After years of Verizon customers waiting patiently today a lot of their dreams finally became a reality. In New York, Lowell Macadam (the CEO of Verizon) and Tim Cook (Apple’s COO) got on stage today for a special announcement. Most people already knew what was coming but it was still nice to have all of our suspicions and rumors confirmed. The iPhone is coming to Verizon. It is going to be available on February 10th as Apple has posted on their site right now (see image above) and as Verizon Wireless has on their site (see below).

According to the information coming out of the press conference the phone will be on Verizon’s CDMA network and not LTE and run like any other CDMA device and will not be able to use data while on voice calls. It will NOT feature GSM/EDGE/HSPA antennae for global roaming - although the Verizon site’s technical specifications for the phone seems to be a bit confused as it lists it having GSM/HSPA but not CDMA (see below).

The device will be available first to Verizon customers and then to new customers. Verizon & Apple made no comment as to when an upgraded version of the iPhone (the iPhone 5) will become available to Verizon Wireless customers. As well, according to the Q&A at the press conference this is a multi-year deal between the two companies but it is NOT exclusive. Therefore you might be asking the question - What does this mean for Canada? Honestly, I think it means nothing. Bell & Telus have already launched HSPA networks and as such it seems to me there would be no reason for them to get this device. If they did they would have to explain to every customer what the difference is between the two iPhones they offer are and just confuse the average consumer (as they are almost aesthetically identical).

There are 2 other big questions for American consumers:(1) How will this affect AT&T’s subscriber numbers now that there is an option for the iPhone on Verizon? and (2) If/when Sprint is going to be getting the iPhone? As stated above, the deal with Verizon isn’t exclusive so we could be seeing the CDMA iPhone on Sprint sooner or later.

For More Info:

Apple’s site here

Verizon Wireless’ site here

Verizon Wireless’ iPhone site here