Droid Life

Tag: 4G LTE

  • Verizon Possibly Axing $15 Data Plan

    I guess that $15 per month data package didn’t quite sell the way Verizon had hoped if we are to believe the screenshot above.  We aren’t all that surprised at this little guy going away though, since the 150MB it provided users with was pretty unrealistic from day 1.  With the way we all crush data these days, you could eclipse 150MB by watching a single high-quality video on YouTube in about 3 minutes.

    Oh, and we’re not covering the fact that the plans above reference “3G Smartphones.”  They’ve said that since at least October.  Obviously Big Red is preparing separate data plans for their 4G LTE phones like the HTC Thunderbolt, but this shouldn’t surprise anyone.

    Current plans pictured below.   (more…)

  • Rumor: Thunderbolt and Samsung 4G LTE Device Will Launch Last Week of February

    We’ve received word that helps confirm our assumption that the HTC Thunderbolt will launch in the last week of February, but what we didn’t expect is the idea that it could have a partner.  According to our sources, regional Verizon reps are confirming to their clients that the current schedule is to have both the unnamed Samsung 4G LTE device and the Thunderbolt out at the same time.  Marketing materials are starting to appear with these details and testers with both devices are reporting nothing but good things, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that there are no last minute delays.  Oh, we’ve also heard that the Samsung device will NOT come loaded with Bing, which we’re happy to hear as we were bracing ourselves for the worst.

    Cheers ___!

  • Yes, Verizon’s New Every Two Program has Come to an End

    This story seems to have popped up all over the place today, so we better touch on it even though it shouldn’t surprise any of the readers of this blog.  Back on January 4th, information was released to the blogworld detailing Verizon’s plans to axe their “New Every Two” program and replace it with a new 20-month renewal option starting on the 16th (2 days ago).  On that same day, we also received further information on this new upgrade policy, which included details on the cancellation of the 1-year upgrade program that was a part of the NE2 as well.  The news didn’t exactly provide the most up-beat of responses from our community, so we’ll make this quick.

    As you can see from the screenshot above which we grabbed from VZW’s FAQ, the program is definitely over.  There are a lot of past tense terms used followed by a “fulfilling 20 months of your two-year term” comment which sums it all up.  Sorry folks.

    Hello Best Buy’s Buy Back program and 1-year contracts!

  • HTC Thunderbolt Training Begins at Verizon

    The HTC Thunderbolt is getting closer than ever to an announced released date, and if this new training slide out of Verizon is an indication, we should be set for the late February/early March timeframe we’ve been talking about.  The TBolt will be the “first” for Big Red in a lot of categories including the ability to do voice and data at the same time, Skype video calls, and the new HTC Sense 2.0.  We absolutely loved this device at CES and can’t wait to get our paws all over it again.     (more…)

  • Pricing of Verizon 4G LTE Android Phones, What Can We Expect?

    When the HTC Thunderbolt is announced as the world’s first 4G LTE smartphone, would any of you be willing to pay more than the usual $199 subsidized 2-year contract price for it?  The reason I’m approaching this subject is the fact that Verizon put their four exclusive 4G LTE devices up in front of the world at CES just a couple of weeks ago, but was unwilling to mention pricing of any sort.  While this is standard procedure for any product release, we’re just wondering what a premium price tag would do to your willingness to have the best?

    We’re fully expecting an entire suite of non-4G LTE Android phones in 2011 from VZW that will all likely land at the $199 2-year contract price point, but what about the big dogs?  So far, competitors like Sprint and T-Mobile have left their “4G” devices at normal pricing aside from the Epic 4G who snuck in originally at $249, leading us to believe that Verizon could do the same, especially since we all know that Big Red likes to do things bigger and some times pricier than everyone else.

    Let’s also not forget about 4G LTE data plans which currently look like this:  5GB for $50 and 10GB for $80.  If those stand when smartphones start hitting the market, you’ll be paying what most would consider, insanely high prices for a block of data that you could easily surpass should you be any sort of an above average user.  Couple that with a potentially higher priced device and you are looking at quite the wireless bill.

    And then comes in the fact that Verizon is changing their upgrade policy by removing the “New Every 2” deal, leaving customers stuck with devices for at least 20 months.  Many of you have talked about only signing 1-year contracts going forward, but think about a 4G LTE device on that 1-year contract at a potentially increased price?  Shake things up a little bit?

    While we have zero confirmation that prices could jump to anything out of the ordinary, it’s just something we wanted to start up a conversation around.  How much are you willing to pay to have the best smartphone on the best new network?  Would you be into a $249 DROID BIONIC knowing that you would be stuck with it for 2 years?  What about $349 for a 1-year contract?  Questions, questions.

  • Verizon’s Initial 2011 4G LTE Market Cities

    During all of Verizon’s 4G LTE device madness, they walked through their plans for rolling out their new network to the rest of the country.  By the end of 2011, they are expecting to be in at least 140 markets and covering 2/3 of the U.S. once 2013 finishes up.  The overall goal is to have 4G LTE access in every single spot that they currently offer 3G service in.  Sounds brilliant, right?  Well other than the 38 cities that are currently offered, what can we expect in 2011?  If they plan to hit 140, they need to get going, right?

    Here is the list of cities expected to see an initial push…   (more…)

  • Verizon 4G LTE Phone Release Dates?

    The most popular question we’re seeing on Twitter each day is easily, “When is [insert 4G device] coming out?”  And even I’ll admit that it’s one of those topics I can’t get off my mind.  The four devices that Verizon announced at CES were all amazing and it’ll be tough for anyone to decide which is the one to have, but maybe these little bits of information that we’ve receive will help you decide when you can jump on them.

    (more…)

  • Monday Poll: Which Verizon 4G LTE Phone is Topping Your List?

    You knew we were going to ask didn’t you?  With Verizon dropping four 4G LTE devices on us last week, it was only a matter of time before we busted this question out to see which phone really impressed you.  I have a feeling that the DROID BIONIC and Thunderbolt will be leading the way, but the Revolution and unnamed Samsung device are no slouches.  So, which one are you dying to have?

    [poll id=”48″]