An Apple rumour website has reported that the company is working on a CDMA based iPhone, with a launch expected early next year. Citing an unnamed Verizon source, 9to5Mac noted that the company has been recruiting CDMA EVDO engineers for some months, lending credence to the report.
The blog also claims that Apple originally aimed to work with Verizon Wireless but switched to AT&T and a GSM model. It would have been almost mandatory for the iPhone to launch as a GSM or WCDMA model however if it wanted to secure a sizeable international market.
However, a report from USA Today a couple of months ago claimed that AT&T had expanded its original exclusive rights to the iPhone in the USA to a full five years. If the exclusive agreement does exist, then it still makes sense for Apple to work on a CDMA handset for South Korea and China at the very least.
Recent reports that Apple may offer a version of the iPhone with restricted hardware for the Chinese market suggests that the company is also getting more comfortable with developing the hardware side of mobile devices.
On the web: 9to5Mac - USA Today
Posted to the site on 29th September 2008
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/33876.php