Verizon Wireless is said to be in active talks with Apple to distribute two new iPhone-like handhelds according to a report by BusinessWeek. The report claims that Apple has created prototypes of the devices, pointing to discussions with CEO Steve Jobs and Verizon dating back six months. The companies could unveil at least one of the new devices as early as this summer.
One device is being called "iPhone Lite" which has been described as smaller, thinner and less expensive than iPhone 3G by a person who's seen it up close and personal. The other new Apple product has been identified as the long rumored media pad that would enable users to listen to music, watch HD videos, view photos and place calls over Wi-Fi. Kaufman Brothers analyst Shaw Wu also cited industry sources earlier this month indicating a “build plan” for two new iPhone models, though a media pad was not mentioned.
"The media pad category might go to Verizon," said the person who has seen the device. "We are talking about a device where people will say, 'Damn, why didn't we do this?' Apple is probably going to define the damn category."
The media pad is reported to be smaller than Amazon's Kindle book reader, although it's touchscreen is said to be bigger than Kindle's, according to one person who's seen the device. The Kindle currently sports a 7-inch screen featuring a black and white display.
"In the last six months, I have talked to Steve Jobs," Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed.
Although McAdam would not reveal what the two companies discussed, two people familiar with the subject said talks covered the new smaller iPhone-like device under development. Source: BusinessWeek.
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Posted by: Jamel | May 12, 2009 at 07:36 PM