IPhone and Verizon Wireless

The link between iPhone and Verizon Wireless is still a rumor, though activity on that rumor mill is picking up, hinting at a Verizon iPhone release announcement as early as June 2009. However, there have been past rumors, such as an iPhone for Verizon in January 2009. Regardless of the month, many of the rumors do agree that 2009 is "the" year for the pairing, so perhaps something is still in the works. Others say 2010 will be the year Verizon gets the iPhone.

The Apple iPhone was released on June 29, 2007 in the United States for use on the AT&T network. It's small, lightweight, and basically packs the punch of an iPod, cell phone, and small computer all in one. It is a phone designed to work on a GSM network, which AT&T has but Verizon does not. Verizon uses CDMA technology, so using the iPhone with Verizon isn't as simple as buying the iPhone at retail price from an AT&T store and activating it on your Verizon account.

According to PCMag.com, AT&T and iPhone have an exclusivity agreement that runs through 2010. However, that same site states that Verizon could be getting a "non-iPhone" iPhone. AT&T has the rights to all iPhones, but Apple could release another phone that is similar to the iPhone in capabilities, but not actually an iPhone. Though the possibility is still there, there is no deal in the works according to BusinessWeek. If you're a Verizon customer and don't want to change, but desperately want to have an iPhone, you may find yourself holding your breath until at least 2010 and the end of the exclusivity contract with AT&T.

Apple approached Verizon in 2005 but they and the Verizon executives could not come to an agreement at the time. This time, it is expected that Apple will have loosened their grasp on the reigns a bit, giving Verizon more control.

If there were to be an iPhone and Verizon Wireless pairing, there would definitely be quite a few pros:

• Verizon customers who crave the abilities of the iPhone will be able to try it without giving in to any of the fears they may have of transitioning to AT&T, which currently has the iPhone.
• Verizon customers who are still in contracts will get a shot at the iPhone's capabilities.
• Most likely, this would mean a CDMA-compatible iPhone, which would open up another large group of potential customers for Apple.

A search on Google or YouTube related to unlocking your iPhone for use on the Verizon network will give you a few ideas about how to get around the AT&T exclusivity agreement. However, if it is possible to do so, it could be illegal according to Engadget. At the very least, it could void the warranty on your phone, so experiment with caution.

The bottom line? Even if you can legitimately follow a tutorial to unlock your iPhone and make it compatible with the Verizon network, there are several risks involved and it would be best to wait it out. With the number of rumors swirling about Verizon getting the iPhone soon, there is a good chance that there will be a legal solution soon, complete with warranty.

The iPhone and Verizon Wireless are not an available match at the present time, but it does seem that there will be a solution in late 2009 or 2010. This match will bring a sigh of relief for those who were considering going with AT&T for the sake of the iPhone even if they liked Verizon's coverage and had been happy with them for some time.

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