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Can't pay a bill or activate your phone on Verizon? It's not you, it's them (update: fixed!)
Verizon Wireless acknowledged today that its billing system is having issues for customers across much of the US. According to subscribers tweeting on the #VerizonOutage hashtag, issues have extended over the last two days, preventing them from doing simple things like activating a new phone or paying their bill. In tweets and a message on its news page, Verizon said the issue is affecting customers in the Northeast, Midwest and Southern regions, but has yet to offer an ETA for a fix. It doesn't appear to be affecting things like phone calls or connecting to the internet, but if your bill is due right about now, this could be a problem. We've contacted Verizon for more information and will update you when we hear anything. Update: Verizon reports the issue has been repaired overnight, so My Verizon and other wireless account tools should be working now. [Thanks, Aaron]
Verizon backpedals after cutting off free LTE for Chromebook Pixel owners
Nothing like a public shaming to make a company do an about-face. After cutting off free LTE service for Chromebook Pixel owners earlier than expected, Google stepped in to offer users a $150 gift card. Outrage from users persisted, though, and now Verizon appears to be reversing its decision. "We do understand that a very small number of Chromebook Pixel customers may have had a promo end prematurely," a Verizon spokesperson told TechCrunch. "We apologize for this, and will work with these customers to address the situation." Based on that statement (and what a vague statement it is), it's unclear whether the carrier actually intends to restore LTE service, or whether it intends to make amends some other way. We're asking Verizon to clarify, and will update this post if we hear more.
Verizon's next-gen voice service still planned for this year, will come with video calling
Verizon and AT&T, the two largest mobile operators in the US, have spent the last couple years in a race to deploy next-generation voice technology known as Voice over LTE (VoLTE). With its announcement last week, AT&T was the first to deploy the fast-speed VoIP network, but don't count Verizon out of the race quite just yet: executives explained to us today that it's still on track for nationwide deployment sometime this year.
Verizon lights up improved XLTE data service in 44 states
Well, if the comprehensive leaks from last week weren't enough, Verizon Wireless has just confirmed that its enhanced XLTE wireless data service is a real thing. Haven't been keeping tabs on the nuances of nationwide wireless network enhancement? It's cool: we have, and XLTE is nothing to sneeze at. Here's the gist of it: if you live in one of the markets where Verizon has been fleshing out its LTE network with AWS spectrum it bought in 2012 (the full list of compatible cities is here) and have the right hardware (here's another list for you), you should notice some snappier peak data speeds without having to do anything at all. Heck, you may still reap the benefits of Verizon's appetite for AWS even if you're not rocking the latest hardware. Data speeds for older devices may improve as people with supported gadgets start leaning more on XLTE -- Verizon's best estimate asserts that a full 35% of the the active devices on its network will benefit from flipping the AWS switch, so we'll see how much better things get for everyone involved.
Shocker: The telcos are not pleased about today's net neutrality vote
Earlier today, the FCC voted in a 3-2 split to move ahead with plans for fresh net neutrality rules. All told, this new set of proposed regulations differs somewhat from the commission's first proposal, which was shot down by a federal court earlier this year. In brief, the FCC wants to impose a "no blocking" rule, and is calling for a "fast and robust" performance baseline. Meaning, even if a company like Comcast wanted to charge Netflix for faster service, it would still have to deliver adequate speeds even for websites that weren't in the fast lane. Speaking of, these new rules do indeed allow for so-called fast lanes, though again, it's unclear how slow the "slow lane" will be. Finally, FCC chairman Tom Wheeler is also calling for an ombudsman to investigate complaints of abuse on the part of ISPs. As you can imagine, internet service providers aren't happy about that last one. Or any of it, really.
Verizon's BlackBerry 10 phones are finally getting their 10.2.1 updates
A few lucky Verizon BlackBerry buffs got the long-awaited 10.2.1 update back in January, and now Big Red is starting to push that new build to all its Z10, Q10 and Z30 owners. The new version number doesn't sound all that impressive, but the changelog is heftier than the label lets on: there's loads of UI tweaks to dig into, to say nothing of an offline reading mode, better support for group messaging and FM radio functionality... if you've got a Q10 or Z30. BlackBerry also made it easier to install Android APKs, if you're into that sort of cross-platform witchcraft. Verizon is the second major US carrier to make this update available (T-Mobile took the gold this time), but there's still no word on when AT&T and Sprint will get their respective acts together.
Verizon completes buyout of Vodafone's stake in its cellphone business
After 14 years of partnership, Verizon now has full control over its cellphone business. The telecom giant has officially completed its buyout of Vodafone's 45 percent stake in Verizon Wireless, giving it both more independence and leaner operations. The American provider isn't saying just what it will do now that the $130 billion deal is done, but it at least doesn't have to worry about the tensions that sometimes defined its relationship with Vodafone. It's business as usual if you're a subscriber, although we wouldn't rule out changes in the long run.
Verizon waives activation fees, offers smartphone trade-in deals -- for a limited time
Is The UnCarrier to blame for Verizon and AT&T running different promotions lately? Perhaps. But regardless of who's to blame thank for this, the stiff competition between US carriers is a great thing for you, the consumer. The latest ones come by way of Verizon, which recently kicked off a couple of limited-time deals in hopes of luring customers in. For starters, Verizon's offering a $100 in-house gift card for any smartphone "in good working condition appraised for less than $100," though you could get up to $300 for a more valuable handset. Additionally, Verizon's also waving its $35 activation fees on new lines during the next few days -- which, when combined with the recycling promo, could end up saving you a good amount of cash. The trade-in offer will be running through March 31st, while the other is set to be valid until February 17th.
Verizon 'Ellipsis' Android tablet and trademark leak out, hint at a new wireless effort
Serial product shot leaker @evleaks is showing off pics of a new tablet tonight, tagged as the Verizon Ellipsis 7, 2013. It looks like a standard 7-inch Android tablet, albeit with some overly heavy bezel action, but there's little else to go on regarding where it's from and how it may arrive. The rest of the puzzle may be filled in, however, by a trademark for "Ellipsis" and "Ellipsis 7" that FierceCable dug up just a few days ago, and imagines could cover a new service / device. Filed by Verizon Wireless, the Ellipsis application covers a "wireless telecommunications device featuring transmission of voice, data, image and video", while Ellipsis 7 includes tablet computers and other wireless devices. So now we know what the hardware is called and what it looks like, but what it does is still in question. Until we find out for sure, our speculation is informed by the news Verizon is ending its wireless partnership with cable companies, rumors that it will purchase Intel's IPTV technology and the Corvair / FiOS Companion tablet that popped up last year.
Verizon left security researcher hanging while reported URL hack revealed subscribers' texting history (updated)
Long wait times and a complete lack of transparency -- no, this isn't a story about a typical call to Verizon customer support. It's what happened when a security researcher discovered a critical privacy vulnerability on Verizon's consumer site and tried, nearly in vain, to get it patched. Back in August, researcher PRVSEC found that a simple URL exploit could allow any subscriber using the site's 'Download to SpreadSheet' function to access any other user's texting history. The hack required nothing more than swapping a subscriber's cell number into the code to view information like date, time, sendee and message status -- actual contents of the SMS or MMS sent could not be accessed. It took Verizon more than a month from the time PRVSEC submitted the initial report to bring the case to a complete resolution and close the exploit, and an additional month to make the issue public. That the issue was even addressed in the first place is somewhat of a personal victory for PRVSEC, as Verizon's site doesn't offer any direct contact info to report vulnerabilities. PRVSEC was only able to bring the URL exploit to Verizon's attention though a LinkedIn contact. Verizon has since created a dedicated email contact, CorporateSecurity@verizonwireless.com, to field these security issues, but the company's overall slow response time, inaccessibility and lack of transparency should give its subscribers cause for concern. We've reached out to Verizon for comment on the matter and will update should we hear back. Update: A Verizon rep responded to our request for comment saying, "[We] take customer privacy very seriously, and we addressed this issue as soon as our security teams were made aware of it. Customer information was not impacted. "
Verizon activated about 3.9 million iPhones in Q3 2013
Here's news to warm the hearts of Wall Street analysts who are trying to make predictions in advance of Apple's Q4 2013 earnings call on October 28: Verizon reported that it activated about 3.9 million iPhones during its third fiscal quarter during that same time period. Not only is that number up 26 percent year over year, but it also represents 51 percent of the total smartphone activations during the quarter. In announcing the news, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo also noted that the company ran into iPhone shortages when the iPhone 5s and 5c were introduced. The iPhone is resulting in higher wireless data revenue for Verizon as well. Many customers are upgrading from the 3G-based iPhone 4 and 4s to the newer 4G LTE devices (iPhone 5, 5s, 5c), and those users have a tendency to use a lot more bandwidth. Smartphone users now make up 67 percent of Verizon's customer base, with more than 40 percent of its customers now on shared data plans.
Verizon celebrates Vodafone split with a million new subscribers
Verizon's third quarter results are out, and it's not suffering any malaise after its break-up with Vodafone. In fact, it landed 1.1 million new mobile customers and over 300,000 new subscribers to its FiOS internet and video services during the three-month period. More than 67% of people on the carrier's books are now rocking smartphones, some of which will be handsets that joined the LTE line-up this quarter, including the HTC One, Motorola's new Droids, the iPhone 5s and 5c, and most recently, the Galaxy Note 3. In its wired business, the number of FiOS video customers grew to 5.2 million, up 12.6 percent from last year as the company also promised more live channels on the way for its mobile app. In total, Verizon took $5.6 billion in profit (a whopping 30 percent more than in Q3 2012) from $30.3 billion in revenue. It's not a huge increase over last quarter's success, but we doubt the head honchos care too much about growth when looking at that many zeros.
Verizon announces first US pre-order date for Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear: September 6th at 9AM ET
The Big Four (that'd be Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T) have all confirmed that they'll be stocking Samsung's newly-introduced Galaxy Gear and Galaxy Note 3, but none of 'em have been bold enough as to give us two precious details: pricing and availability. We're still waiting for the damage, but VZW has come forward and alerted its customers that pre-orders will open up on September 6th. Given that the Note 3 just sailed through the FCC (and that the Gear is due to land in October), we're guessing that you'll have to wait anywhere from one to eight weeks for shipment. We'll keep you posted if we hear anything more concrete. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Reuters: Verizon's $130 billion bid for Vodafone stake to be voted on this weekend (update: it's a done deal)
Vodafone and Verizon might finally be "resolving" their business relationship, according to Reuters: the pair are said to be striking a deal this weekend. The typical folks "familiar with the matter," say that the firms' respective boards are voting on a $130 billion buyout that would put Vodafone's 45 percent stake in the network back in Verizon's hands. The price has gone up since we last heard about this deal, though the plan is essentially the same -- Verizon will finance half of the purchase through bonds and bank loans while covering the rest with cash on hand. Neither Verizon or Vodafone were willing to comment on the report, Reuters stated, but it's no secret that the two companies have mused over breaking their partnership in the past. We'll let you know if we hear anything official; until then, check out the source link to get the story from the horse's mouth. Update: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the deal has been finalized behind closed doors, reiterating that an official announcement could come as early as Monday. 2nd update: The deal is done, Verizon now owns itself, and the world can return to normal. The press release is below.
PSA: Verizon's Motorola Droid Mini begins shipping tomorrow, not August 29th
Product delays are often talked about (and judged) around the interwebs, and thus it's only fair to give a company credit when it plans to deliver something ahead of schedule. As such, those who pre-ordered a Motorola Droid Mini for Verizon will be happy to find out that the 4.3-inch handset will begin shipping tomorrow, August 22nd, instead of August 29th as was originally planned. PhoneArena was the first to spot this tidbit earlier on the network's website, however a Verizon representative has since confirmed to us that the change in dates is indeed true. It's not clear whether the Kevlar-wrapped Droid Mini's also going to be on sale at Verizon's brick-and-mortar stores, but we'll be updating this story if we hear anything.
Verizon's HTC One starts shipping on August 22nd for $199 on contract
For those attached -- willingly or otherwise -- to Verizon, your time to snag an HTC One has come. Well, almost. The universally-hailed Android phone is headed to VZW's LTE airwaves on August 22nd, with an on-contract price of $199.99. Oh, and if you're just waking up from the underside of a rock, have a gander at our review before canceling all of your plans.
Verizon's HTC One sign-up page is live, still no confirmed ship date
Back in June, Verizon gave us fair warning that it would start selling the HTC One "later this summer." Well, we're just about halfway through August, and while you can't buy a VZW One just yet, you can at least let Verizon know you're interested. The carrier has added a sign-up page to its website, where eager beavers can put in their e-mail addresses so that they'll be the first to receive more information as it becomes available. Unfortunately, that splash page says nothing about when the device might ship or what it will cost with the usual two-year agreement. So for now, then, this page is really just for the most impatient of HTC fans.
Leaked photos: Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini is headed to Verizon
Here is it: the Galaxy S4 Mini... for Verizon? As of now, Samsung's smaller Galaxy S4 sibling is an international-only device; in other words, no US carriers have officially signed on to offer it. That said, a Samsung SCH-i435 recently made its way into the Bluetooth SIG's website, and those who follow VZW's classifications of Samsung products are all-too-familiar with the "SCH" prefix. Of course, a handful of leaked photos can't confirm a release date nor a price, but if it's already popping up with that label on the rear, surely the wait won't be much longer. Hop on past the break for a side-by-side shot with an iPhone 5. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Verizon Wireless lowers the bar with 500MB Share Everything plan
Ah, the wonderful world of wireless carriers. You can almost guarantee that if one makes a move, the others will soon follow. We're still hoping that AT&T and Verizon will succumb to peer pressure and resume offering unlimited data plans, but until that day comes, you can look forward to lots of fine tuning of their tiered share plans. The latest move comes from Verizon, which has introduced its lowest cost offering yet: a 500MB shared plan that runs $40 per month. This rings in at $10 less than its 1GB shared data plan, but when combined with a single smartphone, you're looking at paying $80 per month for unlimited talk, text and 500MB of data that's subject to overage fees. Compare this to AT&T, which just announced a 300MB share plan that costs $70 once bundled with a smartphone. Either way, this presents a cheaper option for some, but it won't be fun keeping such a close eye on the meager data allotment. Update: This article previously drew a comparison that was based on the price of a feature phone at Verizon, which costs $30 per month. We've updated the article to reflect Verizon's $40 monthly charge for smartphones.
'OK Google Now' comes to Verizon's 2013 Droid trio
If you're anything like us, you've been wringing your hands jealously at the few thousand Google Glass-enabled humans wandering around commanding "OK Glass" as their bidding is done. We'd like to say that the solution we've found is to give everyone a free set of Google's latest indulgence, Oprah-style, but that's not the case -- instead, Verizon's new trio of Droid phones enables very similar voice-powered functionality on its Droid Mini, Ultra and Maxx handsets. Employing Google's popular (and delightful) Now app, Droid owners can enact a variety of (unnamed) operations, including waking up the Droid by saying "OK Google Now." It's also targeted at folks who are prone to losing their mobiles, as the command, "OK Google Now, call my Droid" will do just that. It's also possible that people nearby will think you're a crazy person, but perhaps they already did considering you're prone to losing such an expensive and important device to your life, eh? The Verizon-created software enhancements don't stop there, with the trio also getting "Touchless Controls" and "Active Display"; the duo apparently work together to "let users make calls, send texts, get directions, play music, set a reminder and preview notifications hands-free without having to unlock the phone, giving Droid users a whole new way of interacting with their phones." All three phones are available for pre-order starting today and arrive at Verizon starting on August 20th (the Mini lands August 29th).
