Verizon iPhone rumored to launch on February 3
Over the past few months, the rumors of a Verizon CDMA-based iPhone have reached a fever pitch. Now the folks over at BGR think that they've come up with the exact date that the fabled VZW iPhone will hit the streets -- February 3, 2011.
Why the day after Groundhog Day? Well, they based it on confirmed stories from "sources close to Apple" that retail employees have been told that they cannot take vacation between Thursday, February 3 and Sunday, February 6. This is a usual Apple retail response to the impending release of a new product. We reported on this vacation moratorium yesterday, but the timeframe was vague. Now it's been pinned to a specific four-day period.
The Loop is also reporting that there's a Verizon special event planned for 1/11/11 at 11 AM ET. The event, which will be held at Rose Hall in the Time Warner Center (the home of Jazz @ Lincoln Center) in New York City, may or may not be about the Verizon iPhone -- for all we know, it could herald the availability of yet another Android phone.
Our sense is that it would be out of character for Apple to let Verizon make the announcement without an Apple-controlled event being held in Cupertino or San Francisco, but there is the contrary notion that outside the US, second or third carriers picking up the iPhone barely merited a press release from Apple HQ. Obviously, AT&T losing its exclusivity is a big deal... but we don't know yet what's happening next Tuesday. Update: Well, if you like reading tea leaves, consider the fact that Gizmodo hasn't yet received an invitation to the Verizon event; that's unusual, considering there's no particular bad blood between the site and the carrier. That's not true for every company out there, obviously, and if it turns out to be an Apple/VZW collaboration then the edited guest list would make a lot of sense. As of Friday afternoon, though, Macworld hadn't gotten an invite either.
As BGR points out, the iPhone 4 was launched over a 4-day period (June 24 - 27, 2010) that was also a Thursday to Sunday slot. Verizon also likes to launch new products on Thursdays, and as far as we know right now, Apple has no other big surprises (i.e., iPad 2) to amaze the world with in that timeframe.
Personally, I'd love to see a Verizon iPhone that runs on their new 4G network and allows tethering. If that happens, I'll be jumping to VZW faster than you can say "Can you hear me now?" How about you, TUAW reader? Would you drop AT&T for Verizon? Take our poll.
| No, the penalty for dropping AT&T is too high. | |
|---|---|
| No, I'm happier than a pig in slop about my AT&T service. | |
| Yes, I can't wait to get away from AT&T. | |
| Yes, but I'll wait until my contract with AT&T is up. | |
| Other (leave comment below) |
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Over the past few months, the rumors of a Verizon CDMA-based iPhone have reached a fever pitch. Now the folks over at BGR think that...
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I dropped Verizon over a year ago. I paid them too much money for their poor service for too long.
I would love to have an iPhone. Now that a CDMA model will be available soon, I would consider getting one if it could be used with my wireless carrier, the excellent (and progressive) CREDO Mobile .
Already dropped AT&T for Verizon. :)
January 10 2011 at 10:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySold my iphone 4 on eBay to reimburse myself for the phone and the early termination fees! I have an Incredible and other than a shorter battery life I don't miss the iPhone!!! I can buy an extra battery for a tiny bit of money...unlimited data and text, free tethering, and I only paid $20 for my phone and it came with earbuds, a wall charger, a car charger, and a leather case. I dropped AT&T and haven't looked back!
January 11 2011 at 12:13 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLiving in the foothills of Northern California, I may be forced to stick with AT&T. Edge and 3g service on AT&T are quite slow-- as reported. A 4g phone sounds great, but geography is against my being able to take advantage, even should Verizon pwn AT&T. (Did I use pwn correctly here? ;o) ).
January 10 2011 at 6:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMy conditions for "unconditional" surrender to Verizon:
1. 4G on the iPhone, no extra fees
2. Unlimited data plan, or limit really high (20GB)
3. They negotiate a deal, or just pay my $325 AT&T early termination fee
4. I don't have to buy a new iPhone 4, or I wait until they launch a new one
5. Tethering; either free, or I can still get it through jailbreak
I still have unlimited data. I have checked my usage and I rarely go over the cap of the smaller of the new data plans, but I don't want to pay through the nose some day when all I have is my phone and I need to push it to its limits. Perhaps if I can get roll over megabytes....
I'm not thrilled with AT&T, but I want to see what the Verizon iPhone customer experience is before I make any moves. I make a conscious effort to avoid "knee jerk reactions" that can lead to big regrets down the road.
The Business Service Centers have combined all of their rep call in cues. Maybe a sign....
January 09 2011 at 1:00 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMy contract is already up with AT&T bu I will wait to hear how the iPhone on Verizon is working before jumping. I may even wait till the summer and the iPhone 5 comes out.
January 08 2011 at 1:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI'm going to go with a "wait and see" approach. The small town I go to school in got 3G a few hours after I left for Christmas break. But Verizon has covered it all along and I think they have the whole trip there covered as well. But right now, I still have unlimited data through AT&T, something no longer offered on either network. And I'm under contract with my 3GS. And I want an iPhone 5 the moment it's available. Almost bad enough that I don't care who gets it first, I might switch if I have to.
January 08 2011 at 1:49 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLast week, I dropped my iPhone 4 into the toilet. After some attempts at drying it up (in rice, etc), it has not responded and I'm forced to use my old iPhone 3G. I thought about getting a new one, but I would much rather get it on Verizon.
I can not WAIT until this comes out!!! It's awesome that we finally have a date!
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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