Verizon Wireless announced Tuesday that Apple’s iPhone will be available to Verizon users.
This will split AT&T’s global monopoly and expand Apple’s network both nationally and locally.
“There will be an increased level of competition between AT&T and Verizon, and actually consumers will benefit from that,” said UF marketing professor Barton Weitz.
The iPhone 4 will be available at Verizon stores beginning on Feb. 10. For current Verizon users, online pre-orders will begin Feb. 3.
Weitz does not think many people will switch phone services unless one company offers a large motivating incentive.
“I think there will be new offerings for iPhones,” he said. “Some might be discounting the price, or some of them might be offering special services.”
The iPhone for Verizon will have slight differences from AT&T’s model due to the networks they run on, said Chuck Hamby, Verizon’s regional public relations manager. According to Gizmodo.com, the Verizon iPhone will have a different antenna with four antenna notches, one located at each corner of the device.
The 16GB iPhone is priced at $199.99. The 32GB iPhone is $299.99.
