Report: Verizon may get iPhones next year

Verizon Wireless Inc. and Apple Inc. are reportedly in talks that could result in the carrier offering iPhones as early as next year.

USA Today reported that "high-level" discussions between Verizon (NYSE:VZ) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) began before CEO Steve Jobs went on medical leave. The paper cited sources it said are familiar with the situation but declined to be identified.

Vodaphone, a Verizon-owned company, already offers the iPhone in Europe but AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) offers it exclusively in the United States. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said last week that his company wants to extend its exclusive deal with Apple.

Verizon is scheduled to report its first quarter earnings on Monday.

AT&T reported a first-quarter profit drop of 9.7 percent from a year ago, but its net income of of $3.1 billion, or 53 cents a share, beat analyst expectations. Revenue was $30.6 billion, compared to $30.7 billion in the quarter a year earlier.

Those earnings were powered by a 40 percent increase in wireless data sales and the activation of 1.6 million iPhone 3G devices.

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