Gamechanger

So, is the iPhone 4G coming to Verizon?. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't; we can't know until next week. Here's what's not going to happen:

“The phone will be carried on Verizon and hence will operate on the CDMA network,” he asserts, adding, “however, it will also support European GSM and HSPA standards. An updated 4GS version that will support LTE is anticipated to arrive in June 2011.”

Umm... no. Apple's not going to bend over backwards to put more chips in its phone and make it even thicker and more power hungry. Compare the thickness of an iPhone to that of an iPod touch. That's mostly the cellular chip.

The iPhone is a worldwide device by virtue of supporting the only worldwide standard. I think that the iPhone LTE will come out on Verizon. I just don't think that before that it will be worth it to manufacture a version with a different wireless chipset just for the US or China. It's in Apple's best interest to push the carriers to move to LTE as quickly as possible, giving it an easy way to switch carriers without any hardware change if need be, and thus an easy way out of a poorer carrier. The iPhone LTE will be a kingmaker in the LTE market, not only because of its success at attracting customers from other carriers, but also because it will force carriers to rapidly support LTE infrastructure.