March 30th, 2010

Apple iPhone 4g at Verizon and Sprint – Release Date Summer 2010. Unconfirmed sources claim that Apple, Inc. is hard at work on a new iPhone that uses CDMA technology – a faster technology than GSM.  Now this could be big news; if the new iPhone were to employ CDMA technology, it could be used not only by AT&T but Verizon and Sprint as well.  Also, Apple is on schedule to release a new version of its current iPhone this summer.

AT&T did not confirm the rumors merely stating that only Apple could know what they are producing.  Verizon refused to comment on the matter.  Although Apple downplayed the availability of CDMA technology when Verizon first started to explore it, Apple has since praised the usage of it.

While AT&T holds a little over 40% of the smart phone market, it will be increasingly harder for them to compete with other carriers if the iPhone is not exclusive to AT&T.  AT&T also charges a much higher rate plan for the phone’s data usage; the company will find itself having to be more competitive if the market is split with several other carriers.

 The production of the phones can only be good for the new producer of the CDMA model, Pegatron Technology Corp., a subsidiary of Taiwan’s ASUSTeK Computer Inc. as well as Qualcomm, which is the leading producer of the CDMA chips.

Today, Apple’s stock is up 3.46; Qualcomm is up .37, Vodafone, parent of Verizon, is up .19; and Verizon is up .78.  AT&T’s stock went down .56.

Source:

Wall Street Journal