Apple to Offer iPhone on Verizon, Ending Exclusivity with AT and T – NYTimes.com
SAN FRANCISCO — Facing intense competition from phone makers wedded to Google’s Android software, Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, finally plans to make the iPhone available on Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless carrier in the United States.
After more than three years of using only AT&T cellphone networks, Apple is now making a version of the iPhone 4 for Verizon’s network, according to a person who is in direct contact with Apple. Apple and Verizon will begin selling the phone early next year, said the person, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because the plans were supposed to be confidential and he did not want to alienate his contacts at Apple.
Apple and Verizon Wireless declined to comment.
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Verizon customers can only hope that Apple will stand firm against any attempts by Verizon to alter the iPhone OS.
REMEMBER THE RAZR
Those of us who bought Motorola Razrs from Verizon well remember the abomination calling itself “V-Cast” and other depredations committed upon the then most technically advanced phone of its time. Verizon, in a quest to wring every 25 cents out of the phone, disabled the excellent Motorola firmware and substituted its own OS, seemingly designed to deliberately hobble the Razr.
Camera? Verizon wouldn’t let you use your camera to send photos to your computer without paying them 25 cents per photo.
BTW I’ll take my share of the $90 million Verizon settlement for spurious charges that same proprietary Verizon OS billed, which it was not entitled to, as a credit on my iPhone purchase.
Hands off the iPhone OS, Verizon!!
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UPDATE: The WSJ reports that CDMA-based Verizon iPhone will not be able to multitask at outset. May change later.
Most notably, Verizon customers aren’t able to surf the Web or exchange email while they’re talking on their phone. Read entire WSJ article.
lennyesq 