In an interview with Reuters, Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo said his company’s version of the next Apple iPhone, the so-called “iPhone 5,” will be a global phone, working in the same countries as the AT&T model.

That would mean the Verizon iPhone 5 would be able to make calls on both CDMA and GSM networks. The device would still be native to Verizon’s network, using GSM only when roaming. The AT&T version might also have both radios, though it would only need GSM to be considered a global phone. The current Verizon iPhone 4 is CDMA-only, so it doesn’t work in countries where there are only GSM networks, which includes most of Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. The AT&T version works on most GSM networks, which are much more common.

Shammo also said Verizon would be able to launch the iPhone 5 at the same time as AT&T, all but confirming a simultaneous launch on both carriers.

Very little is known about the next iPhone, although iPhone 5 rumors are rampant. If Apple sticks to its typical product cycle, it should be unveiled soon with a debut next summer, although there are reports that because of production difficulties, it won’t hit stores until September.

On whether or not the Verizon iPhone 5 would be able to ride Verizon’s new high-speed LTE network, Shammo was fairly mum: “I think it’s a bigger issue for Apple than it is for us,” he told Reuters. “Depending on where Apple plays, that’s where we’ll sell.”