CDMA

AT&T Users Have No Reason to Envy Verizon’s iPhone

After many years, months, and days of hardcore speculation, the details about America's worst kept secret are at last out of the bag. Underwhelming as it was, today's Verizon press event functioned like more of a low key gathering when compared to the Steve Jobs driven spectacles that Apple puts on.

The differences between the two companies press unveilings aptly foreshadowed how underwhelmed I came away feeling when the event was all said and done.

Granted, I understand that this wasn't your typical Apple announcement and Verizon never perpetuated that it was. Still, I can't help but feel like I got a small fry when I specifically asked for a large...

Too Many Facts Point to Imminent Verizon iPhone Announcement – A Detailed Timeline

I know it's unlikely, but perhaps you've heard a thing or two about an upcoming little announcement regarding the iPhone, and some mobile carrier called Verizon. Sarcasm aside, let's look at the latest details that we've gathered about the iPhone's inevitable jump from AT&T exclusivity to CDMA land.

Join us as we take a look at some of the most interesting facts about this mobile landscape changing event. Face it, the Verizon iPhone is real, and it's right around the corner...

New Photos May Provide Clues About the Verizon iPhone

Are these the latest photos of the Verizon iPhone? Quite possibly. The fact that these skeletal snapshots are devoid of any drastic changes just may be indicative that we're looking at the real deal here.

Inside, we examine three additional photos that highlight the subtle changes between the current iPhone 4, and what may possibly be Apple's first foray into Verizon land...

Apple is Rumored to Ship 21 Million iPhones Next Quarter, 5 Million of Which Will Be CDMA

Digitimes reports that 21 million iPhones will be shipped in Q1 of 2011. In case you didn't know, "Q1" is an industry term for "quarter one;" each business year is composed of four quarters, with each quarter representing three months out of the year.

This scoop from Digitimes indicates that Apple will most likely be doing some sort of revamp to the iPhone before March of 2011. It's not that much of a stretch to think that Apple could have a fantastic first quarter and pull off selling 14-15 million regular iPhone 4 units, but what really makes this rumor interesting is that Digitimes says that 5-6 million of these devices will be CDMA iPhones.

Contacts with Taiwan-based component suppliers say that the CDMA iPhone will be launched in North America and Asia Pacific in the first quarter of 2011. Digitimes says, "Currently, Foxconn is the only maker of WCDMA iPhones, while Foxconn and Pegatron Technology have equally shared the production volume for the CDMA version, the sources noted..."

Verizon iPhone Confirmed By 3rd Party Contractor?

I typically don't dabble in the rumor pool, and Verizon iPhone rumors are about as useful as breaks on a Toyota, but I just had to pass along this little tidbit. A source contacted us, claiming to have new confirmation on the much talked about Verizon iPhone.

The source claimed they worked at a major network maintenance company, in Austin, Tx. There, they helped serve and maintain networks and servers for some of the largest companies in the states.

The story got interesting when they told us that at a budget meeting last month with Verizon, there was to be a drastic change in their needed services and costs over Q1 and Q2 of next year due to how much was being spent on the iPhone from Apple...

Anyone Know Where We Can Get a Decent CDMA Engineer?

If you happen to know, give Apple a call, because they're looking as well; that is according to a recent posting on the Cupertino based company's hiring website.

The Cellular Systems Performance Engineer position in particular mentions that the candidate be familiar with various forms of CDMA tech, among other preferences.

Hmm, now if we could just figure out why in the world Apple would need a CDMA engineer. Anyone know? We're drawing a blank here.

[AppleInsider]

iPhone 5 Rumors

As most people are aware the next generation of iPhone, iPhone 5 will arrive sometime in 2011. There are rumors already circulating the web that iPhone 5 may be released earlier in the year than previous models for folks that were mid-term in their contract when iPhone 4 was released.

The iPhone 4 released just this summer has already raised the bar by outselling any previous model in opening sales but has had its reported problems. The first one that comes to mind is the issue with the iPhone 4's signal being hampered when the unit was held a certain way.

I personally think it was just a case of a few thousand units getting through without proper quality control inspection but whatever the issue Apple gave away free cases to resolve the issue.

Is This the Verizon iPhone 4?

A blog by the name of Richy Rich has posted what they claim to be spy-photo's of the upcoming CDMA Version of the iPhone 4, which is reportedly heading to Verizon in the near future. The device in the shots are said to be running a test operating system, which is a lot like what we saw from the GSM version of the iPhone 4, when photos of it inevitably leaked online earlier this year.

The blog also reports that the new CDMA iPhone 4 will retain its GSM micro-sim slot, which would indicate that the device could become a genuine "world phone" were it to be unlocked.  A few already existing phones on Verizon's network, most notably those in the Blackberry line, already offer dual CDMA and GSM connectivity...

Next iPhone in Final Field Testing Stage, CDMA on the Way

Boy Genius Report has reported (from an inside source at Apple) that the new CDMA iPhone has reached final testing stages. There is no confirmation that this iPhone is specifically intended for Verizon, but CDMA compatibility is almost a given. The above image is of the rumored device, which BGR says may contain a SIM card slot...

About two months ago, John Gruber broke the story that the CDMA iPhone was in "Engineering Verification Testing" (EVT) status. One month ago, Apple Insider reported that Apple is apparently planning on building 3 million CDMA iPhones by December.

Here's the newest story from the CDMA iPhone rumor mill:

WSJ Says Apple is Working on a Verizon iPhone [We’ve Heard That Before]

The WSJ has a scoop today citing a person "briefed by Apple" who says the company will start manufacturing a new CDMA iPhone by the end of the year that would allow Verizon to sell the device beginning of 2011.

Of course, we've heard that before. Many times. Many, many, many times! So what makes this rumor different this time? Certainly not the source of the rumor, who let me remind you, is a person "briefed by Apple"...

CEO Hints Against a 2011 Verizon iPhone

The thing we love about rumors is also the thing we hate about them. They change every day. This has been truer nowhere else than in the Verizon iPhone hoopla. It's truly the story that just won't find a resolution and here we are.

Computer World has a lengthy update about the possibility and state of the 2011 Verizon iPhone. It isn't happening. If it is going to happen it will not be until the carrier gets their 4G network up and running...

First Batch of CDMA iPhone’s to Be Built in December

I just knew it. I knew it wouldn't be long until the latest Verizon iPhone rumor hit the web waves and I'd be writing about it shortly thereafter. I did not think it would be as concrete as this appears to be.

An analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group mentioned in a note to suppliers that Apple is preparing to build 3 million CDMA capable iPhones by December. This is to keep on track with an apparent early 2011 release. Are you getting a headache yet?