iPhone for Verizon and/or Sprint Apparently On Track for January Release

A version of the Apple iPhone with support for the CDMA wireless standard is reportedly moving closer to release. An analyst reports that this device -- which could be for Verizon, Sprint, or both -- will go into production in December.

Jeffrey Fidacara, an analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group, claims that he spoke with companies that will be supplying parts for the CDMA version of Apple's smartphone, and was told that the plan is to start manufacturing it in December so it can hit store shelves in January.

This analyst says that Apple is going to build 3 million CDMA-compatible iPhone units by the end of this year.

A New Model for Verizon?
This isn't the first time that word has leaked out that Apple is going to release a smartphone with support for CDMA networks. Earlier reports have indicated that Verizon Wireless is going to release this model in January of 2011.

This supposedly will be a slightly different device from the iPhone 4, with a larger screen (3.7-inch vs. 3.5-inch) and a faster processor (1.2 GHz vs. 1 GHz.).

All the specifications for this device haven't leaked out yet, but it will likely have many of the features included in the GSM version already offered by AT&T, like 3G, Wi-Fi, and GPS receiver, and dual cameras.

A Change in Policy... Maybe
Before the launch of the very first iPhone, an agreement was forged that made AT&T the sole U.S. provider for the iPhone. Quite a few unconfirmed reports have indicated that this deal is coming to an end soon.

In addition to the reports that is is headed for Verizon, T-Mobile is also supposedly getting Apple's very popular smartphone.

On the other hand, there are still many who skeptical of these reports. They point out that Apple and AT&T's exclusivity agreement isn't supposed to end until 2012, and that rumors that a Verizon version of the iPhone is about to be released have cropped up time and again over the last few years.

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