As AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson seeks to extend the carrier's exclusive rights to sell Apple's iPhone in the United States, which expire next year, Verizon Communications CEO Ivan Seidenberg laid out the case for the iPhone running over its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, which will be rolled out commercially next year. During an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Seidenberg said Apple likely would be willing to work with Verizon on bringing the iPhone to Verizon Wireless, once the carrier launches its LTE network. He said Apple never seriously considered making a CDMA version of the phone because of its limited global reach as compared with GSM. LTE, on the other hand, is rapidly becoming the 4G choice among the world's major wireless operators.
Regarding the $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus money that will be loaned out to bring broadband into rural areas, Seidenberg said he agreed with the plan's goals, but added that there may be too many regulations and rules attached to how the money will be distributed. "The government needs to trust that the market can spend the money correctly," he said.
For more:
- see FierceWireless
Related articles:
Verizon's Seidenberg: 500 percent penetration achievable
Does Verizon Wireless need an iconic device?
Cable industry grapples with wireless encroachment
Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson win Verizon LTE deal
Verizon will announce LTE vendors at MWC
Verizon to deploy LTE by late 2009
Boost Mobile debuts $50 unlimited voice/data plan