There’s another waiting after the break.
[Via Engadget] Continue reading The Verizon iPhone is coming…let the marketing blitz begin
Tag Archives: Verizon
iPhone comes to Verizon at long last
The most frequently asked tech question since 2007: When will the iPhone come to Verizon? Four years and four device iterations later, Verizon and Apple have finally announced that the best smartphone has landed on the nation’s most reliable network. The iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon Wireless. The facts: On February 10 the iPhone 4 will be available for Verizon; $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB variant, new two-year contract required. It will be available to purchase VZW Stores, Apple Stores, online at their respective websites, and at Apple Authorized Resellers. Qualified Verizon Wireless customers will have the exclusive opportunity to preorder the iPhone 4 online on February 3, ahead of general availability; if you’re currently a VZW customer check your pricing eligibility here.
The iPhone 4 and iOS 4 coming to Verizon is essentially the exact same hardware and software that’s been available on AT&T. Here are the four differences: (1) The external antenna array has been slightly altered so that the device can properly run on Verizon’s CDMA network (as opposed to AT&T’s GSM network). The only aesthetic change is one extra black notch located above the silent switch; note that this notch pushes down the silent switch and volume buttons just a bit, so new cases will have to be manufactured to properly fit that. It’s too early to tell if the death grip issue has been totally resolved in the new device, but Apple’s Tim Cook is confident that “it’s going to work great.” (2) The VZW iPhone 4 will act as a mobile WiFi hotspot for up to five devices. Inside Settings users will have the option to switch on Personal Hotspot to share the phone’s Internet connection with other WiFi enabled devices including laptops and tablets. This new functionality is built into iOS 4.2.5, so there is a possibility it might carry over to AT&T’s version of the phone at some point. (3) Simultaneous voice and data is not supported on Verizon’s CDMA network, so new iPhone owners will not be able to access the Internet while making a call (or vice-versa); +1 for AT&T’s network which can simultaneously hold a voice/data connection. (4) No global roaming support; again, advantage AT&T. Full PR after the break.
And there you have it. The Verizon iPhone has finally made it to fruition. Now what should you do? If your current contract is up and you’re due for a new phone, I advise not to purchase the VZW iPhone 4 this February. What am I crazy? No, actually, not really. Here’s the deal. Every summer since 2007 Apple has shipped a new iPhone device, so you can expect iPhone 5 to be revealed in the coming months with a late June or July release. Since Apple decided to stay conservative with today’s announcement, it wouldn’t be crazy to think that the next iteration of iPhone will pack support for Verizon’s super fast 4G LTE network, among other hardware updates. You’ve waited this long for iPhone to hit Verizon; what’s another five months? Think about it.
[Via Apple; Verizon] Continue reading iPhone comes to Verizon at long last
Motorola invites Bionic into the Droid family
The Droid Bionic from Motorola is one helluva smartphone. It’s super fast, both in processing and network speeds. It’s one of the first mobile phones to pack a dual-core processor, with each core running at 1GHz, delivering up to 2GHz of processing power, and it’s Moto’s very first 4G LTE enabled phone. More specs: 4.3-inch qHD display, 512 MB of RAM, rear-facing 8-megapixel camera, front-facing VGA camera, HDMI out. It will ship with Android 2.2 (Froyo) on board. Moto’s also pushing Mirror Mode, a function that enables simultaneous streaming of video to the TV and on the device. All in all, this is a pretty solid device. 2011 is going to see a big push towards faster phones with larger, higher quality displays and right now the Bionic is the clear leader of the pack. Precise price point and release date have not been specified yet, but you can expect it the Bionic to land on Verizon Wireless in Q2 2011.
At CES 2011 Verizon kept reiterating the blazing speeds of 4G LTE. They claim the next-gen cell service is up to 10 times faster than current 3G speeds and they used a fun example on stage at their press event to show how these incredible speeds can be utilized. They invited Electronic Arts to show off Rock Band Mobile‘s multiplayer capabilities. Owners of select 4G LTE devices will be able to “jam together” with up to four friends over the network. Verizon is hopeful Android apps will take advantage of 4G LTE’s fast speeds with wireless connectivity functionality as featured in the upcoming Rock Band game. Look after the break for the PR which lists the 20 songs in the game; there you’ll also find a video demonstration. If you didn’t know, Verizon plans to expand its 4G network to blanket its entire 3G coverage area within the next three years.
Continue reading Motorola invites Bionic into the Droid family
Motorola Xoom & T-Mobile G-Slate will run Android Honeycomb
Motorola and T-Mobile were downright giddy to announce their upcoming tablet devices at CES 2011. That’s because they are excited to bring Honeycomb, Google’s latest iteration of Android built entirely for tablets, to salivating consumers. Since I already detailed Honeycomb, I think it’d be best to simply jump into specs talk. Let’s start with the Motorola Xoom since there’s far more information about this product out there. The Xoom features a 10.1 inch (1280×800) screen and packs NVIDIA’s latest Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of DDR2 RAM. There’s a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with dual LED flash and a 2 megapixel front-facing camera; support for 720p video recording and 1080p video playback; 32GB of onboard storage that’s expandable with SD card support; 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth; and ports include HDMI out, micro USB 2.0, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s also a built-in gyroscope, barometer, e-compass, accelerometer and adaptive lighting. It will ship with 3G support and eventually gain 4G LTE support on Verizon’s network. As far as battery life is concerned, Moto’s only saying that it supports up to 10 hours of video playback. Note that the Xoom does not pack physical buttons. With Honeycomb, Google no longer requires hardware manufacturers to include buttons along the rim of their devices. What used to be buttons are now illuminated icons that can be made visible on the device in landscape or portrait modes. Motorola says they’ll ship the sexy Xoom tablet as a 3G/Wi-Fi-enabled device in Q1 2011 (we’re in that quarter now, so soon!) and they promise these devices will be upgradeable 4G LTE in Q2. Also in Q2 Moto will introduce an all-out 4G LTE/Wi-Fi- enabled Xoom. According to recent reports, a strictly WiFi-enabled version will also debut in the Spring. The Xoom looks like it’s going to be a hot item when it ships; a speedy Tegra 2 processor and the tablet-optimized Honeycomb OS marriage will surely make for an enjoyable mobile experience.
An honorable mention goes to the T-Mobile G-Slate because it is just one of the few tablets announced at CES 2011 that promises to run Honeycomb when it releases. T-Mobile has partnered with LG to make the hardware. Aside for it being the “first 4G Android 3.0 powered tablet” from T-Mobile, we know nothing else about it really. At the press event T-Mobile and LG execs held up the mystery tablet, and it look like standard fare–a black slate. We’ll have to wait for a more detailed announcement in the coming weeks.
Look in the gallery below for close-ups of the Motorola Xoom, and hop after the break to read some PR and watch a couple introductory product videos.
Continue reading Motorola Xoom & T-Mobile G-Slate will run Android Honeycomb
Microsoft’s Kin phones back from the grave
Just when you were started to think you’d never hear Microsoft Kin again, the failed smartphone duo found their way back to Verizon. The Kin devices haven’t changed physically since making their way back from the grave; they look the same on the outside and their sub-par specs are still in tact. What has changed is price. The Kin ONEm sells for $19.99 with a new two-year contract ($119.99 without), and it’s bigger brother Kin TWOm costs $49.99 on contract ($219.99 without). Monthly plans start at $39.99 for talk and $9.99 for 25MB of data. Definitely cheaper than what Verizon was offering before Microsoft shelved Kin after only three short months on the market. Don’t expect to see much a future for the Kin platform; reintroducing these phones on Verizon now is Microsoft’s plan to wipe out their warehouses of the device they killed.
[Via Engadget]
Samsung Galaxy Tab release date and price roundup
About one month ago Samsung and mobile operator partners detailed Galaxy Tab offerings. Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile put their cards on the table, while U.S. Cellular said it it was coming soon and AT&T remained silent. Today the latter two carriers shared their respective release dates and pricing schemes, so I thought it’d be helpful if I charted out each carrier’s Tab information. So without further ado:
Verizon: $599.99 (no contract required); optional 3G plan- $20/month for 1GB of data; released 11/11
Sprint: $399.99 (new 2-year contract required); $29.99/month for 2GB or $59.99 for 5GB; releases 11/14
T-Mobile: $399.99 (new 2-year contract required); $24.99/month for 200MB or $39.99/month for 5GB released 11/10
AT&T: $649.99 (no contract required); $14.99/month for 250GB pay-as-you-go plan or $25/month for 2GB pay-as-you-go plan; $50 Media Hub Movie Rental credit with purchase for a limited time; releases 11/21
U.S. Cellular: $599 (no contract required) or $399 (contract required); $14.99/month for 200MB or $54.99/month for 5GB with tethering enabled; releases 11/19
Been looking for an iPad alternative? This Android (Froyo) based tablet is it. That is, until iPad 2 comes out.
Droid 2 Global finds its way to Verizon
Two new Droid phones in one week!? Hot damn! OK, it’s not that exciting since this latest iteration is essentially identical to the Droid 2. What differentiates it from its slightly older sibling is three-fold: it is “global ready”, meaning its got CDMA/GSM dual-mode functionality, it packs a faster 1.2GHz processor, and it comes dressed in a white coat. The rest of the specs are standard: 3.7″ WVGA multitouch display, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 5 megapixel camera with auto focus, WiFi, Bluetooth, DLNA Wireless, 8GB internal memory (expandable up to 32GB), Android 2.2. It’s available for purchase today at Verizon Wireless for $199.99 on a new two-year contract. If you travel ’round the world and need a dual-mode world phone and enjoy the Android experience, check the ‘ol BlackBerry and pick up the Droid 2 Global.
Note: Neither Motorola nor Verizon has officially announced the introduction of this device; it just happened to show up on the VZW website for sale. If/when either of these companies feels like pushing out an official press release regarding the Droid 2 Global, check back at this space for those details.
[Via Verizon]
Droid Pro lands on Verizon Wireless November 18 for $179.99
Right on target, Verizon Wireless has spilled the deets regarding the release of “the first Android-based smartphone optimized for business use.” Droid Pro will be made available for Verizon Wireless customers November 18 for $179.99 after signing a new 2-year contract and sending in a $100 mail-in rebate. Been salivating at the sight of this Android/Blackberry hybrid handset of sorts since Moto announced it in early October? Better your odds of picking up the device on launch day by filling out a preorder form at VZW’s website starting tomorrow (11/9). Full PR after the break.
[Via Engadget] Continue reading Droid Pro lands on Verizon Wireless November 18 for $179.99
Samsung Galaxy Tab coming to Verizon Wireless November 11 for $599.99 [Update: Sprint & T-Mobile details]
If you’ve been hunting for an iPad alternative to satisfy your tablet needs, look no further than here. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab will be sold through Verizon Wireless for $599.99 come November 11. You want specs? Oh, I got specs. The Tab sports a 7-inch (1024×600, WSVGA) multitouch display, 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, rear-facing 3 megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus, front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, 2GB of onboard storage with 16 GB pre-installed on a microSD card (expandable memory up to 32GB), 802.11n WiFi, A-GPS, and a headphone jack. It weighs 13 ounces and is 12 millimeters thin; Sammy says it can “easily fit into a jeans’ backpocket”, but I’m not so sure about that. The display supports full HD 1080p video playback and the rear-facing camera can shoot up to 720p at 30 fps. The browser supports Adobe Flash Player 10.1.
The Tab runs Android 2.2 (aka Froyo) with a tweaked version of Samsung’s TouchWiz skin on top. Google Maps Navigation and Google Goggles come preinstalled, along with Swype keyboard functionality. Apps like Qik and Fring are available to download in the Android Market and can be used for video chatting over a WiFi connection. In addition to its custom skin, Samsung is throwing in some of their own apps they think will be useful for users. The Media Hub offers a “vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase.” Samsung has partnered with MTV Networks, NBC, Paramount, and Universal Studios Home Entertainment to bring media content to Tab owners. Purchased content can be shared with up to five devices that carry the Media Hub application. The Social Hub “works with the user’s Messaging and Contacts to initiate the sending and receiving of information, whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages.” Also, calendar information from portal calendars like Google Calendar and social networks can be unified into one calender view. There’s also a Document Viewer & Editor that can open and make changes to any Word, Excel, Powerpoint or PDF document, AllShare DLNA Technology can stream content to DLNA-compatable devices, and Daily Briefing gives you access to updated weather, news, stocks, and schedules. Accessories will be sold separately: keyboard dock ($99.99), desktop dock ($49.99), car/GPS dock ($99.99).
The Tab will eventually be sold through all major US carriers (including AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile), but it’s coming to Verizon Wireless first. The Tab on VZW will sell for $599.99 with no strings attached, meaning there’s no required 2-year contract obligation. You can access the Internet on it using WiFi, and if you so choose you can add an optional 3G plan and pay $20/month for 1GB of data. Users can access V CAST Apps, Verizon’s mobile storefront for apps, and the Tab will come preloaded with V CAST Music, V CAST Song ID, VZ Navigator, Slacker Radio, Kindle for Android, BLOCKBUSTER On Demand, and a game called “Let’s Golf.” Text, picture and video messaging is supported, but voice calling is not. I repeat, the Tab is not a cell phone. It may look like an oversized Android handset, but it cannot make and receive calls in the U.S.
Look in the gallery below to check out the Samsung Galaxy Tab from all angles, and jump after the break to watch a 10 minute “official demo” of the Android tablet.
Update (10/25): Today Sprint shared pricing details for their version of the Galaxy Tab. Sprint customers can purchase the Tab for $399.99 with an obligatory two-year contract and they’ll need to cough up $29.99/month for 2GB of data or $59.99 for 5GB. Preorders start today and it releases November 14.
Update 2 (10/27): T-Mobile will sell the Tab for $399.99 on a two-year contract. A $35 activation fee is required. Goes on sale November 10.
Update 3: The Tab is also coming to U.S. Cellular, but price and a release date have not been detailed yet.
[Via Samsung; Engadget, here, here & here; IGN]
Motorola Droid Pro is a droid for the suits
It’s time to welcome yet another member into the Droid family. This droid does business. Droid Pro by Motorola packs the usual goodies: 1GHz processor, 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and dual LED flash, 512MB of memory, 2GB of onboard storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, and it runs Android 2.2. What makes the Pro stand out from the herd is its distinct look and business-oriented feature set. Below the 3.1 inch display sits a BlackBerry-esque QWERTY keyboard that’s “designed for speed and convenience.” The Pro is a “global ready” smartphone, packing a dual-mode CDMA/GSM chip for worldwide roaming that allows customers to enjoy wireless voice service in more than 220 countries and data coverage in more than 200 countries. Features for the suits include: support for both Exchange e-mail and Gmail for business; corporate directory look-up and unified calendar for Enterprise and sync with Google Calendar; view, edit, and share Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents; and built-in security features, including AuthenTec IPSec multi-headed VPN integration, remote wipe of device and SD card, and complex password support. Essentially this is a Droid built for the business men and women who have been fighting the urge to dump their BlackBerrys for an Android-based device. Tempting, isn’t it? Droid Pro releases this November on Verizon Wireless. Pricing has yet to be disclosed, but $199 with a 2-year agreement will likely be it. Full PR after the break.
[Via Engadget]
Droid 2 drops tomorrow on VZW for $200 (R2-D2 edition coming soon)
Just when you started noticing age spots on the original Droid, Motorola decided to officially unveil Droid 2. Though its large 3.7-inch multitouch display cannot out-match Droid X’s enourmous 4.1 inch screen, the Droid 2 does boast great specs. The improved slideout QWERTY smartphone runs the latest build of Android OS (that’s 2.2 aka Froyo, for those of you counting), has a 5 megapixel camera, and comes preloaded with 8GB of onboard memory and packaged with an 8GB microSD card (expandable up to 32GB). It supports Flash 10.1 for “access to the full web”, DNLA streaming, and Swype input for the on-screen keyboard. If you choose to pay an extra $20/month the device becomes a 3G mobile hotspot with support for up to 5 devices over WiFi. Droid 2 is up for preorder today and will be made available for purchase tomorrow August 12 for $199.99 with an obligatory new two-year contract on Verizon Wireless. If your current VZW contract ends by December 31, 2010 you are eligible to upgrade to Droid 2 or any other VZW smartphone for that matter.
In the official PR posted after the break, Verizon and Motorola tease a limited edition “R2-D2 DROID 2” inspired by the iconic Star Wars Astromech Droid. “The special version of the phone will feature exclusive Star Wars content and external hardware designed to look like the trusty Droid from the film saga.” Expect the R2-D2 Droid to release this September. It will only be available to purchase online. View the teaser page here.
[Via Engadget]
New Droid X trailer captivates sci-fi lovers
The “See You Tomorrow” teaser trailer–erm, commercial–is making its rounds on the ‘Net and TV. It promotes Verizon’s latest smartphone from Motorola, the Droid X. The 8-megapixel packin’ 4.3-inch beast of a phone is now shipping for Verizon Wireless customers; $199.99 with a new two-year contract.