Verizon iPad Available Next Year?
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RBC Capital Markets released a note to its investors yesterday about Apple. The note is mostly focused on the evolution of the iPhone and which carriers could potentially carry the device in the upcoming years. Mostly due to potential contract issues, and the fact that Verizon has been heavily pushing Android devices, Mike Abramsky, the author of the note, believes that a Verizon iPhone is not likely to happen anytime soon, and that Apple is more likely to work with T-Mobile and/or Sprint in the U.S. to expand the iPhone footprint and fight against the expansion of Android phones.
However, Abramsky also mentioned that he believes a Verizon iPad is currently in the works, even if he cannot confirm the rumor at this stage. Given that the iPad does not fall in the same category of devices as the iPhone and Android phones, bringing the iPad to Verizon would be much easier and much less disruptive. As a result, the analyst believes the iPad could potentially come to Verizon in the first half of 2011.
Given that Apple is expected to switch the 3G wireless chipset supplier for its iOS devices from Intel/Infineon to Qualcomm, rumors about Verizon-compatible iPhones and iPads have been pouring in over the last couple months. Qualcomm’s product line offers 3G chipsets compatible with all wireless networks in the U.S., while Intel/Infineon is only able to provide chipsets compatible with at&t and T-Mobile’s networks.
