Verizon CEO: “No Reason We Couldn’t Have an iPad”

The transition to next-generation long-term-evolution 4G data networks is moving along nicely, according to comments from Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam. During remarks made at the Reuters Global Technology Summit, McAdam said the company hopes to have as many as five 4G phones on its network by this time next year.

McAdam didn’t name the devices, but said they would most likely be manufactured by HTC, LG, Motorola (MOT), Samsung and Research in Motion (RIMM)–the usual suspects. Said McAdam: “I’d say all the major manufacturers we’re talking to today are making the transition to LTE.”

Incidentally, a few of those manufacturers will also build tablets for the carrier. And while they’ll run Google’s (GOOG) Android OS, Verizon (VZ) is still obviously hoping to ink an iPad deal with Apple (AAPL). “There’s no reason we couldn’t have an iPad,” said McAdam. Well, I can think of one.