
Depending on whether you're an optimist or a pessimist, Verizon's announcement this week was either the best news you've heard in days or the worst.
In case you missed it, Verizon has issued what amounts to a demand incumbent upon future smartphone makers. The "hard requirement," as the carrier puts it, aims to obligate all future smartphones on the Verizon network to support 4G LTE.
Without Verizon having even mentioned Apple's iPhone, the announcement suddenly became all about the iPhone. Naturally, some are taking this to mean that Apple's next gen-iPhone won't be carried by Verizon if it isn't 4G LTE friendly. Others, of course, take the news as a clear indication that Apple will embrace 4G LTE with the iPhone 5.
So before this debate goes any further, it's worth drawing attention to one little tidbit from Verizon's a announcement that was largely overlooked yesterday. The "requirement" isn't as hard and fast as it seems. That is, Verizon says exceptions will be made (no iPhone related details were given) and that consumers stand to benefit from the new policy.
Anyone who thinks Verizon will lose or give up the iPhone this year when the new model is unveiled is a significantly misguided individual. Despite what the rumor mill suggests, neither Verizon or Apple has given any indication that future iPhone models won't be carrier by Verizon. If anything, the announcement should come as a clear indication that Apple probably will push ahead toward 4G LTE with the next iPhone - a prospect that was rumored long before Verizon made its announcement on Wednesday.
Source: CNET
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