David Morton (mortonmanor)
Tiny Whispers about a Smaller iPhone
Over the weekend the rumor mill was in full gear talking yet again about the iPhone coming to the Verizon network. This time the rumors are reported by Apple insider citing a Taiwanese manufacturer that is said to avoid a contract to produce a new “worldmode iPhone” that will run on both GSM and Verizon’s CDMA networks.
While it’s certainly possible that Apple might choose to go this way, especially given all the speculation and industry reports touting how much more money Apple could make by selling a Verizon based iPhone, I still have a great deal of doubt that this will be the case.
There a number of things that don’t ring true with this report. The first of the reasons I mentioned in my previous article. But more importantly, this report cites a completely different, smaller iPhone. This new “world iPhone” would have a smaller screen (2.8 inches versus the standard 3.5″ is in the current iPhone). the small screen might make it easier to carry, but unless the screen resolution is the same as the current iPhone almost all of the hundred thousand apps in the iTunes app store would have to be rewritten to work on this new model. In addition to the smaller screen Apple would need to figure out how to squeeze similar functionality into a much smaller package. This is a lot of engineering work for technology is on its last legs (CDMA).
In the end all of this work on a smaller, CDMA/GSM iPhone would be a distraction to Apple and typically Apple doesn’t do distractions. In fact Apple is widely known to have a laser focus on its products, directions and supply-chain. I believe that Apple is much more likely to be looking to grow the iPhone platform by adding larger devices and added capabilities, rather than simply adding another carrier to what is primarily a US market.
All that said rumors about Apple coming to Verizon continue to persist. I don’t know if this is just wishful thinking from all the people that dislike or have issues with AT&T, or if it’s really truth to the rumors. Time will certainly tell. Let me know what you think in the comments or via twitter.
Update: AppleInsider reports that an analyst and sources inside of Qualcomm indicate that the dual GSM/CDMA chip needed for a Verizon/world iPhone won’t be available until 2010 or even 2011. Further, the necessary software to support such a chip is nowhere in sight.