Verizon will very soon impose a strict rule, requiring all smartphones on its network to be 4G LTE compatible, CNET reports.
If it didn't immediately strike you, Verizon's phone lineup includes the iPhone as well, which has led to speculations that Apple's next iPhone will support 4G LTE networks.
CNET reports:
From now on, nearly every smartphone, wireless hot spot, tablet, and Netbook that Verizon offers will come with LTE guns a-blazing. Yes, Virginia, that includes Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices, too.
There will be the occasional exception, however. For instance, phones on Verizon's push-to-talk network are 3G-only for now, and will remain that way until further notice.
Verizon's clear, unyielding stance on 4G--"a hard requirement," according to Verizon--may partially explain why it has picked up only one Windows Phone so far.
Of course this doesn't ensure that the next iPhone is going to be LTE compatible. If Apple still feels that 4G LTE severely degrades battery life, they would ship the device sans 4G. We all know that Apple doesn't give in to demands like these made by carriers. John Gruber sums it up perfectly:
Negotiations with the carriers:
Android handset makers: Here are our phones. How would you like us to change them so that you will sell them?
Microsoft: Here’s $200 million. Please sell our phones.
Apple: Here is our new phone. It comes in black or white. We will let you sell it.
[via CNET]
Ahhh! the power of the iPhone.
I wouldn’t label an iPhone a smartphone. It’s just an iPhone. Nothing compares to it. Just like you have tablets and you have the iPad. And again you have “PC’s” then you have Macs. It’s not egotistical just plain logic.
I think you should look up the definition of those two words and come back to the black board. “Smartphone and Tablet”
“When a blind man tells you he is going to throw a stone at you… you better watch what he has his feet on”.
Thank you!
Why should apple oblige to this if they know that the only thing they need to do redesign the iPhone and watch these idiots run to the apple store and tell the media that this NEW iPhone is better than the previous one. Look at the 3G/3GS. what has change the ram and a compass app. What’s the different with the 4/4S, the CPU and Siri.