Hesse: No comment on 'Sprint iPhone'

Now that a CDMA version of the iPhone exists, could Sprint be next to get its hands on Apple's best-selling device? When asked on Friday, Sprint's CEO Dan Hesse had no comment on the matter.

It's true that during the Verizon - Apple press conference on the Verizon iPhone, it was made clear that the CDMA version of the iPhone was not exclusive to Verizon. In fact, it's already been said that CDMA handsets are heading for carriers in South Korea, Japan and China. Those handsets are being built by new Pegatron, while Foxconn continues to build AT&T's iPhones and Verizon's, as well.

Sprint is the nation's 3rd largest carrier, and just as Verizon does, it uses a CDMA network. Sprint has openly coveted the iPhone in the past, but so did Verizon. Meanwhile, while some wonder about Sprint, what's to prevent AT&T from distributing the iPhone to T-Mobile?

After all, T-Mobile is a GSM carrier, just as AT&T is, so a conversion for T-Mobile's network would simply involve modifying the GSM iPhone to handle the proper frequencies on T-Mobile's network, which differs from AT&T's.

Since some areas of the country, despite what Verizon and AT&T would like us to be believe, are better served by Sprint and T-Mobile, why not more carriers on the iPhone? The more the merrier, many would say (although the main carrier they want for the iPhone is, naturally, Verizon).

Verizon Affirming The iPad Local 3G Network

Francis Shammo, chief financial officer of Verizon Communications Inc., confirmed what we already assumed: Verizon will soon have an iPad that can connect to its network without use of additional hardware. Currently, Verizon sells the iPad, but 3G connectivity for those who want it comes via a MiFi hotspot, which can provide connectivity for up to five devices.

Simply stated, there will soon be a CDMA version of the iPad. Whether that comes in the form of an iPad 2, which was already reported to be coming in three versions (CDMA, GSM, and wi-fi only), or sooner than that, is unclear.

Since October, Verizon has been selling the iPad, along with its MiFi mobile hotspot device for $629.99 to $829.99. That pricing is the same as the 3G-connected version, which can connect directly to AT&T’s network.

It's been expected for some time that with a Verizon iPhone would also come a Verizon iPad. Unlike the iPhone, there won't be any shortcomings vs. the AT&T network with regards to simultaneous voice / data support, as the iPad is not a phone.

Apple usually runs its devices on an annual refresh cycle; since the iPad is due for a refresh in April, the odds are that Apple will wait until then to introduce CDMA support with an iPad 2. Of course, that's all speculation, at this point.