Verizon’s Wireless spokesman John Johnson effectively killed off any hope of the iPhone 4G / HD being announced as a new addition to their network during Steve Jobs’ keynote address at WWDC.
This news may surprise some who interpreted Steve Jobs’ comments in his own interview at D8 as him hinting that another network for the new iPhone 4G / HD might be a possibility, and admitting that it would be a good thing.
It is clear that Apple need to get their iPhone onto more networks in the US to compete with Androids more easy access to market. But first they need to address another problem.
That problem is that Apple doesn’t have the production capacity to support a roll out of the new iPhone 4G globally, and on two US networks at the same time. However, Apple are busy bringing more production capacity online for the iPhone 4G / HD. The hitch is that it is not up to speed yet.
In an interview with DigiTime’s senior analyst Ming-Chi Kuo last month details of Apple’s new production capacity were discussed. He had this to say:
Pegatron will indeed assemble an iPhone, but the manufacturing cooperation is still at the EVT (engineer verification test) stage. There are two more stages Ð DVT (design verification test) and PVT (process verification test) Ð before mass production. Though there were reports that shipments for this particular device will begin in the second half, we believe 2011 is more likely.
Putting two and two together in the tech rumour world doesn’t always yield four. But in this case it seems fairly obvious that Apple needs to go with another US network, in addition to AT&T. Steve Jobs is hinting at it, and Apple are doing something about it.
Verizon will be keen to not upset Apple at this sensitive stage, as concrete rumours of a Verizon launch may well stall sales of the iPhone 4G / HD, as people who are unhappy with AT&T hold off on buying waiting for more options..
Do you expect the iPhone 4G on Verizon this year or next? Or not at all? Have your say in the comments.
