SAN FRANCISCO-A Verizon Wireless executive declined to rule out a 3G-only iPhone on Verizon's network, a day after Verizon president Lowell McAdam encouraged users to think of the iPhone in connection with Verizon's 4G LTE network.
Asked directly about the iPhone, Verizon's executive director for ecosystem development Brian Higgins said, "We have plenty of devices we sell today on a 3G network that are potent combinations in and of themselves. I don't believe LTE would necessarily make or break any of the smartphone devices that we're actively selling today."
Now, notice the words he used. He didn't confirm an iPhone. He didn't actually say anything about future phones. But in the Kremlinological penumbra world that is parsing statements about a Verizon Wireless iPhone, feel free to read whatever implications you like into what Higgins said.
Higgins' statement comes a day after McAdam said, "I expect at some point in time our business interests are going to align, and I think LTE is another great reason why [Apple would] want to have a device or tablet" on Verizon."
Higgins also wouldn't contradict McAdam, of course.
"Certainly LTE would enhance smartphones that we'll be selling in the future," Higgins said.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Verizon will be carrying an iPhone in early 2011, but that has been reported every few months since 2008, so it's hard to tell whether to lend the Journal's story any credence.
A few more LTE details
Higgins also gave some more details about Verizon's rollout of its high-speed 4G LTE network, which McAdam announced on Wednesday would be rolling out in 38 U.S. cities by the end of the year.
LTE will initially start with download speeds from 5-12 Mbps but can eventually be upgraded to upcoming versions that run as fast as 1 Gbps, Higgins said.
The network will start out with "70 percent coverage" of the initial markets, McAdam said. That doesn't mean the network will be a patchwork, Higgins said. Rather, Verizon just won't cover the full radius of the metro area to start.
"The concept there is that we're going to keep everything contiguous. It's not going to be, we're on LTE one second, DO the next second," Higgins said.
LTE phones and tablets will initially focus on gaming and video experiences, Higgins said. LTE's low latency enables "gaming in the cloud," and both one-way and two-way video will be key.
Verizon Wireless may also provide home broadband services over LTE in the future, Higgins said.
"If you take a look at fixed wireless, there is certainly ample opportunity in rural markets," he said.