• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, October 14, 2010

After all the speculation surrounding the Verizon iPhone in the last couple of years, it's the Verizon iPad that's hitting stores first. As you may have seen, Verizon will offer a Wi-Fi-only iPad bundled with its MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot device for $20 a month for 1 GB of usage, starting Oct. 28. The iPad models plus MiFi will sell for $630 (16GB), $730 (32GB) and $830 (64GB).

It's not the long-awaited Verizon iPhone, but the iPad deal for the first time establishes a formal business relationship between Apple and Verizon and appears to herald the carrier's expected introduction of the iPhone next year. "Establishing a sales relationship for the iPad--even just the Wi-Fi-only model--could certainly be a sign that there will be Verizon Wireless-specific products coming in the future," said Avi Greengart, research director for consumer devices at Current Analysis.

In the release announcing Verizon will carry the iPad, Apple COO Tim Cook sounded an enthusiastic note, saying, "We're thrilled to be working with Verizon Wireless to get iPad into the hands of even more customers this holiday season." That's a far cry from the frustration expressed by Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg over the iPhone last month when he said, "At some point, Apple will get with the program."

With reports Apple is building an iPhone compatible with Verizon's CDMA network for release next year--and now the iPad deal--it looks like Apple is indeed starting to "get with the program." Cook's opposite number at Verizon Wireless, John Stratton, referred to Verizon and the iPad as the "perfect pairing" for holiday travels in the release.

The Apple tablet should prove a popular stocking stuffer and help drive up iPad sales through distribution across Verizon's network of retail stores nationwide. But everyone anxiously awaiting a Verizon iPhone will just have to wait a little longer.