Apple reportedly set to release iPhone on Verizon's network in 2010

Well here's a rumor that should get all you Verizon subscribers excited. Apple is supposedly planning to release a worldmode version of the iPhone in the third quarter of 2010, which would subsequently enable it to run on Verizon's CDMA network. The current iPhone, of course, is GSM only.

Well here's a rumor that should get all you Verizon subscribers excited. Apple is supposedly planning to release a worldmode version of the iPhone in the third quarter of 2010, which would subsequently enable it to run on Verizon's CDMA network. The current iPhone, of course, is GSM only.

Verizon's network is largely reputed to be the best in the U.S., and ever since the iPhone was first released, consumers who have been tied to Verizon for one reason or another have been clamoring for Apple to release a CDMA version of the popular device. Apple, however, has stated quite a few times that CDMA is a dying technology, and indeed, it made a lot more sense for Apple to hitch their wagon onto GSM as CDMA is largely non-existent outside of North America.

But according to a recent story from AppleInsider, Apple is reportedly working on an upcoming iPhone model which will support both GSM and CDMA networks, meaning that Apple will soon be able to "sell a single global handset to all carriers, and specifically to Verizon Wireless in the US."

Now how's that for covering all your bases?

Curiously, though, the world-mode iPhone will supposedly sport a 2.8-inch screen, which if true, is a curious design move from Apple. Apple thus far has been able to sell developers on the iPhone platform in large part due to the uniformity across all iPhone and iPod Touch models. A smaller screen would essentially make many of the apps on the iTunes App Store not worth even using, and that's if we can even assume that such a phone would be able to run apps in the first place.

So why would Apple even consider releasing such a device?

One possible explanation is that Apple may want to buy some time with a "crippled" CDMA iPhone in order to prevent competing smartphones, like the Motorola Droid, from establishing any significant amount of marketshare. Under this theory, this may very well be a stop gap measure from Apple until Verizon begins a large scale rollout of its 4G network, which Apple's iPhone will inevitably run on.

One thing is for certain, though. There is only so much room for Apple to grow while tethered to AT&T. We may not be there yet, but there will eventually come a time when everyone who wants an iPhone and is willing to be on AT&T's network will have an iPhone. As has been noted by many before, a lot of consumers pick their mobile carrier first and then work backwards from there. Ending the AT&T/iPhone exclusivity deal is therefore a necessity for Apple to not only continue to grow the iPhone, but also to prevent a new device from coming in and stealing its thunder.

Notably, Apple has already begun selling the iPhone on multiple carriers in both Canada and the U.K. Hopefully the US will be next to follow.

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