When will verizon release the iphone?

Why don’t you just get a Droid? fist pump

CSR @ VZW retail store said “Not before the holidays”. Asked yesterday, he said lotsa Droid phones between now and the holidays.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Verizon iPhone will be out “early next year”.

@deni GA for the added fist pump!

This story is evolving rapidly. Yesterday, the WSJ reported that Apple is getting ready to build phones that will work on CDMA networks – like Verizon but also Sprint, MetroPCS, etc. – and that they’d be ready around January 2011.

A little while later, Electronista reported that Verizon chief Lowell McAdam “dodged” a direct question as to whether the iPhone is coming to Verizon.

Speculation there is that Verizon’s confirmation of the iPhone coming in early 2011 might put a freeze on Verizon’s current lineup of smartphones… much like what the querent is proposing (waiting for the new iPhone instead of buying a Blackberry now).

Come to today, and the WSJ has changed the lede of yesterday’s article, no longer focusing on the technology aspect and instead saying that Verizon will definitely get a CDMA-compatible iPhone in early 2011.

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Normally, I don’t have any belief in Apple rumors. Prognostication of Apple’s future product plans is a risky proposition… most of it is usually wrong.

The Wall Street Journal, on the other hand, is usually very circumspect about reporting anything unconfirmed. Changing the lede of the article is a significant move… and adds credence, I think, to the story.

AT&T has an exclusivity contract lasting the next 4 or 5 years. Every 6 months, Verizon claims it’s getting the iPhone within the next year. It never does. So get something else.

Apple and AT&T entered into a 5 year exclusivity agreement back in 2007 with release of the original iPhone. It’s not going to last into “the next 4 or 5 years”. At most, it goes until 2012.

Yes, these claims of Verizon getting the iPhone seem to crop up every 6 months. And they still have yet to materialize. I don’t think Verizon is behind those claims though… usually just blog pundits eager for some hits to their web site.

Contracts can be bought out. It’s a business deal. The legal definition of the device might be up to interpretation… where Verizon might not get the identical device defined in Apple/AT&T’s contract. There are several avenues by which a CDMA-based iPhone could be brought to market before 2012.

Still, @papayalily‘s pessimism is wise…

I hate buying into the rumors since they come along every few months.

It would be nice if it came out soon though.

I’m on AT&T & get a great discount (through family) & my boyfriend is on Verizon also with a discount. I got the iPhone 4 & he got a Droid but he’d like to switch over to the iPhone.

As for which phone you should get.. I wouldn’t go with a Blackberry. Been there, done that.. it’s just not up to par with iPhones & Droids if you’re looking for more of a social/media/internet/etc phone. Plus, hourglassing just about ruined my life haha.

@robmandu Thank you, I couldn’t remember the details of the contract. 2012 is still a way off for phone land

When I bought my Droid about 6 months ago, the guy at Verizon says he doesn’t think Verizon will have the iPhone for at least a few more years. In addition to Apples contract with AT&T, Verizon has their own marketplace and if they were to get the iPhone, they’d have to make a deal with Apple in regards to their marketplace. Apple could be working on a CDMA-compatible phone so that they have it ready when their contract with AT&T expires though, that wouldn’t surprise me.