Corrected: No CDMA iPhone, at least for now


IPhone-cdmaLooks like the blogosphere got ahead (or behind) itself on this rumour. Apparently a old post from last year magically resurfaced and got a lot of us excited. Original post follows….

It's pure speculation at this point, but rumours about an imminent Apple-Verizon Wireless partnership could mean more choice of carriers for folks who want to jump on the iPhone bandwagon.

According to this Consumers Reports blog post, a rumour regarding a partnership between Apple and the largest CDMA-based cellphone carrier – Verizon – has been picking up steam in recent days.

While such a deal would certainly face challenges, most notably in the area of Apple's current exclusivity with AT&T, it would also make a lot of sense. Most smartphones on the market, including the dominant BlackBerry, exist in multiple flavours for both GSM and CDMA carriers. The iPhone however, has been limited to just GSM carriers since its launch.

It's not a stretch to think that with such a tremendous first few years under its belt, Apple is looking to expand its horizons and welcome a whole new user base to its rapidly growing club.

If the rumours are true, the partnership could also have a profound impact on the Canadian iPhone landscape which has been dominated by Rogers and its subsidiary Fido – the only Canadian GSM carriers. A CDMA iPhone could be picked up by Bell and/or Telus.

N.B. The post that started off this latest round of speculation was in fact from September 28, 2008.

Let's do a quick poll:

Would you buy an iPhone if it was available on Bell or Telus?
( surveys)

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