Can you hear me now? Almost. Kind of.

After many false starts and empty promises, it seems that Verizon Wireless is at long last in talks with Apple about the iPhone. Prepare for total world-wide domination.

According to USA Today, Wired, etc., it seems that the iPhone could be available for Verizon users as soon as 2010. Verizon customers can start breathing a little easier, as their wish to remain faithful to the Verizon network may finally pay off in the form of a shiny new iPhone.

It seems incredible that the deal comes this late in the game. Although Apple has made statements in the past about remaining faithful to the U.S. AT&T network, one can only imagine that such sentiments were made for the benefit of their cellular partner, not Apple themselves, who would only benefit from casting a wider net for iPhone users. Verizon, too, will reap the profits from the immensely popular iPhone and may even win back some of their wayward customers who deserted them for the Apple-friendly AT&T.

However, Wired points out that the iPhone being available through multiple networks will probably result in some pricing and planning disparities. Apple prides itself on consistent, reliable pricing options across the board, and it would be difficult to maintain such consistency in both AT&T and Verizon stores. So the wireless providers and Apple might end up finding themselves in a small financial pickle. Smartphone users, on the other hand, will only benefit from having competitors duke it out over pricing. The iPhone will only continue to get less expensive over the next several users. The number of iPhone users will almost certainly increase, both due to Verizon access and cheaper rates. Once again, prepare for world-wide domination.

- Julia Hawes