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On yesterday’s earnings call, Apple disclosed a bit more about their iPhone plans.  The news isn’t good for Verizon users hoping to get a hold of Apple’s apparently still hot iPhone.  Apple disclosed they are still content with AT&T and don’t have an agenda to move.

Asked whether the iPhone would spawn a CDMA version, Cook confirmed that Apple “do not have a plan” to change their relationship with AT&T, and suggested “CDMA doesn’t really have a life to it after a point in time”. -Slashgear

Ouch

Tough words for many that refuse to convert to AT&T’s network.  The bigger question now becomes, assuming Apple is being honest, was is Verizon to do?  Verizon has to be sitting on the sidelines grumbling and staring longingly at AT&T’s earnings report which showed a massive number of new customers being drawn in like a nighttime flying creature to a flame.  Surely their attention has to shift to investing in a device that makes a compelling case to consumers.

WWVD?

T-Mobile seems to be tepidly going with HTC Android-on-board G1 as their big feature phone and Sprint has what is perhaps the most anticipated new phone of the first half of this year, the Palm Pre.  What will Verizon do (WWVD)?  Can Verizon just keep going along with business as usual?  Can the latest and greatest from RIM make enough of an impact like the Apple product? 

Only a billion apps sold?

If Apple had made the decision to move forward with a multiple carrier scheme, exposing the App Store to more and more customers, it might make 1 billion downloads would seem like a very low bar indeed.  By limiting the phone to a high end niche on one carrier (in the US), Apple restricts access and keeps a lid on their growth.  Judging from their App approval process that just allowed a shaken baby app access to the store for $0.99 (which was then removed), maybe that isn’t a bad thing.

Apple helping out Verizon

By limiting their world domination, Apple is seemingly holding the door open for Verizon to be the next king-maker in the US market.  So far, their entrants have lacked luster by comparison.  One possible game plan for Verizon is to grab onto the Palm Pre after the 6 month exclusive honeymoon with Sprint and become the second husband.  While not the first choice, Verizon, coupled with Sprint’s following could make a compelling case for developers wanting to reach an audience as potentially big as the iPhone.  Verizon would need to mount an effort to blitz the heck out of the Pre and make it the standard bearer for the network. 

Asking the magic 8-ball reveals only: outcome unlikely.  Drat. 

So what will Verizon do?  Have they a pet project that’s been cooking in some deep, dark hole with no fuzzy spy shots or crappy leaked video?  Will it just be the BB Storm 2 or Re-Storm?  We’re dying to find out.  How about you?