I have a lot of respect for ALL of my colleagues on the multiple sites that everyone frequents on the Internet. I’ve been a technology journalist for 15 years.  During all of the hub-bub of the Dot-COM bubble burst and subsequent ripples over the past 10 or so years, its not been easy to stay at this.  Those sites that have been consistent, with long-term writers have more than likely discovered the "secret sauce" or formula for keeping the content going, for finding out who can do what for <pick a site>, and how to make trusted, consistent contacts.

To everyone in that category, congratulations.  You’ve done a great job.

However… and before I get started, I’d like to point out that any article I site is NOT a shot at any one site or any individual writer.  This is a dissenting opinion on a specific point in those articles…that’s all.

<RANT>
I saw an interesting opinion based article that was actually quite compelling.  The premise of the article, if Apple sold the iPhone 4 on more than one US carrier, the sales would have likely doubled, is very interesting and very compelling.  However, the basis of the doubled sales numbers – Verizon – is a pipe dream at best.

Its NEVER (read: reaLLY, REALLY unlikely) going to happen.

SO not gonna happen…

I outlined this back in March of this year on JAMM.  You can read the article here – Verizon’s iPhone..? Not so Fast…  I’ll sum up the major reasons why a Verizon iPhone is likely not going to happen on their CDMA network, but for the full explanation, you really need to read the full article:

• The US is a small (CDMA) market (compared to the global GSM market)
• Not every Verizon Wireless customer is going to buy an iPhone
• A CDMA iPhone would require a COMPLETE device redesign (the cellular radio is much bigger)
• Apple Support Costs would SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE (and finally)
• If Apple were going to add another carrier, they would have done it already (with the introduction of the iPad and the iPhone 4)

The final nail in the VzW iPhone is this – Apple only wants a single version of the device – a GSM version – to circulate. Technology implementation changes (read: functionality changes) would have to be made to accommodate the CDMA radio (it just works differently than a GSM radio) and that is going to do nothing but rub Steve the wrong way.  The experience won’t quite the same, and will be different.  Again, Stevie J. doesn’t do that; and I don’t blame him.

Simplicity and consistency are what make the iPhone the success that it is. That doesn’t involve a technology change/shift from one cellular technology to another unless he’s going to take the entire world there; and with CDMA, that ain’t gonna happen.

EVER.

No, really…  neVER…EVER.

The most likely heir apparent to AT&T’s iPhone in the US is T-Mobile.  They are a GSM carrier, and could very easily run the phone on their HSPA+ network (provided the chipset Apple currently uses supports their flavor of HSPA+).  If not, changing out that chipset for one that supports BOTH AT&T and T-Mobile is nothing more than an internal part/BOM (Bill of Materials) change; and rather easy to accomplish.  That’s NOTHING compared to what will have to happen to create a CDMA based iPhone.

However, I’m not very certain how likely THAT is either.  T-Mo (and I do much prefer them to either AT&T or Verizon Wireless here in Chicago) is a MUCH smaller national carrier than AT&T. Its likely that an iPhone release on their network will result in similar kinds of problems with their ordering systems as well as their network, so yah… they’ve got THAT going for them.  If Apple were to authorize the iPhone on T-Mobile, you would think that T-Mo would have enough lead time and notice to ramp up their HSPA+ network to be able to handle the traffic.  Maybe that’s part of what they’re doing now, with the 25 new cities that have seen HSPA+ rollouts in the last couple of weeks… Who knows..?  But honestly, that’s just pure conjecture…

So please, people…everyone… please STOP with the Verizon Wireless iPhone rumors and thoughts. Unless and until a GLOBAL communications standard is established and adopted, we’re SO unlikely to see one, that its really safe to say

It ain’t never gonna happen, so fe-ged-aboud-it.
</RANT>

Just sayin’…

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Related posts:

1. iPhone Coming to Verizon?
2. Apple Releases iOS4 for iPhone and iPod Touch
3. AT&T iPhone Exclusivity to End on Wednesday 27-Jan-10?
4. What would make your current iPhone feel like this?
5. Verizon’s iPhone..? Not so Fast…