Apple said to be working on 'world mode' iPhone

The new Verizon Droid, like many a high-profile smartphone just coming onto the market, has been hailed by some as a potential--you know what's coming--iPhone killer. (Chronicling the very first Droid sales in Manhattan the other day, CNET's Maggie Reardon observed that the gadget may actually turn out to be more of a BlackBerry killer.)

But does Verizon Wireless want to deliver a knockout to the iPhone? There's long been speculation that the carrier would sooner or later be offering the Apple smartphone, which since its launch has been solely in the hands of AT&T in the United States. (In some other countries, Apple has deals with multiple carriers.)

The latest posting to suggest an imminent rapprochement between Verizon and the iPhone comes from the AppleInsider blog, which on Friday said that it's gotten wind of Apple having contracted to build a Verizon iPhone that would debut in the third quarter of 2010.

More broadly, according to AppleInsider, the new "hybrid iPhone" will work on both the GSM/UMTS and the CDMA systems, meaning that Apple will be able "to sell a single global handset to all carriers, and specifically to Verizon Wireless in the US." In the U.S., carriers AT&T and T-Mobile are in the GSM/UMTS camp, while Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel are in the CDMA camp. (For more on that topic, see "Going abroad? Don't be afraid to pack the cell phone.")

The "world mode" phone reportedly would have a 2.8-inch screen--that is, roughly 20 percent smaller than the screen on the existing iPhone.

AppleInsider cites a report from the investment research firm OTR Global, which in turn cites "sources in the Taiwan handset supply chain." According to AppleInsider:

The report by OTR Global, provided to AppleInsider by an industry analyst, says the new "world mode" iPhone will gain compatibility with CDMA2000 networks (including Verizon's US network, which is currently incompatible with existing iPhone models) while retaining compatibility with UMTS 3G networks globally using a new hybrid chip produced by Qualcomm.

According to OTR's sources, Asustek subsidiary Pegatron will build the new hybrid phone devices for Apple rather than Hon Hai, the iPhone's current manufacturer. This decision was reportedly made to prevent the company from being "constrained by a single-source assembler."

In the third quarter of 2009, Apple shipped 7.4 million iPhones worldwide, raising its global market share slightly to 17 percent, according to market researcher IDC.

Apple, Verizon, and OTR were not immediately available for comment.

See also:
• Inside the Motorola Droid, an iPhone likeness
• Slow start for the Motorola Droid?
• Survey shows iPhone threatens BlackBerry; Palm holds steady

[lightningrob]

As much as I'd love a Verizon iPhone, if it had a smaller screen I'd probably pass.

[MCOjerry]

Agreed.

[Splashes]

A "world-mode" iPhone makes sense, assuming Apple can pull it off without compromising their standards. That way they could still have a single hardware product world-wide, localized with software.

What doesn't make sense is a 2.8" screen. The resolution wouldn't necessarily be a problem -- Apple can put in a screen that size with the same 480x320 resolution as the current 3.5" screen. What will be a problem is the touch-screen keyboard. I've never ever heard anyone complain it was too big, and 2.8" is exactly (not "roughly") 20% smaller -- a non-trivial difference. Not gonna happen, sez me.

[baconstang]

Actually it's 36% smaller.

[Splashes]

3.5 / 2.8 = 0.8 = 80% = 20% smaller

[xnorph]

@splash haha... 3.5 / 2.8 is not equal to 0.8; it should be greater than 1 since the numerator > denominator

i think the article based its computation like this:
2.8 - 3.5 = 0.7
0.7 / 3.5 = 0.2 or 20%

cheers!

[meballardcnet]

36% is actually the correct number. Don't forget that this is a surface area calculation, the diagonal size is just the length from one corner to the other.

To calculate the change in size, you need to calculate the surface area, which is height times width. The 3.5" iPhone has an approximately 2"x3" screen, or a surface area of 5.65 square inches.

A 2.5" iPhone with the same shape screen would be approximately, 1.5"x2.3", or about 3.6 square inches.

Done to more significant digits (I cut off digits in the numbers above), you get a 36% change in surface area, which is how much smaller it actually would be.

[ckh1272]

@meballardcnet--from the article:"The "world mode" phone reportedly would have a 2.8-inch screen--that is, roughly 20 percent smaller than the screen on the existing iPhone."

To repeat, it's 2.8", not 2.5" so your calculations are wrong.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

hard to believe Verizon is working with apple especially after those attack ads against AT&T and the iphones faults.

why would apple ship such a small screen. that is a compromise for many Verizon customers.

[Random_Walk]

Personally, I smell a hoax... it'll be interesting to find out.

[fondy]

I hope they put more focus on the telephone side of it, whatever they do. Did anyone see the article about Cnet UK praising the iPhone for its mobile web capabilities, but calling it one of the worst phones ever? Seeing as how this was from the UK division, it tells me that all of these hiccups aren't AT&T's fault.

[ballmerisanape]

Visual vocemail alone has made this the best phone I have ever owned.

[PeteyBrian]

True dat fondy - IMHO my iPhone's poor call quality and reception is IN ADDITION to AT&T's inadequate network. I have an iPhone and love it - but Apple needs to improve the telephone side of it for me ever to buy ANOTHER one! It doesn't matter that they offer an inferior calllng phone on a much better network (say Verizon) - poor quality and reception will occur until the iPhone is actaully improved as a phone!!!

I don't want to hear about a compass, video fps upgrades, better web access... If I can't make a phone call, I'll have to get another phone!

[JeffDS3]

I don't understand why they don't design the iPhones with separate cellular radio unit inside so that all of the other hardware is the same across the line but all you (the manufacturer) has to do is put in either radio A or or radio B depending on what company you are shipping to. E.g. At&t gets radio A and Verizon gets radio B.

[jamaan--2008]

Someone can correct me if I'm totally wrong, but from my understanding, CDMA requires a slightly larger radio than GSM. It also requires a larger (well, higher capacity) battery, because CDMA has a higher power consumption than GSM.

[DeathByWonkavision]

jamaan, you're both wrong and right. 2G GSM (essentially TDMA) has better talk time than 2G CDMA (IS-95, etc.), largely because GSM's transmitter can idle when there is nothing to transmit whereas CDMA's transmitter is always on. Even though CDMA transmits at much lower power than GSM, it ultimately more power than GSM over the course of a conversation because it is always on.

The situation is much different for 3G. In hybrid 2G/3G GSM/EDGE/HSPA networks, CDMA/EVDO will be more power efficient in day-to-day use because 2G and 3G can co-exist in the same frequencies. HSPDA and 2G GSM cannot. Also, power consumption for all 3G networks is poor so it is a moot point.

[Splashes]

Miscellaneous thought: physical keyboards certainly have their advantages, but one advantage which the iPhone and other touch-screen-only phones have is that the same hardware can be sold everywhere. Localization requires only software changes. Makes for much easier inventory management, methinks.

[badasscat]

Asian and European countries use the same keyboards we do...

[::G]

@badasscat: Partially true. Japan uses QWERTY, but the layout is different and has several special keys to switch into kana modes, and backslash is the yen symbol. As for other countries, Wikipedia has this to say: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout

[softwarepro]

nothing official yet rumor..even if it is true they have moto driod which is going strong..

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

guess the droid didn't live up to Verizon's expectations.

[cbscowards]

No, why wouldn't Verizon want both? Nobody said they would get rid of Android phones when and if they get the iPhone.

As witnessed daily here at Cnet, there are a lot of people who are very passionate about their chosen technology and will go with a carrier they don't like to get the phone they want. If Verizon can compete in the iPhone, Android, WinMo and BB markets, they provide an option for everyone, don't they? Seems like a great business move to me.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

you don't attack a product so severely while vigourously promoting another in hopes of having both side by side.

[Splashes]

Oh please. Apple knows how this game is played -- it's business. Apple is only too well aware how many more customers they have to gain by selling to Verizon customers.

As if Apple is going to say "You called us names, you meany! We're going to take our iPhones and go home!"

Verizon would love to sell Droids & the iPhone -- all their bases are covered. The only real question (and it's a doozy) is whether Verizon will be willing to give up control of their network, the way AT&T agreed to do, and the way Verizon refused to do when rejecting Apple's overtures in 2006. I won't make a prediction either way; Verizon has a my-way-or-the-highway mentality, just like Apple. So maybe not a good match.

[renGek]

Both apple and verizon knows its business and there is no reason for the two brands to not x-cross. Verizon needs to make sure its current customers don't leave. I'm guessing they are just digging at iphone but really their goal is to hammer at&t. Some iphone users will be put off by verizon's add but I think a large majority would consider a switch especially since a large # of the customers in the east and west coast are not getting good service.

Plus, lets not forget the average person in this country has short short short attention span. What was I saying?
They'll forget a commercial within 3 months.

[taranfx]

Apple Should have done this long back. They should have partnered with Verizon .

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

they attempted but they couldn't reach a deal with Verizon. then they went with AT&T.

[Splashes]

Yes, and the sticking point was Verizon not wanting to give up control of their network. That may very well still be an issue.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

important that apple started with AT&T for GSM. they wanted a GSM phone since it's the future.

[Splashes]

Uh, no. Apple first approached Verizon. Only after Verizon turned down the offer did Apple go to Cingular (which became AT&T).

Back then, it would have made good sense to make a CDMA phone, as the LTE rollout was still years away, and Apple would have had plenty of time to engineer a GSM phone.

As it is now, it's a tough call. It's a lot of R&D to make a "world-mode" iPhone, and the need for CDMA will mostly go away in a few years.

[DirtRidr]

Now if they can do something about the control feak nature of Apple it might be an exciting thing. However, I am looking forward to the Nokia N900 that is due to be released in the next couple of weeks. That phone is way more awesome that the iPhone or Droid!

[Splashes]

Yep, that's why Nokia is making such huge profits.

Oh, wait . . .

[SiliconValleyJoe]

Can you explain how Apple is being a "control freak"?

[paramendra]

The iPhone on Verizon, now that's competition.

[lesbihonest17]

i think this perhaps means that apple will release multiple new versions of the iphone next year? idk maybe a smaller one with a lesser processor and one with the normal 3.5 inch screen which will be the fastest iphone ever? hah idk *** apples gunna do. i love my 3GS tho. my contract with at&t expires November 2010 i might jump ship to verizon by then.

[assman]

What's the smaller screen about? GSM / CDMA requires more power so they made the screen smaller to increase battery life perhaps?

[Splashes]

I don't believe a smaller screen is coming -- typing on the touch-screen would be that much worse, and I haven't yet heard anyone complain the 3.5" screen is too big.

Re: power, GSM and CDMA wouldn't be active simultaneously -- it would be one or the other, depending on the network you were on. No reason a "world-mode" phone would suck more power.

[assman]

I know they aren't active simultaneously.. I was wondering if maybe those standards are less energy efficient.

[Dan7637]

control freak nature of apple? really how about verizon

[bluemist9999]

Wouldn't that be an irresistible force meeting an immovable object?

[Splashes]

Yeah, more than any hardware issue, this is the real sticking point in an Apple / Verizon deal. Verizon nixed the original deal back in 2006, because Apple required them to give up control of their network, so Apple went to Cingular, who basically gave Apple a free hand.

Given Verizon's strategic moves in the past couple years, it's hard to imagine anything has changed. But I'm not making a prediction; it's theoretically possible Verizon could come to their senses.

[rockinrobstar]

Is it really worth Apple doing this or is this just wishful thinking by people on Verizon & Sprint? From what I can see internationally most CDMA2000 networks are in developing nations and most are getting replaced with UMTS networks anyhow.

Eventually both UMTS and CDMA2000 is probably going to get replaced by LTE in which case I'm betting well see the iPhone-4G. How soon until we see LTE networks is a good question - Wikipedia said the start of 2009 in the US but here we are at the end and still waiting....

[cbscowards]

It looks like Apple has come to the realization that effective 4G is still a ways off. Even as Verizon rolls out LTE, it will probably be spotty (sort of like the AT&T map they're plastering all over the place) for several years. And unlike the AT&T coverage, a LTE/GSM phone would not work at all when out of the LTE range. So an LTE/GSM phone would only be practical for people who live in a good coverage area and never leave it.

[SiliconValleyJoe]

From CDMA and GSM orgs, the current subscriber count is 4+ billion GSM and 500 million CDMA.

[Stainless_Steel_Rat]

Australia switched off their CDMA network recently. Telecom in New Zealand has deprecated their network and it will be switched off in 2012.

The GSM iPhone is ALREADY a world-mode phone.

[badasscat]

Yeah, go ahead and try to use your iPhone in Japan. Then tell me it's a "world phone".

[cvaldes1831]

@badasscat:

Bzzzzt!

Softbank has been selling the iPhone for years in Japan.

You picked the wrong Asian country to prove your point. Please try again.

[DasScooter]

What I don't understand is why would Apple make an iPhone with CDMA?
In 2010 Verizon supposedly starts rolling out with LTE. The only thing I can think is that maybe it will
allow it to work with Verizon's old network. Again though I wonder, as Verizon will be dismantling their CDMA network when they roll out with LTE(as previous reports have stated)?

[Splashes]

It's going to be a long rollout -- more than five years in some reports -- and only a few cities at first. It's possible Apple has crunched the numbers and believe the R&D of a "world-mode" phone is worth it. If so, you'd think they'd crank it out as soon as possible.

[BlackJackMac]

Das, what makes you think that Verizon will be dismantling their CDMA network? They have publicly stated that they will retain the CDMA network until 2018-2020. LTE will initially be for data only and CDMA will still be used for voice. With the recent 1x Advanced improvements for CDMA (which gives it more voice capacity than LTE actually), the technology still has plenty left in the tank.

[DasScooter]

I think that as I have been reading it from blogs on Verizon's future strategies.
Verizon already has LTE in a testing site some where near Boston, according to reports,
and is planning a big LTE roll out in 2010, Sprint has WiMax in select locations, but only for wireless modems
There is a lot that is gray. At&t is planning on further increasing the size of its 3G network till it rolls out with its 4G(LTE)
network in 2011.

Maybe there is something im missing maybe there is some stuff i am reading online that is wrong. Until it is something physically there its all speculation.

[BlackJackMac]

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/05/08/verizon-wireless-to-accelerate-lte-keep-cdma-and-lower-data-prices/

'According to Melone, Verizon?s CDMA/1xRTT network is very stable for voice services and will remain in place until 2018 or even 2020.'

I don't know what blog sites you're reading, but I would tend to believe the public statements of Verizon's CTO over a blog site.

[codynews]

I'm not a phone geek or up on GSM and CDMA and whatever (nor do I care), but I don't understand why apple wouldn't make a phone of the "other" type? Wouldn't they just need to swap the one radio type for another? Then they'd have a phone for one type of networks, and a phone for the other types.

Unless I'm missing something.

I don't see why it would take years and years and result in a smaller screen.

Cdoy

[kalkap]

After using the new Droid of my wife's, even if the Iphone came to Verizon, I think I would still pass and get the Droid or whatever is out that is on par with it at the time. Droid is that good. I bought a Macbook Pro buying into the hype and have never been more disappointed so the same thinking applies here as well.

[Perry_Clease]

I doubt your wife has a Droid, nor do you have a MacBook Pro.

[lars_pallesen]

May I ask you what disappointed you so about your MacBook Pro, Sir? Just curious ....

[xnorph]

@Perry_Clease... haha

I thought you were going to finish off your punchline with...

"Furthermore, I doubt you have a wife."

haha! Cheers!

[summershoe]

Agreed kalkap. Similar experience in this household with the macbook pro. Lots of extra money for a similarly long list of issues as any windows machine. Let the fanboys hate, we'll be sticking with windows from now on. What's on the list, you ask? stupid update icon bouncing up and down every day, lack of compatible programs (unless you want to emulate windows but then what's the point?), actually less intuitive interfaces on many of the supplied iWhatever programs, can't play dvds from multiple countries without hardware modification, can't really maximize a program to use the screen space. Go ahead, tear that apart to make yourself feel better but I'll continue to be happy with a BSOD once or twice a year to have access to tons of commercial and open source programs, compatibility with more peripherals, and a competitive price for hardware.

[kalkap]

Perry Clease: Thats the typically response I've come to expect from PRO Apple in that just because they say, nothing beats Apple products. Wake up please. I can send you pics of my Macbook Pro (with a frozen screen at that) as well as the new Droid we got.

Lars_Pallesen: As far as my dislikes, I have never owned a Mac before like everyone else, I heard all of this great hype and was in need of a new mac so I bought a macbook Pro. I've had it less than a year and become more and more frustrated with it as time goes on. 1) As of late, I'm getting an error screen telling me I have to hold the power button to shut down because it froze up 2)Recently, I was having HDD space issues for some reason and magically a reboot "cleared" 80GB of room? Explain that one. 3) Integrating into a windows based home network and backup drive is a pain. I can get it connect, but is shaky and often disconnects on me for no reason while doing backups to the drive. 4) You could start a fire with how hot this thing gets. I have one of those fan coolers under it and it's STILL almost too hot to keep on your lap for an extended period of time. A friend of mine has one that actually shuts itself off because it gets too hot.

I can go on but, these are just a few.

Take it for what you want, but I no longer bite on anything Apple. No worth the price tag (especially in computers)

[Perry_Clease]

"Perry Clease: Thats the typically response I've come to expect from PRO Apple in that just because they say, nothing beats Apple products. Wake up please. I can send you pics of my Macbook Pro (with a frozen screen at that) as well as the new Droid we got. "

And your post is typical of the anti-Apple

How long has your wife had the Droid? A couple of months?

You say you are disappointed with your MacBook Pro, why do you still have it?

I stand by my suspicions

[kalkap]

Perry_Clease: Of course you have your suspicions, because in your mind nothing could possibly be wrong with an Apple product. And it's funny you bring up about why I still have my Mac....it seems that just because you spend an arm and a leg for a MAC, you can't get anywhere near your investment back when the damn thing doesn't work as advertised regardless if its still fairly new and in perfect shape.

Oh and FYI, day 2 with the Droid and still every bit as good as advertised.

Have fun with your overpriced mac and your nice Iphone with shotty AT&T service. lol

[jlopezcnet]

the reason for the smaller screen is because it would be a battery hog with cdma. In order to preserve the user experience Apple would have to sacrifice size and screen to accommodate the horrible experience of CDMA. Horrible sound quality with such a draw on power.

This is why everyone is switching over to UMTS/LTE

[monsoonfc]

The Samsung Ace is a hybrid GSM/CDMA phone. It has a mode feature that can toggle from CDMA to Global Mode GSM. It's a solid phone.