Verizon confirms iPhone sale plan

Dan Mead, left, CEO of Verizon Wireless, and Tim Cook, COO of Apple, announce that Verizon Wireless will carry Apple's iPhone, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011 in New York. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The iPhone is finally coming to Verizon Wireless.
Verizon confirmed the long-rumored move Tuesday, saying it will begin selling Apple's iPhone 4, the latest version of the device, Feb. 10. Existing Verizon customers can start pre-ordering the device Feb. 3.
Verizon's version has few differences from the iPhone 4 that AT&T began selling in June. The most notable are that it will end the four-year edge AT&T has enjoyed as exclusive U.S. carrier for all iPhones and that Verizon iPhone users will be able to use the device as a Wi-Fi hot spot to connect up to five other gadgets to the Internet. But Verizon iPhone users, unlike AT&T's, won't be able to talk on the phone and surf the Web at the same time - nor use the phone widely outside the U.S.
Verizon will charge $200 for the 16-gigabyte version and $300 for the 32-gigabyte model, both with a two-year service contract - so the device will cost the same as AT&T's. Verizon declined to give data-plan details, but it could charge an extra $20 a month for the hot spot feature.
Verizon launched its 4G network late last year, but its iPhone 4 so far will work only on its older 3G network, with download speeds of up to 1.4 Mbps. AT&T's iPhone 4 has download speeds of up to 3 Mbps.
Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook said a first generation of 4G phone chips for the Verizon version would have forced design compromises, which Apple wasn't willing to make.
But sales of the Verizon iPhone likely won't be affected much by the lack of 4G, said analysts such as Will Stofega of IDC, because most buyers will be simply like that Verizon is finally offering the popular phone.
The official reaction by AT&T was muted and emphasized that its iPhone 4 offers faster network speed and talk-while-surfing capability.
- McClatchy Newspapers
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