The iPhone May Be Heading to Verizon

Since its debut two years ago, the iPhone has been exclusively available from AT&T, but this may change soon. Apple is supposedly considering a deal that would bring this very popular phone to Verizon Wireless.

AT&T has a contract that gives it the right to be the sole U.S. provider of the iPhone, but it expires next year. Not surprisingly, this carrier is working hard to get Apple to renew this agreement, but Apple is apparently at least considering the alternatives.

This company is talking with Verizon about developing an iPhone model that will be released in 2010, according to USAToday, who cites unnamed "people familiar with the situation".

It's not clear if the talks are about Verizon becoming the new exclusive provider of Apple's smartphones, or if Verizon would become a second U.S. carrier authorized to to sell them.

GSM vs. CDMA
Naturally, a Verizon version of the iPhone would include at least one significant difference from any AT&T version: the two carriers use incompatible cellular wireless technologies. The current version is a GSM device, while a Verizon one would have to use CDMA.

Currently, Apple need only make one version of its smartphone, because all the carriers around th world that offer it use the GSM standard. If Verizon is added to this list, a CDMA version just for it would have to be produced.

More about the iPhone
Apple released its first phone in 2007, and it an the follow-up model, the iPhone 3G, have been very, very successful, practically remaking the market for smartphones.

The current model has an HVGA touchscreen, Wi-Fi, and GPS. It also offers mobile broadband.

This device has the ability to run native third-party applications that have been approved by Apple. In addition, it is able to connect to Microsoft Exchange for corporate email service.

Source USAToday via BGR