Showing posts with label Verizon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Verizon. Show all posts

Verizon releases early data-focused LTE specs, CDMA nowhere in sight (0)

12:01 by Tung Tram , under

Verizon's got a lot of work to do before it lights up its next-gen LTE network in 2010, and things are beginning to move along: the company just released the first set of specs for device manufacturers as part of its Open Development Initiative. It's still a rough draft, but there are a few big-picture tidbits buried in the dense jargon -- the LTE network will start out as a data-only service, and right now devices aren't required to support CDMA at all, which is a pretty bold move. That certainly makes sense as Verizon's test networks go live in the next few months, but the company's has already said that phones will be available at launch, so we're guessing things are going to change quickly as time marches on -- 60Mbps mobile downloads, here we come.

Read - Verizon PR
Read - Specs site (registration required)




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Verizon chief talks LTE iPhones, hates on rival: "I don't know what Sprint thinks it is" (0)

12:01 by Tung Tram , under , ,


In a refreshingly open, straight-shooting interview with the Wall Street Journal, Verizon boss Ivan Seidenberg -- who has a reputation for being candid -- talked about virtually every hot-button topic facing its business today, starting with the love-hate relationship it shares with fellow partner Vodafone in its Verizon Wireless joint venture. Seidenberg reiterated that he'd love to take Vodafone's 45 percent off its hands, but admits that the prospects are unlikely in the short term; he goes on to say, though, that he's convinced they'll be willing to dump it once the wireless industry cools off. The next target of his ire is archrival Sprint, which he says will "self-destruct" by failing to meet capacity demand following the launch of the blowout $50 unlimited deal on its iDEN-based Boost subsidiary -- fightin' words from a guy whose ad campaign has revolved around a smug dork in a jumpsuit touting network reliability for half a decade. Finally -- and this is kind of juicy -- Ivan talks up the iPhone, saying that Apple had never seriously considered a CDMA version, but that he thinks the company will be much more receptive to talks once Big Red moves to LTE and everyone gets on the same page technologically. Of course, if AT&T has anything to say about it, it won't happen -- but it'll be a fun drama to watch unfold.

[Via Phone Scoop, image via I Can Has Cheezburger?]



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Verizon's BlackBerry Storms finally getting firmware update soon? (0)

12:00 by Tung Tram , under ,

We reported not long ago that Verizon had been planning to release 4.7.0.113 as its next official firmware update for the Storm, and now, PC World is reporting that it'll finally be dropping sometime int he next two weeks. Considering that other 9530 carriers have already rolled out post-113 builds to their customers, we can't help but wonder a couple things: first, whether 113 will still be the chosen release, and second, why RIM can't get all of these carriers on the same page. It seems a bit silly for Bell to have signed off on a recent build while Verizon's still hemming and hawing; realistically, Bell, Telus, and Verizon probably could've collaborated with RIM's assistance to get a more unified roll-out underway. In the meantime, Verizon's looking silly, slow, and out of touch.




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Nokia making a crazy Sidekick-esque phone for Verizon? (Update: looks like!) (0)

12:00 by Tung Tram , under ,

This rumor's got more holes than swiss, but stranger things have happened, so it'll be an interesting scoop to keep an eye on nonetheless. A tipster to Boy Genius Report claims that Nokia is working on a "swiveling E71-type handset" for -- get this -- Verizon, of all carriers, featuring a full QWERTY keyboard and running Series 40. Judging from the mockup here, that sorta puts it in the same vein as the Sidekick -- a form factor most carriers and manufacturers (especially Nokia) have avoided. Given that Espoo's still basically dipping its toes in the CDMA waters -- and the fact that a Verizon device running Series 40 proper seems implausible at best -- we're going to be shocked if this thing sees the light of day. Pleasantly surprised, yes, but still shocked.

Update: Since originally running this story, we've been contacted by a number of individuals who claim to have seen this phone in person; Boy Genius Report also emphatically defends the rumors legitimacy, so we're more inclined to think it's real. (Of course, that doesn't make it any less crazy.)



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Nokia making a crazy Sidekick-esque phone for Verizon? (0)

15:00 by Tung Tram , under ,

This rumor's got more holes than swiss, but stranger things have happened, so it'll be an interesting scoop to keep an eye on nonetheless. A tipster to Boy Genius Report claims that Nokia is working on a "swiveling E71-type handset" for -- get this -- Verizon, of all carriers, featuring a full QWERTY keyboard and running Series 40. Judging from the mockup here, that sorta puts it in the same vein as the Sidekick -- a form factor most carriers and manufacturers (especially Nokia) have avoided. Given that Espoo's still basically dipping its toes in the CDMA waters -- and the fact that a Verizon device running Series 40 proper seems implausible at best -- we're going to be shocked if this thing sees the light of day. Pleasantly surprised, yes, but still shocked.



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Verizon netbook webinars starting soon -- launches imminent? (0)

12:00 by Tung Tram , under


We've known for months now that Verizon was looking to add WWAN-enabled netbooks to its growing repertoire of devices, and now it looks like hard facts are about to flow. An internal Verizon Wireless announcement has informed employees that managers will be required to attend a sure-to-be-invigorating netbook webinar to explain to them exactly what these not-at-all-recognized machines are. The lower level folks will have to suffer through the same slide deck a few days later, which leads us to believe that the carrier is just hours, days or millenniums away from spilling more details about this whole initiative. Can we offer a pinch of advice, VZW? Subsidize 'em deep, offer more than two and cut the asking price on your HTC Touch Diamond by at least 50 percent.

[Thanks, Anonymous]



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Verizon's Casio Exilim C721 confirmed in the middle of a steamy shower scene (0)

21:00 by Tung Tram , under

Wanted our attention, Casio? Well, good, because you've definitely got it. This isn't necessarily full disclosure of the phone's existence, but for all practical purposes, this... uh, "promotional video" finally fesses up that the Exilim C721 is coming to Verizon (you can catch a glimpse of the carrier's logo if you look closely -- no, not that closely, you sicko). As you might have gathered, our ladyfriend here is using the phone's 5 megapixel cam to snap some naughty shots for her sweetheart, all from the comfort of a warm shower -- thanks in no small part to the phone's water-resistant characteristics. Still no word on pricing, availability, or a full rundown of specs, so in the meantime we're going to be... you know, looping this looking for details. Catch the video after the break.

[Via Gearlog]





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HTC Touch Diamond lands tomorrow on Verizon: $299.99 on contract (0)

09:00 by Tung Tram , under ,


It seems the rumblings and rumors were true -- every last one of them. HTC's now-aged Touch Diamond is indeed hitting Verizon Wireless this month, bringing with it the same 2.76-inch touchscreen, 3.2 megapixel camera, TouchFLO interface and Windows Mobile 6.1 OS that we've seen ad nauseum on carriers around the world (though it does boast a microSD card slot). We're pretty baffled by the immensely large $299.99 on-contract sticker (after $70 mail-in rebate), and honestly, we just don't see VZW moving too many of these before a price drop. In fact, are you even giving this a second thought?

Gallery: HTC Touch Diamond lands tomorrow on Verizon: $299.99 on contract




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Verizon's Exilim C721 pictured once again, still not official (0)

09:00 by Tung Tram , under

We'd totally expected the long-rumored C721 to bow at CTIA last week (come to think of it, those guys had a pretty weak show all told), but alas, we're still waiting for some sort of confirmation that the thing even exists. The 5 megapixel cameraphone -- which gets blessed with Casio's Exilim branding on account of its relatively serious shooting power -- has now popped up over at BuyWirelessNow under the PCD heading, suggesting that the company will be brokering the deal between Casio and Verizon for the new model as it has done in the past. It's a slightly clearer picture of the phone than we've managed to see in the past, but seriously, it's just five megapixels, guys -- let's get this one out before eight becomes the norm, yeah?

[Via Phone Arena]



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Verizon to begin selling HTC Touch Diamond tomorrow (0)

09:00 by Tung Tram , under ,

It’s not like we didn’t expect this to happen, but it sure took long enough. Starting tomorrow, Verizon will begin offering the HTC Touch Diamond in all black for a whopping $300 after a $70 MIR.

· Brilliant 2.76-inch touch screen display for navigating Web pages on the built-in Opera browser

· 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera

· microSD™ card slot that can support up to 16 GB of memory for extra storage of pictures, videos and music

· Customers can choose either the familiar Windows Mobile® home screen or the intuitive HTC TouchFLO™ 3D user interface

· Supports the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional platform and integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Office applications


by Peter Ha on April 9, 2009



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WiFi-equipped BlackBerry Storm 2 coming to Verizon in September? (0)

18:00 by Tung Tram , under ,


Looks like you might be able to cross at least one bullet point off of your Storm 2 wishlist. According to unnamed source who SlashGear swears is the bee's knees, the successor to BlackBerry's touchscreen smartphone will add WiFi support for faster home / coffee shop web browsing. The informant hinted there's other surprises on the horizon but wouldn't give specifics, so for now you'll just have to keep dreaming about that SurePress touchscreen that doesn't slow down your texting. As for when we should expect the sequel, the report pointed to a release sometime in September on Verizon's network.



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Verizon enV3 spotted by Mssr. Blurrycam (0)

09:43 by Tung Tram , under


Doesn't look like LG and Verizon are taking any radical steps with the next generation of the popular enV line -- these snaps of the enV3 just leaked out, and at first glance it looks basically the same as the enV2. There are some differences, though: the numeric keypad is a bit more stylish, the QWERTY layout's been tweaked, and the camera's been bumped up to 3 megapixels. That's all we can spot here -- we'll see if there are any other deep surprises if and when this puppy's announced. One more pic after the break.

[Via PhoneArena]





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Sierra Wireless intros USB 598 modem through Verizon's open network initiative (0)

02:12 by Tung Tram , under

Generally when you think of a CDMA data card -- well, any data card, for that matter -- you think of a branded product that you purchase through your carrier at some seemingly random price that lies somewhere between "free" and "too much" after you've agreed to spend the next two years of your life dealing with 5GB caps, bankruptcy-inducing global roaming charges, and the occasional ill-timed failure during a liveblog (okay, maybe that last part is just us). Verizon promised great things through the opening of its network to all comers, though, and Sierra Wireless is taking full advantage with the introduction of its USB 598 stick fully certified for use on Verizon's spectrum. Because the device isn't offered through Verizon, you're welcome to purchase it through any number of retailers (including Sierra Wireless' own online store) without having a single contract document presented to you, and when you get it activated, you'll be enjoying EV-DO Rev. A speeds just like everybody else. It retails for $199 -- just remember not to bother looking for it in your local Big Red shop.



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Verizon MiFi 2200 EVDO hotspot leaks out, will sell like Canadian bananas (0)

03:28 by Tung Tram , under


It's not quite as sexy as the brushed aluminum version we saw back in December, but these leaked images showing a Verizon-branded Novatel MiFi 2200 personal hotspot are certainly enough to get the blood pumping. If you don't recall the concept, the MiFi is a battery-powered EVDO router the size of a credit card that can provide network access over WiFi for up to four hours on a charge. There's still a lot of details up in the air here, like how many devices can connect at once and the max data rate, but if this thing comes in anywhere close to its estimated $200 price tag we'd say a lot of those answers might not matter. Couple more pics at the read link.



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Verizon counting on build 113 for its next Storm firmware release, changelog leaked (0)

03:28 by Tung Tram , under

We've been able to confirm that Verizon currently plans to release version 4.7.0.113 as its next official Storm firmware build -- about time, considering that the last (and only) official upgrade came some four months ago while a countless flurry of interim builds have whizzed by on the interwebs. It gets better, though: we've also scored an official list of fixes and enhancements in 113, which we've broken down after the break. A word of warning: it's a massive, massive list. Read on!



  • Fixed bug where Mute and End buttons would work incorrectly while using an A2DP headset on a call.
  • Fixed bug that caused display to briefly show small, multi-colored dots across the entire screen.
  • Fixed bug that could cause a white bar to display on the screen.
  • Fixed bug that could cause custom ringtones to play even when phone is set to vibrate.
  • Fixed bug where pictures taken in landscape mode and sent could show in portrait.
  • Fixed rare bug causing notifications not to show for incoming text messages.
  • Fixed bug causing call timer to intermittently show incorrectly.
  • Fixed bug causing an error and possibly display issues when more than 40 items are present in the call log.
  • Fixed rare bug where multitap keypad could behave like SureType keypad.
  • Fixed bug where if a music artist is deleted from the phone, the artist's tracks could still show.
  • Fixed bug preventing renaming of file extensions on music playlists.
  • Fixed bug causing choppy audio playback on downloaded WMA files.
  • Fixed rare bug where phone could reset while recording a video for MMS attachment.
  • Fixed bug that could cause the device to stop responding and display an error when pausing a video recording.
  • Fixed bug that prevented the backlight from timing out while playing streamed video content.
  • Fixed bug with display of track names containing periods.
  • Reduced amount of time it takes to begin playing MP3 files.
  • Fixed bug that could cause viewfinder to not display correctly when camera is started in portrait mode and quickly flipped to landscape.
  • Fixed bug that occasionally caused screen to briefly show white after taking a picture.
  • Fixed rare bug that caused phone to reset when taking a picture with image stabilization and white board effect enabled.
  • Fixed rare bug where camera application would remain open after user had closed it.
  • Fixed rare bug where camera application would start without being commanded to do so.
  • Fixed bug that could cause phone to go to EV-DO after an automatic reset when it is in 1X-only mode.
  • Improved capability in auto off/on functionality for connecting to wireless networks when turning back on.
  • Enhanced system to ensure OTA updates continue if media card is removed.
  • Added Arabic language support.
  • Added full support for English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish in the East Asia language pack.
  • Added rendering support for Indonesian Bahasa, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
  • Added "Go" buttons next to address and search fields in the browser and search application respectively.
  • Added Phone icon to home screen.
  • Removed Call Log icon in Applications folder.
  • Device can now be upgraded OTA using either internal memory or a media card.
  • Improved volume consistency across applications and calls.
  • Fixed rare bug to prevent uncommanded scrolling of text.
  • Improved speed when composing messages.
  • Improved speed in Calendar application when selecting "go to date".
  • Fixed bugs to ensure Application Permission screen is always correctly displayed.
  • Fixed various bugs causing device resets.
  • Fixed rare bug causing device to freeze while using Voice Dial.
  • Improved accuracy of signal strength meter.
  • Fixed rare bug where phone could lose data connectivity.
  • Fixed bug to ensure new languages can always be added.
  • Fixed bug to ensure phone always vibrates and beeps for incoming text messages when it is set to do so.
  • Fixed bug that could cause device to not allow text messages to be sent to numbers in the Frequently Dialed Number list.
  • Fixes to make sure emails are always displayed correctly.
  • Fixed bugs that could cause static on phone calls.
  • Fixed bug that could prevent audio from routing through a Bluetooth headset when using speed dial.
  • Enhancements to ensure that phone features are not accidentally accessed when phone is held up to ear.
  • Fixed bug to ensure holding down the 1 button always triggers voicemail.
  • Fixed bug that could prevent .odf files stored on media cards from playing correctly.
  • Fixed bug that could inform the user they don't have rights to play music when the message is not necessary.
  • Fixed bug causing popping noises in downloaded songs.
  • Improved display of files saved on media cards in all applications.
  • Fixed bugs preventing creation and opening of playlists in some circumstances.
  • Fixed bug that could prevent access to the Music Library from the Options menu in the media player.
  • Improved support for streaming video content whose URLs are longer than 512 characters.
  • Fixed bug preventing correct display of streaming video content sent in a text message.
  • Improved accuracy of progress bars displayed when downloading files.
  • Fixed bugs preventing preview of songs when using V CAST Rhapsody.
  • Fixed bugs preventing playback of video recorded on the phone.
  • Improvements to prevent intermittent error messages displayed in the media player.
  • Sped up display of pictures.
  • Fixed bug that could cause pictures to display at the wrong resolution.
  • Fixed rare bug causing device to lock while typing.
  • Fixed bugs involving incorrect display of keyboard.
  • Made sure device remains in portrait mode while being unlocked in portrait mode.
  • Full QWERTY keyboard now available in portrait mode.
  • Improved performance and stability with pre-loaded games.
  • Fixed bug causing Incoming Call screen to not show when user is in some applications.
  • Fixed bug that could prevent LED indicator from turning on when device is charged.
  • Fixed bug causing Enterprise Activation screen to show after activation is complete.
  • Improved display rotation speed while viewing contacts.
  • Improved data call setup when switching wireless technologies.



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Verizon-branded MiFi 2200 leaks out (0)

19:59 by Tung Tram , under

picture-15

It’s definitely not the first time we’ve seen the Novatel MiFi, or even the second - but they can keep cranking these things out in all sorts of different flavors and we wouldn’t mind a bit. A few weeks back, we found out that Sprint would be getting a MiFi of their own sometime in the next 3 months, and this latest leak indicates that Verizon will be getting one as well. No date is mentioned - but with CTIA 09 but a night or two away, we’d wager that an announcement is looming.

Here’s the concept, if you’ve missed our past blabbers on it: It’s essentially a battery-operated, 3G-powered WiFi router. Push a button, bam - it’s now a WiFi hotspot, fueled by the 3G network of whatever carrier’s SIM you’ve got inside. No dealing with cables or flaky tethering apps. It’s a blogger’s dream toy. Both times we messed with the MiFi were in environments that are generally absolutely horrible for such evaluations (the GSM model on an overloaded network, and the CDMA model in the basement of a hotel) - yet it performed spectacularly each time.

A few things are still unclear (EVDO Rev.A? Did Verizon lower the carrier-adjustable 5 person cap?). We just landed in Vegas - if our assumptions are correct and a VZW-branded MiFi is lurking around Sin City, we’ll have a hands-on up as soon as possible.

[Via PhoneArena]


by Greg Kumparak on March 30, 2009



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BlackBerry OS 4.5 on the way for Verizon's 8830 (0)

04:23 by Tung Tram , under ,

With the 9630 hopefully right around the corner, the BlackBerry 8830 should be gearing up to take its final curtain call -- but Verizon's not done supporting it just yet. Thankfully, we've been assured the device will be graced with an official upgrade to 4.5, up from the build of 4.2 that it's rocking right now. For what it's worth, Sprint has already released a 4.5 upgrade for its version of the 8830, so this should come as no big surprise -- they're just keeping up with the Joneses, as it were. Too bad they couldn't do it a little faster, though, eh?




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Verizon Alias2 leaks out, features dynamically changing button layout (0)

22:17 by Tung Tram , under



Verizon's original Alias U740 dual-hinge phone may not have rocked any worlds, but it was a clever attempt to provide the best of both a QWERTY keypad and a standard clamshell number pad in a single device -- and it sounds like the Alias 2 we're seeing leaked here improves on that concept by using dynamically-changing button labels to hammer home the mode switches. It's not clear what tech is being used to switch layouts -- there are some whispers that it's an E-Ink display, since the labels apparently remain even without power -- but given this phone's expected price point, we'll say we're expecting more along the lines of one of those segmented LCDs found in cheap universal remotes. In other words, garbage. Hopefully we'll be proven wrong at CTIA, we'll let you know. Slightly bigger pic after the break.




by Nilay Patel, posted Mar 25th 2009 at 7:16PM



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ITT sues Verizon, phone makers aplenty over GPS patent (0)

22:17 by Tung Tram , under

This one's pretty light on specifics at the moment, but it looks like manufacturing giant ITT Corp is none too happy with Verizon and a whole host of cellphone manufacturers including the likes of Motorola, Nokia, LG, and Kyocera, and it's now gone so far as to sue the whole lot over alleged patent infringement. Apparently, ITT thinks that the group of companies all violated one of its GPS patents that relates to position information being transmitted in urban areas with line-of-sight obstructions. As a result of that alleged wrong doing, ITT says it has been "irreparably harmed," and that it "has suffered, and will continue to suffer substantial damages." To remedy that situation, ITT is asking for a jury trial, unspecified royalties, and a permanent injunction against all of the defendants, although it is being kind enough to allow for an exemption for any activities necessary to support 911 emergency functions.

[Thanks, Joel]


by Donald Melanson, posted Mar 25th 2009 at 3:56PM



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Nokia Intrigue for Verizon hands-on (0)

22:16 by Tung Tram , under ,


Nokia isn't typically known for its virtually non-existent CDMA fare, but the situation's gotten better in the last year or so -- ostensibly to capitalize on Nokia's already commanding position in the Chinese market, but also possibly to help the boys and girls from Espoo win some points with Verizon ahead of the LTE migration. It's no secret that Nokia intends to invest big in LTE, and seeing how Verizon is one of the larger carriers in the world, it only stands to reason that manufacturers would be doing everything in their power right now to get in on the ground floor. To that end, Nokia has worked with Verizon to introduce the 2605 and 6205 in recent months, but let's be very honest -- they're forgettable devices with little to differentiate them from their countless competitors in the dog-eat-dog midrange. They're not phones that you aspire to own.

Enter the Intrigue. This is the phone has Nokia screaming "we do give a crap about CDMA" from the tops of the hills; a phone so good, so pretty, and so uncharacteristically Nokia for this market segment, that we're a little bewildered by the whole thing. Read on for our quick take.

Gallery: Nokia Intrigue for Verizon hands-on





So let's just get this out on the table upfront: the software on the Intrigue is Verizon through and through. If you were hoping for a stock Series 40 device, look elsewhere (and don't bother looking anywhere on Verizon's shelves). The status bar will be immediately recognized by anyone who owns a Verizon feature phone of the last several years -- right down to the divided EV / 1X signal strength meter. In a way, that's a shame, because the latest generations of Series 40 are really slick, capable platforms -- but this is Verizon we're talking about here, so we're not the least bit surprised to see any trace of it wiped from the Intrigue's silicon brain.



On the plus side, the Intrigue introduces something that Nokia and Verizon are calling "Habitat Mode," a pretty cool interactive contact-centric home screen. As the name sorta implies, Habitat Mode has an environmental theme (as does the rest of the phone -- more on that in a moment) with animated wallpapers that change over time and layered icons that represent contacts. As people call you -- and vice versa -- these icons are automatically created and float at random on the screen, representing a chronological history of your communication. By pressing the d-pad in the down direction, you can call up the icons and access complete call histories for each of them, delete them, and modify them. Useful? Not particularly, but a welcome break from the typical home screen monotony.



Back to the Intrigue's environmental tie-in: the companies are aggressively marketing this phone as eco-friendly. The box is seriously one of the smallest we've ever seen a phone come in -- even smaller that the Motorola Renew -- the default screen and keypad dimming is ultra-quick at just 7 seconds (many folks will want to adjust this), and the charger's specially designed to draw just tiny nibbles of electricity. Nokia has been on the forefront of pushing toward more Earth-conscious manufacturing and retail strategies the past couple of years, and we think some of the initiatives we're seeing with the Intrigue here probably represent the future of the way phones will be sold and operated.



In terms of usability, the Intrigue is at the top of its game -- especially considering how fashionable it is. Normally, usability and style are at loggerheads, but this one manages to balance the two pretty perfectly. The main display is bright and crisp, the keypad is amazingly usable and tactile considering that they're not "real" buttons, and the outer display is one of the largest, brightest, most useful secondary displays we've ever seen on a flip. The concealed OLED is frickin' huge -- it practically covers the entire surface of the phone -- and immediately below it you'll find illuminated, touch-sensitive music controls. Well done.



We're going to go ahead and make a bold statement here: this could very well be the best clamshell feature phone both Verizon and Nokia have ever released. Never mind the CDMA, never mind the regrettable lack of Series 40 -- the Intrigue rocks. It's extraordinarily comfortable and solid in the hand (we'd go so far to say that we want to touch it), it looks as great as it feels -- we'd definitely call it a premium design -- and if you can get past the normal Verizon firmware woes, the software's reasonably snappy and usable; if we had one complaint, it'd be that we'd like a couple more notches of volume on both the earpiece and the speakerphone, and a true 3.5mm headphone jack would've been a nice touch, too. That being said, look, Nokia: for the sake of the rest of the world, remix this bad boy with GSM, sell it unlocked with Series 40 and HSDPA, and you've got a serious device on your hands. Trust us.

by Chris Ziegler, posted Mar 25th 2009 at 1:00PM



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