Are Apple and Verizon working on an iPhone lite and a media tablet?

By on Apr 28, 2009 at 8:07 AM
General April 28, 2009

Some more news today on the Apple/Verizon front as BusinessWeek is reporting both Apple and Verizon have been in talks for over half a year in hopes of the two partnering up to bring two new devices to market, the first as soon as this summer. Described as an “iPhone lite”, the first of the two is a smaller and less expensive iPhone model; a device much like the one that was seriously hyped up just before Christmas. The other device — possibly debuting as early as this summer — is believed to be a touchscreen media tablet that focuses on music, photos and high-definition videos, and has the ability to make phone calls over a Wi-Fi network. Could this rumored device be the touchscreen “netbook” DigiTimes was reporting on back in May? We certainly can’t rule that out, but this whole iPhone lite thing smells a bit fishy considering that pesky AT&T iPhone exclusivity deal. BusinessWeek is pretty sure however, that the iPhone lite will be different enough from the iPhone as we know it to bypass this restriction. Still, there is a lot of doubt that any of this will make it to market. As BusinessWeek puts it:

While talks between Verizon Wireless and Apple have heated up recently, no deal is imminent. It’s possible both sides may disagree over financial terms, such as how big a subsidy Verizon Wireless might pay for each device or whether to share monthly service revenue with Apple. Another deal breaker could be disagreements over distribution of wireless software applications. Apple is the exclusive provider and distributor of apps for the AT&T iPhone. If Apple requests a similar deal on newer devices, Verizon Wireless may balk.

Consider our interest piqued and many doubts raised.

Thanks, Al!

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  • Mike

    Ok fanboys or peopel that have monikers such as vzw, here’s the deal apple’s profit statement was released last week and it earnings were higher than expected and it was mainly due to the iphone. Yes a phone is that valuable to them, well if your apple and when you got ur statment and saw this the first thing to do is branch the phone onto Verizon and its large customer base. And for who has leaked this info i would say apple, get it into mainstream news to see the interest, not coming from tech websites or ninjas but usa today allows the avg customer to see this possiblity. Also AT&T contract is up starting 2010, is was actually already renewed in 09 and is out in 2010 and at&t is aware of the potential of a verizon iphone and is trying to get there contract renewed which hasnt been successful yet, this was written in the wall st journal about 2 months ago. Anyway the iphone will be on verizon is 2010 dont know when in the yr but it will be available.

  • AJC

    @ VZW

    You don’t know anyone here in real life. You don’t know what people do here for a living. You however sound like a child. You probably sell fake leather cases to verizon customers in the mall from a cart. That doesn’t qualify you to talk down to people.

  • Scott

    @vzw

    Aww… You got your panties in a bunch… Probably at the same time you were sucking Lowell McAdam’s dick!

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Tempe United States

  • ~Phel

    @VZW…You come across as very professional I bet your bosses would be impressed,and by the way Sprint has had their 4g up and running in a few markets now as well.

  • AgBand

    What’s an iPhone? And why does it matter if it goes to Verizon or not?

    And most importantly, why does VZW seem like a such a flagrant douchebag?

  • VZW

    You little children need to grown up. Get off you phones in school now so you don’t get in trouble by the teacher. I will talk down to ANYONE who is stupid and has no idea what they are talking about.

  • AgBand

    @ VZW:

    Does that mean you stand in front of the mirror and yammer away at yourself?

  • ~Phel

    VZW Why didn’t you mention the microsoft phone in the works for verizon if you know so much? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124093915558664239.html

  • E

    It’s funny how now even CS representatives will talk about the speculation that a CDMA iPhone is coming. Just tell them your contract with Ma Bell is up in July and the VZW hardware lineup sucks. He seemed pretty eager to discuss what is merely speculation at this point.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • VZW

    You want me to tell you about the moto comming this summer? The 3 HTCs were getting, a new nokia, 4 moto phones, 3 Samsung, and a couple of LGs? The new enV touch, enV3 with a 3.0 cam. Our new netbooks, and the LTE devices for 10? I know about them. You all have no idea what I do at Verizon. Haha!

  • Wireless

    @VZW

    Fanboy, child, all-around douche…

    Unless you are a network engineer or corporate product developer, I don’t know how much you know about what you are claiming. By the way you are writing about it, you are most likely neither.

  • jason

    @VZW

    so they have the iphone LTE built and they are already testing it?

  • D.

    This VZW’s bitch is an idiot, just ignore his stupid ass guys.

  • VZW

    Im stupid because I am right? Okay, what ever you say dumb ass.

  • Ian

    if you work for verizon can you tell me when will the iphone LTE or Lite be coming out for verizon if it is to come out for the network, email me at ianbousquet94@yahoo.com asap

  • Crunch

    Hahha…Dude, I’m sky phucking high, and you, VZW and AJC are in need of something, something very important…

    LIVES HAHAHAHA My God, I’m sorry for the two a ya’s. This is funny!!!! :D

  • Sonya

    Well hopefully I can give some assurance. Before I even read this stuff I was talking to my buddy who is a VZW manager about the Omnnia HD, well he was talking about the iPhone.

    Things that were confirmed:

    iPhone will be on Verizon 2010
    We will be going LTE 2010
    It will not be a watered down version (lite) They have to change the name or something about it to avoid breaking the contract with AT&T. But doesn’t mean it will be missing all types of features.

    Think about it. Apples sales will double once they put it on Verizon. I don’t see why this is a shocker to some people. Its a guarantee to sell on Verizon and they won’t have to make it for a CDMA carrier since Verizon is going LTE. Simple, going to Verizon equals more money for Apple. Do you know how many people would leave AT&T just to get it on Verizon, thats even more money for Apple because you have people buying the same phone over again just on a different network.

    Mark my words. If you want your iPhone you will have it in 2010. Right now they are in negotiations. Verizon wants to fix the insurance issue and the removable battery. I think they will settle for the insurance. But with Verizon you WILL be able to get insurance on it.

  • paul

    its the network

  • Matt

    Although Apple and Verizon may have been working together for an Iphone light that is no longer the case. I just found out from my At&t rep that Apple and At&t will be releasing a mac netbook sometime in october. That’s just what the reps have been hearing. What is for sure though is with this deal the contract on all devices was renewed for another 10 years so not iphones on other carriers for the time being

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