The Verizon iPhone is expected to be announced at a special event next Tuesday in New York, but the phone won’t be available right away.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]Citing “a person familiar with the matter,” the Wall Street Journal on Saturday said that the iPhone would be in stores by the end of January. That seems like a normal timeframe for Apple to ship a phone.

With the iPhone coming to Verizon, AT&T’s exclusivity with the device in the U.S. ends. AT&T had the exclusive since the original iPhone was first introduced.

Verizon announced its event on Friday, inviting press to join them, but didn’t give any further details. Later in the day reports said that Apple CEO Steve Jobs may also make an appearance at the event.