CEO Offers Little On Verizon iPhone Release

NEW YORK — Comments from Verizon Communications Inc. CEO Ivan Seidenberg on Thursday left little room for the possibility of a Verizon version of the iPhone any time soon.

Speaking to investors at a Goldman Sachs conference, Seidenberg said nothing about an iPhone for the company's current network, but said he hopes Apple Inc. will come around and allow Verizon to sell the phone for a new network it is building. The "4G" network hasn't yet opened for service and won't be complete next year.

Reports regularly surface of an upcoming iPhone version for Verizon's network, but so far AT&T Inc. has kept its exclusive right to sell the phone in the U.S. Verizon Wireless, meanwhile, has been promoting phones from Motorola Inc. and HTC Corp. that run Google Inc.'s Android software as an alternative to the iPhone.

"We don't feel like we have an iPhone deficit. We would love to carry it when we get there, but we have to earn it," Seidenberg said.

"I think 4G will accelerate the process, and any other decisions Apple makes would be fine with us," he added. "Hopefully, at some point Apple will get with the program."

Verizon Wireless expects to fire up a network based on a "fourth-generation" wireless technology known as Long Term Evolution in 25 to 30 cities by the end of the year. It should have near-nationwide coverage by the end of 2012, Seidenberg said.

The network should allow for higher data speeds, but won't be ready for phone calls. This year, Verizon expects to sell data modems for the network, with phones coming next year. The first phones will probably use Verizon's older "3G" network for phone calls, since calling over 4G hasn't been standardized yet. That complicates the design of phones for the system.

Seidenberg confirmed that he expects to leave the CEO job no later than the end of next year, to be succeeded by newly appointed chief operating officer Lowell McAdam, who was head of Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of New York-based Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group PLC of Britain. It is the country's largest cell phone company, with 92.1 million subscribers. AT&T is close behind.

Verizon shares rose 11 cents to $32.50 in morning trading. AT&T shares rose 5 cents to $28.64.

Comments

[planetjeffy]

03:40 PM on 09/27/2010

I quit waiting 4 months ago and bought a DI
I like it alot

[twhiting9275]

06:09 AM on 09/27/2010

Well, gee, guess the 'rumors' were wrong, weren't they?
VZW users have another 1.5 to 2 years to go before they get the pretty iPhone. OOPS, sorry, guess you should have renewed your contract earlier!

[Sean Johnson]

06:05 PM on 09/26/2010

Even though it's a win/win for both Apple and Verizon (a win for Apple because they'll make more money by allowing the iPhone to be available to more wireless carriers and a win for Verizon because VZW customers have been waiting for the iPhone to become available(I know, the Android phones can do what an iPhone does) and they have the better network between them and AT&T), it'll never happened unless both sides are willing to concede some control.

[twhiting9275]

06:10 AM on 09/27/2010

It'll never happen because the law won't allow it to happen
Apple is stuck with AT&T exclusively until 2012. It's called a contract

[Madmac]

05:55 PM on 09/26/2010

But teh rumors said it'll be here next week.

[Samuel Perry]

01:27 PM on 09/26/2010

Guess I'll haveta get used to that scary sounding DROID sound then...

[seniorcousin]

08:50 AM on 09/26/2010

It's the htc phones that are multiplying at work. Nice phones.

I'd like to get another iPhone next Summer, but coverage will have to improve and Flash will run on my next phone.

Lloyd

[MetrointheWoods]

09:15 AM on 09/25/2010

I've been with Verizon for seven years now; I'm definately a loyal Verizon customer. iPhone or not, I couldn't see myself with any other phone company.

[seniorcousin]

08:53 AM on 09/25/2010

The people I work with keep showing me their new Verizon phones. They aren't envious of my iPhone anymore. It's nice to know I'll have some choices when my contract is up next July.

[quedog]

07:33 AM on 09/26/2010

perhaps but blackberry smart phone suck
I know because I had 3 of the latest generation phones
heads up dont waste your money

qdog

[eilish]

03:36 AM on 09/25/2010

Sigh. I did love my iPhone, but since AT&T doesn't work where I live now I got Verizon and man, is it better. No dropped calls, no dead spots - well, one in a deep gully in the remote mountains of AZ.

Guess it's a Droid X for me - and I think they're fiiiiine.

[Bucket-Of-Love]

01:52 AM on 09/25/2010

Great! Maybe this means even more options and support for Android.

[Angelus2007]

02:09 PM on 09/24/2010

Could it be that Apple is making CDMA phones for countries that primarily use CDMA not GSM? most of Central and South America, plus parts of SE Asia use primarily CDMA. It may have nothing to do with Verizon.

[Tunghoy]

11:30 AM on 09/24/2010

This pretty much says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg

[eilish]

03:33 AM on 09/25/2010

I'm laughing so hard I woke the neighbor's dogs.

[DawnLI]

10:22 PM on 09/26/2010

They have a few of those... effin' funny.

[Shawn Wolfe]

11:29 AM on 09/24/2010

I wish my iPod could make phone calls.

No I don't want an iPhone I know what an iPhone is

[revko]

07:38 PM on 09/25/2010

If wishes were iPhones then beggars would surely text

[wecanonlyhope]

08:22 AM on 09/24/2010

I feel like its a big shell game. It is difficult to imagine that Verizon would pass up on the Christmas Gift giving season to launch a new IPhone version for themselves, as would be true for Apple too.

[dbmetzger]

11:19 PM on 09/23/2010

New iPods Get It Right, As Expected
By now, Apple's introduction of new iPods each fall is about as surprising as kids going back to school. But Apple took some risks this time with its lineup, too. http://www.newslook.com/videos/252526-new-ipods-get-it-right-as-expected?autoplay=true