Verizon iPhone announcement rumored to hit on November 9
Yes, we know, another day and another iPhone/Verizon rumor -- but this one comes with a photo and a rather interesting backstory.
Here come the puzzle pieces. Verizon has been beefing up on staffing recently, including what's believed to be a near doubling of the service staff assigned to handle number porting requests. All around the iPhone-lovin' world, the expectation is that we'll hear an announcement before the end of the year with a hardware launch in early 2011. (Compare and contrast Big Red's stance on Windows Phone 7.)
Now we hear from a VZW insider that training notices have been sent out to customer service personnel describing an "Iconic Device" that will be available for pre-order on November 9, 2010. The device is expected to be in very high demand, and the training goes on to cover how to handle the pre-orders as they come in. Our source even came through with the internal display you see above.
Update: Reader CJ points out that the Motorola Droid Pro is scheduled to be available for pre-order on the same day, with a similar Iconic Device identifier. The screens might be referring to the same device launch, but they might not.
Is it a mortal lock? No, but Apple does like to announce things on Tuesdays. We'll see.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](https://web.archive.org/web/20101108072751im_/http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MRCUR said 11:08PM on 11-03-2010
Err, that "iconic device" you're referring to is the DROID Pro... Sorry to burt the rumor bubble.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/11/03/motorola-droid-pro-pre-sale-starts-november-9th-handset-to-launch-november-18th/
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MRCUR said 11:21PM on 11-03-2010
Dammit - *burst.
dagamer34 said 11:09PM on 11-03-2010
Samsung has a product announcement on November 8th, so I'm not so sure I'd get my hopes up.
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Dave said 11:22PM on 11-03-2010
The droid isnt iconic. Not like the iPhone is.
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Gillan said 11:30PM on 11-03-2010
A droid isn't an iPhone, the iPhone will not be coming to the Verizon network- ever.
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Tallest Skil said 9:33AM on 11-04-2010
You're a complete idiot. That's the most uninformed statement I've ever heard.
keyesdav said 2:35PM on 11-04-2010
I agree 100% with @Gillan. Apple and Verizon business models seems very incompatible. iPhone will not be released on Verizon in the near future. Read about it here: http://bit.ly/alnh0F
Gillan said 2:42PM on 11-04-2010
Correct, also,the Verizon network can not support what the iPhone is best for, using data while talking.
It's nice to be talking to someone, or needing to use web while you're on hold, and be able to. you can't do that on Verizons network, and they have already publicly stated they don't think the iPhone will ever be popular (before it launched of course) and still told Apple off has recent as I can recall a year ago. They would also CRIPPLE the iPhone. They limit what you can do whith all their phones.
David Schloss said 11:41PM on 11-03-2010
@Gillian, I'm going to just say you're wrong on that one. So is Fortune, the WSJ and a few dozen analysts.
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Roger Wilco said 11:43PM on 11-03-2010
So Apple allows this to be pre-ordered from November 9th, completely killing any iPhone sales during November, December and perhaps January. Remember, you can't count pre-orders as sales.
This doesn't sound like the Apple I know.
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chocobavits said 3:44AM on 11-04-2010
If this is an iPhone announcement it certainly CAN'T be a preorder thing. Apple and verizon aren't dumb enough to tell all holiday shoppers to not buy a phone until next year. However, this date could be a launch. There is the issue of millions of missing white iPhones...
Anthony said 11:51PM on 11-03-2010
This is seriously ridiculous. First, has everyone forgotten that the exclusivity period for Apple/AT&T; is up in 2012? (Five years from 2007 is 2012, not 2011.) Second, has Apple sent out invitations for a press conference? Third, the iPhone does not run Android... something Verizon has been focusing extremely _heavily_ on. Finally, yes, Apple has made deals with CDMA carriers for the iPhone, but those carriers are in India and South Korea. I wouldn't be surprised to see it go to China, either.
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Michael Rose said 11:59PM on 11-03-2010
You missed a few updates there.
http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/10/apple-att-iphone-agreement/
Anthony said 2:33AM on 11-04-2010
@Michael Rose - Those aren't updates on an actual termination of the contract. Those are rumors and speculation based on anonymous Wall Street Journal and USA Today "sources" (which, might I point out, have been wrong before). I've yet to see any _actual_ news straight from AT&T; or Apple or any other authoritative sources saying the contract has _actually_ terminated.
Darryl Yee said 6:20AM on 11-04-2010
anything is negotiable. I'm sure Apple can negotiate their way out of an exclusivity contract if they wanted to.
Secondly, I doubt Apple would hold a special event for this announcement and send out invitations. How long will it take to say the iPhone is coming to Verizon and will cost $xxx?
When did Verizon become Android exclusive? They don't care what OS a phone is running as long as it brings in subscribers.
With that said, since it's well known the Droid 2 will be released on 11/9, why would they call it an Iconic Device? Why wouldn't they just come out and say Droid 2? Doesn't it take a while for something to become an icon?
Jon said 8:43AM on 11-04-2010
Until someone knows or better yet can show the agreement between Apple and AT&T; (if such an agreement even exists), then no one knows when the hell it will end. People have constantly been saying "the exclusive agreement ends this year" since the iPhone's 2nd year.
Fact is, no one so far knows when that will be. Could have been 2 and renewed, maybe it's 5, or maybe it's 10?
Victor said 12:11PM on 11-04-2010
@anthony- the whole contract is basically speculation anyway. I'm sure that both companies have loopholes that allow them to get out of the contract.
macfan406 said 12:42AM on 11-04-2010
I know this is a ridiculous analysis,but the original iPhone was announced January 9, 2007 so maybe the next major chapter of iPhone will be announced November 9, 2010? Just a thought.. and a coincidence..
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Chase said 12:53AM on 11-04-2010
I had to switch to Verizon because coverage was terrible in my area with my iPhone. I will be the first to tell you, I couldn't be more disappointed with my Droid 2. Or any Droid for that matter. My iPhone 4 was a much better phone.
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dest747 said 1:49AM on 11-04-2010
"Iconic Device"? "iDevice"? Hmmm? HMMMMM?
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