Though it hasn't yet been announced by Verizon, details of insurance options that will be available to Verizon iPhone owners are now available through Asurion's web site. Asurion is the third-party company that backs the mobile phone insurance Verizon combines with it's extended device warranty and markets to customers as Verizon TEC (Total Equipment Coverage). Although Verizon customers that own smartphones similar in price to the Verizon iPhone insure and protect their devices for $7.99 a month, at $10.99 a month, iPhone owners aren't so lucky.

That is, if you consider $7.99 per month for insurance that comes with high deductibles "lucky" in the first place. From a deductible perspective, things are even worse for Verizon iPhone owners than they are when considering the monthly fee hike. Should you opt for Verizon / Asurion's TEC coverage on your Verizon iPhone, expect to pay a whopping $199 deductible in the event that you do need to file a claim.

The iPhone 4 outsold every previous Verizon smartphone launch to date, all in the first two hours. In fact, Verizon sold out the entire inventory it set aside for existing customers in just 17 hours. The number of units sold has not been released by the company, however they have stopped taking pre-orders and are recommending that interested customers order the iPhone 4 online February 9 starting at 3:01 AM EST.

On February 10, 2011 Verizon Wireless stores will open at 7:00 AM to accommodate the official in-store release day. Verizon offered the early pre-order to existing customers only and has asked employees to wait on getting an iPhone 4 until initial customer demand is fulfilled. Verizon joins the Apple store, Best Buy and selected Wal-Mart stores in offering the CDMA iPhone 4.

For those who aren't interested in ordering the Verizon iPhone 4 online, there's now a third location where you can wait in line and squabble over limited inventory. Best Buy has added its name to the list of retailers who will carry the Verizon iPhone 4 starting on launch day.

The third-party retailer joins the ranks of the Apple Store and Verizon Wireless in offering the CDMA iPhone 4 on February 10, 2011. Although it was rumored that Best Buy training materials hyped AT&T's network speeds as superior, company spokespeople have stated that the company has no interest in pushing one carrier over another. Best Buy intends to be neutral and offer consumers the best mobile phone for their individual situation and preferences.

Though supplies are limited, existing customers were given the opportunity to reserve a Verizon iPhone starting at 3 AM this morning. This opportunity continues, with Verizon iPhone pre-orders still open and available at this time. If you're not currently a Verizon customer, including AT&T customers wishing to switch to a Verizon iPhone, you'll have to wait until February 9th to pre-order. The Verizon iPhone will be available in full release on February 10th, both nationwide at Verizon and Apple retail stores and online.

If you're hoping to get your hands on the Verizon iPhone, we strongly recommend pre-ordering. You'll avoid long lines on release day as well as avoiding the possibility that the iPhone will sell out before you can get one. If you're an existing Verizon customer, and would like to pre-order the Verizon iPhone, here's how to get it done:

AT&T must be feeling the heat when it comes to the upcoming Verizon iPhone. Without exclusivity the wireless company will find itself competing for every last iPhone customer in the US. Verizon made waves when it announced that the CDMA iPhone would offer a personal hotspot for up to five Wi-Fi devices.

AT&T is set to follow suit and has announced that it's working with Apple to bring the feature to the iPhone with iOS 4.3. Developer beta versions of the next generation firmware have indicated the personal hotspot is indeed on its way.