vzw

Jan

CES 2011: Quick Hands-On With The (Now Official) HTC Thunderbolt: 4.3-Inch Display, Froyo, And LTE [Video]

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in HTC, News, Thunderbolt (Mecha), Verizon Wireless, Videos

I'm slightly miffed that HTC doesn't seem to have a dual-core Android device in the works (at least for now), but the LTE-capable Thunderbolt still isn't anything to scoff at.

It features:

A 1 GHz Snapdragon processor
A 4.3-inch WVGA (800x480) display
An 8MP rear camera capable of recording 720p HD video
1.3MP front-facing camera
Android 2.2 Froyo with the new HTC Sense, as seen on the Desire HD and the Desire Z
32GB (!) microSD card slot out of the box
Integrated kickstand
Dolby and SRS surround sound audio
Skype mobile pre-installed (presumably the new version with video calling)
DLNA support
Mobile hotspot (presumably with a nice fat fee attached)
An LTE radio

Want more?

Jan

Skype Mobile For Android: Now With Video Calling (On Verizon’s LTE Devices)

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Applications, News, Verizon Wireless

Sure, Qik, Yahoo, and Fring all have Android-based video calling apps (not to mention that Google's probably planning one of its own), but we all know this is an area Skype dominates. A few days ago, the company updated its iPhone app with the feature, though we Android users haven't had access to it... until now.

At their press conference at CES, Verizon announced that the feature will be available to customers on its new LTE network. It isn't yet clear whether the feature will be coming to other carriers' Android phones, but if you've been looking for a good excuse to switch to Verizon, here it is.

Jan

[Updated Live] CES 2011: Verizon's 4G LTE Press Conference

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in News, Verizon Wireless

We are live at CES 2011 at the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE conference. This post is being updated live.

currently serving 38 major markets, 100 million people
will cover 2/3 of population by mid 2012
adding 140 new markets by 2011
by the end of the year, 175+ markets, such as Little Rock, Detroit, Memphis, etc
10 4G LTE devices in the first half of 2011
LG is on stage, just announced the LG Revolution 4G LTE Android phone
Skype is on stage now talking about how all 4G LTE smartphones will have Skype pre-installed, with video calling
HTC presenting the 4G LTE-enabled Thunderbolt with HTC Sense, with Skype, video calling, etc.

Dec

Will The FCC's Net Neutrality Order Cost Smartphone Users?

Posted by David Ruddock in Carriers, Editorials, News

In a word: yes. Wireless carriers in the US (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.) have long been deeply opposed to net neutrality over their so-called "mobile broadband" networks, but today they've been given a power they have long desired to see the FCC put into writing.

If you haven't been following the net neutrality saga, you might want to find out what exactly "net neutrality" is, or what it means.

What is "net neutrality"?

It's a loaded term, to be frank. Net neutrality activists will tell you it means the complete freedom of information from corporate interference by requiring that ISPs (Internet service providers) do not give any preferential (or deferential) treatment to any information transmitted over their networks, unless it is clearly illegal or dangerous.

Dec

Verizon's 4G LTE Launches Today - Here Is What You Need To Know

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in News, Verizon Wireless

Last Updated: August 1st, 2012

Verizon's long-awaited 4G LTE service, promising speeds of 5-12 Mbps down and 2-5 Mbps up, is launching in 38 major metropolitan markets and over 60 airports today (get the full list here). Since no LTE-capable mobile phones exist on VZW just yet, the only way to experience LTE on the move is by getting 1 of 2 (soon to be 3) 4G USB modems. Unlike Sprint's truly unlimited 4G plans, Verizon's plans carry a data cap: $50 for 5GB or $80 for 10GB, with a $10/GB overage fee. Additionally, Mac OS X support has been left out for now. Not the ideal situation, but if you need 4G speeds and want to go with Verizon, you don't really have any other choice.

Dec

Verizon Wireless Announces 4G LTE Details - Arriving December 5th With Ridiculously Expensive Data Plans

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in News, Verizon Wireless, Videos

As expected, today Verizon Wireless officially unveiled its plans to light up more than 1/3 of America with the next generation 4G LTE network. The switch will be flipped this Sunday, December 5th, but since VZW doesn't have any LTE-enabled mobile phones just yet, the only way to get a taste of the new network will be using one of the two USB modems VZW will be offering: the LG VL600 or the Pantech UML290.

The coverage area is pretty impressive, considering this is the first time LTE will be rolled out in the US - 38 major metropolitan areas and over 60 airports, which is pretty much unchanged from our report in October (see the full list in the PR at the bottom of this post).

Nov

Motorola Droid Pro Review: Android Has Been Blackberry-ified, But Hath The Blackberry Been Slain?

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Droid Pro, Motorola, Phone Reviews, Reviews, Verizon Wireless

Last Updated: July 24th, 2011

Introduction

And with that, we solidly conclude that Android truly has visited 99% of the mobile form factors out there. That's right, people, the Motorola Droid Pro has arrived in the Android Police offices, and after spending the last week or so with it, I can tell you - with a straight face, nonetheless - that RIM's got serious competition here. The handset isn't exactly all that and a piece of cake, but it's definitely up there, at least for enterprise customers. Read on for the full, unbiased Android Police review to find out what makes it so special.

Hardware Overview

Specs

Before I proceed with the review, let's recap the Droid Pro's specs:

3.1-inch HVGA (320x480) LCD display
1GHz TI OMAP 3620-1000 processor
1420 mAh battery
512MB of RAM; 2GB of ROM
2GB microSD card out of the box with support for cards of up to 32GB in capacity
800/1900 CDMA EVDO Rev.

Nov

Ready For Black Friday? Verizon Discounting Plans, US Cellular Offering Cheap Phones Galore

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in News, US Cellular, Verizon Wireless

Now that everyone and their cousin's friend are preparing for Thanksgiving and the national shopping day that follows (Black Friday), we're starting to see some great deals popping up, especially from carriers looking to sway over new customers.

One such carrier, US Cellular, announced today that it will be offering "door-busting" bargains on all four of its Android phones in celebration of Black Friday, beginning November 22 and ending on the 29th. Their deals aren't really mind-blowing in comparison with some of Wirefly's recent deals, but they're quite a bit cheaper than US Cellular's regular prices:

Samsung Mesmerize - $99.99 after an $80 mail-in-rebate
HTC Desire (see our review here) - $49.99 after an $80 mail-in-rebate
LG Apex - $0.00 after an $80 mail-in-rebate
Samsung Acclaim - $0.00 after an $80 mail-in-rebate

In related news, Verizon Wireless will be rewarding customers who add a new 3G smartphone to their existing plans by subtracting $9.99 from their monthly bill, the same cost as adding a line.

Nov

Motorola Droid Pro Now Available From Verizon For $179.99, Amazon For $150, Wirefly For Only $50

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Droid Pro, Motorola, News, Verizon Wireless

The Motorola Droid Pro, Android's first real answer to Blackberry candybar style phones with a full QWERTY keyboard, is now available across the web and in VZW's retail stores.

You can view our unboxing and first impressions of the Droid Pro over here or skip over to the specs to help you make your decision:

CDMA/GSM/UMTS bands
HVGA 320×480 3.1" capacitive display with medium pixel density (160dpi)
TI OMAP 3620 1GHz CPU
512 MB RAM
2GB ROM
1GB built-in storage
5MP dual LED flash with auto focus
802.11 b/g/n WiFi
candybar form factor with a full QWERTY keyboard
Android 2.2
1420 mAh battery

Get Your Hands On One

If you want to buy the Pro directly from Verizon Wireless, you're going to be faced with $280 + taxes - a $100 mail-in rebate, which, in my opinion, is a very sub-par option.

Nov

Eco-Friendly Motorola Citrus Launching Today On VZW For $50AR, Amazon And Wirefly For Free

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Citrus, Motorola, News, Verizon Wireless

Motorola Citrus, Verizon's newest Android phone that is launching today, won't be turning many heads - it's as budget as it gets. If you remember the specs, it has Android 2.1 (update: no MOTOBLUR on this phone - thanks, Laclyn; however, it's still not entirely stock 2.1 - the launcher and widgets look like MOTOBLUR), a tiny 3" 320x240px screen, and a 3MP camera - it is surprising that Verizon dares charge anything, let alone $50 after a $100 rebate. Add Bing, which now replaces Google search on all Verizon Android phones, and you really have to wonder why anyone would go for something this low-end.