Verizon iPhone Launches with Mobile Hotspot and Redesigned Antenna
Apple and Verizon announced the Verizon-compatible iPhone today. The new iPhone 4 is functionally identical to the existing AT&T/GSM iPhone 4, but has been made CDMA compatible to run on Verizon's network. It seems there have been some antenna changes to the design with an additional antenna break in the casing.
The new antenna design was leaked in an early video that was later removed by Apple. The new design has moved the antenna break position from the top to the sides of the device. The change may simply be to accommodate CDMA's different communication frequency rather than address the antenna issue from the original design.
The iPhone 4 for Verizon will begin preorders on February 3rd with availability starting on February 10th. The 16GB model will cost $199.99 and the 32GB model $299.99 with two year contract.
Image via Engadget
In a surprise move, Verizon is allowing the iPhone 4 to be a mobile Mi-Fi device that can share its 3G connection to up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices. This means your laptop can share your iPhone's 3G internet connection when a regular connection is not available. However, as a CDMA device, you won't be able to use your 3G internet connection and Voice at the same time.
Pricing details have not been announced.
Verizon has posted a FAQ for potential iPhone customers.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
18 months ago
That mifi idea seems very good, especially if you have an iPhone and WiFi iPad. Hope we can use that in the rest of the world eventually.
18 months ago
Next next June:
iPhone 6 ATT
iPhone 6 Verizon
iPhone 6 ATT LTE
iPhone 6 Verizon LTE
iPhone 6 ATT
iPhone 6 Verizon
iPhone 6 ATT LTE
iPhone 6 Verizon LTE
18 months ago
MacRumor users told me that there wouldn't be an iPhone on Verizon :confused::confused:
18 months ago
Mobile wi-fi hotspot?! (aka tethering)
Count me in! So long AT&T!
i thought that too at first... but no simultaneous voice and data is a deal breaker for me.
Plus, ATT is great in my area and hopefully they will allow hotspot now as well.
18 months ago
CDMA network is done and paid for and the 3G phones are dirt cheap to make. VZW can now offer freebies like this for it. just like when data started coming to the carriers and they all started to offer "free" in-network calling or picking 5 out of network friends or whatever.
when your new phones can theoretically hit 50Mbps it's not big deal offering free hot spots on a phone that will only do 1mbps on a good day
when your new phones can theoretically hit 50Mbps it's not big deal offering free hot spots on a phone that will only do 1mbps on a good day
18 months ago
The mobile hotspot feature is intriguing. It's about the only thing that would make me consider switching from AT&T to Verizon. It'll be interesting to see if AT&T addresses this in any way.
18 months ago
The hotspot is so full of win; aside from missing calls when in use. I wonder if ATT will answer?
[ Read All Comments ]
Apple today released Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.10, bringing RAW image support to Aperture and iPhoto for a number of new cameras.
This update adds RAW image compatibility for the...
As noted by ifoAppleStore, Apple is continuing its trickle of retail store openings this week with a new location opening on Friday, May 25 in Paris. The new Les Quatre Temps store will be...
TiVo owners can control their devices via an iOS app on the iPhone and iPad, but -- for the moment -- can only watch shows on their television.
But that's all going to change in a few months....
Binary Nights has dropped the price of its file-transfer app ForkLift to $0.99, down from $29.99, for a limited time.
ForkLift is a well-reviewed file management app that offers FTP, SFTP,...
Our sister-site TouchArcade notes that Chillingo's excellent physics puzzler Feed Me Oil is free today for both the iPhone and iPad. It's normally $0.99 for iPhone and $1.99 for iPad....
