Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Verizon iPhone is herealmost.

Its been a long wait for the Verizon iPhone. In fact, in the states, weve been waiting for it since the iPhone was originally announced four years ago. Why? Primarily because AT&T is so lousy that weve essentially been carting around tiny tablets that are unable to make phone calls, while our friends on Verizon chirp away, beneath subway lines with four bars.

In line at Verizons press conference today in New York City, over 85% of people waiting are clutching their AT&T claimed iPhones,according to Jonathan S. Geller of BGR.

Lowell McAdam, the president of Verizon Wireless isexpected to release a CDMA version of the iPhone at todays event, which would apparently explain the photos found last week with an adjusted antenna design. It has also been speculated that the phone will be offered with Verizonsunlimited data plan, but were not sure for how long.

So dont start buying up Verizon stock yet.

While the smartphone will help Verizon add more subscribers this year than rival AT&T Inc., currently the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone, it will also ! crimp pr ofits, said John Hodulik, an analyst at UBS AG. In the same interview with Business Week, Hodulik also said that Verizon may sell 13 million of the devices with an estimated $400 subsidy this year, which would add up to a total of $5.2 billion.

You basically write customers a $400 check, said New York-based Hodulik, who doesnt own any stock in Verizon. We expect margins to be down pretty meaningfully in the first quarter and second quarter.

Dont switch plans yet

Its cool to throw your AT&T contract to the wind, but be cautious. If Apple announces an iPhone 5 this summer, you may be out of luck if youre locked into a Verizon iPhone contract with a new 20 month upgrade policy.

More information as its announced. Engadget


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