Verizon Wireless Brings 4G LTE To Nine More Cities.

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Verizon Wireless is bringing their 4G LTE wireless network to nine additional metropolitan areas today, as well as expanding the 4G LTE network in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans and Philadelphia. The wireless leader announced today the 4G LTE network is now available in Mobile and Montgomery Ala.; Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.; Gainesville, Pensacola and Tallahassee, Fla.; Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.; and Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen, Texas.
 “We’re now offering consumers and businesses in 55 metropolitan areas the most advanced 4G wireless network on the planet, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast. We plan to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to our entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013.” said David Small, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless.
With the faster network coming up, users have several devices to access the blazingly fast speeds of the 4G LTE network. These include the newly-launched DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt™ by HTC smartphones, MiFi® 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot. Laptop users can enjoy speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network with three USB modems from Novatel, Pantech and LG. In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
When customers travel outside of a 4G coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.


Via Engadget

Skype Available On Verizon Vireless Palm Pre 2

Skype Available On Palm Pre 2 http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Skype just announced that it's service is available on  the Palm Pre 2 from Verizon Wireless.

To get Skype on your Palm Pre 2 from Verizon Wireless, visit skype.com/m on to find out how to get started.

Verizon's Unlimited Data Plan Has A Throttle! At Least For Top 5% Of Data Customers.

Verizon's Unlimited Data Plan Has A Throttle! http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
If you were thinking of believing Verizon and it's unlimited data plans, you are in for a surprise. Just keeping the American entrepreneurship alive, Verizon is following Henry Ford. Just like Mr. Ford said, that you could have any color as long as it is black, Verizon is telling you can have unlimited data, as long it below the limits we set. Well you might fall in to this group of users, so check it.

Verizon Wireless strives to provide customers the best experience when using our network, a shared resource among tens of millions of customers. To help achieve this, if you use an extraordinary amount of data and fall within the top 5% of Verizon Wireless data users we may reduce your data throughput speeds periodically for the remainder of your then current and immediately following billing cycle to ensure high quality network performance for other users at locations and times of peak demand. Our proactive management of the Verizon Wireless network is designed to ensure that the remaining 95% of data customers aren’t negatively affected by the inordinate data consumption of just a few users

Well, at least AT&T don't have to worry because at least their existing customers now will think twice before running to Verizon because for old customers, AT&T is still giving unlimited data, at least for now. New customer, it does not make much of a difference, which network they are attached to, Verizon and AT&T both have limits on data usage.
Memo also mentions of other measures Verizon Wireless is taking, to make Verizon Experience, less painful.

Verizon PDF Memo via BGR

ISIS, A National Mobile Commerce Network From AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless,

#ISIS, #Paywithisis A National Mobile Commerce Network From AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Wireless big boys have come together to make a financial network, where you could make payments with your phone and and pay to your phone company, like Japanese customers have been doing for ages. The payments are made via a contactless mobile payment and commerce services using near-field communication technology. NFC uses short-range, high frequency wireless technology to enable the encrypted exchange of information between devices at a short distance. The system is not out of the woods yet but big honchos say it is being designed to include strong security and privacy safeguards.
Once the network and the system is ready, Barclaycard US, part of Barclays PLC, is expected to be the first issuer on the network, offering multiple mobile payment products to meet the needs of every customer.
“We believe the venture will have the scope and scale necessary to introduce mobile commerce on a broad basis. In the beginning, we intend to fully utilize Discover’s national payment infrastructure as well as Barclaycard’s expertise in contactless and mobile payments, Moving forward, Isis will be available to all interested merchants, banks and mobile carriers.” said Michael Abbott the Chief Executive Officer of Isis.
Following is the press release and visit Paywithisis to find more information. I wonder how VISA missed this! Link after the jump.

NEW YORK, NY — AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless today announced the formation of a joint venture chartered with building ISIS™, a national mobile commerce network that aims to fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save.
Isis’ initial focus will be on building a mobile payment network that utilizes mobile phones to make point-of-sale purchases. By utilizing smartphone and near-field communication (NFC) technology to modernize the payments process, Isis intends to deliver new levels of competition and value to consumers and merchants. Isis expects to introduce its service in key geographic markets during the next 18 months.
Michael Abbott has been named as Chief Executive Officer of Isis. Formerly with GE Capital, Abbott is a veteran financial services executive with extensive experience in the payment and technology industries.
“Our mobile commerce network, through relationships with merchants, will provide an enhanced, more convenient, more personalized shopping experience for consumers,” said Michael Abbott, Chief Executive Officer of Isis. “While mobile payments will be at the core of our offering, it is only the start. We plan to create a mobile wallet that ultimately eliminates the need for consumers to carry cash, credit and debit cards, reward cards, coupons, tickets and transit passes.”
Isis Brings Both Consumer and Merchant Scale
Founding members, AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, collectively provide wireless services to more than 200 million consumers who will have access to the Isis service. Isis is working with Discover Financial Services’ payment network, currently accepted at more than seven million merchant locations nationwide, to develop an extensive mobile payment infrastructure for the joint venture.
Barclaycard US, part of Barclays PLC, is expected to be the first issuer on the network, offering multiple mobile payment products to meet the needs of every customer.
“We believe the venture will have the scope and scale necessary to introduce mobile commerce on a broad basis. In the beginning, we intend to fully utilize Discover’s national payment infrastructure as well as Barclaycard’s expertise in contactless and mobile payments,” said Abbott. “Moving forward, Isis will be available to all interested merchants, banks and mobile carriers.”
How It Works
The new venture will enable contactless mobile payment and commerce services using near-field communication technology. NFC uses short-range, high frequency wireless technology to enable the encrypted exchange of information between devices at a short distance. The new system is being designed and built to include strong security and privacy safeguards.
About Isis
The joint venture is between AT&T Mobility LLC, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless and is based in New York City. The venture is chartered with building ISIS™, a national mobile commerce network that will fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save. The Isis mobile commerce network will be available to all merchants, banks and mobile carriers. ISIS is a trademark of JVL Ventures, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos, product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

www.paywithisis.com

Verizon Will Pay Up To $90 Million In Refunds.

#Verizon Will Pay Up To $90 Million In Refunds. http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Verizon announced today that it will refund up $90 million, one of the largest ever customer refunds by a telephony carrier.
The announcement came after Verizon Wireless held talks with FCC regarding customer complaints of unauthorized charges related to customers without data plans but accessed the internet with capable phones, costing one or more of $1.99 access charges.
Customers will receive $2 to $6 credits in their October or November bills. For former customers, it will be a check.
“These customers would normally have been billed at the standard rate of $1.99 per megabyte for any data they chose to access from their phones, The majority of the data sessions involved minor data exchanges caused by software built into their phones; others involved accessing the Web, which should not have incurred charges. We have addressed these issues to avoid unintended data charges in the future.” Verizon has stated.
But customers and media have informed Verizon over and over regarding these charges and did not pay attention to complaints until FCC began a formal investigation in to the unauthorized charges in January. 
Regarding the refunds, FCC did not seem to be considering it is the end, “gratified to see the repayment, but for millions of Americans it’s a day late and a $1.99 short.Getting consumers repaid is just the first step; ensuring this doesn’t happen again comes next,” Michele Ellison, the chief of the FCC enforcement bureau, said in a statement.
Some of the complaints are recorded on The Times’s David Pogue's blog. 
Verizon Wireless Statement;

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — OFFICIAL STATEMENT. 

May be attributed to Mary Coyne, Deputy General Counsel, Verizon Wireless:

Verizon Wireless values our customer relationships and we always want to do the right thing for our customers.

In October and November, we are notifying about 15 million customers, through their regular bill messages, that we are applying credits to their accounts due to mistaken past data charges. We will mail former customers refund checks. In most cases, these credits are in the $2 to $6 range; some will receive larger credits or refunds.

As we reviewed customer accounts, we discovered that over the past several years approximately 15 million customers who did not have data plans were billed for data sessions on their phones that they did not initiate. These customers would normally have been billed at the standard rate of $1.99 per megabyte for any data they chose to access from their phones. The majority of the data sessions involved minor data exchanges caused by software built into their phones; others involved accessing the web, which should not have incurred charges. We have addressed these issues to avoid unintended data charges in the future.

Verizon Wireless issues credits to customers from time to time based on regular review and monitoring. When we identify errors, we remedy them as quickly as possible. Our goal is to maintain our customers’ trust and ensure they receive the best experience possible.

V CAST For Droids, Yes Droids Do Video Now For $10

Droids Do Video http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Verizon is offering V-Cast on Android based Droid for $10 a month. If you are a Video / TV or sports Buff, this one way to make sure you can watch everything, from where ever you are. It is bit pricey but I am an ardent Soccer fan and I am really looking forward to 2010 FIFA World Cup. There is no way I can watch all the matches on TV and I am really wondering if the extra $10 is worth. Guessing from all the stuff I spent on caps, jerseys and an ticket to South Africa, another $10 might not matter. According to Verizon there are more than 230 full length programs from 40 providers.
V CAST for for Droids could be found in the Verizon channel in Android Market and will run on Droid Incredible, Droid, Droid Eris, Devour from Motorola and Ally from LG. Looks pretty blue to me!

Press release by Verizon

06/07/2010

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — DROID doesn’t compromise on entertainment, and watching popular television shows and sporting events just got easier for Verizon Wireless smartphone customers. Verizon Wireless said today that V CAST Video is now available on the company’s impressive family of Android smartphones.
Univision Interactive Media will provide live streams of all 64 of its Spanish-language broadcasts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer matches from South Africa exclusively to V CAST Video customers’ mobile devices. The soccer tournament is just one of hundreds of live sporting events – including college football, college basketball and NHL Hockey – available on V CAST Video throughout the year.
With V CAST Video, Android customers can now enjoy a wide variety of top-rated entertainment, news and sports programs on demand, whenever they want on the large screens on their smartphones. V CAST Video recently added programming from AETN, including A&E, Lifetime and History, and Spanish-language content from V-me. V CAST Video currently features more than 230 full-length programs from more than 40 leading providers.
Beginning today, V CAST Video can be found in the Verizon Channel in Android Market™ on all Android smartphones from Verizon Wireless: DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS™ by HTC, Motorola DEVOUR™, DROID Incredible by HTC and LG Ally™. V CAST Video on Android devices is available for a $10 monthly subscription in addition to a smartphone data plan.
For more information about V CAST Video, including how to subscribe, visit www.verizonwireless.com/vcast.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Verizonwireless

AT&T Loses Injunction Against Verizon Ad, Offers It's Own Ad

AT&T vs Verizon snapvoip.blogspot.com

Credit: Verizon

You can't call them droid wars but AT&T seems to be pissed off about Verizon ads. Now that an Atlanta Judge has ruled against AT&T in the lawsuit for an injunction against Verizon’s “There’s A Map for That” ad campaign. The court will hear the arguments again on December 16th and I guess by then ads might have done what the meant. It might be better for AT&T to start it's own campaign, "Best 3G experience over a EDGE network" or something,
Oh yes, they have done that;

Palm Pre "Will" Come To Verizon

Palm Pre at Verizon snapvoip.blogspot.com
Chucking the analysts who claimed that Verizon is going to pass on the Palm Pre, Verizon, yesterday confirmed that Palm Pre will come to Verizon early next year.

Are you guys ever gonna get the Palm Pre / Pixi? lanvuch

We will be carrying the Palm Pre smartphone early next year! VZWOfferes

HTC Touch Pro 2 For $200 From Verizon Wireless

HTC Touch Pro 2
Verizon and HTC Corporation has introduceed HTC Touch Pro 2 for $199.99 with a two year contract and will be able to order it form this Friday.
Score of people were awaiting the HTC Touch Pro 2 with it's social media and other capabilities that were targeted towards business users. The Touch pro features touch screen coupled with a slide out keyboard. It also carry the famous TouchFLO 3D user interface.

Following is the press release from Verizon;
BASKING RIDGE, NJ, and BELLEVUE, Wash.  — Verizon Wireless and HTC Corporation introduce the HTC Touch Pro2™, a global-capable smartphone designed for the busiest professionals and world travelers. The HTC Touch Pro2 features an extra-large 3.6-inch touch screen that tilts to an optimal viewing angle, an ergonomic slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and an advanced speakerphone with asymmetric speakers and advanced noise suppression to deliver customers a robust productivity experience. Created with the intuitive TouchFLO 3D user interface, data on the HTC Touch Pro2 can be easily accessed with just the touch of a finger.

Available color: Black

Key specifications and features:

    * High-speed connectivity over Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband network (1x/EV-DO Revision A 800/1900 MHz)
    * Global connectivity to allow customers to access e-mail and data in more than 180 destinations and to use the phone for voice calling in more than 220 destinations (GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz WCDMA/HSPA 2100 MHz)
    * Wi-Fi capabilities (802.11 b/g)
    * 3.6 inch WVGA resolution (480 x 800) tilting touch screen
    * Advanced speakerphone with noise-cancelling technology
    * 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera with video capture
    * Touch-sensitive zoom bar
    * Seamless connectivity with Microsoft® Exchange, Outlook and Office applications with Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
    * Bluetooth® 2.1 with EDR and A2DP stereo
    * Processor: Qualcomm MSM 7600A, 528 MHz
    * Memory: 512 MB ROM, 288 MB RAM
    * Dimensions: 4.57” x 2.33” x .68” (length x width x height)
    * Weight: 6.3 ounces (with standard battery)
    * Extended 1500 mAh battery for longer operation times
    * Up to 5.3 hours of talk time (CDMA) or up to 13.5 days of standby time (CDMA)

Lifestyle features:

    * Linked contact view delivers e-mail, text message, call history, and even Flickr images and Facebook® updates to a single location
    * Push Internet technology ensures that favorite Web sites are always ready for viewing at a moment’s notice
    * 3.5 mm audio jack and stereo Bluetooth support to enjoy multimedia content through a variety of audio equipment
    * Optional expandable microSD™ memory with up to 16 GB to store music, video, images, applications and other content
    * Built-in GPS for VZ Navigator(SM), VZ Navigator(SM) Global and other location-based services and applications

Price and availability:

    * The HTC Touch Pro2 will be available for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an e-mail feature or e-mail plan. 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.
    * Beginning Friday, customers can order the HTC Touch Pro2 online at www.verizonwireless.com, in business sales channels and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores. 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.

LG Versa Provides Versatility To Verizon Wireless Customers.

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Verizin and LG Electronics have announced the LG Versa to the masses and will be available from March 1st this year. The LG Versa comes with chrome border on a bar design, animated 3-inch touch screen interface with tactile feedback and an attachable QWERTY keypad.
But you and the phone become MVPs (Most Versatile Phone, the phone and Most Valuable Player, you!)
Following is the press release by Verizon Wireless

BASKING RIDGE, NJ, and SAN DIEGO — Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) announced today that the LG Versa™ will be available on the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless voice and data network beginning March 1. With its elegant chrome border on a bar design, animated 3-inch touch screen interface with tactile feedback and an attachable QWERTY keypad, the LG Versa will be an MVP (Most Versatile Phone) for customers.

Customers can personalize their LG Versa phones based on their messaging needs – either attach the QWERTY keypad to their phones or leave the keypad at home. The LG Versa’s home screen is transformed into a sizzling, animated 3D interface and customers can quickly customize three different home screens with their favorite shortcuts. The built-in accelerometer rotates the screen automatically from portrait to landscape, and customers can use rotation movements to steer games. The HTML Web browser includes Flash and RSS feed support, and customers can keep up to three windows open and switch from one window to the other to view pages.

Additionally, the phone comes packed with Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music with Rhapsody and V CAST Video services. V CAST Music with Rhapsody allows customers to choose from more than 5 million songs over-the-air, download the master copy of their songs to their PCs free of digital rights management (DRM) software and sync their favorite tracks, albums and playlists from their PCs to their LG Versa phones using the included USB cable. V CAST Video allows customers to download or stream video from the best names in news, sports, entertainment and more.

The LG Versa supports productivity tools – such as Visual Voice Mail so they can prioritize their messages – while Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator(SM) service transforms the phone into a navigation device at a fraction of the cost of most GPS systems. In addition, the LG Versa is compatible with Mobile Broadband Connect to allow customers to use their phones as a modem by linking their laptops to their phones to establish a broadband connection anywhere within Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband rate and coverage area.

Additional features and capabilities of the LG Versa include:

• Virtual QWERTY keypad
• 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder with autofocus, flash and image editor
  • SmartPic technology for improved image quality
  • Camera resolutions: 1600 x 1200 (default), 1280 x 960, 800 x 400, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 pixels
  • Face detection – automatically detect a face when taking a picture
  • Zoom: up to 2x
  • Image editor: zoom, rotate, crop, add frames and icons, and write over images
  • Video resolutions: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 176 x 144 pixels (default)
  • Video recording time: 30 seconds for sending or up to one hour for saving
  • Video player for WMV, MP4, 3GP, 3G2 formats
  • Customizable brightness, white balance, shutter sound, color effects, photometry, and self-timer
• Music Player –
  
  • Music player for .mp3, .wma, unprotected .aac and unprotected .aac+ formats
  • Multitask while playing music – hide player to send messages, edit contacts, and browse the Web
  • Create and manage playlists
  • Music Library – organized by artist, genre and album
  • Music Only Mode (RF off except Bluetooth®)
• microSD™ memory port with up to 16 GB support (16 GB card available in mid-March)
• USB Mass Storage – transfer files between microSD card and PC
• Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) –
  
  • Supported profiles: headset, hands-free (car kits), dial-up networking, stereo phonebook access, basic printing, object push (for vCard and vCal), file transfer, basic imaging, and human interface device
• Animated three-dimensional interface for home screens – customize up to three home screens with favorite features and applications
• Module home screen when QWERTY keypad is attached
• VZ Navigator-capable – get visual and audible directions to thousands of destinations, locate businesses and other points of interest, get maps of a location and share directions with others
• Chaperone® Child-capable – allows the LG Versa to have its location shared with family members via the Chaperone Web site, the Chaperone® Parent application or Child Zone® SMS alerts
• Chaperone® Parent-capable – with the Chaperone Parent application, customers can view location information or be notified of the whereabouts of the Chaperone Child phone
• Visual Voice Mail – delete, reply and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions
• Mobile Web-capable – customizable, enhanced wireless access to the latest in news, sports, weather and more
• Mobile Email – access MSN® Hotmail®, America Online® and Yahoo! ® accounts to exchange e-mail
• Media Center-capable – downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services and more
• Mobile IM using AIM®, MSN, Yahoo!
• Auto Screen and Key Lock – prevents unwanted key actions
• 2.5 mm headset jack
• Text, picture and video messaging
• Supports threaded messaging
• Personal organizer with calculator, EZ Tip Calculator, calendar, alarm clock, stopwatch, world clock, notepad, and drawing pad with character recognition
• Speakerphone and voice commands
• Bilingual interface – English and Spanish
• Phonebook with up to 1,000 entries with multiple contacts
• TTY/TDD-capable
• In Case of Emergency contacts
• Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA
• Data transmission: EV-DO Revision A (Rev. A)
• Dimensions: 4.16” (h) x 2.07” (w) x 0.54” (d)
• Weight: 3.81 ounces
• Hearing Aid Compatibility = M4/T4
• SAR: head 1.38 W/kg, body 0.764 W/kg
• LCD: 262K color TFT, 480 x 240 pixels, 3.0”
• Ambient light sensor controls the brightness on the LCD according to surrounding light
• Proximity sensor turns LCD off when a customer is placing a call on the LG Versa
• External LCD: monochrome OLED, 56 x 120 pixels, 0.94” (only available on the QWERTY keypad attachment)
• Standard battery: 1,100 mAh
• Usage time: up to 290 minutes or
• Standby time: up to 430 hours

Pricing
The LG Versa will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning March 1 for $199.99 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 get the most out of their LG Versa with Verizon Wireless’ Nationwide Premium calling plan. Starting at $79.99 monthly access, the Nationwide Premium calling plan includes unlimited messaging, VZ Navigator, Mobile Email and V CAST VPak, plus unlimited megabytes for Mobile Web and Media Center. Mobile Broadband Connect can be added to their plans for $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB, and Visual Voice Mail is available for $2.99 monthly access, per line, plus airtime or megabyte charges and messaging fees, depending on a customer’s plan.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Tags: LG Electronics, Verizon Wireless, LG Versa, Most Versatile Phone