When Apple invests money into creating something new, you know it’ll go all the way. So as long as it’s creating a new version of the iPhone, it says it may as well start peddling it to other countries that use the same standard.
That is, at least, according to what the Wall Street Journal is now saying. The paper reports that Apple has been talking with Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices. Both of those are mobile service providers in India, one of the few countries outside North America that uses the same CDMA standard as those of us in the states.
“Tata has been in talks with them for four to five months now,” the Wall Street Journal quoted one insider as saying, adding that “India is a big market for CDMA.”
Verizon is the largest CDMA operator in the US and is believed to carry that distinction over on a global scale as well. That’s why it has received the most attention after the iPhone exclusivity deal between AT&T and Apple came to an end.
Apparently production on the new iPhone, which had to be slightly re-engineered in order to accommodate connectivity with Verizon and other CDMA carriers, is all set to begin. Analysts are predicting an official Verizon iPhone launch in January, with all the typical Apple fanfare (and perhaps a bit more).
The Journal points out that if this also goes to India, it could be a fantastic way to spur competition there, as a nearly uniform group of providers and manufacturers make it easy to jack up prices and rip off consumers. Hey, that’s usually Apple’s territory. But if the iPhone comes there, it could actually reduce prices on the market. Go figure.
