Verizon iPhone May Not Be Built for Speed

The real question about a Verizon iPhone is no longer whether it will be available sometime soon. It's whether it will be an iPhone 4G.

No, that isn't a reference to Apple's iPhone 4, which some people erroneously call the 4G. There isn't yet a 4G version of the iPhone or of most cellphones. While Sprint Nextel and MetroPCS Communications have begun offering fourth-generation wireless service, boasting faster data speeds, generally the rollout of 4G remains in its infancy. There are only a few 4G-compatible phones available in the U.S., mainly from Samsung Electronics and HTC. That's why the question about the iPhone is important. If Verizon starts offering an iPhone usable only on its 3G network, Apple's handset will be at a disadvantage to rival 4G phones. What's more, users may find they get slower speeds than they would with the iPhone on AT&T's network. Congestion on the AT&T network complicates any speed comparison, but AT&T's 3G technology is theoretically faster than Verizon's version of 3G.