Verizon Wireless NYC Liveblog

Jan 11, 2011, 11:30 AM: This concludes Phone Scoop's liveblog of the Verizon Wireless / Apple press event.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:30 AM: It's hands-on time!

Jan 11, 2011, 11:29 AM: Meade's closing thoughts. "We're pleased to offer the Apple iPhone 4 to our 93 million customers, and the 300 million people living in the U.S."

Jan 11, 2011, 11:29 AM: Q: What is the exp difference when voice/data capabilities clash. Cook: I think people place emphasis on different things. I can tell you as I said before, the number 1 question I get, despite selling 10s of millions of iPhones, is when will the iPhone work on Verizon. I could not be happy than sit here today and tell all of those 93 million people that we're delivering it to them. Customers will make those sorts of trade-offs.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:27 AM: Q: What sales channels will it be available through? Meade: Will be available from inside channels, key distribution partners, a matter of weeks where borader availability will occur after the launch.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:26 AM: Q: When will we see an LTE phone. Cook: We're not going to comment on unannounced products. Meade: No comment on pricing or strategic roadmap.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:26 AM: Q: Extra charge for the tethering, any other extra features. Meade: Not going to talk about pricing for network connectivity, but announcements about pricing are on the way. Cook: There is an additional feature in this iPhone, and that is the personal hotspot for connecting other devices.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:25 AM: Q: What happens when phone call comes in during data connection? Meade: Same experience that you get on other CDMA devices.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:24 AM: Engadget asks what's been done to fix/change to the antenna. Cook: "The antenna had to be optimized to work on the CDMA network, and it is going to do a great job at that."

Jan 11, 2011, 11:23 AM: Latest question, is CDMA iPhone exclusive to Verizon? Cook's, response was non-committal.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:22 AM: FT asks why no LTE and why CDMA only? Cook is answering. "The first generation LTE chipsets force some design comprimises that we would not make. Second and most importantly, Verizon customers have said they want the iPhone NOW." Cook says the most popular question ever is when will the iPhone come to Verizon. This was the soonest they could do it. Meade adds: "We have a very robust idea and collaboration on this idea, and we have a tremendous 3G network, the best in the country, and we want to make sure customers can take advantage of that. Says this is the right move at the right time."

Jan 11, 2011, 11:21 AM: AP asks about upgrade schedule, and Cook says "no comment."

Jan 11, 2011, 11:20 AM: Apple's Tim Cook joins Meade on stage. First question is about sales forecasts. Cook says it doesn't like forecasting, but they think there is "tremendous" opportunity for sales.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:19 AM: Looks like the formal announcements have wrapped up, and they are starting the Q&A. No LTE on the iPhone 4 for Verizon Wireless, and no "World Phone" capabilities either.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:17 AM: Same price points as AT&T for the iPhone 4.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:17 AM: One week later, on February 10, the device will be available to everyone. $199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB. Will include 3G mobile hotspot capability.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:16 AM: Verizon Wireless existing customers will have exclusive opportunity to order the iPhone 4 ahead of general available.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:16 AM: Meade: "Even as we roll out 4G over the next few years, our iPhone 3G will work great on our CDMA network."

Jan 11, 2011, 11:15 AM: Verizon says it has added capacity to make sure the iPhone launches with no trouble and that customers have the best experience possible.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:15 AM: Meade now pitching The Network again. Network is designed for customers to have the optimum experience. Drive-testing the iPhone on the network for the last several months. Very pleased with the iPhone's performance.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:14 AM: Training is ready to launch this week. Scaling logistics and inventory we "we believe will be unprecedented volume," scaling back-end systems and merchandizing is all ready to go.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:13 AM: World's first CDMA iPhone 4. Worst-kept secret. Customers have been asking for this for years. Getting operations ready for launch.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:12 AM: Verizon's Dan Meade on stage now talking launch details. "Wireless consumers everywhere have a choice of the iPhone 4 on the nation's most reliable network."

Jan 11, 2011, 11:11 AM: Apple has enormous respect for Verizon and its company and the hard-won loyalty that its earned from its customers. "THis is just the beginning" of a great relationship.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:11 AM: Cook is reeling off the specs of the iPhone 4. No changes so far. Says most important, the iPhone provides an integrated experience. From iOS 4 to iTunes, to the App Store.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:10 AM: iPhone 4 connects to the CDMA network, and has all the features of the GSM-version to iPhone 4, including FaceTime, retina display, etc.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:10 AM: Bringing the iPhone to Verizon's 93 million customers. So far no word on any differences in specs for this device.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:09 AM: Cook: iPhone has changed the way the smartphone market works, 10s of millions of customers have bought the iPhone, and billions have downloaded applications.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:08 AM: Tim Cook, COO of Apple, takes the stage.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:08 AM: McAdam thinks the relationship with Apple will be great moving forward. McAdam is thanking the Apple team to develop the device.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:07 AM: Apple iPhone 4 available from Verizon Wireless in early February!!!

Jan 11, 2011, 11:07 AM: Late in 2010, we offered the iPad as a way to get out employees familiar with the way Apple works.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:07 AM: McAdam just said that Apple "invented the smartphone market." Wow. Has been working with Apple for two years. Started technical discussions in 2008. Spent a year in extensive testing to make sure the device would be up to teh standards that Verizon's customers expect.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:06 AM: "Today announcing partnership with Apple." It's an Apple device for sure!

Jan 11, 2011, 11:06 AM: A whole new generation of smartphones and tablets connected via LTE. "Collaboration between industry leaders is the way to do things."

Jan 11, 2011, 11:05 AM: Verizon is pitching its ecosystem for delivering the best network and devices, and services to bring everything together. Talking a LOT about LTE and how it will shape the future.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:04 AM: "Our partner has created a great platform for innovation." Collaboration is a great word for our vision of the future.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:04 AM: Verizon making jokes about calling LTE "6G" instead of "4G" due to all the verbiage and marketing from its competitors.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:03 AM: McAdam is talking about Verizon's FiOS investments for delivering broadband all over the place at the fastest speeds possible. Built the most reliable 3G network, recently launched 4G LTE network. Blanketing the US with LTE over the next three years.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:02 AM: Have invested in the network to make it as robust and innovative as possible. Moving data and info to the cloud so it can be distributed anywhere on the planet at any time.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:01 AM: Going to deliver something today that many wireless customers in the U.S. have wanted for years.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:01 AM: McAdam is saying a few words to put the announcement into perspective. Says very clear that in Las Vegas that broadband, mobile and video are driving growth in the market. Users want to be able to carry all their content in their digitral lives with them wherever they go.

Jan 11, 2011, 11:00 AM: Verizon CEO takes the stage, says, "If the press writes long and hard enough about something, it becomes true."

Jan 11, 2011, 10:59 AM: Lights dimming... here we go!

Jan 11, 2011, 10:59 AM: Verizon just announced that the show is about to begin.

Jan 11, 2011, 10:58 AM: Ahead of the press conference, someone in the audience just stood up and screamed some curse words and whooped it up. Verizon's media relations team is not looking all that thrilled about it. The audience laughed, with some trepidation.

Jan 11, 2011, 10:54 AM: Fitting with the environment, there's some nice, chill jazz music playing in the theater. Sounds like a jazz trio (piano, bass, drums). Members of the media are all setting up, but the din has quieted some as people are nose down in their laptops.

Jan 11, 2011, 10:47 AM: Phone Scoop is on site and set up at the Jazz Center of Lincoln Center for the Verizon Wireless event. Security was tight, and the room is packed.