Verizon Wireless Reveals iPhone Pricing

Starting Thursday, February 3, Verizon Wireless customers may begin pre-ordering an iPhone4, with orders shipping to arrive on or before February 10, the company said.

However, you must be an existing Verizon Wireless customer to order. The company said it has set aside a limited quantity of iPhone 4 smartphones solely for existing customers.

"We appreciate our many customers who told us that iPhone 4 should be on the nation's most reliable network," said Dan Mead, chief executive officer for Verizon Wireless. "We heard them and we agreed, which is why we are letting them be among the first to own an iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network. We thought it fitting to say thank you to our customers by giving them the phone they want, a week before the general population."

Pricing and Availability

Meanwhile, Verizon confirm previously reported pricing information. The iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network is priced at $199.99 for the 16 GB iPhone 4 or $299.99 for the 32 GB iPhone 4 with a new two-year customer agreement.

Customers can subscribe to a Nationwide Talk plan, beginning at $39.99 for 450 minutes, or a Nationwide Talk and Text plan, beginning at $59.99 and including unlimited text, picture and video messaging, as well as an unlimited Email and Web data plan, available for $29.99 per month.

The iPhone 4 also gives customers a unique 3G Mobile Hotspot feature that can power up to 5 devices over Wi-Fi. The 3G Mobile Hotspot plan is $20 per month for 2 GB.

The Verizon iPhone will go on sale at 3 a.m. EST on Thursday online. www.verizonwireless.com/iphone

Buy now or wait?

Before they do, however, it might be wise to do a little research. As smartphones go, the iPhone4 will soon be old technology. Apple normally updates the produce line every July.

In five months it is likely Apple and Verizon will offer an iPhone5, with expanded capabilities and able to operate on Verizon's faster 4G LTE network.

However, there may be one good reason to buy the iPhone4 now, rather than waiting for the updated model. For those early adopters, Verizon is offering an unlimited data package. There is every indication that offer won't apply when the new, faster phones come out later this year.