Verizon CEO: Our LTE caught Apple's eye; speed-based data pricing possible

Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg has suggested that it is the carriers' LTE investment that attracted the attention of Apple and brought the iPad to Verizon Wireless stores, but reiterated that a Verizon iPhone will only arrive when "Apple thinks it's time." Speaking to the WSJ, Seidenberg also discussed tiered data connections based in part of speed as well as consumption; according to CFO Fran Shammo, "if you want to pay for less speed, you'll pay for less speed and consume more, or you can pay for high speed and consume less."

The tiered structure would make more sense when Verizon's LTE network goes live before the end of the year, with the carrier saying it could split up the 1 to 12 mbps data rate according to which customers have paid more. However unlimited plans would still likely be available, and the carrier insists it has not yet finalized any details.

Internal expectations are that, by 2015 or 2016, 30-percent of Verizon customers will be using 1GB per month of data. As for rival 4G networks, Seidenberg is keen on working together. "There are too many players in the industry," he said, "I think it would be healthy if there's more consolidation."

[via Android Community]