World of Apple

Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo has today claimed that the next-generation iPhone will be a “world-mode” device capable of running on both CDMA and GSM networks. Shammo added that the device will be launched on both AT&T and Verizon at the same time.

Shammo also spoke about future 4G compatibility saying that it is “a bigger issue for Apple”, in line with comments from Apple that LTE chips are not yet up to Apple’s power consumption standards. The Verizon CFO was keen to add that the carrier “will have enough high-speed alternatives to sell.”

Finally Shammo confirmed that Verizon will drop its unlimited data plans in the summer and will move to a tiered usage platform. Shammo added, “I think it’s safe to assume that at some point you are going to have mega-plans (for data) and people are going to share that mega-plan based on the number of devices within their family. That’s just a logical progression,” but did not discuss a timeframe.

Verizon iPhone 4

Verizon has revealed that during its first fiscal quarter of 2011 the company activated 2.2 million CDMA iPhones. Verizon began selling the CDMA iPhone on February 3 to existing customers, expanding this to all a week later.

Overall Verizon reported [PDF] increased earnings and revenue compared to the year ago quarter.

Earlier this week Apple reported that it had sold 18.65 million iPhones during the quarter and AT&T announced that it had activated 3.6 million iPhones. It should be noted that Apple’s sales figure includes all iPhones shipped including those in the channel where as carrier numbers are just sales.

Verizon iPhone 4

Verizon has announced that following the availability of the iPhone on its network that it has sold out of units and makes the iPhone the carrier’s fastest selling phone in history.

“This was an exciting day,” said Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer for Verizon Wireless. “In just our first two hours, we had already sold more phones than any first day launch in our history. And, when you consider these initial orders were placed between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., it is an incredible success story. It is gratifying to know that our customers responded so enthusiastically to this exclusive offer – designed to reward them for their loyalty.

“I am proud of our employees who worked tirelessly to strengthen and scale our systems, enabling unprecedented customer orders through our website. Overall, it was a very good day,” he added.

Some analysts have predicted that Verizon had around 100,000 units earmarked for sale to existing customers and the carrier took only 17 hours to shift the stock.

General availability of the iPhone begins on February 10, the carrier will open its more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores at 7 a.m. It will also be available at all Apple store locations, Best Buy, select Wal-Mart stores as well as at www.verizonwireless.com and www.apple.com.

Verizon has begun airing an advert in the U.S. touting the iPhone 4 on its network. Earlier this month Apple and Verizon announced that the iPhone 4 will be available on Verizon’s network on February 10.

“To our millions of customers, who never stopped believing this day would come…”

Verizon iPhone compared to GSM iPhone 4 showing relocated mute switch and adjusted antenna design | Image courtesy of Engadget

Apple and Verizon wireless today jointly announced that the iPhone 4 would be available from the carrier on February 10. Existing customers will be able to pre-order the iPhone 4 online on February 3, ahead of general availability.

The new CDMA iPhone 4 features a number of minor changes; to allow the device to work on Verizon’s CDMA network Apple has adjusted the external antenna design on the iPhone 4. This could also help improve the issue with signal attenuation that has plagued some users of the GSM iPhone 4. Visually the CDMA iPhone 4 has a fourth black line on its antenna, this one above the mute switch. Due to this addition the mute switch has been move down slightly, which of course will require new cases to be made.

The CDMA iPhone 4 currently runs iOS 4.2.5, the update software includes changes to the baseband and such to work with the network but additionally Verizon has a piece of “pre-installed” software on the iPhone. The software which is actually just installed into the Settings.app is called “Personal Hotspot” and will allow up to five devices to share the phone’s 3G data connection over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi or USB. TechCrunch has a detailed run through of the Personal Hotspot feature of the Verizon iPhone.

Apple and Verizon have today announced with Verizon hosting an event in New York City that the iPhone will be available on the Verizon Wireless network beginning on Thursday, February 10. Qualified Verizon Wireless customers will be given the exclusive opportunity to pre-order iPhone 4 online on February 3, ahead of general availability.

“We are pleased to introduce millions of wireless users to the industry leading iPhone 4 on the nation’s most reliable network,” said Lowell McAdam, president and chief operating officer of Verizon. “This is an important step for the industry as two great companies join forces to give wireless customers one of the most important technological additions to the mobile landscape this century.”

“Verizon Wireless customers have told us they can’t wait to get their hands on iPhone 4, and we think they are going to love it,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer. “We have enormous respect for the company Verizon has built and the loyalty they have earned from their customers.”

The iPhone 4 from Verizon is priced at $199.99 for the 16GB model and $299.99 for the 32GB model with a new two year customer agreement.

Rumours and discussion around when and how the iPhone will make an appearance on Verizon’s network have not stopped over the weekend, but at least numerous sources coming together is beginning to give a picture of what to expect in the coming weeks.

Late last week Verizon sent out invites to select members of the media inviting them to an event being held in New York City on January 11. Many pundits have their money on the idea that this event will be Verizon’s big launch of the iPhone on its network.

This weekend saw Reuters quoting a source who said that Verizon “plans on Tuesday to unveil a version of the Apple Inc iPhone for its service and will kick off sales of the device a few weeks later”.

The Wall Street Journal this weekend published a report quoting a “person familiar with the matter” who says that the iPhone will go on sale “around the end of January”. This rumour goes somewhat hand-in-hand with a report from Boy Genius Report about Apple blocking out vacation between February 3rd February 6th.

Verizon Wireless has today sent out an invite to select members of the media inviting them to an event being hosted in New York City on January 11, 2011.

The event which is largely expected to be the stage for the introduction of the Verizon iPhone is being hosted and organised by Verizon with no apparent input from Apple. This isn’t surprising as the release of the handset on Verizon will not require a new hardware introduction despite there being differences in the hardware due to the type of network that Verizon operates.

The invitation comes after rumours that the Verizon iPhone is ready for primetime reached a chorus, yesterday the New York Times reported that the iPhone would come to the Verizon network “soon”. Previous rumours pinned the release before February 14, 2011.

As 2011 approaches it looks certain that the new year will see AT&T lose its exclusive hold of the iPhone and Verizon to begin distributing the handset in the U.S. Speculation is now beginning to rise on when exactly this event will occur.

A report in BusinessWeek notes that Verizon plans to the release the iPhone at some point after CES 2011—which runs from January 6-9—but before February 14, 2011. BusinessWeek quotes a person familiar with the situation but gives no reasoning for the limited timeframe.

AT&T has had an exclusive hold on the iPhone in the U.S. since the original launch in summer 2007. Many countries outside of the U.S. including Canada who started out with exclusive carriers have since moved to a multiple carrier system. The problem with Verizon carrying the iPhone is that its network is not compatible with the current crop of iPhone hardware, which has required Apple to fashion a CDMA-based iPhone specifically for Verizon.

iPad showing Star Trek movie

Both Verizon Wireless and AT&T have announced today that they will begin selling the iPad in stores starting October 28.

Verizon whose network is not compatible with the current WiFi + 3G iPad will be bundling iPads that it sells with its own MiFi 2200. Verizon will be selling the iPad in over 2000 stores across the U.S. for $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16GB + MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32GB + MiFi and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64GB + MiFi.

“This is the perfect pairing for holiday travels,” said John Stratton, chief operating officer for Verizon Wireless. “iPad together with the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G data network allows customers to easily connect on the go wherever they are.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with Verizon Wireless to get iPad into the hands of even more customers this holiday season,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before, and together with Verizon Wireless we’re offering an easy way to stay connected wherever you go.”

AT&T also announced the availability of the iPad in its brick and mortar stores on October 28. AT&T will be selling the WiFi + 3G iPad in 2200 of its stores for $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.

“We can’t wait to showcase the amazing features of iPad Wi-Fi + 3G in our stores across the country just in time for the holidays,” said Glenn Lurie, AT&T President of Emerging Devices, Resale and Partnerships, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With our breakthrough iPad data plans starting at just $14.99 and access to AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots around the country at no extra cost, our customers will have the best of both worlds.”

“We look forward to expanding the reach of iPad, allowing even more customers to experience the magic of iPad for themselves,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “As we approach the holiday season, we are very happy that customers will now be able to buy iPad Wi-Fi + 3G at AT&T Stores.”