It's finally here: Verizon iPhone on sale now
By Doug Gross, CNN
A customer shops at a Verizon store in Orem, Utah, that is advertising the arrival of the iPhone 4.
(CNN) -- If you've been dreaming of the wonders of an iPhone on Verizon's network, dream no more.
Today, Apple and Verizon Wireless will begin selling a Verizon-ready version of the iPhone 4, ending AT&T's stranglehold on the popular device.
The new version of the phone will go on sale at 7 a.m. Thursday at Verizon and Apple stores, at Best Buy and on the retailer's websites.
The Verizon iPhone 4, with a two-year contract, retails for $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model.
Retailers are expecting significant early-morning crowds -- even if they don't match the somewhat epic mobs that showed up when the AT&T version of the phone arrived.
Data plans for the Verizon phone will differ somewhat from those available through AT&T, but most analysts say they're mostly comparable.
iReport: Planning to buy a Verizon iPhone?
To most, the release probably sounds like a fairly routine announcement. People who want to buy a product that's been on the market since June can now choose between two wireless providers.
But in the tech world, anticipation of the day when a second carrier would break AT&T's monopoly on the U.S. iPhone market had reached epic (if not sometimes over-the-top) proportions.
Some users have blamed AT&T, at least in part, for the iPhone's penchant for dropping calls in high-traffic areas. But they may not find it easy to switch carriers.
First, owners of a current iPhone can't simply switch from AT&T to Verizon. They'll need to buy a new phone. And that's on top of early-termination fees of up to $325 they'll have to pay to break their current contract.
CNNMoney: Why Verizon iPhone won't spell doom for AT&T
That hasn't dampened what so far has been a huge response, however. It took less than a day last week for pre-orders of the phone from Verizon's Web site to sell out.
The Verizon iPhone was once again made available for pre-order Wednesday.
Credit: CNN (www.cnn.com)
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