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Verizon 4G LTE service arrives in 46 new cities, expands coverage in 22 others
Unlike many of our friends in Europe, loads more Verizon Wireless customers are about to get turbocharged in time for their new Galaxy S III smartphones to arrive. Big Red is deploying its latest 4G LTE network tech in 46 new cities and expanding coverage in 22 others -- and it's all going down tomorrow. That'll bring VZW's total up to 304 cities across the land of the free two full weeks ahead of the July 4th holiday, giving many people one more reason to celebrate a Hump Day without work. And really, couldn't the world use more reasons to celebrate? Full PR after the break.
Verizon to buy Hughes Telematics for $612 million in cash
After a recent round of good, and potentially not so good news for residential customers, Verizon plans to show a little love to its enterprise clients. Big Red is about to spend $612 million of its spare pocket change to buy Hughes Telematics, a company that primarily works within the realm of automotive communications. The board-approved purchase should be wrapped up by Q3 of this year and Hughes' management team will remain intact. The premium offer by Verizon works out to $12 per share for a stock that was trading at just $4.35 as of yesterday's closing bell. Facebook investors: eat your hearts out.
Verizon's vitals: quarterly revenue up five percent to $28 billion, earnings of $1.7 billion
Verizon is remembering how to turn to subscribers into cash, reporting consolidated revenues up 4.6 percent year-over-year to $28 billion and earnings of $1.7 billion -- boosting earnings-per-share by 15 percent. By comparison, revenues were $27 billion in Q1 2011, and a mere $18 billion last quarter, which resulted in a $2 billion net loss. Big Red's performance is now as strong as ever, with subscriber numbers up five percent to 93 million, and with 47 percent of those customers using insanely profitable devices called smartphones. On the TV and broadband side side, its FiOS unit now tops five million internet customers, and added a net total of 180,000 video subscribers. And that new $30 upgrade fee hasn't even kicked in yet.
Verizon backs down from convenience fee, values your two cents
The people (and government) have spoken and Verizon has listened -- and issued a press release. The carrier has officially backed off of the "single payment fee" that drew almost universal ire amongst subscribers and nabbed the attention of the FCC. Says Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead, "we believe the best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient options, eliminating the need to institute the fee at this time." Looks like the company's gonna have to get a couple of bucks from you another way. No word yet on whether the FCC plans to investigate Sprint's similar long-standing fee. Official statement after the break.
Verizon's $2 convenience fee inconveniences the FCC
Just like hard working humans, giant companies like to get paid consistently and on time for services rendered. But Verizon's method for motivating customers to pay up -- in the form of a $2 convenience fee -- isn't sitting so well with consumers, or the FCC. A Federal Communications Commission official confirmed that the fee hasn't gone unnoticed, saying "on behalf of American consumers, we're concerned about Verizon's actions and are looking into the matter." The $2 "payment convenience fee" is scheduled to hit consumers beginning on January 15th, but if the FCC doesn't step in before then, you can still skip the toll by signing up for AutoPay, or making your way to a different carrier.
Verizon posts Galaxy Nexus simulator, doesn't cap your virtual data
Want to be an Ice Cream Sandwich champ before you even have a Galaxy Nexus in hand? Big Red's just opened the e-freezer, launching its Samsung Galaxy Nexus support simulator, complete with programed hands-on tutorials for navigating menus, launching apps, taking beautiful food pictures with creamy bokeh and browsing various single-page Verizon sites. The tutorial isn't a full sim in the traditional sense -- it's merely a microsite with static pages and limited animations -- but it's the closest many of us will get to playing with the real thing; until tomorrow, at least. Clear your schedule for the next five minutes, and hit up the source link for the smoothest smartphone experience you're likely to ever have.[Thanks, Zedster]
Verizon pushes for quick Windows Phone / LTE integration, tugs at Microsoft's pant leg
There's no question that Verizon's making a big push for LTE, but it appears that Microsoft has yet to take notice -- after all, Android continues to dominate Big Red's 4G network, with nary a Windows Phone in sight. VZW hopes that'll change, however, with CMO Marni Walden revealing that the company has "communicated to Microsoft that LTE is critical to us," suggesting that the ball is in Windows Phone's court. Meanwhile, Microsoft smartphone chief Andy Lees had previously confirmed that LTE functionality was on the Windows Phone roadmap, saying back in October that the company and its partners were looking at how 4G LTE support could be integrated. To date, Lees has declined to give any indication as to the actual timing for the first LTE models. In other news, Verizon has offered Microsoft a custom-made promise ring just to make sure its intentions were understood.
HTC Rezound for Verizon unveiled: Beats Audio, 4.3-inch 720p display, available November 14th for $299
HTC's Rezound first leaked its way into our gadget-lusting hearts in late summer. Then bearing the virile Vigor codename, we suspected a heartily specced, Beats Audio-branded destiny for the device. And today's official unveiling doesn't disappoint, setting this 4.3-inch handset on a 4G course for Verizon's LTE airwaves. Thanks to the company's financial handshake with Dr. Dre, the Rezound's inbuilt Beats Audio integration gets its first stateside debut. Of course, that's not all that lies beneath the red and black tinged surface. Living up to the machissimo of its in-development moniker, the Rezound boasts a 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD display and packs a dual-core 1.5GHz processor underneath, with 1GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage / 16GB on microSD card, 1,620mAh battery, WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0 in tow. And for you Android fanatics, HTC's shipping the handset Ice Cream Sandwich-ready, but it'll come out of the box with Sense 3.5 skinned atop Gingerbread 2.3.4. As for the phone's front-facing / 8 megapixel camera with f/2.2 sensor (capable of 1080p video capture), well the company's tossed in the same suite of scene modes we saw ship on the Amaze 4G: panorama, action burst, instant capture, and new addition, slow-mo. Naturally, this Beats phone package wouldn't be complete without a pair of those customized headphones, which'll be included in-box. With the recent Big Red outing of the Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Motorola Droid RAZR, connoiseurs of high-end mobile kit have a lot to consider this Q4. Add this Beats Audio contender to that plethora of options, and you'll be scratching your head come contract-signing time. The Rezound'll be Verizon-bound on November 14th, so if enhanced audio is at the top of your 'must have' list, expect to snag it for $299 on contract. Until then, enjoy the official PR after the break.
Samsung Illusion, Casio G'zOne Ravine 2 and BlackBerry Curve 9370 to hit Verizon this month?
Don't rub your eyes. That above pic is no mirage. It's a leaked rebate form heralding the Big Red arrival of an actual Illusion -- a 3G Samsung-made one, that is. The form, sent to us by an eagle-eyed tipster, confirms that mysterious Gingerbread phone's imminent November launch, while also outing two other equally un-hyped devices: the BlackBerry Curve 9370 and Casio G'zOne Ravine 2. No official release date could be gleaned from the info at hand, but with a redemption period ranging from the 1st of this month to the 28th, we're fairly certain this triumvirate of mid-range phones will be making a retail debut soon. So, if you need to replace your last battle-weary, ruggedized smartphone or have a hankering for portrait QWERTYs, this fair fall month's mobile refreshes could be just the ticket.
Pantech Breakout to make its LTE debut September 22nd?
With a powerhouse like the Motorola Droid Bionic now lodged firmly on Verizon's 4G lineup, we're not expecting very many folks to be downright impressed by the Pantech Breakout. The latest offering on Big Red's LTE network appears to be ready for its emergence in a week. The folks over at Droid-Life not only got their hands on a full spec sheet of the device, they also have come across the user manual, available for download at the source link. It looks like the Breakout will offer a 4-inch WVGA display, Gingerbread, a 1GHz single-core CPU, 512MB of RAM, a 1,500mAh battery and a 5MP rear camera paired up with a VGA front-facing video chat cam. No pricing is mentioned, though Pantech has a track record of being a budget manufacturer, so we're thinking this is aimed directly at the lower end of the LTE price spectrum. If all goes this doc's way, we'll be seeing the new device on September 22nd. Who's in?
Verizon to rebrand the LG Gelato Q as the Enlighten? (Update: images and full specs)
What's in a name? If you ask any phone operator in the US, it's everything -- most carriers prefer to put their own unique spin on a handset to distinguish it from the rest of the crowd. It's reasonable, then, to expect Verizon to do that very same thing with its version of the LG Gelato Q, the forthcoming Android QWERTY slider that'll likely hit Big Red sometime this fall. PocketNow uncovered a wholesaler's product sheet that displayed cases for an "LG Enlighten VS700." We can't be certain as to its authenticity yet, but the model number's association with the device is plausible, as we've seen evidence of Sprint's variant using LS700 as its identification. After hearing this tidbit of information, there's one thing for sure: we don't feel any closer to true enlightenment than we did before. Update: Well, look at that -- just after posting, we discovered that we may be more "enlightened" than we'd expected. Droid-Life dug up some images and a full spec sheet (in More Coverage) as a one-up. The Enlighten will have: Android 2.3, an 800MHz CPU, a 3.2-inch HVGA display, a 3.2 megapixel shooter, 150MB of internal storage (with expandable memory using microSD), and a 1500mAh battery. So it appears that a much needed QWERTY slider will be added to Verizon's midrange Android lineup. Check after the break for a full image.
Verizon Wireless year-end roadmap leaks, Android and LTE spotted on the horizon?
Nope. There's no mention of a Nexus Prime in this glimpse of VZW future, but don't let that stop you from drooling over the purported goods. The leaked shot over on IGN lays out a back-to-school road filled with Android phones a plenty, and one lone RIM entry. September 8th is gearing up to be a busy Thursday for Big Red, with launches slated for the Droid Bionic, Motorola Xoom 4G, BlackBerry Curve 9370 (the LTE cousin of 'Apollo'?) and Samsung Stratosphere -- the operator's rumored Galaxy S II variant. The end of the month gets a 2.3 combo of Gingerbread phones as the Samsung Illusion (codenamed Viper), and HTC Bliss touch down on the 29th. Refreshes for a couple of the carrier's early LTE phones debut in October, when the Thunderbolt gets pushed aside by the virile HTC Vigor and LG gets a redo with the Revolution 2. Samsung's Galaxy Tab P8 (most likely the Galaxy Tab 8.9) gets an unconfirmed November mention, while BlackBerry's PlayBook languishes in a release date grey zone. Ready for that end-of-year upgrade? From the looks of things, there'll be no dearth of options.
Verizon apes classic commercials, keeps heat on AT&T, embraces 'Big Red' nickname
For chronic TV viewers, Verizon's high-octane AT&T bashing got tired pretty fast -- as did seeing Luke Wilson shill for the latter every few minutes -- but we've got to admit, the latest gag here is well-played. Verizon's reaching back through the annals of commercial history and redoing a couple famous ones with a my-3G-map-is-better-than-yours twist, and so far they've hit up DeBeers' classic "shadows" campaign (it doesn't end well for the gentleman with the AT&T phone here, of course) and Wrigley's old Big Red series with the catchy theme song the older folks in the crowd will undoubtedly remember. We wondered how long it'd take for Verizon to break down at admit that it shares a nickname with a cinnamon-flavored chewing gum, and now we've got our answer. Follow the break to check out both spots.
Hands-on with the Motorola Q9m for Verizon
The first time we had our grubby little paws on the Motorola Q9; it was the 3G version for GSM. We recently had the chance to play around with the CDMA variant for Verizon Wireless labeled the Q9m. The device primarily focuses on being a multimedia centered device first and a Smartphone second. Even though this device is no replacement for your PMP, we feel the device does a pretty good job managing, downloading, and playing one's media library.
Verizon preps for launch of UTS XV5800?
Is Verizon having a busy summer? We guess it depends on who you ask. For some, the time for the HTC Vox (aka UTStarcom XV5800) finally hit the hands of employees last week and the device should be available for sale sometime in August. All the stats remain the same like a Qualcomm 7500 series EV-DO Rev A chipset and a 400MHz processor. The only thing we noticed was the change for internal storage which is claimed to be 162MB, which sounds a little strange to us. Let's hope that Big Red can pull this one off in time for Labor Day. [Thanks, HTC Kid]
Verizon's product pipeline in the wild
We can take this picture and file it under "sneak peek" and "blurry" all at the same time. From what we can make out here, it seems Verizon sets in motion plans to launch several devices in the month of August. From the Motorola Z6tv at top left, to the Q9M (remember the iPhone killer?), the Motorola RAZR 2 (aka V9m), Samsung i760, and UTStarcom XV6800 should all be making an appearance this coming month. Let's hope Big Red can pull off these launches we can be a happy bunch![Thanks, HTC Kid and Omie]Update: Thanks to everyone who submitted the new picture!
Hands-on with the BlackBerry 8830
Even though it just became available for consumers, Verizon has had its latest 'Berry available to business customers for some time now. Thanks to our favorite parcel carrier, we're able to bring to you The Network's latest pony into the BlackBerry stable, the 8830. Now even though this is a dual band 800 / 1900 CDMA device with a splash of 900 / 1800 GSM designed for international roaming, we think this device could be a big hit for most BlackBerry customers of Verizon even if they aren't travelers -- read on to find out why.
Motorola maxx Ve unboxed
Well, look what we have here -- It's the Motorola maxx Ve for Verizon Wireless. It's been along time since we seen the first maxx, though the first sighting was for GSM. Just dropped off today, we snapped a few pics of the unboxing ceremony for your viewing pleasure. As a refresher point on the feature set, here ya go: dual band 1X / EVDO (sorry no Rev. A here), microSD expandable memory, a vivid 2.2 inch display, stereo Bluetooth for the music junkies, and a respectable 2 megapixel shooter with autofocus. Keep a look out for the Ve review! Motorola maxx Ve unboxed
Merlin XU870 meet Verizon; Verizon, Merlin XU870
There's no doubt that The Network gives its customers plenty of options, especially when it comes to traveling across the pond -- and the latest addition to its ExpressCard lineup is no exception. Enter the Merlin XU870, which rocks triband 850 / 1900 / 2100MHz HSDPA and quadband EDGE and GPRS support. Yes, that's right, this is a GSM piece meant exclusively for Verizon's global roamers. The XU870 is expected to support Windows, Apple, and Linux operating systems and is expected to cost $370 with no contract, $299 with a one year contract and $249 on a two year indentured service contract on Verizon's GlobalAccess plans. You should be able to buy this around April 12.[Thanks, HTC Kid]
Verizon to offer unlimted text, pix and flix on April 15?
Being with the nation's largest CDMA carrier certainly has its advantages -- especially when it includes one of the country's largest mobile to mobile communites, VCAST TV, and unlimited text, pix, and flix. Yep, that's right: unlimited. Initial reports are stating that on April 15th, Verizon will come out with new plans that include unlimited messaging. It appears that the single line plans cost about $20 more and family share plans start at $99.99 for 700 minutes. Be on the lookout for more details!
