A Verizon iPhone model could be coming later this year, according to a Wall Street Journal article that cites 'people briefed on the matter.'
The Wall Street Journal writes,
The people briefed on the matter said one of the new iPhones is being manufactured by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., which produced Apple's previous iPhones. The model that has CDMA capability, used by Verizon Wireless, is being manufactured by Pegatron Technology Corp., the contract manufacturing subsidiary of Taiwan's ASUSTeK Computer Inc., said these people.
One person familiar with the situation said Pegatron is scheduled to start mass producing the CDMA iPhones in September, but it was unclear when Apple might make the model available.
The Wall Street Journal also says that a second new iPhone model is set to be unveiled sometime this summer.
The latest report of the iPhone coming to Verizon should be taken with a grain of salt: rumors of a Verizon-enabled iPhone have been numerous and frequently contradictory. Analysts predicted there was 'a good chance' Apple would unveil a Verizon iPhone this past January, while just over a month ago, Product Review wrote, 'It looks like the chances of the iPhone coming to Verizon are getting slimmer by the day.'
Interestingly, the Wall Street Journal's sources confirm a rumor noted in November 2009 by Apple Insider, which speculated that Apple was planning to launch a Verizon iPhone by Q3 2010:
A new report citing sources in the Taiwan handset supply chain says Apple has contracted to produce a UMTS/CDMA hybrid iPhone due in the third quarter of next year that will enable the company to sell a single global handset to all carriers, and specifically to Verizon Wireless in the US.
The report by OTR Global, provided to AppleInsider by an industry analyst, says the new "worldmode" 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."
The Wall Street Journal article helped drive up Verizon's stock, ComputerWorld reports.
Wondering what the next iPhone will look like? Check out this visual guide to iPhone 4G rumors.