CDMA iPhone released, Verizon Wireless keeps prices same

One of the largest cellular carriers in the US Verizon Wireless providing its services on CDMA standard has made it official that the CDMA-version of iPhone 4 will be available to its customers from February 10. Contrary to various rumors, the newly released gadget will not be a dual one, but will work only on CDMA networks. Price of the CDMA-version of iPhone 4 on Verizon stores will not differ from its GSM-analogue by AT&T: $ 199 for a 16-gigabyte model and $ 100 more for 32-GB model, reports Engadget.



In contrast to the usual iPhone 4, the CDMA-variant will not be able to work simultaneously with voice and data, which is restrained by the limitations of CDMA-network.

CEO of Verizon Lowell McAdam said that the company was in talks with Apple since 2008, and during the last year they enhanced the capabilities of their network for trouble-free services of iPhone and tested the working of prototypes.

The announcement event was attended by Apple COO Tim Cook, who said that the deal with Verizon is not exclusive in nature. So, it is quite possible that the CDMA-model of iPhone 4 can be offered by other operators like Sprint or E-Mobile. Cook also noted that iPhone 4 CDMA allows users to use it as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five devices. Quite possibly, after the next update of Apple’s operating system such feature will be available to the owners of ‘ordinary’ iPhone 4.

By looks, CDMA iPhone 4 can be called just a twin of GSM variant, but due to changes in the design of antenna the volume control buttons have been shifted by a few millimeters, so the usual cases for iPhone 4 will not be compatible with the newbie. However, Apple has already announced the release of Bumper Case for them.

Bloomberg reported that after iPhone 4 from Verizon Wireless, we can soon see a CDMA compatible iPad 2. Second generation of Apple iPads will be released in three variants viz. Wi-Fi, 3G and CDMA.