Verizon iPad: CFO Slip Confirms Built-In Compatibility

Verizon may have dropped one huge Apple announcement today, but the excitement didn't stop there.

With all the talk of the iPhone coming to Verizon, few asked if the iPad would follow suit with a model that natively supports their network.

Well, apparently it is.

The wireless carrier will, in fact, carry a version of the iPad with a chipset that is supported by their network, according to Bloomberg. Currently, though Verizon stores do sell iPads, the now iPhone-equipped network sells the WiFi version bundled with a MiFi hotspot.

Francis Shammo, CFO of Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon Wireless' parent company) confirmed that the iPad will be getting the chipset, but declined to say when it will be released, according to TIME.

The network switch is a blow to AT&T, the iPad's current exclusive carrier. The loss of exclusivity of both the iPad and the iPhone could have a serious impact, especially if other carriers also begin to adopt Apple technology.

However, it is unclear also whether or not consumers will have to wait for iPad 2 to experience the iPad on Verizon. Also, the are no details on whether or not it will run on Verizon's CDMA or LTE (4G) network, which could make a serious difference in performance.

Comments

[Republitarian]

05:04 PM on 01/14/2011

Another bogus HP headline gets me to click in. This isn't iPad 2 news.

[rmaenza]

01:17 AM on 01/13/2011

This new iPad will blow away the competition more than before. They will be selling them faster that the first one. Apple does a great job at marketing it to the right consumer. mainstreethost

[MaxPowerXP]

08:45 AM on 01/13/2011

The right consumer eh? PT Barnum had something to say about the right consumer.

[Don A]

01:10 AM on 01/13/2011

Why not choose instead a more open platform that allows an air-card to be inserted that accommodates any carrier of choice? The more sealed components inside, the less compatibility.

[poomplet]

02:01 AM on 01/13/2011

"Open Platform"?

"APPLE"????

ROFLMAO

[Brutus76]

02:38 AM on 01/13/2011

That's exactly the point. Apple has been able to produce such great products because they have control over the entire process. If Apple products were "designed by committee" they would still be a $25 stock. Air cards are ugly and not needed.

[MaxPowerXP]

08:46 AM on 01/13/2011

"Ugly"

...and once again, we see form win out over function, style win out over substance. Here's to you, Macinbots.

[EquinsuOcha]

11:42 PM on 01/12/2011

Gawd. Why can't T-Mobile or Sprint jump in here with iPhone compatibility? To be fair, I have an unlocked iPhone 3GS on T-Mobile now, but it's only capable of using the EDGE network, since T-Mobile's 3G network is on a different frequency range.

[Sequoia Hughes]

01:38 AM on 01/13/2011

Cell phone carriers like to take cell phones and put their own programs on them and redesign the interface. Often their changes butcher the interface so that it's gaudy and clunky, not to mention directing the user to their own online market (instead of Apple's App Store). They also tend to redesign the shell so that their logo (Sprint, Verizon, etc) is displayed prominently. Apple refused to let the carriers mess with the iPhone. AT&T was the only one willing to leave it alone until Verizon finally relented.

[omg wtf lol bbq]

02:43 AM on 01/14/2011

Sprint can power the CDMA iPhone, but I don't think they want to play Apple's game (though if Sprint got an iPhone, I'd get it through them over Verizon simply because of cost). And as far as networks go, I've had the worst experience on T-Mobile's network.

[MacGuffin]

11:16 PM on 01/12/2011

AT&T's loss of exclusivity will be the best thing for current iPhone and iPad users.

Up until this point, AT&T could allow their customers to be frustrated because there was nowhere to go. They raised the switching costs. And they could keep customers at least happy enough not to switch, but never truly delight customers.

With a true world-class competitor, AT&T is going to have to finally step up its game. When AT&T's service is good, it is a wonderful thing. But that is very infrequent. I will definitely consider moving either my iPad or my iPhone to Verizon.

[october2009]

01:14 AM on 01/13/2011

You hit the nail on the head...

And we wonder why our government does such a poor job at everything?! It's exactly for that reason alone that our government is so bad at everything... They have ZERO competition!

[neutrino74]

02:40 AM on 01/13/2011

Bad as in Social Security never missing a payment protecting hundreds of millions from poverty? As in NASA accomplishing a manned moon landing less than 12 years after the USSR put up the first earth orbiting satellite? As in NASA sending probes to all the planets in the solar system? As in the VA health care system offering the best health care in the US? As in the US government rolling out the interstate highway system? As in our military providing excellent defense of our nation? Did you mean that kind of poor job?

If you are going to insult my country you'd better first get your facts straight.

[Republitarian]

05:08 PM on 01/14/2011

Ha, I have to use Skype over WiFi in my own bedroom due to ATT's lame network.

[freedomisaJOKE]

10:24 PM on 01/12/2011

Verizon stock UP for sure tomorrow. get in early

[sgmorr]

11:36 PM on 01/12/2011

Or not.

[Republitarian]

05:10 PM on 01/14/2011

Yeah, iPhones cost a lot to subsidize, $400 per phone. And check out VZ's P/E. 209!

[studmoose]

10:09 PM on 01/12/2011

The Main Technology Page has 14 FEATURED APPLE Articles !

This is a technology section and not an Apple section, right?

I thought there was more to the world of technology than Apple products?

[JZ7]

10:17 PM on 01/12/2011

I am sick of Apple this, Apple that. Never have owned anything of theirs and will not start now. Love my Android.

[studmoose]

10:22 PM on 01/12/2011

It's like going to Jalopnik or Vehix and only seeing articles about Fords!

[Water Musique]

01:14 AM on 01/13/2011

Agreed. Apple in itself is trying to create a monopoly. It's like you MUST have an Apple lap top to go with your iPod, and load that music onto your iPhone and surf the net on your iPad.

The truth is, Apple just had a great marketing ploy. That was brilliant on their part.

I personally love my HTC, and refused to switch to ATT just because of the iphone. I stayed loyal to Verizon through out because they continued to have great service. Even though the iphone is coming to Verizon now, I think I'm still going to stick to my HTC Droid Incredible.

[Krek]

10:55 PM on 01/12/2011

The HP tech section has been an Apple-infomercial since its inception. When it started towards the end of 2009 the pro-Apple articles were mixed in with others critical of Microsoft. The anti-MS stories have largely fallen away and now the backdrop to the pro-Apple hysteria is provided by articles that are critical of Android. It would be nice to have a balanced tech section, but I doubt you'll ever see it.

[xtiangodloki]

09:42 PM on 01/12/2011

Good news for both verizon users and at&t users. The verizon people have been asking for the iphone for years (at least thats what one Verizon VP of marketing told me) and the later group will definitely see a price drop in order to keep them from switching.

[ResearchtheFacts]

08:28 PM on 01/12/2011

Diversity is good.  ATT has been in trouble for quite some time with their aging technology network. One or two products shouldn't make that much of a difference if everything else is going right.

But who in their right mind would pay $1200 a year on the low end ($100 a month + additional web cost)  $1440 if you add the ...$20 monthly for unlimited data on top of voice and texting costs.

Verizon states “The iPhone uses an awful lot of data, so they will have to charge heavily for data and it will be fairly expensive.”  You can say that about all smartphones and several they are already offering.

When you can get unlimited text, mms, video chat and voice for $59.83 on a 4G network.  No additional costs.  I don't get why people pay more and get less.

And, to make matters worse...The CDMA iPhone will not be able to employ voice and data at the same time. (The CDMA Development Group has announced that simultaneous voice and data on CDMA will become commercially available in the first half of this year. No U.S. CDMA carrier has announced plans to implement the change).  That's no surfing the web while talking.  Get out of here.

[Craig 212]

09:23 PM on 01/12/2011

$1440 a year? Where are you getting these numbers from?

[ResearchtheFacts]

09:33 PM on 01/12/2011

The ATT plan was $100 to $120 a month is what they quoted me to use this device and then wanted to jail me in a two year term.   So actually $2880 if you count the two year sentence.

[ResearchtheFacts]

09:35 PM on 01/12/2011

That's for iphone.  Now add what the double contract will cost you if you have iphone and ipad.  Do people realize how much money they have going out the door for these devices.

One data voice plan and I'm milking it for every dollar I spend and it is worth.

[Flight]

08:14 PM on 01/12/2011

Though I admit I've entertained the idea of getting an iPhone at one point or another, but doubt if I will at the end of the day. I realize technology changes constantly and changing phones is no big deal considering options and brands. However, this latest Apple announcement made me realize just how much their products are hyped for the next version as soon as one hits the market. We're now on iPhone 4 and iPad 2 is fast approaching. Apple is playing the marketing game extremely well, and apparently a lot of folks buy into it just as much as their products. One can drain a bank account quickly playing 'keeping up with the Apples.'

[BeachWar]

09:57 PM on 01/12/2011

Every tech company changes just as much as Apple.

[libluv235]

08:13 PM on 01/12/2011

I have the first version of iPad, wifi, use my palm phone with wifi hot spot when not in range of free wifi. Plan to get the new iPhone on verizon. Have waited because at and t so poor with reception. So glad hot spot will be included otherwise would not have made the switch to iPhone. Palm will now loose even more market share. It's palm pixi is fairly weak technology. Will be glad to let it go.

[Leigh Mckenzie]

10:06 PM on 01/12/2011

the hotspot will *almost* definitely cost extra.

[ydrittmann]

01:57 PM on 01/13/2011

Lose not loose.

[libluv235]

08:09 PM on 01/12/2011

Yay

[jws2346]

08:06 PM on 01/12/2011

I can honestly say I'm not a big fan of the Apple anything, but I do have to give them and Verison kudos for this with the iPad. I just h8te the "but declined to say when it will be released" baloney (it's common with ANYTHING to do with computers, their manufacturers and the little old lady's at the clothes line, only kiddin', they ain't all lady's and they ain't all old )

[The Truth Seeker]

07:55 PM on 01/12/2011

"have to wait for the iPad2"?

If the author of this article had done five minutes of research he would know that the next iPad is likely to come out very shortly. Hardly seems like waiting for the iPad 2 to get one on Verizon is really that big of a deal.

[Charismatron]

07:43 PM on 01/12/2011

I am unsatisfied with the results of my clicking this headline and demand a refund, stat!

[Republitarian]

05:19 PM on 01/14/2011

On my deathbed, I'll want these three minutes back.