Verizon continues its quest to leave no city unturned when it comes to its 4G LTE network. Starting today, 29 new markets will enjoy the blazing fast speeds of LTE and bring the total of covered markets to an astounding 470!
Verizon Extends Return Policy For The Holiday Season
As is typical of Verizon every holiday season, they have gone ahead and updated their return policy to reflect an extended period for holiday purchases. Any new device purchased from Verizon between November 22 and December 25, 2012 may be returned or exchanged through January 15, 2013.
Verizon Celebrates Two Years Of 4G LTE With A Few Amazing Statistics
I can’t believe it’s been two years since Verizon rolled out its 4G LTE network. That’s insane considering carriers such as T-Mobile have yet to even launch a 4G LTE network. To celebrate two years of providing consumers with the fastest, most reliable 4G LTE available, Verizon has a few amazing statistics to remind some of us why we continue to put up with their ridiculous prices and constant BS.
Verizon Wants Customers To Hand Over Their Usage Data To Advertisers In Return For A Coupon
If you’re a Verizon customer, you’ll want to be on the lookout for an email or text message from asking if you’d be willing to share your data usage (location, web browsing and mobile application usage data) in return for coupons or “rewards.” This sort of data farming for advertisers is nothing new in today’s world, but always a bit unsettling.
Consumer Reports: AT&T Once Again Ranked Worst Overall US Carrier While Verizon Remains #1
You would think that after year’s of continually being ranked the worst US carrier, AT&T would have done something to pull itself from the bottom. Unfortunately, they haven’t. According to Consumer Reports’ latest rankings, AT&T once again holds the title for overall worst US carrier. AT&T shouldn’t feel too bad as not a single major US carrier scored above an overall satisfaction score of 72.
Dialing **Baconater Might Just Ring Your Phone Thanks To Sprint’s New StarStar Me Service
Sometimes 10-digits can be a few too many numbers to remember or too boring to want to remember. That’s why Sprint has decided to spice up your phone number with its new StarStar Me service. Forget those boring digits and have people call you using a unique name or handle. Perhaps all your friends know you as the baconater and you want to keep it that way. Simply sign up for the number **baconater and allow anyone with an iPhone or Android-powered smartphones to call you by dialing **baconater.
AT&T Cuts Return & Cancellation Period In Half, Customers Now Only Have 14 Days To Decide
AT&T is once again hard at work trying to win that customer satisfaction award… said no AT&T board member ever. Those of you who have enjoyed having 30 days to decide whether or not your AT&T device or service is right for you, are going to have to cut your indecisiveness in half. Starting today, when you sign up for AT&T service or purchase a device on AT&T, you’ll have 14 days to return or cancel without being liable for an ETF (early termination fee).
AT&T To Play The Guinea Pig With 4G Samsung Galaxy Camera
AT&T has announced that they will be the first to carry the 16MP, Android 4.1 touting, 4G Samsung Galaxy Camera we told you about back in August. AT&T is taking a gamble on this unique product, and I, for one, am curious to see how it turns out. I personally don’t believe there’s a market for it, but you never know (just look at the Galaxy Note).
T-Mobile USA And MetroPCS Merge In $1.5 Billion Deal
The rumors of a T-Mobile/Metro PCS merger have been burning hot over the past 24 hours and it appears for good reason. The merger is real and was announced by T-Mobile a short while ago. T-Mobile USA will be merging with Metro PCS in a $1.5 billion deal. Not only will MetroPCS Shareholders receive $1.5 Billion in cash, but they will also have a 26% ownership in the combined company. Not a bad deal if you ask me.
Sprint Starts “Say No To Sharing” Campaign Against Shared Data Plans
It’s no secret that many of us aren’t fans of the new shared data plans being offered by Verizon and AT&T. Worse are the tactics these carriers are using to all but force us into the new plans. Consumers aren’t the only one’s disappointed, as Sprint and T-Mobile both discourage the practice and prefer to stick with the assumption that users enjoy having unlimited data with no fear of overages. Why should anyone have to pay a premium to see their data capped and divvied up between their data hungry family?
T-Mobile Tries To Shake Things Up By Announcing Truly Unlimited Data Plans
T-Mobile isn’t exactly the carrier of choice these days. After their failed merger with AT&T, they seem to be lost in carrier limbo. Verizon and AT&T have the largest 4G LTE coverage, Sprint has the only true unlimited data plans, and all three of them offer the iPhone. So where does that leave T-Mobile? T-Mobile knows it has to do something, and it appears that something, is unlimited data for $20 a month.
Switch Your Family To Sprint And Receive $400 Store Credit
Sprint is looking to entice families (or individuals with numerous lines) away from their current carriers by offering an instant $400 store credit towards the purchase of “qualifying devices.” While that $400 is sure to catch your attention, it’s the “fine print” that caught mine. In order to receive this promo, you have to activate three or more lines on an Everything Data Share or Simply Everything Data plan — one of which, must be ported over from a non-Sprint company (Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Common Cents Mobile are subsidiaries of Sprint). The stipulations don’t end there.
Come This Time Tomorrow, 75% Of The U.S. Population Will Be Covered By Verizon’s 4G LTE Network
It’s starting to look like Verizon will hit its 400 market goal well before the end of the year. With plans to unleash yet another wave of 4G LTE rollouts, Verizon will hit the 371 mark by tomorrow. While some markets are already seeing 4G LTE, tomorrow’s scheduled rollout aims to add 34 new markets and expand LTE in another 38 markets. At the very least, this news reminds me why I’m still on Verizon.
Consumers Expected To Shut Up And Smile As Verizon Donates $1.25 Million Of Stolen Money To The FCC [Rant]
Perhaps you’ve heard the “great” news about how Verizon has to dish out $1.25 million to the FCC for violating the FCC’s “C Block rules,” requiring licensees of C Block spectrum to allow customers to freely use the devices and applications of their choosing. If you’re just hearing about it, let me give you the gist of things and then you’ll get to hear me rant.
AT&T 4G LTE Now Available In Four New Markets
Four new cities were treated to some AT&T 4G LTE goodness today, while other experienced increased coverage. Every carrier, other than Verizon, appears to enjoy switching on four markets at a time. Still, those living in the following cities will now feel better about being included in the world of 4G LTE:
Four New Cities To Receive Sprint 4G LTE Before Labor Day
Sprint may be a noob in the LTE market, but that isn’t going to stop them from bringing their LTE network to more cities across the U.S. Come Labor Day, you can expect four new cities to be basking in the increased speed of Sprint’s 4G LTE network. Announced today, Sprint will be lighting up the following cities very soon:
Verizon and Redbox’s Joint Venture Gives Birth To A Clever Name: Redbox Instant By Verizon
Okay, so I was being sarcastic about the clever name. Nevertheless, the joint venture announced by Redbox and Verizon back in February has finally given birth to an official name, and that name is Redbox Instant by Verizon. Together, Verizon and Redbox plan on bringing yet another video on-demand streaming and download service to the market. As long as Verizon doesn’t screw it up with pricing, the Redbox kiosk/streaming combo could be a real winner.
Another Month, Another 30+ Markets Being Lit Up With Verizon 4G LTE
Verizon’s 4G LTE coverage map continues to look like a teenager with a bad case of acne, however, they are lighting up more cities per month than other carriers have all year. The next batch of markets to receive the Verizon 4G LTE treatment is just as large, with 33 new markets and 32 expanding markets set to go live tomorrow. There’s a reason you pay Big Red all that cash, and this is one of them.
AT&T Unveils Mobile Share Plans, Expected To Hit Late Next Month
Following in the footsteps of Verizon, AT&T is just a month away from implementing Shared Data/Mobile plans. Unveiled by AT&T today, the new Mobile Share Plans are extremely similar to Verizon’s, with a few notable differences.
Buckle Your Seatbelts Sprint Customers, ‘Cause Kansas Is Going LTE
You read that right, Sprint has finally unleashed a twister of LTE pockets in and around the Kansas City area. They may be mere corn kernels compared to the likes of Verizon and AT&T but it’s a start — and one that I’m sure will have Sprint customers skipping down the yellow brick road.
Seven New Markets Hit The AT&T LTE Jackpot
Seven new markets received AT&T 4G LTE yesterday, bringing AT&T’s total LTE coverage to 47 cities. AT&T continues their slow roll, while Verizon’s lighting up around 47 cities per month. Since you AT&T customers could probably care less about Verizon’s plague like rollout, I’ll jump right to the new markets so you can see if you’ve hit the AT&T LTE jackpot.
Verizon’s Share Everything Plans Are Now Here
For better or worse, Verizon’s new Share Everything plans are now here. If you sign up for Verizon and wish to have multiple devices on one account, you’ll have to choose from the new Share Everything plans. Current customers do not have to worry about this unless they either want to, or decide to upgrade to a new device at a subsidized cost.
Reminder: Verizon’s 4G LTE Assault Takes Place Tomorrow
In case you haven’t been counting down the days to Verizageddon, it’s almost upon us. Tomorrow, Verizon will be lighting up and expanding its 4G LTE network in a ridiculous number of markets. Verizon undeniably has the largest 4G LTE coverage in the U.S. and it’ll be years before its competitors catch up.
Verizon’s Summer Forecast: Blazing With A High Of 4G LTE
Verizon continues to put other carriers to shame with their 4G LTE network. In one day, Verizon manages to blanket more markets than most carriers do in months. At the current rate of expansion, I’d say most other carriers are year’s behind, and according to Verizon’s current forecast, it’s going to get worse.
Sprint Does Away With 5GB/$29.99 Mobile Hotspot Plan
Sprint has nixed its 5GB/$29.99 mobile hotspot add-on for mobile phones and tablets in favor of a two-tier system. Sprint customers will now have a choice between a 2GB/$19.99 a month plan or 6GB/$49.99 a month plan. These new offerings should give customers more choice to better fit their mobile hotspot needs. Customers can also enroll in Sprint’s MHS notification program to be notified when they reach 75, 90 and 100 percent of their on-network monthly data limit.