Here is my comment I left on Lyons post:
I disagree, Dan. While many have stated they believe it was six months too early due to the fact we will see an iPhone 5 in June for both GSM and CDMA networks, I would say THEN would have been too late. As it stands, your variety is Google’s biggest problem with Android. HTCs SensUI and Motorola’s MotoBlur prevents both manufacturers from updating to the latest Android version upon release. It also adds user confusion. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “I thought this was an Android phone?” when someone looks at a different model due to the differences in how the home screen looks. Google understands this issue and has made references to the fact that 3.0 will not allow custom user interfaces. 3.0 is expected prior to the next-generation iPhone. So, if Apple had waited any longer to work out terms with Verizon or decided to push out the fifth iPhone to Big Red in June, THEN, it would have been too late. You and I are geeks and geeks look at tech differently. The masses want what everyone else has…that’s easy to use. The iPhone still fits that requirement.
Let the nation rejoice and now read the press release:
Verizon Wireless and Apple® today announced that the iPhone® 4 will be available on the Verizon Wireless network beginning on Thursday, February 10. Qualified Verizon Wireless customers will be given the exclusive opportunity to pre-order iPhone 4 online on February 3, ahead of general availability.
iPhone 4 is the most innovative phone in the world, featuring Apple’s stunning Retina™ display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone resulting in super crisp text, images and video, and FaceTime®, which makes video calling a reality. iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless will also include new Personal Hotspot capabilities allowing customers to use iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.
“We are pleased to introduce millions of wireless users to the industry leading iPhone 4 on the nation’s most reliable network,” said Lowell McAdam, president and chief operating officer of Verizon. “This is an important step for the industry as two great companies join forces to give wireless customers one of the most important technological additions to the mobile landscape this century.”
“Verizon Wireless customers have told us they can’t wait to get their hands on iPhone 4, and we think they are going to love it,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer. “We have enormous respect for the company Verizon has built and the loyalty they have earned from their customers.”
iPhone 4 features a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording, Apple’s A4 chip, a 3-axis gyro and a beautiful glass and stainless steel design like no other mobile phone. iPhone 4 also comes with iOS 4, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, which includes multitasking, folders, Game Center, AirPlay® and AirPrint wireless printing. iPhone 4 customers have access to the world’s most popular App Store℠ with more than 300,000 apps available in an incredible range of 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health and reference.
Pricing & Availability
iPhone 4 will be available on the Verizon Wireless network beginning Thursday, February 10 for a suggested retail price of $199.99 for the 16GB model and $299.99 for the 32GB model with a new two year customer agreement. iPhone 4 will be available at more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide, online at www.verizonwireless.com/iphone, at Apple Retail Stores, at the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), at Apple Authorized Resellers, and by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN.
From the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Sling Media, Inc., today announced a subscription offering that will soon be available on select 4G smartphones on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.
Sling Media has created a subscription service offering that gives Verizon Wireless customers the ability to watch their home TV on new 4G smartphones. The subscription service provides a Slingbox®, the SlingPlayer™ application and networking accessories.
“With significantly increased speeds and reduced latency, the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network provides an ideal environment for a fantastic Sling viewing experience with great video quality,” said John Gilmore, senior vice president and general manager at Sling Media. “Sling’s subscription offering is a new, easy way for consumers to start enjoying their home TV wirelessly, with one monthly bill from Verizon and without a long term contract for the Sling app.”
With a Slingbox at home and a Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband connection, the award-winning SlingPlayer application gives users the ability to watch live sports, catch up on the news or enjoy movies on their smartphones. Users can enjoy their TV while having their oil changed, waiting for a flight or taking a study break. Verizon Wireless customers will be able to sign up for the offer through V CAST Apps, Verizon Wireless’ mobile storefront, beginning later this year.
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ existing 3G network. Consumer devices with a wide range of applications are expected to be available later this year. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.
More details about the Verizon Wireless and SlingPlayer offering will be available during CES in Verizon Wireless’ booth (#35216 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center) and at the Sling Media booth (#9014 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center). For more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte. For more information about Verizon Wireless at CES, visit www.verizonwireless.com/ces or follow the company on Twitter at http://twitter.com/verizonwireless.
Both companies also announced the industry’s first 4G wireless wide area network (WAN) interface on the Cisco® second-generation Integrated Services Router (ISR G2), which will enable Verizon Wireless’ 3G and 4G enterprise and small and medium-sized business customers to drive innovation and create new business models.
The new Cisco 4G LTE Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Card (EHWIC) integrates with the Cisco ISR G2 and is part of Cisco’s comprehensive next-generation mobile Internet architecture deployment at Verizon Wireless, which spans from the cell towers to the network core, to support a wide range of intelligent mobile devices and applications.
In addition, Verizon Wireless is adding the Dynamic Mobile Network Routing (DMNR) capability to its 4G LTE offers. DMNR is based on Network Mobility (NEMO) support in the Cisco IOS®. This enables the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network to deliver the nation’s fastest wireless WAN experience and transform the way business customers integrate and scale wireless to wireline private networks.
Taken together, these technologies and Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network enable businesses seeking to improve agility and operational flexibility.
The Cisco 4G LTE ISR G2 solution and Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network deliver a high-speed, reliable wireless WAN experience, enabling customers to create radically new business models at significantly lower costs. The Cisco 4G LTE ISR G2 solution enables a range of services for remote and branch offices to mobile collaboration devices like the Cisco Cius, which will deliver anytime access to a variety of Cisco collaboration offerings along with additional business and Android applications.
The Cisco solution and Verizon Wireless service also remove barriers to deploy high-performance, media-rich applications over a wireless WAN link and are ideal for supporting everything from enterprise branch offices to mobility devices like the Cisco Cius, a first-of-its-kind, 7-inch diagonal, high-resolution color, touch-target mobile collaboration tablet.
“Enterprises have come to know they can rely on Cisco and Verizon Wireless to put the business communication and collaboration tools they need in their hands. Together we’re taking the next step with the combination of the Cisco Cius mobile collaboration tablet and Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. Collaboration delivered over 4G LTE will be a whole new level of access for enterprise users,” said Janet Schijns, vice president, Business Solutions Group at Verizon Wireless.
“Knowledge workers are no longer tethered to a desk, and they require mobile devices to enable communications, collaboration and a computing solution in a form factor that is sanctioned by the IT organization,” said Steve Slattery, vice president and general manager, IP Communications business unit, Cisco. “The Cisco Cius, running on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, addresses just that and is optimized to deliver a superior experience for business productivity.”
“The 4G LTE Interface card on the Cisco ISR G2 platform is a game changer for our customers, including Verizon Wireless, who are now able to deploy a rich set of productivity-enhancing solutions across its 4G LTE network,” said Praveen Akkiraju, senior vice president and general manager, Service Routing Technology Group, Cisco. “Our collaboration with Verizon Wireless enables enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses to create innovative services such as next-generation video-enabled ATMs and ‘Shop-in-a-Box’ retail solutions.”
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.
The Cisco 4G LTE ISR G2 and Cisco Cius solutions will be highlighted from Jan. 6-9 in Verizon Wireless’ booth (#35216 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center) at CES. For more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte. To learn more about the Cisco 4G LTE ISR G2 solution, visit www.cisco.com/go/4g. For more information about the Cisco Cius, visit www.cisco.com/go/cius.
Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today unveiled the innovative new tablet Motorola XOOM™ − the first device on Google’s new Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system designed from the ground up for tablets. The Honeycomb user experience improves on Android favorites such as widgets, multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization and features the latest Google Mobile innovations. Boasting a dual core processor with each core running at 1 GHz, delivering up to two GHz of processing power, and 10.1-inch widescreen HD display, Motorola XOOM gives Verizon Wireless customers a new type of mobile computing experience on a stylishly thin device that is 4G LTE upgradeable.
Motorola XOOM redefines the tablet device category by providing more ways to have fun, connect with friends and stay productive on the go. It allows consumers to experience HD content right on the device, supports 1080p HD video and HDMI output to display content on larger HD screens, and plays video and other rich web content seamlessly with Adobe® Flash® Player. Motorola XOOM features a front-facing 2-megapixel camera for video chats over Wi-Fi or 3G/4G LTE, as well as a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera that captures video in 720p HD. It delivers console-like gaming performance on its 1280×800 display, and features a built-in gyroscope, barometer, e-compass, accelerometer and adaptive lighting for new types of applications. It also features Google Maps 5.0 with 3D interaction and delivers access to over 3 million Google eBooks and thousands of apps from Android Market™.
For working on the go, Motorola XOOM provides constant connectivity − including connecting to Gmail or Exchange email; opening and editing documents, spreadsheets and presentations; and viewing calendars and sending out appointments or meeting notices – with mobile broadband speeds. Its mobile hotspot capability provides an online connection for up to five other Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
“Motorola XOOM is a powerful addition to Verizon’s product lineup and builds on our combined leadership with Motorola to deliver innovative mobile devices and service on the Android platform,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “Motorola XOOM gives consumers complete access and control of their favorite personal content and work files whether through our nationwide 3G network, or through our lightning-fast 4G LTE network as it rolls out around the country.”
“Light, powerful and fundamentally different than anything else on the market, Motorola XOOM leverages the very best technology available today to redefine what a tablet experience can be,” said Bill Ogle, chief marketing officer of Motorola Mobility. “The first device to feature software designed specifically for tablets, Motorola XOOM goes everywhere you do and delivers everything you need.”
The Motorola XOOM device will launch as a 3G/Wi-Fi-enabled device in Q1 2011 with an upgrade to 4G LTE in Q2. Starting in Q2 2011 the Motorola XOOM will be a 4G LTE/Wi-Fi- enabled device.
For more information about Verizon Wireless at CES please visit www.verizonwireless.com/ces or follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/verizonwireless. For more information about the Motorola XOOM please visit www.verizonwireless.com/xoom.
So the latest round of Verizon iPhone rumors surrounds the CES keynote presentation of Verizon’s CEO Ivan Seidenberg on January 6th. Many are saying it will be at this gala event that the world will finally get the iPhone…on Verizon’s network. But something just doesn’t jive with this plan and that something is the lack of some one. Steve Jobs.
Remember what Apple did last year during CES? Mmm, wasn’t some tablet thingy announced? Ya, Steve Jobs was the guy that flaunted it off on stage for the world to see…instead of watching what was going on in Vegas. Essentially, Apple stole the show from CES that day and took the headlines along with the entire front page with iPad news.
Jobs has been very vocal that he does not do trade shows anymore. No more Macworld and certainly no CES. So if Steve won’t be in Vegas, where will he be? Cupertino. Just like last year. Talking about the next iPad. Yanking the thunder away from Vegas…again. Oh ya, while Seidenberg will be showing off more 4G LTE Android phones at his keynote, Jobs will be pulling a “one more thing” and announcing the iPad 2G on Verizon’s network…along with an iPhone. You’ll see.
Verizon showcases its new announcement with a video explaining all the bells and whistles of LTE but it is at the 2:35 mark (view) of the video that is of interest. Lindsay Notwell, Executive Director, 4G LTE Startegy and Planning, talks about “connected cars” with a video shot of an iPhone 4 running onStar’s app. Now while this could be just a still shot pulled from GMs site and nothing more than that, wouldn’t Verizon at least wish to show off one of its phones? With the ability of any phone to connect to a FordSync equipped vehicle, for example, Verizon could have easily picked up on some Ford marketing for a shot to better fit the Verizon Wireless line of handsets. Instead, the hottest smartphone on the market only available on its competitor network was shown. Mmmm.
So, is this just a mere oversight on Verizon or a hint that the iPhone 4 is just around the corner? I believe this is just another tea leave exposing that indeed, Verizon and Apple will be soon announcing the iPhone 4 coming to the largest network in the United States. My guess is we will Steve Jobs pulling his infamous One More Thing at the iPad 2G announcement and bring out on stage Verizon’s CEO Ivan Seidenberg to make the announcement this January.
Yes, the new year is looking mighty good.
Verizon Wireless announced today it is turning on the world’s first large-scale 4G LTE network on Sunday, Dec. 5. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network will be the fastest and most advanced 4G network in America. Business users will be the first to take advantage of the 4G LTE network with speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network.
With the launch, Verizon Wireless is also offering new value-priced 4G LTE Mobile Broadband data plans starting at $50 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance, as well as two new 4G LTE USB modems: the LG VL600 which will be available at launch, and the Pantech UML290, available soon.
Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless, said, “Beginning Sunday, Verizon Wireless is making the best network even better. Our initial 4G LTE launch gives customers access to the fastest and most advanced mobile network in America and immediately reaches more than one-third of all Americans, right where they live. That’s just the start. We will quickly expand 4G LTE, and by 2013 will reach the existing Verizon Wireless 3G coverage area.”
Road warriors using laptops will immediately benefit from Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network with super-fast connectivity that’s up to 10 times faster than the company’s current 3G network. The company expects 4G LTE average data rates in real-world, loaded network environments to be 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
Mead continued, “We are building our 4G LTE network with the same commitment to performance and reliability for which we have long been recognized. Our commitment to superior network performance, combined with broad 4G coverage areas and the strong value of our data plans make 4G LTE Mobile Broadband the best choice for laptop users.”
4G LTE Mobile Broadband Data Plans, Devices and Coverage Areas
Verizon Wireless customers can choose from two 4G LTE Mobile Broadband data plans: $50 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance or $80 monthly access for 10 GB monthly allowance, both with $10/GB overage. For laptop connectivity, two 4G LTE USB modems will be initially available: the LG VL600 is available at launch and the Pantech UML290 will be available soon, each $99.99 after $50 rebate with a new two-year agreement. Both USB modems provide backward-compatibility with Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. If laptop users travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, they will automatically stay connected on the company’s 3G network.
The two modems harness the power of the company’s 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network to help enterprise, business and government customers make their workforces more productive, providing super-fast laptop connectivity. Both modems will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, online at www.verizonwireless.com, by phone by calling 1-800 256-4646 and through the company’s business sales channels.
The company expects consumer-oriented handsets will be available by mid-2011.
Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network is initially launching in 38 major metropolitan areas and in more than 60 commercial airports coast to coast – at both airports within the launch areas plus airports in other key cities. Street level coverage area maps will be available online on Dec. 5. Today, customers can go to www.verizonwireless.com/4Glte to check if their addresses will be in the initial 4G LTE coverage area.
Spectrum and Network Partners
By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment in the United States, Verizon Wireless is capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless broadband network with excellent coverage. Verizon Wireless’ primary 4G LTE network vendors, Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent, are providing the underlying infrastructure for the 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.
Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.
Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Initial Major Metropolitan Area Deployment (Dec. 5, 2010)
Akron, Ohio
Athens, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Baltimore, Maryland
Boston, Massachusetts
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, Dallas, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Houston, Texas
Jacksonville, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
Los Angeles, California
Miami, Florida
Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota
Nashville, Tennessee
New Orleans, Louisiana
New York, New York
Oakland, California
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Orlando, Florida
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix, Arizona
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Rochester, New York
San Antonio, Texas
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California
San Jose, California
Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
St. Louis, Missouri
Tampa, Florida
Washington, D.C.
West Lafayette, Indiana
West Palm Beach, Florida
Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Initial Commercial Airport Deployment (Airport Name, City, State) Dec. 5, 2010
Austin-Bergstrom International, Austin, Texas
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshal, Glen Burnie, Maryland
Bob Hope, Burbank, California
Boeing Field/King County International, Seattle, Washington
Charlotte/Douglas International, Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago Midway International, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago O’Hare International, Chicago, Illinois
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Covington, Kentucky
Cleveland-Hopkins International, Cleveland, Ohio
Dallas Love Field, Dallas, Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth International, Fort Worth, Texas
Denver International, Denver, Colorado
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
George Bush Intercontinental/Houston, Houston, Texas
Greater Rochester International, Rochester, New York
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Atlanta, Georgia
Honolulu International, Honolulu, Hawaii
Jacksonville International, Jacksonville, Florida
John F. Kennedy International, New York, New York
John Wayne Airport-Orange County, Santa Ana, California
Kansas City International, Kansas City, Missouri
La Guardia, New York, New York
Lambert-St. Louis International, St. Louis, Missouri
Laurence G. Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts
Long Beach/Daugherty Field, Long Beach, California
Los Angeles International, Los Angeles, California
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, Metairie, Louisiana
McCarran International, Las Vegas, Nevada
Memphis International, Memphis, Tennessee
Metropolitan Oakland International, Oakland, California
Miami International, Miami, Florida
Minneapolis-St. Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nashville International, Nashville, Tennessee
New Castle, Wilmington, Delaware
Newark Liberty International, Newark, New Jersey
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International, San Jose, California
North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Orlando International, Orlando, Florida
Orlando Sanford International, Sanford, Florida
Palm Beach International, West Palm Beach, Florida
Philadelphia International, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, Mesa, Arizona
Pittsburgh International, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Port Columbus International, Columbus, Ohio
Portland International, Portland, Oregon
Rickenbacker International, Columbus, Ohio
Ronald Reagan Washington National, Arlington, Virginia
Sacramento International, Sacramento, California
Salt Lake City International, Salt Lake City, Utah
San Antonio International, San Antonio, Texas
San Diego International, San Diego, California
San Francisco International, San Francisco, California
Seattle-Tacoma International, Seattle, Washington
St. Augustine, Saint Augustine, Florida
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International, Clearwater, Florida
Tampa International, Tampa, Florida
Teterboro, Teterboro, New Jersey
Trenton Mercer, Trenton, New Jersey
Washington Dulles International, Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C.
Will Rogers World, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
William P. Hobby, Houston, Texas
Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Samsung Zeal™, a dual-hinge messaging phone in a unique, flip-style format with an E Ink technology transforming the QWERTY keypad, will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores on Nov. 11.
Available color: Black
Key features:
· Dual-hinge form factor with E Ink keyboard that changes based on the user’s needs
o Open it vertically as a flip phone and it has a traditional numeric keypad and can change to an alpha-only keypad
o In landscape, the phone features a QWERTY keypad that can change to numeric with symbols
· Corporate Email support for Microsoft Office Exchange so customers can synchronize corporate e-mail, contacts and calendars from their office e-mail
· 2.0 megapixel camera with night and panorama shot, auto focus and camcorder
· Bluetooth® technology with support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, basic print, basic imaging, and object push for vCard and vCalendar
Lifestyle features:
· Social Beat Widget – Offers a single point for accessing social networking sites, allowing customers to stay connected to Facebook®, Twitter™ and MySpace™ plus more than 50 news, sports and entertainment feeds
· VZ Navigator® capable – Receive audible turn-by-turn directions to millions of points of interest and share the directions with others
· Media Center – Access downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services and more
· Skype mobile™ capable
· Mobile Web capable
· Full suite of messaging options, including text, picture, video and voice messaging; Mobile IM; Mobile Chat; Mobile Email; and Mobile Web Email
· microSD™ card slot with support for up to 32 GB (card purchased separately)
· Personal organizer with calendar, calculator with currency converter, notepad, alarm clock, world clock and stop watch
Price and availability:
· The Samsung Zeal will be available on Nov. 11 for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
· Customers can purchase the Samsung Zeal beginning today at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores or online at www.verizonwireless.com. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.