Lowell McAdam, President and CEO Verizon Wireless, and Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook took the stage at a New York press conference Monday to announce news that the tech world had been waiting for: Apple's iPhone is coming to Verizon.
The Verizon iPhone goes on sale Feb. 10. Existing Verizon customers can pre-order starting Feb. 3. The phone will be $199 for 16 GB and $299 for 32 GB. It will act as a WiFi hotspot for up to five devices. The phone will be available at the Apple store, alongside the AT&T version, and well as at Verizon Wireless locations. Verizon said it will also sell iPhone via indirect sales channels, but not at launch.
Verizon did not announce monthly pricing plans.
McAdam said his company's relationship with Apple has developed over the past few years, and that in 2008, the two companies talked about bringing iPhone to Verizon's 3G network. He said Verizon has spent a year testing the iPhone. Apple and Verizon have a multi-year non-exclusive agreement for the Verizon version, which uses a wireless technology called CDMA, which differs from AT&T, which uses a wireless technology called GSM.
The non-exclusive agreement could pave the way for an iPhone on Sprint, which also uses CDMA.
The new iPhone will only work on Verizon's existing 3G network and not its new 4G network which promises higher speeds. Cook said making this phone LTE capable would force design compromises Apple was not willing to make and that customers wanted the phone now. Most companies who are making phones to work with Verizon's 4G network plan to release them in summer.
AT&T executives, whose company has had an iPhone exclusive for three years, have already begun to criticize the competition saying that its 3G network is faster than Verizon's, a fact backed up by many studies.
Expect Verizon to strike back, emphasizing that its network has been more reliable. AT&T has finished last in several reliability surveys and iPhone customers have complained so much about connection issues and dropped calls that AT&T has added huge public WiFi hotspots in cities like New York, San Francisco and Charlotte to try to alleviate the problems.
At Monday's news conference, Verizon officials stressed its network was ready to handle new waves of data hungry iPhone customers.
Apple's Cook said the phone was optimized to work on Verizon's network and asked if any changes had been made to iPhone 4's oft-critized antenna, he said "it's going to work great."
One caveat: Verizon's CDMA network does not allow voice calls at the same time as data. So you cannot surf the internet and make calls like on AT&T's version. Cook said "I think people place different emphasis on things. I can tell you that the number one question I've gotten is when will the iPhone work on Verizon. I couldn't be happier to tell people that. They will make these sorts of tradeoffs."
MORE COVERAGE CLICK BELOW
Should you buy Verizon iPhone right now or wait?
Fight: AT&T vs. Verizon iPhone
Next iPad to Verizon compatible, too
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
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27 comments:
Would the cure for cancer receive as much coverage as this? Goodness. It's a phone and it already exists.
Indeed.
Y'all freaked out over the release of a cell phone may consider finding a good mirror that allows you to set your priorities, unless of course that's all you are worth as a human being..... the make and model of your cell phone.
In which case you are addicted to "social networking", and texting while driving as well.
Well I'm excited about it. Keep us updated.
Well IPhone customers are about to learn it isn't just the AT&T network that is the problem, it is their beloved IPhone that is causing some of the poor reception and hangups. I have an IPhone now but have been with AT&T (and previously Cingular) for around 10 years. I've owned many different types of phones and never had the reception issues I have with my IPhone. Sorry Apple lovers but you will learn it isn't just the network at fault. I'm sure many of the same issues will also be there with the Verizon IPhones.
can't wait for all you apple fools to see that this was't an at&t issue but an iphone problem. you'll see....and i will laugh and laugh at all of you idiots, while enjoying great reception on my windows phone 7. #applesucks
Another way of putting the CDMA data limitation is: while 5 of your friends are connected to your phone and surfing the net, guess what happens if you get a call?
I would still rather get an android based phone.
That's not entirely true that you can't browse the web whiile on the android. If you turn on the wifi you can talk and browse at the same time.
There are some idiots on here! First, Andriod is fragmented, unsecure and blows. You people realize you're comparing and mobile OS to an actual phone. I'll support an American company (Apple) over RIM, HTC, Samsung, etc...all day long.
Second, I love the morons that are already trying to say there are problems with the iPhone on Verizon before they even see how it performs or works. That just goes to show you that they are just Apple haters and will always have something negative to say. Trolls!
Facts are facts, smartphones are what they are today thanks to Apple's innovation, recreation of the app store and mobile OS. Android ripped off Apple on all the above points, so to brag about Android and claim their superiority, is just hilarious!
I wonder...Is that grass that much greener?
You can definitely see how is on AT&T because they sit back and show how upset they are by talking junk about Verizon. It's ok sweetpeas, it's just a phone and they are just wireless companies. Not the cure to cancer. Don't get you blood pressure up. It's a Free Market.
Folks, I hate to burst your bubbles but all wireless carriers suck. Some are better in certain areas than others, but they are all a rip off! Most Verizon/Android Boys hate Apple b/c they never had the option of the iPhone with Verizon. Android has it's fans and so does iPhone. Both are good OS's, so it comes down to a matter of preference. Apple's customer service still smokes any of the competition, so that's why I lean toward Apple.
@Anon 1:16 PM...
You hit the nail on the head.
Blah, the iPhone is no longer the benchmark for smartphones. Team Android is leading the innovative technology for phones now. Dual core processor phone much? The thing is, the top end Androids use as much data as the iPhone so VZW could easily handle the incoming iPhone users. However, the current limitation of CDMA is not being able to do simultaneous data and voice services, so the next iPhone from VZW will either be VoLTE or LTE for date and the new CDMA standard, SVDO/1X Advanced which allows simultaneous voice and data. Good luck AT&T the apple fanboys are coming.
apple is easier to use and works everytime. nuff said
Why purchase a phone that's already obsolete? If it can't run on 4G why buy it?
Apple knows they're losing the battle to Android phones so rather than wait until the 4G was ready... they're pushing this for sales. Wake up people and stop being a marketing puppet consumer and start demanding what we want.
Losing the battle? Come on bro, pull your head out of your ass! Apple still sells more devices than any "one" Android Device maker. Sure the Android phones released since the iPhone 4 was released last June are going to have better specs and features...that's how technology works! Google and device makers do this every year. They wait for Apple to introduce a product, copy and tweak it and act like they've reinvented the wheel. Same goes for the iPhoen, iPad, Mac, iPod. You can thank Apple for actually being innovative and introducing these products.
As for the idiots on here braggin about dual core processors and 4G devices, please shut up! Both of these have just been released and LTE won't be avaiable to the masses for another year.
Some people will just continue to hate without knowing what they are really talking about!
My head is not in my ass... perhaps you should do your own research before making a fool out of yourself. Currently... Blackberry has the most market share followed now by the Android phones... Apple is third. LOOK IT UP!!
Apple couldn't wait much longer due to falling behind further. Answer this for me Einstein... why would they roll out their flagship product on an inferior 3G network instead of the faster 4G? When you figure that out maybe a light will come on... LOL
I'd rather have an Android phone with a keyboard - the iPhone does nothing for me... I've used both the iphone & a couple Android phones and I prefer Android OS a little but I especially like smart devices w/ keyboards (my favorite is the Sprint Epic but Verizon has a nice one too); when Apple comes out with a keyboard then I'll rethink things - sometimes a nice keyboard is faster, safter, and easier...
My favorite comment, from 12:33pm, on this tread is the guy/gal who's main reason for liking the iPhone better is because Apple is "an American company." Hey genius, the phone is made by Foxconn, a Chinese company, for Apple. It's not as though hard working American men and women whistling "God Bless America" are assembling these things in a swank factory in Cupertino. I'm not debating the merits of this type of outsourcing by the way. I just think it's funny this person is oblivious of it.
@ 6:02
Apple has 36,000 US employees. Just because they outsource their manufacturing doesn't change the fact they are a US based company. LG, Samsung, and Sony are not us based companies and provide even fewer US jobs. The vast majority of Apple's payroll and taxes are paid in the United States. If that doesn't make them an American Company I don't know what does.
Before hurling insults at others, maybe you should stop and think a little more about your overly simplistic view of modern business.
ANON 5:34
Actually, you are wrong. According the Nielson research, iOS has now moved into the overall 1st place by 2.5%:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/apple_still_us_market_share_leader_in_smartphones.php
They are also hemorrhaging market share on an almost daily basis. Less than 20% of smartphones sold in November were blackberry based, with 68% being Android and iOS.
And for the record: 4G phones drain batteries MUCH faster than 3G phones. Add in the sporadic 4G coverage across the vast majority of the country and you have phones that can barely make it through the day on a charge.
Who cares anymore, the iPhone has serious competition now and fan boys will be fan boys of both Android and iOS. The point about dual core processor Androids is that it is innovative and manufacturers of Android are not following Apple's trend anymore. The iPhone may have the most apps but the majority of it is redundant and that goes the same for the Android market. Then Apple fan boys throw up fragmentations, the majority of Androids are 2.1 or later now. Sure some devices won't or can't be upgraded just like the iPhone 2s can't get iOS 4. Another note, 4G is growing and changing. It hasn't reached it maturity yet, and of the main complaints will be it'll drain battery power. Why? b/c that's one more radio frequency the phone has to use, until VoIP a la VoLTE or VoWiMax comes around in a few years. A 4G iPhone will have the same problem.
droid OS sucks anus and everyone knows it. its gonna take awhile for it to catch up (just like apple). not gonna happen overnight.
Android is not cool.
"There are some idiots on here! First, Andriod is fragmented, unsecure and blows. You people realize you're comparing and mobile OS to an actual phone. I'll support an American company (Apple) over RIM, HTC, Samsung, etc...all day long.
Second, I love the morons that are already trying to say there are problems with the iPhone on Verizon before they even see how it performs or works. That just goes to show you that they are just Apple haters and will always have something negative to say. Trolls!
Facts are facts, smartphones are what they are today thanks to Apple's innovation, recreation of the app store and mobile OS. Android ripped off Apple on all the above points, so to brag about Android and claim their superiority, is just hilarious!"
The only idiot/moron is you. Trolls? You're a Tool. iPhones are built in China you dimwit. The company may be American based (so is Google - the creator of Andriod you schlep), but you're supporting the communist regimes by being a little Apple fanboy.
Facts are facts, Apple didn't invent the smartphone you jabroni. Palms, Blackberry's, heck even Windows phones were around long before the iPhone came along. Get a clue you Steve Jobs loving freak.
It's funny how devoted the Apple zombies are. The build a phone, the tell you its the best, so it must be the best, right? Darn thing won't make a phone call if you hold it the way most people hold a phone (yeah, that's smart) but hey, put a piece of scotch tape on it, and we'll call it the greatest phone again!
Apple are marketing geniuses. You all run out and buy your iPhones and your MaxiPads as soon as Apple releases them, and then you use them to text your friends from the unemployment line while bitching about how tough the economy is right now! LMAO
The guy at the Apple store said it's the best! It must be true! Lets pay double what it's worth for it! LOL suckers
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