If you don't want to wait in line tomorrow at Apple and Verizon retail stores, you can order a Verizon iPhone online now.
The Verizon website notes that, if you order an iPhone 4 from Verizon today, it will be shipped to your door. Once you start the ordering process, you'll see a box with an order summary showing the expected ship date. We started the ordering process, and the Order Summary box showed "Expected Ship Date: 02/18/2011." The Verizon website also notes that, starting at 7 am tomorrow, you can buy a Verizon iPhone in-store on a first-come, first-served basis.
Verizon's spokeswoman, Brenda Raney, wrote WMN in an email, "The date is going to vary. The person who ordered a phone at 3 a.m. is likely going to have a different date from the person ordering at 5 p.m."
In other words, the sooner you order the better.
Apple's website shows Verizon iPhones "ships by February 18th". The Apple website shows options of "free shipping" or "in-store pickup." Some bloggers have reported that you will not be able to pickup a Verizon iPhone in Apple stores tomorrow.
Okay, so is the iPhone 4 worth waiting for? We suggest you read reviews of the Verizon iPhone 4 first. Online ordering may seem like it will take longer, but we suspect that the iPhone 4 may sell out in stores quickly. Therefore, it is a good idea to call your local Verizon Store to check for availability.
In
the past, with other Verizon sold-out Droid smartphones, the only way
to get the smartphone was by ordering online, and when a Droid
didn't ship in time, Verizon offered customers credits.
Verizon
Wireless recently changed its return policy giving you 14 days to return
your phone. If you are not sure that you want a Verzion iPhone 4, you can
return it, but there will be a $35 restocking fee. "You may return or
exchange wireless devices and accessories purchased
from Verizon Wireless within 14 days of purchase. A restocking fee of
$35 ($70 for netbooks and tablets) applies to any return or exchange of a
wireless device (excluding Hawaii)."
The Verizon iPhone 4 is almost the same as the iPhone for
AT&T except that it has a CDMA optimized antenna and Wi-Fi personal
hotspot capability (for up to 5 connections). Side buttons are in
slightly different places than the iPhone 4 for AT&T. Voice and data cannot be used at the same time.
The iPhone 4 for Verizon
is priced at $199 for 16GB and $299 for 32GB with a contract. You must
agree to a two-year contract voice plan and unlimited data plan ($29.99
a month). Tethering as a modem and Wi-Fi hotspots will cost an
additional $20 for 2GB. Voice plans start at $39.99 a month.
iPhone 4
features a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording,
Apple's A4 chip, a 3-axis gyro, and a beautiful glass and stainless-steel design like no other mobile phone. iPhone 4 also comes
with iOS 4, which includes multitasking, folders, Game Center, AirPlay
and AirPrint wireless printing. The iPhone 4 also features a high resolution 940x640-pixel (326 pixels per square inch) retina display.