According to the latest leaks, Verizon and Apple are in discussions regarding a new iPhone for the carrier, which would be launched in 2010. USA Today quote "people familiar with the situation" who claim discussions between Steve Jobs and Verizon began a few months ago.
While USA Today suggest a CDMA iPhone would be the likely result, Apple's recent financial conference call would seem to debunk that. During the call, COO Tim Cook dismissed talk of a CDMA iPhone because the CDMA standard is predominantly a US specification. Instead, Apple want "one phone for the whole world".
What that could indicate, therefore, is a LTE (Long Term Evolution) iPhone, just in time to spearhead Verizon's new LTE network set to launch in 2010. LTE has been adopted by not only Verizon but other US carriers - including AT&T - as well as networks worldwide, in keeping with Apple's "one phone" intentions. What remains to be seen is how AT&T might react to the possibility of a super-fast new iPhone bypassing their exclusivity.
if verizon does switch to lte will i have to trade in my cdma phone?? im only 13 so please dont criticize me about what i know and dont know. Thanks!
No, CDMA networks will be around for a long while yet. LTE, like 3G, will be added to their network capability.
However, unlike 3G, which is data only, LTE is meant to provide a complete infrastructure for a cell network. This includes voice and sms as well as data, although fast data is one of the primary draws for LTE (raw downlink throughput is 100 mbps for 20 MHz channel with 1 antenna, and 384 mbps for 4 antennas).