CrunchGear » Verizon

Video: Apple sees Verizon’s iDont campaign, raises them simultaneous voice-and-data

Greg Kumparak — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:24:57 +0000

DING! The school bell rings. Time for recess at Mobile Industry Elementary. Tension is high. During the last break, Verizon took a swing at that little Apple boy by pointing out all the things his toys could do that Apple's toys couldn't. The hallways erupted with a deafening "Ooooooooh!"; all of the kids began to form a circle around the two. "Fight, fight, fight, fight!" they clamored.

Verizon’s data network is having issues – is it working for you?

Greg Kumparak — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:58:17 +0000

We're not sure how wide spread it is, but I'm seeing a whole lot of reports that Verizon's 3G data network is down in various parts of the country. The majority of the reports seem to be coming out of the SF Bay Area and South Bay. While the handsets are reporting full 3G signal, no data seems to be piping in our out. Might the success of the Droid in the Silicon Valley have tipped things over, a la AT&T's iPhone woes?

Fever Pitch: It’s Droid Day, Enjoy The Moment.

Michael Arrington — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:26:14 +0000

If you are a tech lover, there is nothing quite like the launch day of a much hyped new gadget. Expectations run high. And since those expectations are rarely satisfied once you have the special little device in hand, it’s a moment to savor. In the hours before you own it, that device is perfect in every way. It will make you happier, a better person. There are no bugs, there are only features. It is whatever you want it to be. Launch day of a new cool gadget is the closest thing to being a kid again on Christmas day (or whatever your winter solstice holiday of choice). You’ve anticipated the day. You’ve called in sick to work. And you are standing out in the freezing cold at 7 in the morning, hoping your place in line assures you a device before the carefully-planned sell out occurs. You’ve worked yourself into…a Fever Pitch. I’ve always been let down with the real world gadget after that high of anticipation. But that’s ok. It’s part of the cycle of tech. Today is Droid day. In just a few hours Verizon stores will open and the first customers will get their hands on their very own Droid. And I promise you, if you are one of the people waiting in line, you will have a much lower than average amount of letdown. That’s because, in my humble opinion, the Droid is the coolest mobile phone to exist to date. It is as close as we’ve come to the Platonic ideal of a smartphone. It’s very existence ensures that the next iPhone will be even better than it otherwise would have been. Competition is good. Yes, this is an unabashed love letter to the Droid. If you want the dispassionate reviews, we’ve got em. And then some. That isn’t what this post is about.

Verizon jumps on prepaid data bandwagon

Doug Aamoth — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Oh pretty netbook lady, you go about your daily life with your face buried in the goings-on of your hectic corporate lifestyle, unwilling to avert your gaze from the tiny 10.1-inch screen that dictates your graceful movements for even a mere moment in time.

Look away, pretty netbook lady. Observe the world around you. I have a feeling that once you do, you may wonder how you ever let your life become about smart tweed jackets, tightly-pulled hairstyles, and monthly mobile data plans for the netbook that seems permanently attached to your delicate hand.

Take a step back from it all, pretty netbook lady. You don’t need to completely give up your corporate lifestyle, but it’s time for you to LIVE! damn it. LIVE! And in order for you to be able to immerse yourself back into the corporate world from time to time, Verizon now offers pre-paid wireless data plans for casual use.

Available in daily, weekly, and monthly increments, the plans aren’t cheap by any means. You’ll get 75MB for $15 (daily), $30 for 250MB (weekly), or 500MB for $50 (monthly) and Verizon will begin rolling out the service on November 15th, packaged with a USB modem for $130. You can afford it, pretty netbook lady. You can afford it.

Full press release:

Reliability Meets Flexibility With Prepaid Plans for Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband Service

Customers Can Choose From Daily, Weekly or Monthly High-Speed Internet

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ – Verizon Wireless today announced three new Mobile Broadband plans that will be added to the company’s Prepaid portfolio. Customers will be able to get speed when they need it on the Verizon Wireless 3G network with pay-as-you-go plans for daily, weekly or monthly access. The new Prepaid options are ideal for those who need access for occasional or seasonal use whether on vacation, enjoying a weekend getaway or for students away at school. Verizon Wireless gives customers the following service options:

Daily – $15 for 75 MB
Weekly – $30 for 250 MB
Monthly – $50 for 500 MB

Prepaid Mobile Broadband will be sold in a convenient grab-and-go package with the Verizon Wireless USB760 modem for $129.99. The USB760 comes with a high-performance internal antenna, removable memory of up to 8 GB and support for Windows® 2000, XP, Vista and Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or 10.5 (Leopard) or Linux. Prepaid Mobile Broadband will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning Nov. 15 and at select national retailers beginning Nov. 20.

Verizon to raise ETF to $350 on “advanced devices”

Matt Burns — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:45:47 +0000

Don't expect to scam Verizon on BOGO deals anymore, folks. The carrier is raising early termination fees on Novermber 15 to $350 for "advance devices" only. Clearly VZW is targeting users who were abusing the buy one get one free BlackBerry deals and those that figured out that it was cheaper cancel their current contract and pay the $175 ETF than to pay full retail for the hot new handsets like the Droid.

Sony VAIO P heading to Verizon for $300 with contract?

Doug Aamoth — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 +0000

This is still a rumor at this point, but Phone Arena is reporting that Verizon may soon be offering Sony’s 8-inch “not-a-netbook” VAIO P for $300 with a two-year data contract.

The model in question would apparently feature an 8-inch 1600×768 screen, Windows 7 Home Premium, 160GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, and a mobile data chipset capable of working all over the world. There’s no release date yet, and I wasn’t personally able to load up the product info on the Verizon page that Phone Arena links to but the site points out that Verizon may have more info this Thursday at a planned holiday line-up event in New York.

There’s also loose talk of a $100 mail-in rebate but it’s not clear whether that’d make the price $300 or if it’d be $300 out the door plus a $100 mail-in rebate. Given the VAIO P’s relatively high price tag, though, I’d plan on $300 and hope to be pleasantly surprised.

This is still a rumor, though. More info as we get it.

Sony VAIO P Series Netbook coming to Verizon [Phone Arena]

And now Verizon pushed Bing Mobile onto BlackBerry Storms

Matt Burns — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:20:02 +0000

Alright, Verizon, you're doing it wrong. Stop pushing apps onto my BlackBerry Storm. Within the last few months, YouTube, a Verizon-linked verizon of Slacker Radio, VZW Tones, and a V Cast Video app have been pushed to my phone. I thought that's what App World is for; you know, apps. But now a terrible mobile version of Bing was pushed onto my Storm. Seriously, stop it.

Hands-on video: The BlackBerry OS 5.0 update turns the Storm into an iPhone clone

Matt Burns — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:30:38 +0000

Verizon released the BlackBerry OS 5.0 update alongside the Storm2 launch date this morning. I just had to try it out as I had ranked the BlackBerry Storm as the worst phone ever made. I've only had the update loaded for about an hour so far, but everything seems slightly better including the reception, responsiveness, and the iPhone-like effects. I still don't like the phone but at least it seems usable now.

BlackBerry Storm2 to be out on October 28th if anyone cares

Matt Burns — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:57:31 +0000

Thank the cell phone gods. Verizon finally announced that the heavily leaked and previewed BlackBerry Storm2 will be available on October 28th for $179 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Let’s move on.

Play with the BlackBerry Storm 2 emulator at VerizonWireless.com

Matt Burns — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:30:42 +0000

Retail stores are finally getting in their Storm 2 dummy phones but those won't do you any good if you actually wanna use the phone's software. VZW has you covered though with a just-posted BlackBerry Storm 2 emulator that lets you click your way through the OS.

Verizon Stores & Best Buy have BlackBerry Storm 2 dummy units, launch imminent?

Matt Burns — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:13:28 +0000

We just got word that Verizon Stores are now receiving their BlackBerry Storm 2 dummy units and training is finally available for retail associates. All that should mean that the Storm 2's launch date is quickly approaching. November has been the target date for a while now, but with stores already prepping for the launch, availability will probably be early in the month.

The BlackBerry Storm 2 makes an appearance on Verizon’s website

Matt Burns — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:15 +0000

Besides the CEO touting the BlackBerry Storm 2 around for some impromptu demos, Verizon hasn’t exactly acknowledged the phone’s existence. There have been rumors that it’s because the Storm 2 still doesn’t live up to Verizon’s standards or it could simply be that Verizon doesn’t want to take the attention off of the Motorola Droid. Whatever the case maybe, the BlackBerry Storm 2 will probably be made official sometime real soon.

The Storm 2 is sort-of on VerizonWireless.com right now in fact. The phone doesn’t have a product page yet, but someone found the phone’s 3D demo page. So have it. Click over to VZW.com and give the phone a spin. You really don’t need to see a product page anyway, it’s not like you plan on buying the second incarnation of the worst phone ever made when the totally sick Motorola Droid will be available around the same time. At least I hope not.

[Verizon via BGR]

Mossberg and Vodafone spill all the beans on the BlackBerry Storm 2

Matt Burns — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:30:09 +0000

The BlackBerry 9520 Storm 2 has probably the best pre-release coverage of any cell phone in history. We've seen previews and videos and pictures and more videos of the upcoming cell phone for months. RIM and Verizon haven't released a thing about the phone yet though so some key details hadn't been revealed. That is, of course, until Walt Mossberg posted his Storm 2 review last night alongside the Motorola CLIQ review and Vodafone went live with its Storm 2 launch details this morning that happened to include all the phone's specs for good measure. God bless the Internet.

Verizon’s CEO has been rocking the Storm 2 for weeks, demoing it to employees

Matt Burns — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:14:09 +0000

The BlackBerry Storm 2 is no secret. We've known that a second generation touchscreen BlackBerry has been in the works for months. Actually it was probably RIM that "leaked" all the info in an effort to save face from the flop that is the original Storm. A NYT article quotes Verizon's CEO saying that he's been carrying the phone for weeks and been giving impromptu demos at Verizon Wireless retail outlets. Spoiler: employees like it.

Verizon and Google form strategic Android partnership

Matt Burns — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:01:14 +0000

We've seen a few different Android devices that seem to be VZW-bound over the last few weeks, but Verizon hasn't said anything about the handsets or platform until now. The company has a webcast scheduled for later today but released a preemptive press release that outlines the basics. Verizon and Google have formed a strategic partnership that will "leverage the Verizon Wireless network and the best of the Android open platform to deliver leading-edge mobile applications, services and devices." Apparently the new dream team has plans that involve co-developing several Android-based devices that will come pre-loaded with innovative applications from not only Verizon, but also 3rd-party developers.

Verizon to announce Moto Tao next week? Phone to drop Dec. 1?

Jeremy Kessel — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:15:04 +0000

First came the rumors. Then came the leaked images. And now, 3 all-knowing (conveniently unnamed) analysts have predicted that Verizon's long awaited foray into Android will happen some time next with the announcement of Motorola's Sholes/Tao smartphone. The timing seems feasible, especially considering that Motorola is holding a MOTODEV Android-related press event next Tuesday, October 6 (WinMo 6.5 who?).

Borders to offer free Wi-Fi

John Biggs — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:13:19 +0000

In an effort or “re-engage customers as a serious bookseller,” Borders is offering free Wi-Fi powered by Verizon in over 500 stores. Fair enough. Might be a nice little treat for those dudes who sit in the anime aisle reading book after book or the weird guy who is totally angry at the latest of Atlantic Monthly and willing to tell everyone about it near the cafe. It will, in short, make the Borders experience just that more varied and magical.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ — Borders Group (NYSE: BGP) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Verizon to provide free Wi-Fi service in virtually all of its more than 500 Borders stores nationwide. Borders and Verizon are well underway in the process of equipping stores to offer free Wi-Fi, with service expected to be available by mid-October.

“Re-engaging with customers as a serious bookseller is one of our strategic priorities,” said Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall. “By offering free Wi-Fi, we are extending the open atmosphere of exploration that is at the core of every great bookstore experience and furthering the sense of community we have always fostered at Borders.”

Verizon’s platform will allow Borders to create a splash page that customers first experience when they log on to the free Wi-Fi service, giving Borders the opportunity to feature compelling content such as news of hot titles, special discounts and the opportunity to join Borders Rewards((R)), the retailer’s free customer loyalty program that has 34 million members. Among other benefits, Borders Rewards members earn $5 in “Borders Bucks” for every $150 of annual qualifying purchases made both in store and at Borders.com.

This agreement builds on an existing relationship between Borders and Verizon that encompasses a number of advanced communications and IT services, including wide area networking and voice-over-IP services, Internet connectivity and e-commerce operations support.

Hilarious pic from ToothpasteforDinner

The Verizon Hub has been discontinued, try not to get upset

Matt Burns — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:30:03 +0000

Oh, the Verizon Hub. You came to the market just a few years too late. There was a time when a VoIP device with instant messaging capabilities would have been welcomed into the kitchens everywhere but that time was 2006 and not 2009. Now, that market has primarily moved onto full featured smartphones and somewhat killing the need for a home base type device. And so the Hub is no more. Verizon has official canceled the product.

It’s been a slow death. The Hub was pulled from VZW stores a few months ago and went online only. It’s kind of hard to sell suck a device without actually seeing it. And the $200 price plus $35 a month service charge probably didn’t help. Maybe if the hardware was free and all it cost was $35, Verizon would probably have moved more units. But it doesn’t matter anymore. The Hub is done. RIP.

Verizon to buy DirecTV? Analysts like the idea.

Matt Burns — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:30:08 +0000

Ever since the DirecTV’s CEO stepped down back in July, there has been talk about someone buying up the satellite TV provider. The latest analysis chatter states Verizon might pick up DirecTV to dramatically increase its marketshare overnight. The purchase would make Verizon second only to Comcast in subs when the DirecTV customer base is added to Verizon’s current FiOS subscribers and supercharge Verizon’s influence on the market.

All this talk started when Verizon’s CEO indicated that he wanted to “make video the company’s core product for its fixed-line business.” The Wall Street Journal then kindly points out the obvious that the best way to do that is to scoop up a satellite company. DirecTV would be the logical choice over Dish Network as it’s better performing and has a larger subscriber base.

Of course DirecTV or Verizon haven’t indicated that this is currently in the works, but the WSJ does have a point. Verizon’s fiber optic service, FiOS, is almost universally loved for its fast Internet, wide range of high-def stations and modest price. However, it’s been slow to roll out to new markets because fiber optic cable has to be ran to each home, which is a timely and costly endeavor. Verizon probably doesn’t have any plans to scale back its FiOS expansion plans, but it will take the company a while to be a national player at the current rate. Buying DirecTV – or Dish Network – is the fastest way to the top.

Verizon to offer subsidized 10.1-inch Gateway netbook for $150

Doug Aamoth — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Starting next Sunday, October 4th, you’ll be able to pick up the Gateway LT2016U through Verizon for $150 after a $100 mail-in rebate and with a two-year data plan. The machine will come preinstalled with a 3G Gobi chipset from Qualcomm, which will work here in the US and abroad as well.

The netbook’s specs include a 10.1-inch screen at 1024×600 resolution, 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, and Windows XP. These things sell new at Best Buy for around $300 without the 3G chips so you’re getting $150 off, plus the Gobi chip.

An unlimited data plan through Verizon will set you back $60 per month. You can also purchase the machine through Verizon for $319 with a one-year contract or for $499 with no contract.

[via Engadget]