Verizon Will Carry A CDMA iPad

Verizon’s event yesterday squashed years of rumors: the iPhone is finally on Verizon. But what about the iPad? Will a CDMA version of the device exist? According to Verizon, it will.

A quote from Verizon’s CFO Francis Shammo to Business Week confirms the carrier will have a CDMA iPad.

Verizon will get an embedded chip in the iPad for use on its network, Francis Shammo, chief financial officer of Verizon Communications Inc., the parent of the wireless unit, said today in an interview in New York. IPad users currently need an extra device to connect to Verizon’s network.

Unfortunately, Francis nor Verizon gave anymore information on the CDMA iPad. Will it support LTE or 3G? LTE would be likely as the iPad has more space inside to accommodate a bulkier radio. Tim Cook had said the reason for LTE’s absence from the iPhone 4 was due to design restrictions Apple did not want to make.

It’s important to note that the iPad 2 is coming soon and would come in a CDMA flavor if Verizon is carrying the tablet. It wouldn’t make sense for Verizon to carry the first generation iPad unless it will still be sold by Apple alongside the newest iPad just as it does with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.

While Verizon sells the iPad in its retail stores, it doesn’t have a cellular radio that connects to its network. Instead it uses WiFi to connect to a MiFi base station on Verizon’s 3G network.