I think that would be bad timing for a Verizon announcement. Wouldn't that just piss off anyone who signed with AT&T for the iPhone 4 just because they couldn't get it on Verizon?
Besides, if they're going to announce a Verizon phone then they're effectively announcing a new model; the GSM iPhone 4 obviously isn't compatible with Verizon's network. In my opinion this is the kind of thing you'd do at the launch of a new iPhone generation, not just a few weeks afterward.
In my opinion this is the kind of thing you'd do at the launch of a new iPhone generation, not just a few weeks afterward.
Absolutely not. If a deal with Verizon were announced at the launch, it would have completely overshadowed all of the engineering effort put into the phone. It would be known as the "Verizon iPhone". This way, out of the spotlight, it leaves the iPhone brand unharmed.
Apple will wait until Verizon goes LTE. The lost market is not a large enough incentive to make a phone that will only work on a few carriers. My guess is June 2011 or maybe June 2012.
I think you may be correct. The reason I say this is that Bell Canada and Telus upgraded their entire network across the country this past year just to be compatible with the iPhone and other GSM phones (but primarily they were motivated by the iPhone). I can't help but think they would be privy to information on any sort of CDMA compatible iPhone before they made this decision. Certainly I don't think their upgrade would have been worth it just to get the iPhone a year ahead of time.
$10 says Friday's Apple press conference is the announcement about Verizon, to — in the words of Don Draper — change the conversation.
http://twitter.com/danrubin/status/18565906020
While probably not too likely, it would be an interesting move on Apple's part none the less.