With AT&T’s poor customer service, there relatively nonexistent high speed network many United States iPhone users are waiting for Apple to make a deal with another network. There have been rumors circulating major news media including the USA Today, CNET and Wall Street Journal that the iPhone will be on Verzion Wireless’ network starting sometime in January 2011. The only question is – is this true?
With the Verizon Wireless network’s new 4G technology expected to deploy sometime in December nationwide it would be of no surprise for Verizon to make this move to have a high end, high demand phone on their LTE 4G network when it premiers. The only problem with this according to experts the earliest that the LTE phone chips would be available is the summer of 2011.
Market experts also believe that with Google’s new Droid operating system taking off, now overtaking the number of iPhones that Apple must make a move to widen its availability in the US market in order to compete. Apple has been moving away from exclusive deals with cellular carriers in other countries of the world suggesting that they are starting to make this move. Rumors have been circulating that the end of AT&T and Apple’s exclusive contract end sometime in 2011.
Verizon Wireless executives have hinted that there will be an Apple Product in its new 4G lineup, but have said nothing really solid. Reports that Verizon 
Wireless vehicles being seen on the property of Apple’s headquarters working on a brand new cellular tower also seem to hint that early development and testing may be in progress. Many experts on Apple and Cellular phones believe that Apple will be making a large announcement in January of 2011 stating the new availability of an iPhone for Verizon Wireless for sometime in 2011.
If AT&T loses its exclusive iPhone deal with Apple to Verizon Wireless the damage to AT&T’s business would be substantial. AT&T pays quite a high rate to subsidize the iPhone to new contract holders often over $400 a phone. If these users moved to Verizon AT&T would be stuck with the losses of subsidizing phones for every contract. With customers displeasure of AT&T’s weak network dropping their calls, the slow speed and unavailability of the 3G speeds and the poor customer service many loyal iPhone users have said that if Verizon Wireless begins to carry the iPhone they will switch.
It seems to be a statement of fact that Verizon Wireless will be carrying the iPhone in the future – the only question is when. If the exclusive contract with AT&T and Apple ends in 2011 as is rumored I would expect the iPhone to be on the Verizon Wireless market sometime in mid 2011.
