Hear that, kids? Tony Melone -- Verizon Wireless' Senior VP and CTO -- confirmed to us during a one-on-one meeting after the company's
CTIA roundtable discussion that
every last one of its
data-only LTE WWAN devices (aircards, MiFi-type products and USB data sticks, for example) would
also support 3G. Not too surprising given the natural ties between the two technologies, but it's still refreshing to hear that every 4G data-only product that launches (at least initially) on VZW will also be able to hop onto the company's 3G network if you just so happen to break away from an LTE area. Can't say that for a smattering of
existing WiMAX products. In related news, Tony also affirmed that Verizon would be "interested" in getting a smartphone on its LTE network that could double as a mobile hotspot, exactly how the
Palm Pre Plus does now (but on 3G, obviously). As for pricing when it comes to
LTE data rates? Tony wouldn't give us any indication of the carrier's plans, but if it's anything similar to
whispers we've heard in the past (not to mention rates already seen through
Clearwire), it'll probably be at least marginally more expensive than what you're paying today for third-generation access.
posted March 24th 2010 4:35PM
NICE :D
@Bowsa Not on topic, but anyone notice the Apple ad on Engadget that asks you to fan the App Store Facebook page? WTF!?
Kind of expected that to be the case...but good news nonetheless.
@mr88 Well maybe I shouldn't have expected this. It'd be more accurate to say I wouldn't buy a 4G device unless it was backward-compatible (or we're 3 years into the future and 4G can be found nearly anywhere 3G is).
@mr88 I think Verizon expected us to expect it as well. I'm pretty sure all the other networks are just scrambling to say something about their 4g networks now that sprint has the godfone on 4g. To me all of these comments from At&t, Tmobile, and Verizon about their networks only amount to a, "hey, we could have a 4g phone if we wanted to right now too....we just don't want to...ehem"
you know, to me, 30 bucks a month for data on a smartphone is crazy. and isnt it like $60 a month for a 3G modem?
i'm sorry, but to go any higher than that borders on insanity. there is no way it costs them that much to host one person's connection to their network for a month...
@spasewalkr
Plus vzw charges extra to use the palm pre as a hot spot lol
@spasewalkr No, probably not, but they've gotta make money, right? haha
Also, if you have LTE then maybe you can drop a home broadband subscription (depending on your needs). While it's not going to be dropping $60+ a month off of your bills, it still makes it a little more bearable.
@spasewalkr
with the cell phone industry, you pay way more than what they can provide it for because thats what most people are willing to pay for it, if everyone objected to data prices, and got dumbphones, data prices would come down
@meeno01 well even with a dumb phone, if you want data it costs the same. all these 'multimedia phones' I never wanted a smart phone until I realized i was paying just as much for my dumbphone and not getting nearly as much utility out of it.
@mr88 There's the funny part. Nobody HAS LTE.
WiMax. on the other hand, is actually up and running in places.
but... will it support 2g?
@samin100
It would if you pay another G.
Hey Verizon... ever heard of those things called phones? How 'bout some news on those things?
@ECH THANK YOU!
"...it's still refreshing to hear that every 4G data-only product that launches (at least initially) on VZW will also be able to hop onto the company's 3G network if you just so happen to break away from an LTE area. Can't say that for a smattering of existing WiMAX products."
Doesn't Sprint have the Overdrive that switches between 3G and 4G?
@spacecadet Yes, all Sprint 4G products will also work on 3G. They device they were referring to was a WIMAX card offered by Clear...who doesn't have a 3g network...hence why it doesn't have 3g.
HTC INCREDIBLE PLEASE C'MON I DON'T HAVE ALL DAY!
I am with ECH WHERE are the NEW ANDROID PHONES!!!!!!! Come on HTC INCREDIBLE PLEASE...........
Did VZW execs make an internal bet that they could go through an entire wireless convention without actually announcing any phones? What the hell is going on here?
WOW, there's a shocker
You'll have to pardon my absolute stupidity, but I still don't really get the difference between 3g and 4g....
if paying for an unlimited 4G data plan, when you are *not* in a 4G area and are only finding 3G coverage, is the data usage still unlimited or capped at five gigabytes monthly like most current $60/mo. plans?
if not, i find this to be a deal where 4G coverage is down just often enough to make a few bucks off of people's data overage fees when connected to the 3G network.
Any chance Verizon will allow 3G air card/mifi owners to upgrade early so that we can take advantage of the 4G network? One can dream...
So let me get this straight, Sprint volleys the EVO 4G across Verizon's bow and Verizon answers back with "LTE is coming, here's some backward compatible WWAN devices, oh yea, and we should have some cool phones for you in about a year and a half." I am no longer on a contract, and Verizon has until the EVO 4G launches to wow me with a new phone. Better hurry!!!!
@Ender11
To be honest even the Incredible would be a downer compared to the Evo (unless there was some huge surprise), but hell I'd take it. I'm a locked in Verizon customer, and the Incredible you should be able to get in a matter of weeks not months, and at known pricing and service rates.
Verizon.... release the Incredible! (and Droid 2.1)
It's not just the Pre that can work as mobile hotspot. WinMo has been able to do it for ages, I often use my Touch HD with my desktop when my net goes down.
As long as there is a cap on these services, I can't bring myself to care how "fast" and good they are becoming.
So will that also be the case for Sprint? Will the EVO 4G also be able to fall back onto 3G? I guess similar to how my iPhone defaults to the EDGE network (anywhere in 100mile radius of NYC. Can anyone explain this to a newbie. Because that EVO 4G looks awesome but I need service to back it up.
Yes, EVO will default to 3g when in a 3g area.
Awesome I will soon be able to have broadband everywhere and stream HD movies to my phone!!! Hold on wait, about the only place I don't have broadband access is in my car, while I'm driving!!!
Do I really need to spend extra dollars to have that much bandwidth on my phone? What am I gonna do with it, watch HD movies on a 3.7" screen? I mean I would love to have it, but I don't care to pay extra for it.
Hey Verizon, forget about 4G and bring me a damn Iphone, Evo, mini5, or I would be happy for the long awaited NexusOne!!
But the question on everyones lips is... Does it to dial up??
seriously engadget? you post a link to a story from 2007 to point out a non-dual mode offering from clearwire? get your act together.