Verizon Set to Make Announcement Tuesday; Is It the iPhone?

By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor

Much excitement appears to be brewing at Verizon Communications. According to a Market Watch report, shares of the company’s stock added more than 1 percent in pre-open trading on Monday. This increase is ahead of the anticipated announcement coming later this week that Verizon Wireless (News - Alert) will be given the green light to sell Apple’s iPhone.

The No. 1 carrier in the U.S. reportedly sent out invitations last week for an event set to be held in New York on Tuesday. Industry experts expect Verizon Wireless will break the news at this event, which could greatly hurt AT&T business. AT&T (News - Alert) is currently the only carrier in the U.S. able to offer the Apple smartphone on its network.

This examiner report supports this assumption, pointing to a few things to back up the theory. First, Apple and AT&T have dropped the price of the iPhone (News - Alert) 3GS to $49, as reported by TMCnet. It is possible this particular device will be an AT&T exclusive and who wouldn’t love that price? Second, Verizon tweeted from an iPhone.

The tweet is possibly the first time Verizon has sent anything out on Twitter from an iPhone and if indicators mean anything, it could be the start of a viral build-up to a smartphone launch. The Examiner believes it could be the biggest launch in Verizon Wireless’ history.

That being said, there is still no official announcement from Apple or Verizon that Verizon Wireless will carry the iPhone. In fact, a number of suspected dates have come and gone, leaving anxious customers wondering if the launch will really happen.

Along the way, Android (News - Alert) is gaining in adoption rates, although Apple continues to dominate the smartphone market. Data captured by the Nielsen Company and reported in this eWeek piece showed that the Google Android operating system was the key platform for 40.8 percent of all smartphones purchased in the last six months, although the Apple iOS continues to lead in the U.S. in the consumer space.

TMCnet also reported recently that the buzz within Apple is that a product launch is scheduled for Feb. 3. The Boy Genius Report cited a source close to Apple that suggested the company recently narrowed its blackout dates for employee vacation requests. The blackout is set for Feb. 3 through 6.

For those considering switching their carrier to Verizon once the iPhone is reached, there are some things to ponder first, according to a blog by TMCnet CEO Rich Tehrani (News - Alert).

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(source: http://4g-wirelessevolution.tmcnet.com/topics/4g-wirelessevolution/articles/133539-verizon-set-make-announcement-tuesday-it-iphone.htm)