Verizon’s next version of Apple iPhone is going to be a global phone according to Verizon Wireless CFO Fran Shammo in a recent interview with Reuters. He also said that the next generation iPhone for Verizon would be launched on Verizon same time as the AT&T version. When asked about the LTE capability for Verizon iPhone 5, he said that they had absolutely no control over it as it all goes down to Apple’s choice.
The current version of iPhone for Verizon only supports CDMA technology making it difficult for the customers to access the phone when they are abroad since only GSM technology is widely used in most parts of the world. In contrast, iPhone for AT&T supports GSM technology making it a global device that can be accessed in any part of the world. Equations are going to be changed from the next-generation iPhone release. Verizon’s version reportedly will support both GSM and CDMA technology to become a global phone. However it is to be seen whether AT&T will also include support for CDMA. Anyhow these changes are apparently for the next major iPhone release i.e. iPhone 5 which is expected next year but not for the iPhone 4S (with support for HSPA+) which is rumored to be announced later this year.
[Source: Reuters]