Verizon iPhone To Be Released Later This Year? New Rumors Surface

Even though Apple has confirmed its five-year iPhone-exclusivity deal with AT&T (which doesn't expire until 2012), rumors of the iPhone coming to Verizon Wireless later this year have resurfaced.

No matter how unlikely, Digitimes has sparked new talk of a Verizon iPhone with the simple mention that Pegatron, a Taiwanese manufacturer, will be shipping an iPhone compatible with Verizon's CDMA network later this this year. Digitimes, writes, "Pegatron will also start shipping a CDMA version of the iPhone 4 to Apple in the fourth quarter and is currently using its plants in Shanghai, China to produce the products."

Pegatron may have some incentive to build buzz around its brand given that, according to Digitimes, the company will be "listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) on June 24."

Interestingly, the Digitimes claim echoes a rumor published by the Wall Street Journal earlier this year, which suggested that production of Verizon-compatible iPhones would begin later this year.

The Wall Street Journal explained:

The people briefed on the matter said one of the new iPhones is being manufactured by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., which produced Apple's previous iPhones. The model that has CDMA capability, used by Verizon Wireless, is being manufactured by Pegatron Technology Corp., the contract manufacturing subsidiary of Taiwan's ASUSTeK Computer Inc., said these people.

One person familiar with the situation said Pegatron is scheduled to start mass producing the CDMA iPhones in September, but it was unclear when Apple might make the model available.

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Comments

[flirtsquirt]

07:21 PM on 06/21/2010

this is becoming the electronic "bigfoot"

[ScottSutton]

09:29 AM on 06/20/2010

It's called a legal contract that ends in 2012! If Apple breaks this contract they will be destroyed in the following lawsuits.
Stop it with the rumors and move on people. Get the Iphone know if you like since in 2012 you can switch carriers.

[Sunshine1970]

10:10 AM on 06/21/2010

Regarding the contract. Few years ago there was a lawsuit brought up between iPhone owners, Apple & AT&T and that their contract was possibly breaking antitrust laws. This article says there is a possibility that there is no contract until 2012 any more..

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9176604/Proof_elusive_in_claims_of_five_year_Apple_AT_T_deal

I guess we'll all find out towards the end of the year if another carrier gets the iPhone.

Sure would make everything much more interesting out there if someone else gets it, and I'm sure Apple knows that, and they must be pretty upset at AT&T right about now how things have been handled with their network.

[microsoap]

01:29 AM on 06/20/2010

Steve Jobs is a stupid, stupid, greedy, vindictive, petty, miserable old miser... so I don't see it happening.

[yogandclimber]

01:55 AM on 06/20/2010

There aren't too many smart phones available on multiple carriers and they have contracts too. It's not an easy thing to release a phone with the demand of the iPhone on one carrier so how are they going to do 2. There was no way apple could meet the demand or support before this year. There are more than 60 million Verizon users without iPhones and I can tell you what the number one complaint is at Verizon.... No iPhone.

[ipv4]

09:17 PM on 06/20/2010

Try over 90 million verizon customers.

[Sunshine1970]

10:19 AM on 06/21/2010

nah I don't think I'd go that far. A huge ego, though ohh yeah.

I think he sees his creations more as pieces of art than as technology, which is why Apple's products, advertising, stores, packaging are very sleek, beautiful & very appealing.

I think other companies really need to look at how Jobs & Apple market and emulate this because he knows how to do it & he pushes the markets ahead with innovative ideas.

I'm in no way an Apple fangrl and will never pony up the cash to buy an Apple product, but I do not mind looking at them or playing around with them in an Apple store. I'm just hoping someone else in the tech industry will take up the challenge to make their products look as appealing as Apple does.

So far, after all these years, no one really has.

I'm sure Jobs knows AT&T makes the iPhone look bad, like it doesn't really do what he says it can. I'm sure he's itching to now get out of any type of contract which may be in place (if there is still one) so he can go to other carriers. But, he may be negotiating with other companies so he gets exactly what he wants from the company so this may be why it's taking so long for something else to come along.

[Matthew McDonald]

01:04 AM on 06/20/2010

How are you all ignoring the fact that as of right now a CDMA network will NOT support a phone call and broadband usage simultaneously. That means you can not access any of your internet or web enabled apps while on a phone call. The Verizon network just does not do it simultaneously!! This is why T-Mobile will get the iphone, but Verizon and Sprint WILL NOT! and FYI Verizon's customer service sucks, worst ever.

[JWoode]

02:31 AM on 06/20/2010

my calls don't drop on Verizon.

[craigers]

03:21 PM on 06/20/2010

atthew is exactly right! Anyone who looks into the iPhone situation can tell you it is much, much more likely that the iPhone will next appear on the magenta network, not Verizon. T-Mobile runs on the same technology as AT&T, Verizon runs on the outdated CDMA. There is no way a forward thinking company like Apple would devolve its hottest product to be compatible with an outdated system. It would be like going from high speed wireless to 56k dial up. IF another company gets the iPhone this year it will be T-Mobile. And that will be good for iPhone fans because T-Mobile is a great company with great customer service and a strong network.

[ipv4]

09:19 PM on 06/20/2010

You mean that outdated cdma that is in more places then at&t network??? Sorry but I also like to make phone calls on my phone as well as surf which in nyc is a major problem. You know the city with the most people in america.

[jabailo]

06:17 PM on 06/19/2010

Just one look at the Droid and the iPhone goes into the dumpster.

[CaptD]

10:04 PM on 06/19/2010

I'll be only too happy to recycle yours for you!

In fact, I challenge you to prove to us that you "dumped" your iPhone!

[Matthew McDonald]

01:04 AM on 06/20/2010

I call shenanigans.

[MrVee]

12:37 PM on 06/19/2010

Iphone owners are cutting their own throats by allowing the AT&T cabal to continue. The quickest way to get the iphone onto another network other than AT&T is to quit buying iphones.

[jabailo]

06:18 PM on 06/19/2010

With deals and coupons you can get two Droids for $70. There's no going back to a less functional and inferior iFoney.

[CaptD]

10:07 PM on 06/19/2010

Unless you for a "real" user and not just a "Blogger"...

Enjoy your Droid(s), I only hope they are not really Hem-Droids":-)

[CanterburyTale]

08:33 AM on 06/19/2010

I've been looking forward to a Verizon IPhone for a year now. Their network is flawless. Never drops calls for me where I travel, including the Carribean. I'm glad Jobs released his 4G now (which has a few bugs) and hopefully all of this will be resolved by November when it is to be released. I'm also excited about Verizon's teaming up with Google to develop an IPad type of device and will look forward to seeing how it stacks up against the IPAD before I buy something like that. Competition is a good thing.

Meanwhile, I would not accept ATT service if it was free (been there, done that, no thanks).

[CaptD]

09:56 PM on 06/19/2010

Ditto, but I did not get if for free! Their Customer $ervice was so bad...

[Sunshine1970]

10:45 AM on 06/21/2010

It's not 4G. It's iPhone 4. The 4 only means the 4th generation.

[glockman]

07:44 AM on 06/19/2010

I've grown rather weary of this stupid rumor.

[CaptD]

09:57 PM on 06/19/2010

Then Change Blogs...
Bye Bye

[glockman]

07:59 AM on 06/20/2010

Nah, I think I'll stick around just to bother you.

[Tanker10a]

06:55 AM on 06/19/2010

Dream On!
Apple & AT&T seem to be doing fine without VZW in the mix. By now, the marketing infrastructure is well established through great synergy.
Besides, having an exclusive wireless carrier to sell its product, Apple Inc. is basking in the glow of absolute control of the iPhone. So why do they need Verizon for? Producing a CDMA version of this phone would only increase its cost.
Once again, why does AAPL need another carrier?!

[joe757]

08:05 AM on 06/19/2010

Because the AT&T network can't support the iPhone to it's fullest capabilities but the Verizon network can.

[ipv4]

09:21 PM on 06/20/2010

There are 90 million reason why apple needs verizon and should sell their phone on their network but the problem is that steve jobs want revenue sharing like actually spent money building the dam network. Get a clue on the facts please.

[RealisticallyOptimist]

02:45 AM on 06/19/2010

Nite nite hp...

[RealisticallyOptimist]

02:44 AM on 06/19/2010

With its poor coverage, AT

[RealisticallyOptimist]

02:37 AM on 06/19/2010

As Verizon grew, it's customer service worsened. Cannot imagine letting it get bigger.

[dulceburro]

02:08 AM on 06/19/2010

Was this a wet dream? There is a contract with AT&T until 2012 (Less bars in more places) so what do you want? Yeah, thats the same year Barack's BP contract runs out.

[Bushwhacked]

09:28 PM on 06/18/2010

It won't happen. Otherwise Verizon wouldn't be pushing Droid and Incredible.

[Sean Johnson]

09:16 PM on 06/18/2010

I would love to see the iPhone come to Verizon, because I don't see myself leaving Verizon to go to AT&T, but didn't Jobs himself basically say it's not happening. And if it was, wouldn't Jobs have told the world back when he introduced the newest iPhone model? I'm not saying it won't happen, I'm just saying it looks highly unlikely.

[Bill in Virginia]

09:30 PM on 06/18/2010

With much sadness, I agree with you Sean.

[CaptD]

10:01 PM on 06/19/2010

I've talked to some MS "phoney's" and Apple's iPhone Version version (iPVV) will be out by XMAS...
Santa is going to be very busy this year... especially if you are a Mac user that likes to take photos!

Say Cheese!