Just a few weeks ago, Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg crushed many a nerd hope when he all but directly proclaimed that the iPhone would not be coming to Verizon -- or at least not until Apple "got with the program" and offered an LTE-capable device that could run on the company's new network. But today the Wall Street Journal kept the well-beyond absurd Verizon/iPhone rumor train alive by citing a source that claims Apple will begin manufacturing a CDMA iPhone before the end of the year -- with Verizon selling it in early 2011:Speaking at an LTE launch presentation today, Verizon's Lowell C. McAdam wouldn't comment, outside of saying these stories pop up "every few weeks," while reiterating that the ball was in Apple's court. If there is going to be an announcement (and at this point many people following this rumor may have been annoyed to the point of no longer giving a damn) it would likely come at CES in January, where Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg is scheduled to keynote.

Unless it's dual mode, this CDMA iPhone couldn't run on Verizon's new LTE network, making the device slightly less appealing. The same Wall Street Journal source says Apple is hard at work on a fifth generation iPhone with a "new form factor." That new phone would likely launch during the usual June 2011 window, and might perhaps sport LTE capabilities -- and a new design catering to users who like to hold their phones and make calls.