The Verizon iPhone (January 21, 2011)
After being just a rumor for so long, Verizon Wireless is finally getting Apple’s iPhone. Existing Verizon Wireless customers can preorder the iPhone 4 starting February 3 and will be fully available February 10. The 16 gigabyte model will cost $199 and the 32 gigabyte version will cost $299 (with a new two-year contract on each of course). Many people have had problems using the iPhone on AT&T either because AT&T’s coverage is bad in their area or they may have been holding the phone a certain way that made the reception bad (a problem Apple may have fixed in newer phones). Now we should really find out if AT&T really has bad coverage in certain areas or whether the iPhone’s design makes it seem like there is bad coverage. Usage issues aside, I believe that it is a good thing that the iPhone is now available on more than one carrier. Who knows, maybe Sprint or T-Mobile may get the phone at some point in the future and iPhone customers will be able to get the phone on their favorite carrier. Apple may even get new customers simply because it is a good phone on their current carrier.
Highlights from the Verizon iPhone Announcement (from CNET)