The VeriPhone Has Come

As Michael Gartenberg put it, "Another unicorn becomes real." At a much-hyped media event today, Verizon officially announced "early next month the iPhone 4 will be available" on their networks, and their website confirms the date as February 10th. Reuters notes the phone connects to CDMA, and will include a hotspot that will allow customers to connect up to 5 devices. But it mostly seems like everything but the network will remain the same for most consumers.

The 16GB phone starts at $199.99, about the same price it costs at AT&T. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Verizon customers will have the exclusive opportunity to preorder the iPhone 4 Feb. 3. It will launch more broadly in a week." In other news, Pat Kiernan is patiently waiting outside the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center for his invitation to the event.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on January 11, 2011 11:54 AM

Comments [rss]

chuzzlewit

sweet! something else to opt out of!

hb78

I'll stick with my unlimited much cheaper data plan from t-mobile. The only difference between the phones is that mine doesn't have a little apple on it.

random transplant

Apps Store approval process + new 'preferred traffic' FCC legislation + largest carrier availability = not good.

hashedz

Several reasons to put off lining up at the Verizon/Apple stores in February:
1. Verizon is putting the iphones on their CDMA network, and not their new high speed LTE network. Huge negative for Verizon, and a big plus for AT&T.
2. Why not wait and see how Verizon handles the increased bandwidth of all their new/switched users with data plans? I refuse to pay top dollar to be their beta tester.
3. Apple has put out new iphones every summer since 2008. No way to know if that will happen again, but the odds are good.

S.D.

Nooooooo..... Not On My Network!!!!!

IMO, increased competition in technology is good, but I'm with tom9d, I like my HTC Incredible over iPhone 4.

kazubes

Hopefully they don't load it with all those crappy Verizon applications they try and force people to use

unretrofiedforu

VCast and VZnavigator will be preloaded as apps on the phone.

tom9d

Bleh. I'll keep my Incredible. Much better than the iPhone.

unretrofiedforu

Good. At least Google will be able to sleep somewhat with that news. For the rest of us who recognize a real smartphone experience, Apple has delivered.

jibbly

>Insert humorous giant facepalm photo here<

tom9d

I won't blame you for succumbing to Apple's marketing. It's quite effective. My girlfriend bought it, too. And every time her iPhone fails, I laugh and remind her what she can have as soon as her contract is up.

The iPhone just isn't that great. Even if I wasn't on Verizon, I'd pass on the iPhone in favor of the Evo...which is also better than the iPhone.

Guest

i'm sticking with my nokia, the first generation.

Roncore

Remember kiddies. if you have an AT&T Phone, you'd still have to buy a new one to use Verizon! (CDMA vs. GSM)

-=The more you know!

Stevennnn

Whooo. I love having a phone bill for $100+ a month!

Scott Baldwin

If you stick with a carrier long enough, you can call and get your bill knocked down by half.

I was paying $90, randomly called about being away for a few weeks and the lady told me I qualified, although I've only been with Verizon for 2 years. The new bill is $40 something with data, unlimited text and my dinky 250 minutes or whatever. Worth a try I think.