Verizon to start selling iPhone on Feb. 10

NEW YORK - Verizon Wireless made the long-awaited announcementTuesday that it will start selling a version of the iPhone 4 on Feb.10, giving U.S. iPhone buyers a choice of carriers for the firsttime.

Since its 2007 debut, Apple Inc.'s phone has been soldexclusively for AT&T's network in the United States.

Verizon Communications Inc.'s chief operating officer, LowellMcAdam, made the announcement in New York, joined by Apple COO TimCook, who called it "the beginning of a great relationship betweenVerizon and Apple."

Pre-orders for existing Verizon customers will start Feb. 3. Theprice will be $200 or $300 with a two-year contract, depending onthe model, about the same as the iPhone through AT&T. It will besold through Verizon, Apple and other stores nationwide, as well asover the Internet.

Verizon issued its news release at 11:11 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2011,or 1/11/11.

AT&T activated 11.1 million iPhones in the first nine months of2010. Analysts now expect Verizon to snag some users from AT&T, butthe impact will likely be muted because most iPhone users have two-year contracts, and many are on family and employer plans. Verizondid not reveal its service plan pricing on Tuesday.

Verizon's iPhone version will work only on the carrier's current"3G" network even though the carrier has fired up a faster "4G"network in many cities. That super-fast wireless data network isavailable only to plug-in laptop modems for now, but Verizon willhave smart phones for it this summer from other manufacturers,including Motorola Mobility Inc.

Cook said the first generation of "4G" phone chips would haveforced some design compromises, which Apple wasn't willing to make.

"Secondly, and most importantly, Verizon customers have told usthey want the iPhone now," Cook said. "I can't tell you the numberof times I've been asked and my colleagues have been asked, 'Whenwill the iPhone work on the Verizon network?'"

The lack of 4G means the Verizon iPhone will have much slowerdata speeds than AT&T's, at least in the areas where AT&T hasupgraded its 3G network. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel was quick topoint this out, along with the fact that users won't be able to surfand talk at the same time on the Verizon iPhone.

International roaming also will be very limited compared with theAT&T version.

However, Verizon has much wider domestic 3G coverage than AT&Tdoes, especially in the interior of the country. In the big citiesof the coasts, iPhone service can be spotty because of crowding onAT&T's network.

Although Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in thecountry, with 93.2 million subscribers, it has been losing out toAT&T in the battle to sign up high-paying smart-phone subscribersbecause of AT&T's iPhone exclusivity. In the last few years, Verizonhas promoted phones with Google Inc.'s Android operating system asits alternative to the iPhone.

Cook wouldn't say if Verizon will get the iPhone 5 when it debutsthis summer, if Apple follows its regular once-a-year upgradeschedule.

Verizon's iPhone 4 is identical in form and function to AT&T'sbut has one feature AT&T's does not: It can act as a portable Wi-Fi"hot spot," connecting up to five laptops or other devices toVerizon's 3G network through Wi-Fi.

It's a feature that's been offered on other smart phones, usuallyfor an added monthly fee.

AP photo