It's been a while since we heard a Verizon iPhone rumor, so how about we check out one today? The fine folks over at the Wall Street Journal are reporting that Apple is planning to begin mass production of a new CDMA iPhone by the end of the year. Verizon could then begin selling the new iPhone as early as the first quarter of 2011. This news all comes from people that have been "briefed by Apple." The WSJ has also said that Apple is developing a fifth generation iPhone with a form factor different than the ones currently on the market. If and when that model hits Verizon isn't known.
This definitely isn't the first (or second, or third, or...) time that we've heard a Verizon iPhone rumor, and some say that the rumors are getting too hard to ignore. I'm still a little skeptical about the mythical VZW iPhone for a couple of reasons. While it's entirely possible that a CDMA iPhone is going to be made, it may not be for a completely different market and may never see release here. It could be a WCDMA device. Plus, while CDMA is used in a few markets outside of the U.S., we all know that GSM is clearly the more popular choice across the world. Still, a Verizon iPhone isn't completely out of the question. Perhaps Apple wants to snatch up every last customer available and is willing to produce a Verizon/CDMA iPhone to do just that. Many are expecting Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg to announce the CDMA iPhone at CES 2011, so we certainly don't have much longer to wait.
