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Verizon CFO Reveals Next iPhone to Be a 'Global Device'

Thursday April 21, 2011 6:49 am PDT by Eric Slivka

Qualcomm's "world-mode" MDM6600 wireless chip found in CDMA iPhone 4 and iPad 2
(Source: iFixit's Verizon iPhone teardown)

As noted by Barron's, Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo revealed during a conference call discussing the carrier's earnings announcement that Apple's next iPhone will be a "global device", presumably referring to a world-mode phone supporting both GSM and CDMA connectivity rather than having separate models for each network standard.

Verizon CFO Fran Shammo, asked about the sluggishness of the company's ARPU growth in Q1, when the iPhone was introduced - growth was just 2.2%, compared to 2.5% in Q4, remarked:

"The fluctuation, I believe, will come when a new device from Apple is launched, whenever that may be, and that we will be, on the first time, on equal footing with our competitors on a new phone hitting the market, which will also be a global device."

The existing CDMA iPhone 4 already carries a world-mode wireless chip from Qualcomm inside it, but the company presumably opted to build the device as CDMA-only in order to simplify the antenna construction. The iPad 2 carries the same wireless chip, but Apple still decided not to build a universal global device capable of operating on either standard.

But if Shammo's comment is correct, it appears that Apple may finally make the leap to a single design supporting both CDMA and GSM with the release of the fifth-generation iPhone rumored for introduction in September.

Tags: Verizon, Fran Shammo
[ 76 comments ]


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Thunderhawks
105 months ago

My Thunderbolt is soon going to be a world-enabled phone.

And it's better than the crappy iPhone.


You forgot :

nyaah, nyaaah, nay nyaayah.

Can you please give your dad his computer back?

Little kids shouldn't be on adult forums.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Tones2
105 months ago
Yeah, let's just keep repeating the same predictions over and over. :rolleyes:

Guess what, the iPhone 5 is also prediced to not come out until September! Shocking isn't it? :p

Tony
Rating: 2 Votes
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Thanatoast
105 months ago
I hope this is true, particularly concerning the iPads. Having 18 different models to stock makes it a wee bit complicated to get the right balance.
Rating: 2 Votes
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osofast240sx
105 months ago

My Thunderbolt is soon going to be a world-enabled phone.

And it's better than the crappy iPhone.

:rolleyes::confused:
Rating: 2 Votes
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SeattleMoose
105 months ago
THAT Would Be Huge!!!!

I never really considered buying an iPhone until I heard this.....if true, I'm in.

If not my 2005 flip phone ain't busted.....
Rating: 1 Votes
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profets
105 months ago

yes it would only be 9, which is so much less confusing!


Actually it would still be 12 (like countries outside the US have anyway).
Rating: 1 Votes
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shartypants
105 months ago
Very nice, better for Apple as well, only one line of phones to stock.
Rating: 1 Votes
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kdarling
105 months ago

That's the real question: what form of carrier-locking? Would it really support an overseas pay-per-use cheap SIM while locking out all US carriers?


Verizon's had many dual mode phones in the past few years, RIM and WinMo and others.

The answer is yes, if you're in good standing they'll usually unlock the GSM side so you can use local SIMs overseas.

Which is a bit funny, because it actually made a Verizon dual mode phone a better choice for world travel than a locked ATT iPhone.
Rating: 1 Votes
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icstars989
105 months ago

Verizon worked so hard to get the iPhone. Now some idiot will ruin it for them. Stay classy Verizon.


What is your gripe with VZW? Every chance you get I see you bashing it one way or another? What have they done thats so bad to you that you have go out of your way and post on every possible VZ thread there is and say something snarky and most times ill informed? :confused:
Rating: 1 Votes
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GFLPraxis
105 months ago
I just hope it works on T-Mobile. I'd switch in a heartbeat.
Rating: 1 Votes

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