Here's a smattering of Verizon Wireless stories that turned up Friday. Chief among them is the possibility that Verizon Wireless plans to offer the iPhone...at least in theory. Other Verizon stories include an intriguing Google goosing, and an official Verizon response to the FCC.iPhone for Verizon?

Leave it to yapping executives to set the Internet on fire. This time it was Verizon Wireless' Tony Malone, who said to BusinessWeek that the company is ready to support the iPhone. According to Malone, Verizon has made upgrades to its network (in anticipation of a change of heart from Apple?). The implication is that Verizon's network would outperform AT&T's. AT&T says that the iPhone has increased the demand for data traffic by 5000% in the last year. Malone said, "We have put things in place already. We are prepared to support that traffic."

Do I really think the iPhone is coming to Verizon any time soon? No, not really. This is just more of the back-and-froth bickering that is taking place publicly between AT&T and Verizon Wireless about the quality of their respective networks.

No More Googling from Verizon BlackBerries

In an interesting move, Verizon Wireless has removed the ability to perform Google searches from within the BlackBerry browser on several of its handsets. There is a search functionality that was accessible in the browser software itself that let users choose between Google, Yahoo and WIkipedia. Now, Microsoft's Bing is the only in-browser search edition. Verizon and Microsoft signed a search deal no that long ago. Bing is the default search engine on all of Verizon's handsets.

If you want to actually Google something, you're going to have to go to Google.com or download the Google quicksearch application to your Verizon BlackBerry. Lame.

Verizon to FCC: But YOU Said ETFs Were Cool!

Verizon Wireless has filed a 77-page response to the FCC's questions regarding its new $350 early termination fee policy. To make a *really* long story short, the bottom line here is that the FCC allows network operators to enforce early termination fees. That said, Verizon feels its new policy is fair and just, given how expensive "advanced devices" have become. It basically argues that it is going to lose its shirt if it doesn't charge $350 ETFs for smartphones.

How do you like them apples?