Does Verizon admonish iPhone income? Tales from the exclusive

You've belike seen the stories: the carriers aren't blessed almost how some of a subsidy they bonk to pay Apple for apiece smartphone, and as a outcome many carriers may score an incentive to exhort competing handsets. As an inquiry, CNN called around to Verizon stores in New Dynasty and discovered that sales associates were fast to move 4G Android phones over the iPhone when surrendered an open-ended pass, but were less diagonal to do so when asked straight for an iPhone. And now an shrink has revealed that the Droid RAZR MAXX outsold the iPhone on Verizon during Q2 of this period, in break due to "aggressive marketing" of 4G LTE phones.

Verizon of direction denies any primary prejudice, but what do they say down stoppered doors? To reach out we rung with Verizon sales associates, and what they revealed was…well…revealing.  The representatives we spoke to reiterated that Verizon definitely does not puddle it functionary contract to push one changeable OS over another - during activity sessions that were scheduled around the unvaried measure as the CNN article income reps were reminded that it isn't Verizon policy to "dissuade" grouping from buying iPhones.

It turns out that's not the undivided account though, as Verizon's sales targets and compensation models paints a somewhat disparate image. To be just, Verizon's main goal is to piss money - equal that of every different bearer business - and the easiest way to do that is to upsell customers from feature phones to smartphones. The reasons for this are provable: smartphone customers must add collection plans to their communication and schoolbook options, which adds quickly to a carrier's round connective. Verizon's proper mark for smartphone sales varies by realm, but according to our contacts can push as peaky as 80% - that is 8 out of every 10 phones oversubscribed "should be" smartphones. Those lottery aren't totall

some punter than the statistic.

Of those smartphone income, Verizon has also set income targets for how galore phones should be 4G LTE devices - a sort that we're told is can be as commanding as 60%. So for a high-volume realm where 80% of sound sales in an region are smartphones, the content is that 60% of that signaling (or 48% of all phones oversubscribed) would be LTE devices. The kicker of action is that the exclusive 4G LTE phones open on Big Red are supercharged by Android.

Stock and regional managers get reviewed (and paid) supported on how fit their lottery check up against sales targets. Sales associates are also rewarded for merchandising 4G phones; we're told that in at minimal any regions they recognise an actor $25 incentive for apiece 4G sound they trade. The results are predictable: managers and income associates alike do their first to pushing 4G phones. They certainly won't kibosh you from purchase an iPhone or a BlackBerry, but you're probable to pore almost the benefits of 4G before you do.

Share Everything plans incoming June 28 on Verizon, unlimited talk and text advantageous 2GB accumulation for $100 a month

Verizon kept its articulate to initiate its new shared assemblage plans in the season, and they are indeed incoming June 28, so hopefully you took advantage of that Galaxy S III preorder, because when the handset actually launches, you mightiness score to pay overfull value for obligation that prissy grandfathered untrammeled project.

The warship module move the common plan with a monthly make fee of $40 for a smartphone ($30 for a boast sound) that includes unqualified calls and texts, and actor $60 for 2GB of assemblage, which could be shared with up to 10 devices. Apiece added emblem has a several admittance tariff much as a $10 fee for a paper and a $20 fee for a spot, and adds 2GB of data author to portion. So for a smartphone advantageous paper to jointly use 4GB of assemblage you'd splurge $120 a month, but won't pay overages if you tug the end on one design, and relieve eff few assemblage socialistic for the new.

Currently the punk tariff is $30 for 2GB nonnegative $40 for a narrow 450 minutes tune programme. If you impoverishment to contend the new common plans tender, yet, you give score to pay added $20 for untrammeled texts. Then retributive to connect a tablet to this mean you now pay another $30 a period for yet a disparate 2GB arrangement, which again amounts to $120 per month in summate, honourable same in the new joint assemblage design. If you only use one smartphone, tho', 2GB instrument now outgo you $100 instead of $70 a period, so the unnecessary $30 can be chalked off as a command.

Verizon's Main Marketing Tami Erwin said research showed that customers use on number 1-2GB of assemblage per month on their roving figure, thus hinting the reasons for the 2GB recompense. She commented on the new mutual information arrangement:

What I'm doing is giving you the flexibility to share the data you've paid for. Customers who are using more than one device will very quickly see the value in this. This is really intended to drive growth. My expectation is it doesn't change our margins.

The object is that prevalent subscribers present be able to cell their existing plans, but any new subscriptions faculty be on the shared aggregation prices, starting June 28, disregarding if they organization to exclusive use one design. Infinite lecture and text is a respectable benefit, but supposal that data survival is ballooning for the benefit of say and texting, we'll be funny to see whether Verizon's gunstock value goes up today.

source: Verizon & Reuters

Verizon’s 4G LTE’s next stop is Logan, West Virginia

We told you a few days ago that Verizon is starting to light up smaller markets with its 4G LTE service. You shouldn’t have to live in a big city to enjoy super fast data speeds and Verizon is continuing to solidify its hold as America’s largest 4G LTE network by announcing it will launch 4G LTE in Logan, West Virginia on June 21, 2012.

According to Verizon the service will be available in the Logan area, including Chapmanville and along parts of U.S. Route 119 and State Route 10.

"High-speed, wireless communications throughout West Virginia will help our state's businesses thrive in today's economy and open up economic opportunities," said Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.   "And it will enable families and rural communities across our state to access dependable, fast technology." 

source: PRNewswire

Mobile America infographic illustrates the U.S. consumer's wireless habits

The U.S. is a mobile nation that likes to stay connected to the rest of the world. Just take a look around: everywhere you see people holding on to a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop of some kind, looking at lolcat photos, chatting with online buddies, or even getting some actual work done.

In fact, "2 out of 3 Americans are considered to be part of mobile America", as stated in an infographic put together by the folks at SteadyRain. The staggering 94% of people between 18 and 44 own a mobile device (think tablet or a cell phone), and by the end of 2012, more than half of mobile users will own a smartphone. And that is just the tip of a wireless iceberg.

Over the past few years, use of mobile email is on the rise, with half of all users using the service any given month. In addition, over half of mobile device owners frequently use their gadgets to surf the web.

Craving for more figures and factual data about the topic? Then check out the infographic in its entirety, and, of course, do not hesitate to share what you think about it by dropping a comment.

source: SteadyRain via IntoMobile

Verizon teams up with BMW, Honda, others to bring LTE to cars

Verizon Wireless is serious about 4G LTE technology - it was the first to bring the high-speed network in its full glory to the wide masses, then it said it will only sell LTE smartphones this year, and now it’s trying to make your car into one big 4G LTE hotspot.

How could that become a reality? How about setting up its own 4G Venture Forum for Connected Cars including car makers like BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Toyota? Still not convinced? Then how about the engineering effort backed up by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s mechanical engineering professor Sanjay Sarma?

If that doesn’t convince you, then probably the full press release below won’t either, but you should still check it out. And yes, a connected car would be an even further distraction or help, depending on how you use it, right?

source: BGR

Motorola XOOM LTE 4.0.4 update rolling out to everyone

Hey Verizon-based Motorola XOOM owners, it looks like the 4.0.4 OTA is rolling out to one and all at this point. The 107mb update finally brings Ice Cream Sandwich to Verizon’s LTE version of the XOOM. If you can't wait another minute for some frozen dessert goodness, it's being reported that you can force the update by heading into your settings menu and going to “apps”. If you select the “all” tab you will see “Google Services Framework”. Force stop it and click “Clear Data” and head back out to check for an update.

This usually works after the first or second try, but be warned that it may also initially remove your device from the web-based Play Store interface. You’ll still be able to download and update apps from your tablet, but you may have to wait several hours for the web portal to see your device (if you really like perusing the Play Store on the web this may factor into how patient you want to be while waiting for the update).

The official update list from Verizon is:

source: Droid-Life

Verizon 4G LTE is expanding into smaller markets throughout the country come June 21

If there’s one 4G LTE network that’s most certainly going to cover you from coast to coast, all you need to look at is what Verizon has accomplished thus far. Frankly, the carrier has been relentless in building out its speedy 4G LTE network since it launched last year – and now they’re committed to getting it into many of the small markets littered throughout the country.

Today, Verizon Wireless announced its 4G LTE expansion into markets such as Jefferson City & the Lake of Ozarks region in Missouri; Bedford, PA; Jacksonville, New Burn, and Burlington NC; Seymour and Columbus, IN; and  Gainesville and Panama City, FL. No doubt, the people in those locations will surely benefit with the introduction of Big Red’s LTE network.

In addition, there are also a handful of existing 4G LTE markets that will be seeing expanded coverage – these include parts of Idaho; eastern Oregon; the Triangle in North Carolina; southeastern Massachusetts; and the Palm Beach, Volusia, and Flagler counties in Florida.

So when can we expect this all to happen? Well, Verizon is planning to throw the switch on in these markets sometime on or around June 21st – so the wait won’t be too long at this point.

source: Verizon via Phonescoop