Verizon Wireless may be moving closer to a partnership with Apple for the manufacturer's forthcoming (but still non-existent) tablet as well as a new version of the iPhone, according to analysts. A partnership on both of those products has been rumored on and off for months, though neither side has said anything definitive.
"The tablet will be supported by multiple [mobile] carriers," said Broadpoint AmTech analyst Brian Marshall, citing unnamed sources. "Verizon and others," he continued. "Definitely Verizon. I've been told that's a certainty."
Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported Apple will begin shipping the tablet, which has been dubbed the iSlate, in March. The multimedia device is expected to have a 10- to 11-inch screen. According to the blog AllThingsD, Apple has scheduled a media event for Jan. 27, where it may introduce the tablet.
On the iPhone rumor front, UBS analyst Maynard Um said Verizon and Apple are working toward a deal. "We believe a CDMA-iPhone is also in the works, though Verizon Wireless and Apple may currently be apart on pricing," he wrote in a research note. Currently, AT&T Mobility is the exclusive U.S. operator for the iPhone. The pricing dispute likely centers on how much Verizon would pay to Apple for each iPhone unit.
For more:
- see this Computerworld article
- see this Brighthand post
- see this AllThingsD blog post
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