4g lte
Latest
MetroPCS alleged to be violating net neutrality rules with new LTE plans
Well, it looks like the fine print in MetroPCS' new LTE pricing plans is causing more than just some confusion among MetroPCS customers -- as CNET reports, it's now also drawn the ire of several public interest groups, who allege that the carrier is violating the FCC's new net neutrality rules. For those not familiar with the new plans, they include a $40 plan for unlimited web browsing plus YouTube, and a $50 plan that adds 1GB of "additional data access" that covers things not considered to be "web browsing" by MetoPCS -- Netflix, Skype, etc. That, in effect, creates two different types of "data," and leaves MetroPCS as the only voice deciding what gets included in one plan and not the other. For its part, MetroPCS insists that its "new rate plans comply with the FCC's new rules on mobile open Internet," and that it is simply offering "increased consumer choice" by offering different rate plans.
Cisco's Cius tablet gets the Verizon LTE treatment
It looks like Verizon's gone and added yet another device -- make that two -- to their 4G LTE network. The company announced Thursday that it will offer the business-savvy Cius tablet on LTE starting this March, and will also offer LTE interfaces for Cisco's second generation Integrated Service Router. Verizon says it's got about one-third of the US covered with LTE, which offers downstream speeds between 5Mbps and 12Mbps, and will have the other two-thrids blanketed by 2012. If you're lucky enough to live in that first one-third, the Cius tablet, which sports a 7-inch diagonal touchscreen and weighs about 1.15lbs, could become your preferred form of business communication -- it offers HD video streaming, real-time video, and multi-party conferencing. Cius will also have 3G capability for those unfortunate souls operating outside of the LTE sphere. Verizon isn't ready to settle on a data plan for the tablet, as its main functions have potential to eat up a ton of bandwidth, but they're pretty sure employers will be the ones footing the bill.
Palm Voice Test portal foreshadows Verizon's LTE voice plans, quasi-affirms new pricing
See that image above? It's not a forthcoming Palm LTE phone for Verizon Wireless, but it could be a sneak peek into Big Red's plans for the future. If you'll recall, VZW's CTO Tony Malone hinted last week at CES that integrated LTE voice + data wouldn't come until 2012 or 2013 at the earliest, and for now, all LTE devices would be relying on 3G for voice and 4G for data. Heck, not even all of the first-wave LTE devices will support simultaneous 4G data + 3G voice. Of course, we all know that LTE voice is coming eventually, and a new test portal at Verizon's official website may be a clue as to how things will be arranged once it's live. We're guessing that an admin simply populated this page with information and images from the standard Pre Plus page -- there's no way an LTE-enabled Pre is planning to slink into VZW's lineup -- but it's pretty obvious that at least someone within the company is thinking about a world where voice calls are completed over LTE. Potentially more interesting is the "4G plan pricing on this phone" line -- during Verizon's second LTE presser at CES, none of the executives on stage would talk dollars and cents, but this makes it fairly clear that there will definitely be separate plans for 4G phones, most likely ones with higher prices. Feel free to hit the source link if you'd like to poke around, but we wouldn't expect it to remain online for much longer. One more look is after the break. Update: As we predicted, the page has been pulled. Good thing the important bits are right here for you and yours.
Rock Band Mobile will let four players jam over Verizon's 4G LTE network
There's no shortage of applications out there to demonstrate the potential of Verizon's 4G LTE network, but Electronic Arts' just showed off one of the more impressive ones to date at its CES 2011 press conference. It demoed its forthcoming Rock Band Mobile game for Android, which will let up to four players "jam together over the network," making it the first game that can be played with friends over the network at launch. Not much more than that to go on at the moment, but we're certainly eager to try this one out for ourselves. Update: Press release is after the break with the complete track listing. Jethro Tull is headed to 4G.
Live from Verizon's CES 2011 4G LTE press conference
We've here at Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE presser at CES, and we're told our worlds will be changed forever in five minutes. Or something to that effect.
Netgear announces MBR1000 for Verizon LTE, handful of other wireless routers
Because you shouldn't hog all that 4G LTE goodness for yourself, Netgear's announced a MBR1000 mobile broadband router compatible with Verizon's LTE network and its USB modems. It boasts four Ethernet ports and 802.11n WiFi... nothing mind-blowing, but isn't the LTE part enough? Additionally, we've got a quartet of routers with more traditional origins. Without further ado (and all in one breath, if you can): the N300 wireless router boasting Powerline AV (WNXR2000) coming this month for $119.99, the N750 wireless dual-band gigabit (WNDR4000) coming first quarter for $179.99, the N600 wireless dual-band gigabit ADSL modem router (DGND3700) in second quarter for $199.99, and a premium (albeit lacking ADSL) version N600 (WNDR3800) with ReadyShare hard drive / printer access from outside the network, a clear channel selector, and dashboard control for monitor / repair (also second quarter, for $179.99). There, wasn't so bad, was it? %Gallery-112751% %Gallery-112741%
Verizon confirms contract-free 4G LTE options: same rates, pricier modems
Verizon didn't make any mention of it during it's big announcement yesterday, but PC Magazine's Sascha Seagan has confirmed with the carrier that it will indeed be offering its 4G LTE service off-contract as well. That will actually come in at the same rates as the on-contract pricing -- $50 for 5GB or $80 for 10GB, plus a $10 per GB overage -- but you'll have to shell out a full $249.99 for the modem, as opposed to just $99.99 on a two-year contract (after a $50 mail-in rebate).
Verizon LTE plans start at $50/month for 5GB of data (update)
And here we go: Verizon just announced its 4G LTE pricing and full list of coverage areas. Some 38 markets will go live when the switch is flipped on December 5, including Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and LA, and pricing starts at $50/month for 5GB of data, with an $80/month plan for 10GB. Overages run $10 per GB, which isn't insane, and there's also supplemental coverage in around 60 airports. Check the full PR after the break. Update: Some highlights from today's press conference: More modems will be coming out within "weeks" and are all backwards compatible with its EV-DO network. Verizon will talk about "consumer-oriented devices" (translation: phones) at CES. The modems are capable of 4G-to-3G handoff, but not 3G-to-4G -- they'll stay on 3G until you're done transmitting data. The LTE and 3G plans might integrate, according to CTO Tony Melone, but probably not until 2012 or 2013. It sounds like the modems will only be available in stores on December 5th -- no third-party retailers at first.
Verizon hosting 4G LTE news conference tomorrow to discuss launch plans
Guess what people, Verizon's LTE network launch is really for real and the carrier has now scheduled a news conference for tomorrow where it'll discuss its December plans in more detail. Tony Melone, VZW's chief tech officer, will be on hand to answer any questions beyond the already known plans for 38 metropolitan areas to get the 4G LTE treatment -- accounting for a cool 110 million Americans who'll be able to ride the lightning of faster internet speeds on the move. The event kicks off at 12PM and we'll make sure to tune in, if only to find out what Tony's answer is to the inevitable "what is 4G" question. [Thanks, Henry]
Verizon CEO says no to iPhone? Oh.
The rumors have been flying around for longer than I can remember about there being a Verizon iPhone, but here it is, straight from one of the sources: "We would love to carry it when we get there, but we have to earn it." That's Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg speaking honestly on his company's chances at carrying the iPhone anytime soon. From that statement alone, you can probably conclude that while there may have been talks between Verizon and Apple about carrying the iPhone, it's not going to happen anytime soon, including by January (which is when the latest rumor puts the mythical announcement). Why not? Seidenberg is talking about "earning it" with his company's 4G LTE network. While most of the rumors have evolved around a CDMA iPhone, Seidenberg says it's more likely that Apple will want to make a 4G phone, and whenever Apple decides to do that, Seidenberg wants to be there with the network to support it. "I think 4G will accelerate the process," he said, "and any other decisions Apple makes would be fine with us. Hopefully, at some point Apple will get with the program." So if you were planning to jump on a brand new VeriPhone sooner rather than later, consider those hopes dashed -- for now. This means we get to stop dealing with the obviously fake "screaanshots," right?
