EnterpriseMobileToday takes a look at the latest grist for the rumor mill surrounding next week’s Apple media event and the future of the iPhone. In addition to the widely expected Apple tablet, there’s also a growing number of reports that suggest updates to the iPhone are on their way — including a version designed for Verizon Wireless.
The widespread belief among bloggers and journalists is that next week’s Apple event in San Francisco will be the formal introduction of the long-rumored tablet, often described as an “iPod Touch on steroids.”
But it seems the news won’t be limited to just the tablet, slate, or whatever name Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has chosen for it. The growing rumor, no doubt spurred on by some wishful thinking, is the “V” word — Verizon (NYSE: VZ).
Dissatisfaction with AT&T (NYSE: T), Apple’s exclusive partner for the iPhone, is as well documented as the tablet rumors. AT&T has taken a pounding for its congested networks and despite promises and excuses, it still fails to deliver. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, iPhone users saw their phone turned into an iPod Touch, as the AT&T coverage was effectively gone, while Verizon users had no such problems.
The latest analyst to say iPhone aficionados will get their wish is Peter Misek, an analyst for the Canadian financial consulting firm Canaccord Adams. In a research note, Misek thinks there will actually be multiple news announcements in addition to the tablet.
