Verizon might get an LTE phone. But Sprint is going with WiMax and Apple would have to decide if they wish to support that.
CDMA iphone is dead. There will only be an LTE version to be released near the end of 2010. It will be for both AT&T and Verizon. Not sure about T-Mobile but T-M is to get the GSM version (3GS) this summer. There are lots of reports on this, all rumor as nothing from Apple, officially.
Sprint and wimax. Looks like Google and htc will be hitting the wimax offerings with Sprint, the only carrier in the US to go wimax. Sprint will also be first in wide spread 4G as they have it up now in many locations.
It looks like the playing field will be shifting in 2011 for the next generation mobile internet.
Sprint can do what they want but I believe they are in serious financial trouble and will probably get taken over. Their coverage is also really really $hitty if you leave the city.
Agree! I bought a bunch of Sprint stock when it was very low and can sell at anytime above $3 but hoping for $5/share. If there is a takeover bid, that would be nice and I'm waiting for that too. Sprint seems fairly progressive except for that wimax support. They do have good assets for a takeover though.
According to Cook, COO at Apple, they are favoring LTE since it is the high speed system for world wide standard and he said Apple likes simple one version inventory. Apple has been testing LTE with Verizon since April of 2009. with results 12Mbs down/3Mbs up. Going LTE will not jeopardize their relationship with AT&T either. Verizon said they plan to roll out LTE in 30 markets later this year with rapid expansion in 2011. What I don't understand, is they also said they will continue to add EVDO through the next several years. AT&T doesn't expect to see LTE deployment until sometime in 2011 as they are currently engaged in the backhaul upgrade which is necessary to fix what's broke with 3G.
Well Yesterday it appears Apple squashed any rumors..They said they will remain with AT&T only in the USA.
Apple Shuts Out Verizon on IPad as AT&T Feels Strain (Update2) - BusinessWeek
stuart- Not necessarily! CTO Malone said that the CDMA will remain but these services will remain as voice only services. EVDO will quickly be replaced by LTE devices in 2011 and 2012 and will be offered at much lower data rate$. LTE only devices will be all data and use VOIP. He said they will use a non compatible with other carriers SIM card too. VZ sees CDMA being shut down completely by 2018 or 2020. He said as a voice only CDMA 1RxTT service it is very stable and robust. He believes there will be a market for voice only service. Also that by end of 2009 all facilities have been upgraded to EVDO Rev A technology. Efforts now are being channeled to LTE addition. Almost forgot- he also said that the rumors of Verizon going to GSM are false. It will be from CDMA to LTE over the next decade. Intro of LTE will be fast but shut down of CDMA will be slow.
Of course there is nothing official from Apple but hints that an all LTE only iphone could be the Verizon iphone and use VOIP for voice. Ericson Sony also has an LTE only phone in development. Interesting that Apple also Just announced allowing VOIP on their iphone 3G AT&T service.
Verizon Wireless plans to launch its 4G LTE wireless network in 25 to 30 markets next year and cover virtually all of its current nationwide 3G footprint with the next-generation network by the end of 2013. The company’s 4G LTE network will ultimately connect a full range of electronics devices and machines.
Stuart- You make a good point but currently the only info being stated by Verizion is that multimode CDMA and LTE devices is under consideration per their FAQ on LTE deployment.
This is what they said back on Dec 20:
On Jan 20, Malone said it will complete a year early ( 2012)
Personally, I think they plan to have LTE implemented so fast all at once that it ( multimode) will be unnecessary. Consider that they release LTE for commercial use in Nov 2010 for 30 markets and the remaining markets by January 2011. All discussion is that they are shooting for a very fast switchover to LTE for Data. To get people to switch, will be achieved through data plan price incentives. This would make Apple just sit tight until it only needs to have an LTE iphone. May mean no Verizon iphone until 2011 as opposed to the rumored July release date.