Apple said today it will be taking pre-orders for its iPhone 4 on Verizon beginning at 3 a.m. EST on February 3.

Verizon said it has set aside a limited quantity of iPhone smartphones for existing  customers and orders will be shipped to arrive on February 10.

“We appreciate our many customers who told us that iPhone 4 should be on the nation’s most reliable network," said Dan Mead, chief executive officer for Verizon Wireless.  

"We heard them and we agreed, which is why we are letting them be among the first to own an iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network.  We thought it fitting to say thank you to our customers by giving them the phone they want, a week before the general population."

iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network will be available for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model with a new two year agreement.