While the details have varied over time, most news outlets have put AT&T's exclusivity deal with Apple at a minimum of . This past July, USA Today said AT&T that gave it exclusive distribution rights through 2010, modifying the original contract that provided Apple the option of bringing in other carriers in 2009.

3. The rumor ties the supposed progress with the deal directly to Steve Jobs' absence.

Jobs may be off the clock right now, but one has to question whether he would be completely uninvolved in such a major decision--and whether his staff, knowing his within a matter of months, would even consider doing something he is said to oppose.

4. The EVDO engineer jobs are no longer posted at Apple.

Go search for the EVDO engineer positions mentioned in the rumor report--they're no longer there. Moreover, to jobs cited in the past now return "no longer posted" errors. If the logic were true that Apple needed those engineers to move forward with the Verizon deal, and if the deal were on the brink of being announced, one might surmise the company would still actively be hiring.