The buzz surrounding the long-awaited release of a Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ ) iPhone is reaching a fevered pitch as it appears the telecom giant is ready to bring the device to market. Verizon is expected to confirm it will start providing service for the iPhone early next year , according to a report last week in The Wall Street Journal . January may be a strange time to launch the much-anticipated product, but AT&T (NYSE: T ) reportedly convinced Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL ) to give it one last holiday season as the iPhone's exclusive U.S. provider, according to a report in Tech News World. With millions of frustrated AT&T network users making noise and millions of loyal Verizon customers anticipating the iPhone's release, investors are wondering if the iPhone could give shares of both Apple and Verizon a shot in the arm.