Verizon Wireless will start selling a netbook -- a cheaper, more basic version of a notebook -- as early as next quarter, Bloomberg said, citing a person close to the project.

The devices are being developed with more than one PC maker, the news agency cited the person as saying. Price and plan details aren't complete, the person told the news agency.

Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications Inc and Britain's Vodafone Group Plc, competes with AT&T and Sprint Nextel in the wireless carrier market.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T see devices used mainly for data rather than voice as the next phase of wireless growth as the vast majority of the U.S. population owns mobile phones.

Verizon Wireless could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by S. John Tilak in Bangalore, editing by Will Waterman)