Verizon CFO mum on possible iPhone deal
updated 12:10 pm EDT, Thu May 21, 2009
Verizon CFO on iPhone deal
The CFO of Verizon, John Killian, has refused to comment one way or another on ongoing rumors of iPhone negotiations, Reuters reports. Speaking at the news agency's Global Technology Summit, Killian initially responded to questions by saying that data and smartphone revenues are "growing incredibly nicely," and that the company's strategy revolves around having multiple devices. "I'm not going to comment on Apple or the iPhone," he elaborated, "but...we don't feel we're going to be at a market disadvantage in the PDA space as we go through today or 2009."
Pressed with the suggestion that no iPhone deal is in the works, however, Killian has explained that the company is "continuing to evolve" its phone lineup. "We're going to have a series of introductions this year, we're not dependent on any one vendor," he says. The comment may be a reference to AT&T's fortunes, which have been buoyed on the success of iPhone exclusivity since the product's debut in 2007.
Killian's statements may also be an attempt at dodging what would be a key fact of an iPhone deal. AT&T's exclusivity is only set to expire in 2010, making that the earliest possible date that a Verizon iPhone could appear. Apple has observed that such an offering would make the most sense in 2011, when both Verizon and AT&T will be using LTE (4G) networks.
