Analyst: ‘Chances High’ Verizon Will Get iPhone In 2010

Maybe Apple still needs Verizon. That seems to be the opinion of one analyst, who predicts Apple views the wireless carrier as a way to grab even more marketshare. The view is contrary to last week’s thinking Verizon’s ‘Droid’ phone had scuttled any chances of a post-AT&T deal.

“In our view, diverse carrier support is a key element to driving global penetration of the iPhone (from ~3% share today of the total handset market),” Broadpoint.AmTech analyst Brian Marshall told investors. “Therefore, we believe the chances are high the iPhone will find its way onto the VZ network in 2H10.”

Although Apple would suffer from the loss of what Marshall terms a “sweatheart” subsidy from AT&T, the Cupertino, Calif. company would make up the difference in volume. Experts believe Verizon could sell 14 million iPhones in 2011, garnering a cool $7 billion for Apple, which sells the handsets for $500 a pop.

AT&T recently reported the iPhone comprised 90 percent of the carrier’s new postpaid subscribers during the September quarter – up from 57 percent the year before. AT&T activated a record 3.2 million iPhones during the September quarter, 40 percent of whom were new customers for the carrier.

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Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.

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http://www.markcrummett.com MArk Crummett
I’ve been a Verizon user for several years now. I had just bought a new phone from them when the iPhone came out, and couldn’t justify dumping it to get a cool new toy on another network. But now, I’d buy an iPhone in a heartbeat if they offered it.
Charli
i will believe these articles when they address one very important issue.
the technology. the iphone is GSM and Verizon is CDMA. so address it. the cost of Apple doing a CDMA phone (and no they aren’t in China, there’s GSM there it is just not as widespread), the cost of doing a joint phone. etc. until those are addressed these articles just reek of wish fulfillment
Brian
@Charli, next year Verizon will be rolling out LTE and it will be a GSM/CDMA network, ill keep my fingers crossed
Allan
So where would this leave those of us who don’t have a problem with AT&T? I switched to AT&T from Verizon pre-iPhone because of Verizon’s lousy customer service, and I really don’t want to give them my business. So next year I’ll have to go back?
Sean Peters
“Sweatheart”? LOL.
scott
@Allan, Verizon. Poor customer service? Please! They are the top-rated provider in numerous customer service polls. I’ve called them to advise of dead zones or network busy (which happens maybe twice a year) and they’ve put $25 or $50 credit on my account that day. I will not get an iPhone through AT&T because they screw me on my land line (and I don’t have an alternate provider in my area). Regarding customer service: When you call any company (even if you are pissed off and blowing steam out of your ears), be polite, clearly make your point and if you don’t get the answer you want ask for a supervisor. Your attitude can impact their gratitude. I got $200 in gift cards from Apple because I called them to let them now I was not satisfied with two sep tech support solutions I was provided with. Speak with sugar on your lips, not vinegar!