If you've been waiting to get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Developer Edition, you're in for some good news as the smartphone is now available for purchase - Verizon has launched the Verizon Galaxy S4 Developer Edition and it is available directly from Samsung for $649.99.

According to Geeky-Gadgets, "Verizon have launched the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 Developer Edition on their network, the handset comes unlocked and without the need for a new contract."

At $649.99 outright, the smartphone is not easy on the pocket, but several developers who like to tinker away on devices may be willing to shell out the amount. This edition is similar to the 16GB version of Verizon's variant of the Galaxy S4 i.e. SCH-I545. The only difference is that the Galaxy S4 Developer Edition is not only carrier unlocked, but also comes with an unlocked bootloader.

Thanks to the unlock bootloader, developers can root and install custom ROMs on their smartphone with ease.

Interestingly, the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 Developer Edition is not available on the carrier itself as of now. Verizon currently sells the regular 16GB model for $199 on a two-year contract. Purchasing the smartphone outright will set consumers back by $649.99, which is the same price Samsung is asking for the Developer Edition. Moreover, even the Google Edition of the Galaxy S4 costs the same.

Verizon is also expected to retail the Developer Edition of the Galaxy S4, but it is not known by when. There's no information whether AT&T's version of the Galaxy S4 Developer Edition will launch as well.