CDMA iPhone

mobile
February 3, 2011
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Verizon iPhone 4 units already shipping; deliveries could begin tomorrow

By on February 3, 2011 at 4:01 PM.

Verizon iPhone 4 units already shipping; deliveries could begin tomorrow

Are you waiting on the edge of your seat for that brand new Verizon iPhone 4 you stayed up all night to pre-order? We’ve been receiving tips that some devices pre-ordered this morning have already started shipping via FedEx standard overnight delivery, and should be arriving as early as 3:00PM tomorrow. Not a bad exclusive for existing Verizon customers, we’d say. Drop a comment below and let us know if your iPhone 4 has already shipped from Verizon, alright?

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mobile
February 3, 2011
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Did you have problems pre-ordering Verizon’s iPhone 4?

By on February 3, 2011 at 9:09 AM.

Did you have problems pre-ordering Verizon’s iPhone 4?

Accompanied by fluttering harps, shooting beams of light and a sustained angelic chorus, pre-orders for Verizon Wireless’ iPhone 4 went live on both Apple and Verizon’s websites early this morning. We received countless reports from eager customers who put in their orders for the highly anticipated handset overnight. Many were just checking in to share their elation with us, but as can only be expected when you combine a highly anticipated product, hoards of anxious customers and Web servers, we heard several tales of woe as well. Judging from the barrage of emails we received over the course of the night, Verizon’s system went down at least once around 4:00AM EST. We also heard from several readers who said it took them 30, 40, even 60 minutes or more to place their orders thanks to ridiculously slow page load times and repeated failed attempts to process orders. The frustration was enough to drive some subscribers away, it would seem; one would-be iPhone owner told us, “Forget it… I’ll just stick with my stupid BlackBerry.” It looks like most were able to persevere, however. How did you fare, readers? Sing us your songs of victory or bear your battle scars in the comments section below.

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mobile
February 2, 2011
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Reminder: Verizon Wireless iPhone 4 pre-orders start tomorrow

By on February 2, 2011 at 9:30 AM.

Reminder: Verizon Wireless iPhone 4 pre-orders start tomorrow

Apple has issued a reminder — as if we need one — that Verizon Wireless’ upcoming iPhone 4 will become available to pre-order starting tomorrow. We already detailed Verizon’s procedure for iPhone pre-orders, which the carrier will begin accepting at 3:00AM EST tomorrow, and now Apple has confirmed that it too will take pre-orders online. Pre-orders are on a first come, first served basis and are available to current Verizon Wireless subscribers only. Though no one knows how much inventory is available for pre-order, we can surely expect an announcement at some point tomorrow saying that pre-orders are sold out — regardless of how many orders are taken. Verizon Wireless’ iPhone 4 goes on sale for new and existing subscribers at 7:00AM local time on February 10th. Hit the jump for Apple’s press release and don’t forget to set those alarms. More →

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mobile
January 28, 2011
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Verizon iPhone 4 pre-orders begin at 3AM Eastern on February 3rd

By on January 28, 2011 at 4:50 PM.

Verizon iPhone 4 pre-orders begin at 3AM Eastern on February 3rd

In an email to current customers on Friday, Verizon Wireless confirmed that it will begin taking pre-orders for the iPhone for at 3:00AM Eastern Time next Thursday, February 3rd. The email confirms earlier rumors to the same effect. Only existing Verizon Wireless subscribers are eligible for pre-orders — AT&T iPhone users and others looking to open a Verizon account when purchasing a new CDMA iPhone 4 will have to wait until the phone becomes available to the general public a week later on February 10th. Pre-orders will be available on a first-come, first-served basis so interested parties may when to set an early alarm and get their pre-orders processed as quickly as possible.

Why 3:00AM? For one thing, 3 o’clock on the 3rd has a nice ring to it. For another, only very, very excited people will get up at that hour to place their pre-orders. Of course, there are plenty of very excited people out there, but getting the overly-anxious customers out of the way in the middle of the night means crashes and server issues are less likely during the day. Subscribers with individual accounts looking to place pre-orders on the 3rd can visit verizonwireless.com/iphoneorder, and enterprise customers should visit verizonwireless.com/businessportals.

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mobile
January 26, 2011
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AT&T offers unlimited iPhone data to would-be defectors

By on January 26, 2011 at 2:20 PM.

AT&T offers unlimited iPhone data to would-be defectors

The Associated Press reports that AT&T is quietly offering unlimited iPhone data plans to some iPhone customers despite having killed off its unlimited plan last year. AT&T discontinued its unlimited smartphone data plan this past June and switched to a capped structure, offering users 2GB of data each month for $25 or 250MB of data for $15. At that time, customers with $30 unlimited data plans we’re allowed to keep their plans or switch to one of the new, less expensive plans. According to the AP report, customers who opted to switch from the old unlimited plan to a new capped plan are now being given the option to switch back — presumably as part of a larger effort to dissuade would-be defectors. Verizon Wireless will release the iPhone 4 next month, and the carrier confirmed its plans offer unlimited data for a limited time at launch. More →

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mobile
January 26, 2011
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Apple posts VZW iPhone 4 eligibility checker to website, reaffirms monthly service plans

By on January 26, 2011 at 10:38 AM.

Apple posts VZW iPhone 4 eligibility checker to website, reaffirms monthly service plans

Apple on Wednesday posted details on its website surrounding voice, data and messaging plans that will be offered with the upcoming Verizon Wireless iPhone 4. The company also posted a utility intended to check subscriber eligibility, though it did not appear to be functioning properly at the time of this writing. Apple’s website confirms earlier reports that Verizon Wireless iPhone 4 users will only have two data options at launch: unlimited data for $29.99 per month and unlimited data with 2GB of Personal Hotspot and tethering services for $49.99 per month. Other plan details line up with current Verizon Wireless smartphone plans, for the most part:

Voice

  • 450 minutes/month: $39.99
  • 900 minutes/month: $59.99
  • Unlimited minutes/month: $69.99

Messaging

  • Pay per use: $0.20 per SMS, $0.25 per MMS
  • 250 messages/month: $5
  • 500 messages/month: $10
  • Unlimited messaging: $20

Data

  • Unlimited data: $29.99
  • Unlimited data with 2GB  for Personal Hotspot and tethering: $49.99 ($20 per GB for overages)

The only difference between the iPhone voice and messaging plans compared to Verizon Wireless’ standard plans appears to be the $20 unlimited messaging option. With other smartphones, the $20 messaging option affords subscribers 5,000 messages per month, and the carrier charges $0.10 per message for overages.

UPDATE: The pages have been pulled from Apple’s website as of approximately 10:50AM. More →

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mobile
January 26, 2011
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Verizon Wireless to charge $20 for Personal Hotspot feature on iPhone 4

By on January 26, 2011 at 8:00 AM.

Verizon Wireless to charge $20 for Personal Hotspot feature on iPhone 4

Following reports that detail Verizon Wireless’ intentions with iPhone 4 data plans, a company spokesperson has also confirmed Personal Hotspot pricing. Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam told the press that there would be a $30 unlimited data plan available for iPhone 4 purchasers at launch. He also stated that the unlimited plan would only be available for a limited time, and that Verizon would then move to a tiered data plan structure similar to that of AT&T. But what about the much anticipated Personal Hotspot feature that will be ushered in by Verizon Wireless’ iPhone 4? Like AT&T’s iPhone tethering plan, Verizon Wireless will charge $20 per month for the feature. Also like AT&T, Verizon will not afford tethering users unlimited data. Instead, the iPhone’s mobile hotspot feature will come with a separate 2GB bucket. While the limitation is a bit aggravating, it is seen as far more favorable than AT&T’s tethering solution, which pulls data from the same 2GB bucket as the standard iPhone data plan. Moreover, AT&T requires that subscribers with grandfathered unlimited data plans switch to the 2GB capped plan before tethering can be activated on an iPhone. More →

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mobile
January 24, 2011
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Apple’s ‘Two is better than one’ iPhone ad doesn’t play favorites [video]

By on January 24, 2011 at 9:21 PM.

Apple’s ‘Two is better than one’ iPhone ad doesn’t play favorites [video]

Considering the huge amount of money carriers pull in for Apple these days, the Cupertino-based giant has to be careful now that AT&T isn’t the only iPhone game in town here in the U.S. The company definitely wants to help draw attention to the fact that the iPhone 4 will soon be available from the nation’s largest wireless carrier, but it also doesn’t want to burn any bridges with AT&T, the carrier that helped it sell a record number of smartphones last quarter. The solution for the time being, it seems, is to keep things simple. Apple’s new iPhone ad dubbed “Two is better than one” shows two iPhone 4 units — one from AT&T and one from Verizon Wireless — both doing the exact same things for 30 seconds. Why play favorites when both companies stand to sell truckloads of Apple smartphones? Luckily for Verizon Wireless, the ad doesn’t show this pair of iPhones trying to browse the Web while on a phone call. And luckily for AT&T, the ad doesn’t show this pair of iPhones, well, trying to even make a phone call. Hit the jump for the full commercial. More →

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Exclusive
January 20, 2011
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Apple Store vacation blackouts issued in preparation for Verizon iPhone 4 launch

By on January 20, 2011 at 3:58 PM.

Apple Store vacation blackouts issued in preparation for Verizon iPhone 4 launch

We have just been informed that Apple has started sending out mandatory vacation blackout notices to Apple Stores, barring employees from taking vacation. We’re told that managers have blackout dates of February 5th through the 18th, and employees can’t go on vacation or have days off during that timeframe either due to the launch of Verizon Wireless’ iPhone 4. In addition, there will be extended hours during that time period to accomodate the anticipated increase in foot traffic. It sure looks like Apple and Verizon are preparing to move a million units first week…

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Business
January 19, 2011
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RBC ups its target for Apple stock to $425 following huge quarter

By on January 19, 2011 at 12:17 PM.

RBC ups its target for Apple stock to $425 following huge quarter

Just one week ago, RBC Capital Markets Managing Director Mike Abramsky sent a price target revision to investors upping the firm’s target for Apple stock from $365 to $395. Following Apple’s monster quarter, RBC issued a new revision — this time raising its target to $425. Apple’s conservative second-quarter guidance of $22 billion still beat the Street’s $21 billion, and Abramsky points out that Mac shipments grew faster than Windows PC shipments for the 19th consecutive quarter. The firm now expects Apple’s 2011 fiscal year revenue to come in at $99 billion, up from its earlier estimate of $90.8 billion, and FY12 revenue estimates have been upped from $103.3 billion to $108 billion. Abramsky also notes that while Jobs’ medical leave may have a near-term impact on Apple’s stock, the company’s huge momentum remains intact.

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mobile
January 18, 2011
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CDMA iPhone shipments could reach 15 million in 2011

By on January 18, 2011 at 9:01 PM.

CDMA iPhone shipments could reach 15 million in 2011

Verizon Wireless hasn’t even launched its iPhone 4 yet and rumored production numbers are already getting a rumored bump thanks to rumored strong demand. According to a new report from industry watcher DigiTimes, iPhone manufacturer Pegatron is ramping up CDMA iPhone production following a revised order from Apple. Apple is thought to have initially requested approximately 10 million CDMA iPhones from the company, but new deals in various regions may have caused Apple to increase its order. Now, according to channel checks, Pegatron will ship between 12 and 15 million CDMA iPhone units this year. Verizon Wireless is the only carrier known to be getting the CDMA version of Apple’s iPhone 4 at this point, and Foxconn is said to be building devices for the U.S. market — which would mean Pegatron’s upped production is the result of increased international demand. Total CDMA iPhone production between Foxconn and Pegatron is now thought to be between 27 and 30 million units. More →

34 Comments
mobile
January 18, 2011
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Recent Verizon phone buyers get $200 toward iPhone 4 upgrade

By on January 18, 2011 at 10:34 AM.

Recent Verizon phone buyers get $200 toward iPhone 4 upgrade

Not everyone follows tech news as closely as BGR readers, so it’s quite possible that some poor souls purchased a cell phone from Verizon Wireless this past holiday season without realizing the iPhone 4 would be an option in early February. Of course, many users have no interest in the iPhone but those who do might have felt a bit slided when Verizon announced Apple’s smartphone earlier this month. The silver lining on this cloud — well, it’s more of a gray lining, really — is that Verizon will help dial down the hit for those willing to return their recently bought phones and pay full retail for a new iPhone. Here’s the deal, as detailed on Verizon Wireless’ iPhone FAQ page:

I just purchased a new smartphone during the holiday season, but if I knew that iPhone 4 was going to be available soon I would have waited. What are my options now?

Current Verizon customers who purchased and activated new smartphones, feature phones or certified pre-owned phones between 11/26/2010, and 01/10/2011, are eligible to receive up to a $200 Visa debit card when they purchase an iPhone 4 at full retail price by 02/28/2011 and return their existing phone. Note: This offer is only available on consumer accounts with five lines or less, who are purchasing iPhone 4 through Verizon Wireless retail stores, telesales, or through verizonwireless.com.

Full retail for Verizon’s iPhone 4 is $649.99 for the 16GB version and $749.99 for the 32GB model. This means those who purchased phones during the holidays are still looking at a $250 gotta-have-it fee on top of the $200 or $300 they would have spent for a new iPhone on a contract. If you’re having a serious case of buyer’s remorse, however, this could be a good option. Just be smart about it — if you bought a new high-end smartphone over the holidays and you can manage to pull in more than $200 plus your purchase price by selling it on eBay, you should pass on Verizon’s offer and take that route.

Thanks, Josh More →

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mobile
January 18, 2011
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Verizon Wireless confirms end of New Every Two, early upgrades

By on January 18, 2011 at 2:34 AM.

Verizon Wireless confirms end of New Every Two, early upgrades

Among a flurry of reports leading up to Verizon Wireless’ iPhone 4 announcement earlier this month, a slide leaked suggesting two popular perks would soon be dissolved by the nation’s top carrier. Verizon has since confirmed that as of Sunday, January 16th, its early upgrade policy and its “New Every Two” program have each been discontinued moving forward. New Every Two gave customers up to $100 toward the purchase of a new handset every two years in an effort to promote contract renewals. Similarly, subscribers bound to two-year contracts had been allowed to upgrade their handsets after just one year of service in exchange for signing new two-year agreements. Both perks are now unavailable to new subscribers, and current customers will lose their benefits within 24 months. Those currently enrolled in the New Every Two program will be eligible to receive the related benefit when their contract renews, however they will not be re-enrolled in the program. A similar policy is in effect for subscribers currently eligible or soon to be eligible for early upgrades. More →

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