iPhone will be the deciding factor.
I switched from Verizon to AT&T a year ago for the iPhone and have been very satisfied with it. If Verizon would carry a phone that I like as much as the iPhone, then I would consider switching again. Alas, the lack of multi-touch from their phones is a deal-breaker for me. It's also nice to be able to use voice and data at the same time, but maybe LTE will change that for Verizon.
woodraskam @ Oct 26th 2009 5:42PM
Verizon used to have no competing devices, but as of late, verizon has made a big push to have competing handsets like the Droid and Omnia 2. I know that I have stayed with Verizon during the latest handset famine because the network is second to none and after this next wave of phones come out, their handsets will match their network.
Captain @ Oct 26th 2009 5:47PM
I find it funny when people criticize Verizon for not being more receptive to Open Development when to me APPLE is worse. Apple's apps are the extent of their openness. It took iphone users years to send a MMS and copy and paste. I dont think APPLE and Verizon will ever team up. The Google and Verizon partnership was the first step of recovery for verizon. The android OS will work fine with verizon since its OS is more flexible and GOOGLE'S steady flow of innovation will match Apple's if not exceed.
nate @ Oct 26th 2009 5:55PM
im a sprint user and have a pre. my friend has an iphone and my pre is usually faster than his 3gs. but i would absolutly love to see an iphone on sprint that would be killer.
3n1gma @ Oct 26th 2009 7:15PM
Whats the difference? Att, verizon? Their prices are both ridiculous!! How about an afforadble text package at least you greedy phone companies. These giant corporations DO NOT GET IT. I'm about to just cancel my cell phone.
JPZ @ Oct 26th 2009 7:17PM
Android is like windows.. they sell there interface and UI to other manufacture like samsung, HTC, etc.. the android is nice, but they also have viruses just like the windows mobile etc.. my friend has an HTC mytouch and theres even a anti-virus app.
Even though apple is strictly apple.. they know what there doing and there software is great.
I highly doubt verizon will have the iphone, unless they go LTE soon or switch to HSPA. I know in canada, Bell and Telus, big CDMA companies are now switching to HSPA/GSM to carry the iphone.
Superdude @ Oct 27th 2009 10:16AM
I'm just saying that Verizon is basically neck and neck with AT&T as far as subscribers with Verizon being slightly behind in 2009. Verizon will be number one once they get the Droid phones and the Pre next year and coming out with the Storm 2 which is improved big time. Especially if AT&T loses exclusive rights to the iPhone, they will be hurting big time. Verizon is always known for not having a good selection of phones but that is rapidly changing. Also, all i hear is how bad the service is with AT&T and that people can't wait to have a Verizon iPhone. I am a Verizon Storm 9530 owner and even with the new OS update (which is real nice) would drop it in a second when or if the iPhone comes to Verizon. Lets hope.