Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to express feelings for one another by giving and receiving a bouquet of flowers, heart-shaped chocolates, a teddy bear and a sing-along card.

But this Valentine’s Day is different for one reason.

Verizon Wireless launched its newest Apple product, the iPhone 4, on Feb. 10, allowing couples to throw the idea of chocolates and flowers out the window, and to express their affection in a more expensive and advanced way.

Timing is everything in the technology industry, so it doesn’t seem accidental that the nationwide phone corporation planned its release so close to Valentine’s Day ”” a day that’s widely known for couples spoiling their loved ones.

“There is already an increasingly high general demand for the product, but the fact that it’s Valentine’s Day definitely doesn’t hurt the sales,” Heidi Flato, public relations manager for Northern California Verizon Wireless, said.

Flato said that the introduction of the iPhone 4 is a “coincidence, although very good timing,” in light of Valentine’s Day falling so closely behind the release date.

It’s easy for society to believe that the cell phone industry has manipulated Valentine’s Day to boost profits, because our economy is notorious for the art of their veiled manipulation. But are customers willing to buy their loved one an iPhone 4?

Business marketing major Krista Ellsworth said she has been in a serious relationship for three years. She admits that the typical gifts she loves to receive on Valentine’s Day are roses and chocolates, but not an iPhone 4.

“I’m not so sure Valentine’s Day is the day to boost iPhone sales,” Ellsworth said. “I could only imagine older, married couples buying each other the iPhone for Valentine’s Day.”

Some students deem completely indifferent about Valentine’s Day and feel uncomfortable about the notion of giving and receiving gifts as a way to express love.

“I would never expect my boyfriend to buy me a new phone for this holiday,” pre-nursing major Lauren Ebner said.

Ebner has been with her boyfriend for four months and said that Valentine’s Day is “overrated and pointless.””¨

While some consumers may feel somewhat skeptical about Valentine’s Day and the meaning of its celebration, Verizon Wireless has covertly given its customers another reason to splurge on the newest expansion in technology. The introduction of the iPhone to Verizon Wireless has also come in the midst of tax season, when employees are collecting their annual checks from the government.

It’s hard to believe that such good timing is merely accidental, especially when it comes down to a supply and demand nation such as America.

Despite the No. 1 reason for celebrating Valentine’s Day, there’s still another reason to spend the hard-earned money on the product that a lot of Verizon Wireless customers have been waiting for.

It may be reimbursed tax money, or you’re just itching at the chance to grab the new iPhone 4 with FaceTime video calls, Verizon Wireless has given all consumers a reason to celebrate around Valentine’s Day ”” whether one believes in love or not.