LTE compatible Verizon iPhone right after Christmas everyone?

You will want to take this news with a healthy dose of skepticism but given the number of people out there impatiently waiting for Verizon Wireless to finally starts selling a model of Apple’s iPhone, I think this is worth tossing out there: Verizon will reportedly receive an LTE 4G compatible iPhone right after Christmas. Yeah, I know. It sounds way too good to be true, but we can hope can’t we?

The rumor comes from “a source” that MacDailyNews believes is “familiar with the matter” and it’s juicy. According to what the website laid out, Verizon already has begun management training for the iPhone. In fact, the Verizon iPhone has been finished “for quite a while” and is already being sent to Verizon’s warehouses to stockpile for the inevitable mad rush of buyers upon its announcement.

"Can you hear me now?" might be something iPhone users say less if Verizon really gets its own version.

That announcement is coming “right after Christmas” because AT&T, with its (presumably?) expiring exclusivity contract with Apple didn’t want everyone to hold off their iPhone purchases until after the holiday season just to be able to use Verizon’s network.

Verizon’s iPhone will be the only LTE enabled iPhone available until the iPhone 5 comes out in the middle of next year. That might spell bad news AT&T, which already has had its 3G network’s image tarnished by the sheer amount of bandwidth used up by iPhone users. Who wants a 3G iPhone 4 on AT&T’s network when it’ll be available in a LTE 4G flavor on Verizon? AT&T is betting customers will still want one but Verizon is gambling that the lure of better network service and faster speeds will win out in its favor.

Interestingly, the information from the website’s source also claims that Apple CEO Steve Jobs is upset that it is taking carriers so long to roll out their LTE (long term evolution) networks. So upset in fact that Apple is helping carriers in its crucial US market—think AT&T and Verizon—build their networks more quickly. How is Apple helping LTE spread faster? The source doesn’t say but MacDailyNews speculates monetary assistance. Remember, Apple as a company is bigger than both AT&T, Inc. and Verizon Communications, Inc. combined.

Don’t believe everything you hear though. I would be surprised if Apple does announce and release a Verizon compatible iPhone right after the holidays, much less one that is LTE compatible. Of course, if this does turn out to be true, I might be one of the first in line to snag one.

What do you think? An iPhone 4 on Verizon’s LTE 4G network in January too good to be true? Tell me in the comments.