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Verizon: Apple LTE Products Coming, Changes Tune About Nokia and Windows Phone 7

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Now that Verizon Wireless is carrying the CDMA iPhone 4 for its 3G network, the carrier’s CEO revealed that additional 4G LTE Apple products are forthcoming on its nascent but growing next-generation faster mobile broadband network. Comments about 4G LTE Apple products were reported by the Wall Street Journal in relation to Verizon’s comments about iPhone 4 sales.

The carrier came out and defended adoption of the CDMA iPhone 4 for its network. In the past, a few analysts have speculated that the iPhone 4 may not have sold as well on Verizon as the carrier and Apple had hoped, but according to Verizon, those analysts may have only looked at retail store sales figures. That, would paint an inaccurate picture as the carrier says that over 60% of iPhone 4 sales were done online, though the carrier isn’t releasing any sales figure yet. The carrier said that it had intentionally staggered sales of the iPhone 4–offering the devices first to current customers online a week prior to the official launch–to make the purchase smoother for customers and to avoid long lines that were experienced with the GSM AT&T iPhone 4 launch this past summer.

The CEO did not reveal which Apple products are coming, nor the time frame for a release of an Apple 4G LTE product(s), but his remarks highlight the growing partnership between the iPhone- and iPad-maker and the carrier. “You’ll see more coming from Apple on LTE,” he said. “They understand the value proposition of LTE and I feel very confident that they are going to be a part of it.”

A natural extension for 4G LTE Apple products would be a next-generation iPhone and iPad that supports Verizon’s emerging network. The evolution would be natural as LTE will also be adopted by rival GSM carrier AT&T in the U.S. as well and both carriers now offer iPhone 4s for their 3G networks respectively. With the iPad, however, Verizon doesn’t have a native solution yet and is offering the iPad with mobile broadband access via a bundle with the company’s Novatel MiFi solution, which is a mobile broadband router that allows access to the iPad through WiFi. It’s unclear though whether Apple and Verizon will be integrating mobile broadband in laptops and notebooks, like the MacBook Air, moving forward, but that could be an area where 4G LTE mobile broadband access can be useful to consumers.

Despite a strong Apple partnership, it appears that Verizon is still being diplomatic in stating that it will continue to grow its smartphone ecosystem by supporting other platforms, like BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, and Android. In an about-face, the carrier seems more welcoming to Nokia and Windows Phone 7 now than its previous statements at MWC. The carrier is now saying, “When you think about the capabilities of those two companies, we are very interested.” It says that it is waiting on Nokia on how to proceed.

Around the time of Mobile World Congress, Nokia shocked long-time supporters of its Symbian platform by announcing a new direction. The phone-maker will now utilize Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 OS on its devices moving forward in an aggressive push in the smartphone market and to break into the U.S. market.

Via: Phonescoop

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. m2

    02/26/2011 at 3:36 am

    Verizon did not change its tune about Nokia.

    The contradictory comments about Nokia came from two different officials of Verizon – and only one of them is valid.

    The initial, tactless and unwelcoming comment came from Tony Melone, CTO of the parent company (Verizon Communications). Melone is NOT the authority on what ecosystem Verizon’s mobile subsidiary, Verizon Wireless, will support.

    That authority belongs to the CEO of Verizon Wireless — Daniel S. Mead — who called Nokia CEO Elop to express support as soon as he heard about the OS switch to Microsoft, which means he likely called Elop BEFORE Melone made that tactless rebuff of Nokia during the MWC days later. Thus when Melone made that rude statement rebuffing Microsoft Nokia, he was most likely UNAWARE that the CEO of Verizon Wireless had already called Nokia expressing support.

    So Verizon did not necessarily change its tune. It’s more like Melone’s rude comment — “Verizon does not need the Microsoft Nokia relationship”– was misguided, based on the past, and apparently does not represent the views of Verizon Wireless going forward; because Daniel S. Mead — NOT Tony Melone — is the decision maker in Verizon Wireless who decides whether or not Microsoft Nokia is welcome. And according to Mr. Mead, Verizon Wireless is “very interested” in Microsoft Nokia and wants to be included on their plans.

  2. Tristan Thomas

    02/26/2011 at 8:43 am

    There has been quite a bit of speculation that Apple will not be supporting the LTE networks until 2012. That means that the iPhone 4 won’t see 4G speeds. However, this makes little sense.

    If the iPhone 5 is to do well it will have do what Android is doing and more. 4G has become a selling point. You can read more about how the possible 4G out come for the iPhone 5 here: goo.gl/xIRdy

  3. m2

    02/26/2011 at 11:27 am

    Verizon parent company CTO Tony Melone is so IGNORANT of what’s going on at Verizon Wireless — which has its own CTO btw — that he is apparently UNAWARE that as early as November 15, 2010 Verizon Wireless had already proudly committed to support WP7 and bring WP7 phones to Verizon Wireless (see link and headline below):

    https://www.wpcentral.com/htc-7-trophy-confirmed-verizon-early-2011

    HTC 7 Trophy confirmed for Verizon in early 2011
    Posted on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 02:46:00 EST by Daniel Rubino
    Filed Under: News

    Tony Melone then sounds MORE THAN STUPID for declaring months later (during the MWC in Feb. 2011) that as far as Verizon is concerned there are only three ecosystems: iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

    Easily verifiable facts speak against Melone’s statements and show that Melone was clearly NOT SPEAKING FOR VERIZON and instead was speaking for himself based on his own biases, in his tactless and unnecessary declarations dismissing WP7.

    It is bad business and an embarrassment for Verizon that a company Official of Melone’s stature tactlessly and publicly dissed an American institution such as Microsoft which, Melone has got to assume, is an indispensable partner of Verizon in some shape or form. And to diss Microsoft in the face of Verizon Wireless’ official support for WP7 already made public since November 15, 2010 — is not only embarrassing but also unacceptable.

    Kudos to Verizon Wireless CEO Daniel Mead for putting Melone is his place and setting the record straight on the true Official position of Verizon Wireless on the Microsoft Nokia relationship: Mead recognized this to be an unprecedented relationship that Verizon has got to pay attention to and not dismiss.

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