News has just crossed from The Wall Street Journal that the Iphone is coming to Verizon in First Quarter 2011. This will break the virtual monopoly that AT&T has. As someone that has to currently carry two devices – an AT&T Iphone and a Blackberry on the Verizon network – this is good news. The latest Iphone in my experience is good for about four minute phone calls before it drops. I love the device, but picked up a Blackberry from Verizon to use for business calls. My Iphone is permanently on “forward” due to this terrible call drop problem.
Here is the link and the opening line or two of that great Wall Street Journal Story:
Apple Making Verizon-Ready iPhone by Year End
By YUKARI IWATANI KANE And TING-I TSAI
Apple Inc. plans to begin mass producing a new iPhone by the end of 2010 that would allow Verizon Wireless to sell the smartphone early next year, said people briefed by Apple.
The new iPhone would be similar in design to the iPhone 4 currently sold by AT&T Inc. but would be based on an alternative wireless technology called CDMA used by Verizon, these people said. The phone, for which Qualcomm Inc. is providing a key chip, is expected to be released in the first quarter of next year, according to the same people.