According to the WSJ, the news that Verizon and iPhone users have been waiting for is now official as of Tuesday, the iPhone is coming to Verizon. On Tuesday in New York City, Verizon is expected (for real this time) to announce the plans for releasing the iPhone on its network. As of right now, the official date of which the device is going to hit store shelves is still unknown. The announcement marks a huge change in the cell phone service provider network, as it will be the first time that iPhone users will have a choice of service provider as well as pricing packages.?? AT&T has been the only option for consumers wanting an iPhone since June 2007.

Verizon has been leaning on its Android-based phones powered by Google to compete with the AT&Ts iPhone. Google gives it’s software away it hopes to stake out space on mobile phones where it can sell ads and other services. This past quarter, Android-based phones out sold iPhones for the first time since the release of the iPhone according to the research firm Gartner. This accomplishment was big enough to grab the attention of Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs, who made a rare appearance on a conference call with analysts in October and criticized Android as fragmented, referring to the myriad ways the software appears on the many different phones that use it. Apple has had great success with its relationship exclusively with AT&T but the company recognizes the need to partner with Verizon to continue the rate of growth and success. “It’s a big boost for Apple,” said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment officer of New York-based Solaris Asset Managmenet which counts Apple in its portfolio worth $2 billion. “It opens up a huge uninstalled base for them in this country”. Top executives from Verizon have continuously met with their AT&T counterparts to express their interest in carrying the iPhone. Verizon looks to add to its base of 93 million subscribers.

Toni Sacconaghi, an analyst at Sanford Bernstein, has estimated that Verizon could add more than 10 million U.S. iPhone customers. With the potential growth that Verizon is facing, some have called into question whether or not the carrier will be able to provide adequate service to its customers. ?Verizon executives also point to their success handling laptop traffic and the data demands of a growing base of Android phones as well as a Consumer Reports survey taken last month which rated Verizon as the most reliable network and at the same time ranking AT&T the lowest among major carriers. Taking all of this into account it would seem that Verizon is ready for the release of the iPhone and it would be an understatement to say that consumers are more than ready for the device.

Aside from the fact that its a good move for Apple to make, it isn’t a big surprise that it is finally happening. Recent occurrences have all been pointing towards an impending release starting from the fact that Verizon is holding an event shortly after making no iPhone related statements during their CES 2011 keynote. Meanwhile, news of Apple looking to hire more CDMA engineers and leaks of accessories for a CDMA iPhone found on popular third-party accessory sites. The news many current and prospective iPhone users have been anticipating is finally about to be announced. Now that there’s going to be options for iPhone users on AT&T, have your thoughts or plans changed about sticking with AT&T? What about for all of you on the Verizon network? Do you plan on picking up your CDMA version iPhone 4 as soon as it is available? Let us know in the comments below!

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Authors: V_Geek

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