Apple Thoughts: Rumor: Verizon Version of iPhone Coming

"We've fielded a couple of tips (some more sketchy than others) about EVDO iPhones floating around Cupertino in the past, but today's tipster seems a little bit more sure of himself. Besides having some Verizon insider credentials, he seems to know way too much about Verizon-Apple politics. According to him, Apple will be announcing iPhones for Verizon Wireless in 2009, perhaps as early Macworld 2009. Negotiations between Apple and Verizon are ongoing but they expect to hammer out agreements by the end of the year."

9 to 5 Mac has been one of the darlings of Mac sites since they nailed the fatty Nano long before anyone believed Apple would make such an ugly nubby little thing. Since then, almost every rumor they publish gets attention just by virtue of coming out of their mouth. The problem with this rumor is that there's no basis for it other than a "tip." Their supporting evidence is nothing new, and is just a list of cobbled together facts and figures from things we already knew and know. I'm not ready to believe that the iPhone's on its way to Verizon based on anything I see in that article, but I guess if it makes you feel hopeful or whatever, then go for it.

It should be noted that the iPhone is still going to be an exclusive AT&T device until, at the very minimum, 2010, so I find it hard to believe Apple would announce a CDMA version of the iPhone a year before they plan to release it.