Even though Apple has confirmed its five-year iPhone-exclusivity deal with AT&T (which doesn't expire until 2012), rumors of the iPhone coming to Verizon Wireless later this year have resurfaced.
No matter how unlikely, Digitimes has sparked new talk of a Verizon iPhone with the simple mention that Pegatron, a Taiwanese manufacturer, will be shipping an iPhone compatible with Verizon's CDMA network later this this year. Digitimes, writes, "Pegatron will also start shipping a CDMA version of the iPhone 4 to Apple in the fourth quarter and is currently using its plants in Shanghai, China to produce the products."
Pegatron may have some incentive to build buzz around its brand given that, according to Digitimes, the company will be "listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) on June 24."
Interestingly, the Digitimes claim echoes a rumor published by the Wall Street Journal earlier this year, which suggested that production of Verizon-compatible iPhones would begin later this year.
The Wall Street Journal explained:
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.
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