Verizon Says It's Ready for the iPhone Crush

Now that Verizon Wireless has confirmed it will soon be selling an iPhone, some Verizon customers are wondering if the network will be up to handling the crush of expected new subscribers.

Company executives this week sought to allay those concerns, saying they've been working over recent months to make improvements, knowing that the iPhone was coming.

"We've been preparing the network for expansion for the last year, anticipating the launch of the iPhone," Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said during the company's earnings conference call on Tuesday. "We are well-prepared from a network perspective."

The company used the occasion of the earnings call to announce other changes that will affect all of its smartphone subscribers. For example, Verizon wireless is ending its monthy low cost ($15) data plan for a limited amount (150 MB) of data during each billing cycle. All smartphone users will have to pay $30 a month for the unlimited data plan.

Limits on data -- eventually

And in something of a surprise for prospective iPhone customers, that $30 unlimited data plan isn't going to last forever. Verizon Wireless officials said after an initial period of unlimited data, iPhone users will go on a tiered plan, where heavy users pay more. AT&T has adopted a similar plan for its iPhone users.

The company also reiterated that it s canceling its "New Every Two" program for new customers. New customers will no longer get a credit toward the purchase of a new phone every two years.

Verizon will begin selling its new iPhone on February 10, with a 16 GB device costing $199.99 and a 32 GB phone costing $299.99. To get those prices customers must sign a two year agreement and pay for a data plan.

iPhone capabilities

Apple has produced a special versioin of its iPhone 4 to run on Verizon Wireless' network, which uses a different technology than AT&T, which until now has been the exclusive iPhone carrier.

The Verizon phone will, however, be similar to the AT&T version, with video calling capability when connected to Wi-Fi. The iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless will also include new Personal Hotspot capabilities allowing customers to use iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.

However, speed might be an issue -- at least in the short run. Verizon is currently rolling out its 4G LTE network with significantly faster download speeds than the 3G network. However, Apple is providing Verizon an iPhone that will run on the 3G network. Apple told Verizon it would need to make design changes to accommodate the faster network, but Verizon reportedly chose not to wait.