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Apple says it has Verizon cell sites on campus

updated 11:40 am EDT, Sat July 17, 2010

Apple hints at testing Verizon devices


Apple during its question and answer session for its event yesterday dropped a strong hint that it was testing Verizon devices on its network. When asked why it wasn't possible to replicate the iPhone 4's "death grip" on Apple's campus, CEO Steve Jobs said 1 Infinite Loop had a "strong signal" because it had both "AT&T and Verizon cell sites on campus." The question wasn't followed up during the session.

The statement is notable as having a dedicated cell tower on a corporate headquarters is uncommon; in Apple's case, the AT&T site exists to give employees a strong connection for the iPhone. It implies if not directly states, that Apple needs the same for Verizon.

Whether it relates to upcoming production hardware isn't clear. Apple is believed to have a CDMA skunkworks project that would let it produce an iPhone for Verizon or Sprint without having to start from scratch. It may consequently need or want the Verizon tower regardless of its intentions. However, a surging number of leaks and rumors have pointed to a Verizon iPhone by next year and, possibly sooner, EVDO-based iPads that would work on Verizon as well. AT&T's exclusivity was officially set to end by 2012 when initially agreed, but it's suspected that Apple has negotiated an earlier exit either in return for a temporary iPad exclusive or due to changes in how iPhone revenue is shared.


By Electronista Staff

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iPhone, industry, Verizon, AT&T, Apple, iPad

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  1. MyRightEye

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2008

    +3
    07/17, 12:00pm | report spam | reply

    White iPhone on Verizon

    I can only dream...


  1. reciprocity

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2008

    +9
    07/17, 12:30pm | report spam | reply

    Cell Repeaters Not Uncommon

    Cell repeaters inside office buildings aren't that uncommon. When you combine large numbers of staff carrying cell phones with the signal void that is modern cement office buildings, it's fairly common for cell companies to work a deal with building owners to improve service by installing repeaters on-site.

    Given all the rumors about a Verizon iPhone, this is an interesting tidbit, but it's almost certainly not directly related to development of a Verizon iPhone.


  1. ericdano

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2002

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    07/17, 12:31pm | report spam | reply

    Think again

    I think people are missing something here. You'd need CDMA transmitters to test how the iPhone responds to interference......I mean, they could be testing a CDMA version, but I doubt it. Apple is thinking AHEAD not looking back. CDMA iPhone would be like Steve Jobs testing to put ZIP drives into current iMacs.


  1. thraxisp

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    Joined: Sep 2007

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    07/17, 04:25pm | report spam | reply

    Blame the City Planners

    I expect that this is just a side effect of city planning. In most places in the works, carriers are required to share towers and buildings used as cell sites. In Canada, approval for a new tower is required from at least three levels of government and several departments within each level. It's easier to approach the company with the existing tower and lease the space. I wouldn't be surprised if there are other cell companies using the top of Apple facilities for towers.


  1. gurman

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2000

    +4
    07/17, 06:48pm | report spam | reply

    Or maybe not

    I think you're reading way too much into the "Verizon repeaters" story. I work on a government campus of a couple of square miles, and even we (finally after years of asking) got Verizon repeaters on site about three years ago because there was no reception anywhere within the fence except by the front gate. And we're not building any cellphones.

    I think the only story here is that, unlike Microsoft, which tried, however unsuccessfully, to prohibit iPods on their campus early in the history of that device family, Apple is willing to listen to employees that don't use AT&T.

    Of course, we Verizon users can hope....


  1. redcapzero

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    +2
    07/18, 12:55am | report spam | reply

    personaly

    ...I'm hoping for a T-Mobile contract; puurrrr-fect!


  1. facebook_Julian

    Via Facebook

    Joined: Jul 2010

    -2
    07/18, 01:46am | report spam | reply

    comment title

    "The statement is notable as having a dedicated cell tower on a corporate headquarters is uncommon; in Apple's case, the AT&T site exists to give employees a strong connection for the iPhone. It implies if not directly states, that Apple needs the same for Verizon."
    No. If that were the case, it would apply to Motorola as well. I work at Motorola's San Diego facility and I get terrible carrier reception in both buildings (usually none on 1st floor, building 1; which isn't Mobile Devices) despite them often working DIRECTLY with the same and other carriers from this facility.

    They DO have an anechoic chamber.


  1. Sukoshi

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    07/18, 09:32am | report spam | reply

    re: Think again

    Hello, Verizon? This is Steve. We want you to put a cell in our backyard. No, no, we just need to test our phones that we have exclusively on a competing network for interference. You will?!?! Oh, thanks so much!!! Talk to you later!


  1. testudo

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    Joined: Aug 2001

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    07/19, 01:58pm | report spam | reply

    Re: Think again

    Apple is thinking AHEAD not looking back. CDMA iPhone would be like Steve Jobs testing to put ZIP drives into current iMacs.

    Um, no.

    CDMA in an iPhone would be like putting a DVD/RW drive in a Mac. You know, current technology still being used by a massive audience, although everyone understands it's on the way out in 5-10 years. CDMA is no different that GSM, except in who uses it.

    Zip drives have been dead for at least five years, as in "no one uses them"!

    Or maybe this is the problem. Steve doesn't know what people ARE using, he just wants to dump anything current so people will call him 'forward thinking' as opposed to 'making stuff that most people could use'.


  1. testudo

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    07/19, 02:01pm | report spam | reply

    Re: Blame the City Planners

    In Canada, approval for a new tower is required from at least three levels of government and several departments within each level. It's easier to approach the company with the existing tower and lease the space. I wouldn't be surprised if there are other cell companies using the top of Apple facilities for towers.

    Nope, nothing like that in the US. The FCC (and/or the federal gov't) passed laws that basically make it so easy for a company to put up a tower pretty much wherever they want. ATT can buy a piece of land in the middle of your residential neighborhood and just shove a tower there. No city approvals. No annoying input from residents concerned about property values.


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