Rumors Abound: Microsoft AND Apple coming to Verizon

Well, things lately in the blog sphere have sparked in the last 24 hours about Apple, and now Microsoft releasing devices on the very popular carrier, Verizon. Unfortunately, as things stand now, there isn’t much in the way of proof aside from a select few people’s word. So I’m going to give you some insight on some of these rumors, and why you should probably take them with a grain of salt.

First, BusinessWeek posted the following:

“Verizon Wireless is warming to the idea of an Apple (AAPL) partnership. Verizon Wireless is in talks with Apple to distribute two new iPhone-like devices, BusinessWeek has learned. Apple has created prototypes of the devices, and discussions reaching back a half-year have involved Apple CEO Steve Jobs, according to two people familiar with the matter.

One device is a smaller, less expensive calling device described by a person who has seen it as an “iPhone lite.” The other is a media pad that would let users listen to music, view photos, and watch high-definition videos, the person says. It would place calls over a Wi-Fi connection. One of these devices may be introduced as early as this summer, one person says.”

First, this seems very sketchy, Verizon basically never has wi-fi device, so that’s automatically a red flag for me. The media pad seems plausible considering recent rumors regarding Apple ordering some small/medium sized displays that could fit into that category, but it doesn’t seem likely they are already in the production stage that would seem to indicate.

USAToday posted a very similar article, without mention of the media device or an “iPhone lite”, making both stories seem even less reputable due to lack of any real sources. Just to make it more chaotic, they even unsubstantiated their own story by quoting Tim Cook from last week: “We’re very happy with the relationship that we have (with AT&T) and do not have a plan to change it.” Cook added that “CDMA doesn’t really have a life to it after a point in time.”

And if that wasn’t quite enough, The Wall Street Journal posted today:

“Microsoft Corp. is in discussions with Verizon Wireless to launch a touch-screen multimedia cellphone on the carrier’s network early next year, in a bid to compete with Apple Inc.’s iPhone, people familiar with the matter said.

Microsoft’s project, which is code-named “Pink,” is aiming to produce a phone that extends the tech giant’s Windows Mobile cellphone operating system, adding new software capabilities. It would also likely include Microsoft’s new Windows Marketplace for Mobile, a mobile application store along the lines of Apple’s, … “

Yes, Microsoft themselves are going to be the manufacture of this supposed device, which flies in the face of previous, blatant reports from Microsoft representatives, even the ones reported on the WSJ’s own blogs like this one.

It seems very unlikely that all these sources are incorrect unless they are all simply hopping on the same bandwagon. Many people would love to see Verizon get ahold of the iPhone, but I would nt count your chickens before they hatch.

Addendum: Engadget posted that Microsoft confirmed the fact that they were neither releasing a “Zunephone” nor any Microsoft branded phone.