Verizon

mobile
April 2, 2013
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Rumor
Verizon AT&T Vodafone Buyout

Verizon and AT&T could partner to acquire Vodafone [updated]

By on April 2, 2013 at 1:05 PM.

Verizon and AT&T could partner to acquire Vodafone [updated]

A new report claims that two unlikely partners may team up to acquire the world’s second-largest mobile carrier. According to the Financial Times, Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) are working on a breakup bid for European carrier Vodafone (VOD) that would value the company at $245 billion, a 40% premium over its current valuation of $115. The deal would see Verizon take control of the 45% stake Vodafone currently owns in Verizon Wireless, while Vodafone’s business outside of the U.S. would go to AT&T. Earlier reports suggested that Verizon and Vodafone were actively discussing ways to resolve their relationship in the form of a merger or possibly a full or partial buyout. More →

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mobile
March 29, 2013
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Verizon BlackBerry Z10

Unlike AT&T, Verizon reportedly putting promotional muscle behind BlackBerry Z10 launch

By on March 29, 2013 at 10:20 AM.

Unlike AT&T, Verizon reportedly putting promotional muscle behind BlackBerry Z10 launch

BlackBerry’s (BBRY) Z10 launch got off to a shaky start last week amid widespread reports that AT&T (T) retail outlets were doing little to promote the device to customers and that many of its staff members were unprepared to answer questions about the device. The good news for BlackBerry is that Verizon (VZ) seems to have significantly stepped up its game because Barron’s reports that employees at a Verizon flagship store in Manhattan were able to give knowledgeable explanations about BlackBerry’s Hub and Balance features as key differentiators from other devices. Barron’s also says that while “the store was not filled with BlackBerry promotional materials… there was a brightly lit, large sign above a row of smartphones that showed the image of the Z10.” In all, it sounds like Verizon is making more of a push to make the Z10 successful than its top rival has made so far.

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Business
March 26, 2013
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Mobile Data Revenue Estimates

Why carriers love smartphones: Mobile data to exceed 40% of total service revenue by 2014

By on March 26, 2013 at 9:31 AM.

Why carriers love smartphones: Mobile data to exceed 40% of total service revenue by 2014

Wireless carriers have played a huge role in the proliferation of smartphones and tablets in recent years, and that fact that these devices make our lives easier is hardly their motive. According to a new report from market research firm ABI Research, revenue from mobile data is expected to balloon 21.4% between 2012 and 2014, at which time it will account for 40.4% of the $1 trillion spent globally on cell phone services. ”By offering unlimited voice calls and texts, while making data the only component in a bundled plan with positive marginal costs to consumers, wireless operators as AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ) help to prop up voice and messaging, making positive revenue contributions in the short to medium-term,” ABI research associate Ying Kang Tan said. ”Rich Communication Services (RCS) and voice and messaging APIs are a key part of their strategy of making carrier-based calls and messaging relevant to their customers.”

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mobile
March 22, 2013
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iMessage Clone Verizon Messages App

Verizon announces iMessaging clone for Android, iOS and Web [video]

By on March 22, 2013 at 10:10 PM.

Verizon announces iMessaging clone for Android, iOS and Web [video]

Verizon (VZ) on Thursday announced a new cross-platform update for its text messaging app for Android and iOS devices. The application, known as Messages, allows users to send and receive a text message from a PC, smartphone or tablet. Messages are stored on Verizon’s cloud for up to 90 days or until deleted and can also be saved permanently on an SD card. Unlike services from WhatsApp, Google Talk and iMessage, the application utilizes your smartphone’s phone number rather than a username or special PIN. The service sets itself further apart from the competition with a handful of unique features such as the ability to send automated replies to a text when busy. Verizon’s Messages application is available now in Google Play and the iOS App Store. A video demo follows below. More →

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TV
March 18, 2013
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Verizon FiOS TV Channels

Verizon’s plan to shake up the TV industry: Only offer channels customers want to watch

By on March 18, 2013 at 10:56 PM.

Verizon’s plan to shake up the TV industry: Only offer channels customers want to watch

Cable service providers in the United States are obligated to offer lesser watched channels if they want to carry some of the more popular names. Companies such as Viacom (VIAB), Comcast (CMCSA) and others have bundled these smaller, more niche channels to service providers for years, however cable companies are starting to fight back. Cablevision (CVC) recently filed suit against Viacom over this practice and other providers such as Verizon (VZ) are looking into new and “disruptive” payment models. More →

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Entertainment
March 15, 2013
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Verizon Redbox Instant Launch

Verizon’s Redbox Instant video streaming now available to general public

By on March 15, 2013 at 9:56 PM.

Verizon’s Redbox Instant video streaming now available to general public

Netflix (NFLX) just got an intriguing competitor this week now that Verizon (VZ) has brought its Redbox Instant video streaming service out of beta and has made it available to the general public. Redbox Instant, which is available to everyone regardless of whether they’re a Verizon customer, is initially offering a range of 7,500 “streaming and transactional movie titles” for $8 a month. The service works on Macs, PCs and the Xbox 360, which entered into a deal with Verizon earlier this year to become “the exclusive gaming and entertainment console launch partner for Redbox Instant.” Verizon is currently offering a free one-month trial for the new streaming service.

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mobile
March 13, 2013
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Verizon LTE Network AWS Spectrum

Verizon to use cable company spectrum to boost LTE network by late 2013

By on March 13, 2013 at 8:43 PM.

Verizon to use cable company spectrum to boost LTE network by late 2013

Verizon (VZ) plans to use the AWS spectrum it acquired from a consortium of cable companies in the second half of 2013. The company’s CTO, Nicola Palmer, revealed in an interview with Fierce Wireless that the carrier will complete its LTE rollout on the 700MHz spectrum by mid-year, and plans to expand its LTE coverage with 5,000 new sites in 2013, with more to follow in 2014. The current generation of Verizon LTE devices won’t be able to utilize the network, however, and Verizon plans to offer AWS-compatible devices before July. The executive also reiterated the company’s plans to launch its VoLTE service by the end of this year or early next year.

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mobile
March 13, 2013
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BlackBerry Z10 Verizon Release Date

Verizon to offer BlackBerry Z10 on March 28th for $199, pre-orders begin tomorrow

By on March 13, 2013 at 4:25 PM.

Verizon to offer BlackBerry Z10 on March 28th for $199, pre-orders begin tomorrow

Verizon (VZ) on Wednesday announced the availability of BlackBerry’s (BBRY) Z10 smartphone. Customers will be able to pre-order the handset in black or white beginning on Thursday, March 13th. The BlackBerry Z10 is equipped with a 4.2-inch 720p display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The smartphone also features 16GB of internal storage, a microSD slot, 2GB of RAM, NFC, LTE connectivity and a 1800 mAh battery. The BlackBerry Z10 will be available online and in stores from Verizon on March 28th for $199 with a new two-year agreement.

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mobile
March 13, 2013
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HTC One Verizon Release Date

Verizon said to launch HTC One later this year

By on March 13, 2013 at 12:55 PM.

Verizon said to launch HTC One later this year

Verizon (VZ) was suspiciously absent from HTC’s (2498) One press conference last month. The flagship smartphone is scheduled to arrive on AT&T (T), Sprint (S) and T-Mobile at the end of the month, and now the latest rumor suggests Verizon will offer the handset later this year. According to AllThingsD, the HTC One will launch on Verizon “a month or two” after its competitors, though it is unclear if the phone will be the same handset that will be offered by other carriers or a rebranded version, as has been the case with Verizon in the past. A Bluetooth SIG certification recently uncovered a Verizon smartphone with identical specs to the HTC One, and earlier rumors suggested that the carrier was planning to offer a device called the DROID DNA Plus, which many had speculated would be a rebranded version of HTC’s latest smartphone.

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mobile
March 12, 2013
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Rumor
HTC One Verizon

Certification filing suggests HTC One soon coming to Verizon

By on March 12, 2013 at 5:18 PM.

Certification filing suggests HTC One soon coming to Verizon

The HTC (2498) One is one of the best-looking Android devices we’ve seen in a while, but there is one downside to it — so far it’s available on every single major American wireless carrier except for Verizon (VZ). But Droid-Life found a Bluetooth SIG certification filing over the weekend for an upcoming device with the model number “HTC6445LVW” that the site believes is likely a version of the HTC One designed for Verizon. Droid-Life’s reasoning is this: The last big HTC to come to Verizon, the Droid DNA, has a model number of “HTC6435LVW,” so it’s very likely that the 6445 model is the next HTC phone to release for the carrier. What’s more, the mystery phone’s specifications match up exactly with the HTC One’s specs, so the chances are good that some version of HTC’s flagship phone is coming to Verizon in the near future.

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mobile
March 12, 2013
by
Rumor
Nokia Lumia 928 Release Date

Nokia Lumia 928 with metal casing rumored for April debut on Verizon

By on March 12, 2013 at 12:35 PM.

Nokia Lumia 928 with metal casing rumored for April debut on Verizon

Verizon Wireless (VZ) will reportedly finally launch its version of Nokia’s (NOK) latest flagship smartphone next month. The Lumia 928 will feature specs that are very similar to the Lumia 920, however it will include an aluminum case and a xenon flash in addition to the standard LED flash, The Verge’s anonymous sources claim. The handset is also rumored to feature support for simultaneous voice and data on Verizon’s LTE network.

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mobile
March 11, 2013
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4G Network Speeds

AT&T LTE network tops speed test, but Verizon still has the best LTE coverage

By on March 11, 2013 at 4:04 PM.

AT&T LTE network tops speed test, but Verizon still has the best LTE coverage

You can’t go five minutes without seeing an advertisement for the fastest, largest, cheapest or most reliable network in the United States. Mobile service providers keep pushing their own brands of 4G wireless services to entice consumers, however it is becoming increasingly difficult to decide between Verizon (VZ), AT&T (T), Sprint (S), T-Mobile and the assorted number of smaller carriers. Besides price and coverage, which are both important aspects consumers should consider, data speeds should play a major role in carrier choice especially when signing a lengthy two-year service agreement. With all the advertising hoopla going on, however, it can be hard to get the facts. To make things a little easier, research firm RootMetrics recently tested the four major carriers to find out which one operates the fastest network in the America. More →

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Tablets
March 5, 2013
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 on sale from Verizon starting March 7th

By on March 5, 2013 at 9:51 PM.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 on sale from Verizon starting March 7th

Anyone who likes having LTE connectivity with their tablet may want to check out Samsung’s (005930) LTE-capable Galaxy Note 10.1 that will go on sale at Verizon (VZ) stores starting on March 7th for $600. The Note 10.1, which Samsung unveiled three separate times last year, features a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 10.1-inch WXGA LCD display, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a secondary 1.9-megapixel camera for video chats, Samsung’s S Pen stylus and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Verizon says that customers can add the LTE-capable Note 10.1 to their Share Anything data plans for an additional $10 a month.

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