Is Apple Testing iPhone 4G and Associated Networks with Verizon?, 20/10/2009 - Your reactions

[linathael]

A rumor indicates that Apple would be testing for around 2 months a prototype of its iPhone 4G on Verizon's networks. It would be a revanche or come-back for this US carrier as it originally did not want to adopt the iPhone 2G and team up with Apple. Cupertino then went to AT&T with the associated success we know for both companies. Despite very aggressive anti-iPhone ads from Verizon, its CEO would be doing its best to please Apple and could have already visited Apple executives several times over the last few months.
This rumor is not really surprising and was already reported before when mentioning the on-going discussion between Apple and AT&T to further extend the exclusive partnership. While Apple might want to go carrier-free in order to gain access to a larger number of customers, AT&T knows how many customers subscribed to its subscription plans thank to the iPhone. However, the repetitive problems faced by AT&T for deploying its 3G network and catching with the increasing bandwidth traffic could support Apple to end this exclusive partnership at the end of the year, as originally negotiated. 

By linathael, original by Lionel

[charlituna]

Verizon uses the wrong cell phone technology for the iphone so at this point they simply can NOT support the phone. LTE, which is the new wave of tech won't be ready to even test until mid 2010 at the earliest which would mean that Apple wouldn't have a phone in June like the last 3.

not to mention that I doubt that Verizon would condone a partner bashing on the iphone if they were in talks to get it in any form once the ATT contract expires. no matter what however it wasn't likely to be exclusive since Apple has been hinting they will unlock the phone when the contract is up rather than pick a new partner and new set of headaches