Is Verizon ready for the iPhone?

So Verizon's 3G network is probably well-prepared to handle the iPhone — even the huge surge of millions of activations that AT&T experienced. But there's a new wrinkle to the plot. The latest batch of speculation has it that the so-call Verizon iPhone could be a dual-mode long-term evolution (LTE) CDMA iPhone. Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg has even talked up The Wall Street Journal on the possibility of LTE being the jumping-off point for a Verizon-Apple partnership. I have doubts that 2010 will be that jumping-off point (chipsets may not be ready by then), but if it proves to be the case, then Verizon may face similar problems to AT&T. LTE's capacity will by far exceed that of any 3G technology today, but in 2010 Verizon won't have the LTE footprint it has today with EV-DO. It will likely be limited to a handful of markets, and even in those markets it likely won't have the density of its 3G network. Verizon would basically be unleashing the ultimate capacity-consuming handset — millions of them no less — on an infant network. There are bound to be problems.

Note: Be sure to check out my colleague Sarah Reedy's first installment in her Green Phone Series, which focuses on efforts to build a phone out of truly recyclable materials. Yes, yes, we promised to get the first feature out on Earth Day, but it's better late than never.

E-mail me at kfitchard@telephonyonline.com.