Comments on article found at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703735804575536191649347572.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLESecondNews

As I write this, the rumor is that Verizon will be selling the iPhone come 2011.

Apple is set to sell about 40 million iPhone handsets next year. When you compare Apple’s annual sales to Nokia’s annual sales, we can say that a year’s worth of iPhone sales equals one month’s worth of Nokia sales.

In terms of quantities, Apple’s sales are small. However, Apple has become the smart handset benchmark that Nokia has failed to become. I will say this again, Apple is in the content business and the handset just facilitates the process. Apple has figured out how to make money in the wireless content space. Getting back to the Verizon story. All I can say is that Apple should be grateful Verizon is going to be selling the iPhone.

Wall Street analysts have criticized Verizon for not deploying the iPhone sooner. I might be reading too much into this but Verizon’s actions to date have been smart business. Verizon’s technology and business track record has been as active technology follower and not necessarily active technology leader. Frankly, there was and still is nothing wrong with that. By the way, Verizon’s ability to hold out put it in a strong negotiating position.

Assuming all of the rumors are true, someone should give Ivan Seidenberg and Lowell McAdam medals; Verizon won.

What Verizon needs to do is figure out how the iPhone will be integrated into the company’s content strategy.

Handsets do not a content strategy, make.

Verizon needs to avoid having the tail wag the dog.