Verizon 4G network coming earlier, LTE devices to hit shelves by Black Friday

Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 08:09, by Daniel P.

Share Tweet Share

Verizon 4G network coming earlier, LTE devices to hit shelves by Black Friday

Verizon's Long Term Evolution (LTE) high-speed data network was not expected to be operational until next year, but it seems like things are advancing ahead of schedule. Boy Genius Report has been tipped that by November 15th, 25 major cities will be blanketed with LTE. Coverage will eventually reach 100 million potential customers, who will most probably have to say goodbye to unlimited data plans in case they get a 4G gadget.

Still, why have a 4G network without the hardware to utilize it? According to the tipster, Verizon is covering that base too, with some devices expected to be on sale by Black Friday November 26th. As far as smartphones are concerned, rumor has it that Samsung and RIM will have their toes in the water first, unleashing LTE-capable handsets in the beginning of 2011.

source: Electronista

19 Comments

Options

Close Follow ›

posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:47

1. vzw fanman (Posts: 1976; Member since: 11 Dec 2008)

this is great news.

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 08:37

2. xtroid2k (Posts: 531; Member since: 11 Jan 2010)

I'm looking forward to 4g. Can't wait to see what real potential VZW can unlock. I'm just curious to see what the new data plans will look like

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 13:56

10. BlackberryUser (Posts: 609; Member since: 26 Jun 2009)

I'm hoping the data plans have better tiers then AT&T. Maybe 1gb, 5gb, 15gb, and 25gb with reasonable overage charges.

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 14:40

12. ssjassassin (Posts: 108; Member since: 31 Aug 2009)

I would love to have faith that Verizon is going to move into tiered pricing at reasonable and fair rates. You have to understand though, this is a way to prevent people from being power users. The pricing structure will not be a nice gradual slope. They currently spread the cost of all users to everyone eqaully. The plans they publish will have a severe curve to it like AT&T. They may litter that curve with more plans and auto upgrade, though, this has never been done by Verizon. The perfect reason to beleive this now is the fact they force data plans on customers who want 3G phones and more advanced technology but do not browse the web. The consumer friendly thing to do would be block traffic through those channels yet they tell you it can not be done. The only good thing i see in Verizon future right now is creating data only plans that will allow for VOIP and chat vs texting and minute plans.

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 08:51

3. oddmanout (Posts: 442; Member since: 22 May 2009)

that would be cool if vzw and sprints roaming agreement worked for 4g too. too bad wimax isnt compatible with lte... damn sprint. why couldnt you just wait for lte! then again.. i wouldnt have my evo. but im looking forward to seeing how vzw will compete. price wise, sprint will always have the advantage.

posted on 01 Jul 2010, 16:58

18. jbroots3 (Posts: 104; Member since: 29 Jan 2010)

don't fret, wimax would be able to be converted to lte at some point from what ive read up on the technologies. and from there i hear you could go to a wimax2 or lte2 technology. i agree. i'll stick with saving a good bit of money as long as it works and works well.

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 11:17

4. hellohello (Posts: 1; Member since: 30 Jun 2010)

Wow, that's a great scoop. Or not, considering that info has been on Verizon's web page since last year. http://aboutus.vzw.com/rural/Deploying.html

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 11:43

5. jrcrow79 (Posts: 477; Member since: 02 May 2008)

the data will be tiered...meh

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 11:52

6. zerglisk (Posts: 544; Member since: 09 Feb 2010)

I think they might introduce a WP7 LTE phone, but who knows Too early to tell and upgrade anyway

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 13:10

7. rjt185 (Posts: 257; Member since: 11 Jun 2009)

It'd be VERY interesting of Qualcomm & Others develop that hybrid LTE/WiMax chip so that Sprint can continue focusing WiMax while Verizon on LTE and just work our a roaming agreement between the two of them.

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 13:12

8. ace1122 (Posts: 237; Member since: 23 Mar 2009)

Here we go again. More reason why not to buy a current smart phone with Verizon and just wait for a better one. But wait for how long! It seems like they're always outdoing themselves every month now.

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 13:57

11. BlackberryUser (Posts: 609; Member since: 26 Jun 2009)

They do, but you don't have to buy the latest and greatest phone.

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 15:29

14. lovebuzz (Posts: 76; Member since: 21 Oct 2009)

You can wait for whatever it is you think you're waiting for, but it's not like when LTE comes that all the current smartphones would just stop working. They will have dual-compatability until exclusive LTE devices are released and customers transition to these phones. I think the name for it is.. what.. COMMON SENSE.

posted on 01 Jul 2010, 00:11

15. CRICKETownz (Posts: 980; Member since: 24 Oct 2009)

Sense is not as common as you seem to think as i don't think its possible in this case to create a device now that is compatible with a technology that is not yet here. Thats like sayin new XBox 360 games bein developed should be able to run on the first-gen Xbox. Idk about common sense but Verizon has stated that current 3G devices won't be compatible with LTE but the upcoming LTE devices will be backwards compatible with 3G.

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 13:19

9. KingOfPhones (Posts: 41; Member since: 04 May 2008)

well that last story about a verizon iPhone is a little more credible after hearing this...

posted on 30 Jun 2010, 14:48

13. BlackberryUser (Posts: 609; Member since: 26 Jun 2009)

Good point..

posted on 01 Jul 2010, 00:29

16. drodriguezsd (Posts: 35; Member since: 10 Jun 2010)

Can't wait for the Droid X, I'll be getting it before Verizon's data plan change though :) A reasonable data plan selection would look like this > $15-500mb, $20-2gb, $30-5gb

posted on 01 Jul 2010, 12:39

17. 0tj0 (Posts: 6; Member since: 15 Sep 2009)

The whole tiered data pricing thing is a joke. There logic behind it is that if they dont limit people then there will be some "power users" out there that will slow down the network for everyone... but with LTE the bandwidth should be high enough to account for that ESPECIALLY if 3G was able to. IF the amount of smart phone users ever came near 80% then ya I would belevie that the network may need to be limited. But 1- I dont see the market passing 50% in the next 15 years, and 2- even then the number of power users most likely will not jump to much. If for some crazy reason it does hit 80% I would imagine we'll all be in flying cars by then... and living on mars... and the phone will be built into my hand... and sex robots... lots of sex robots...

posted on 03 Jul 2010, 02:28

19. GWNIII (Posts: 8; Member since: 17 Jun 2010)

I have a feeling that Apple would like to bill its next iPhone as "The World's First LTE Phone". No matter how things play out, it certainly won't be "just another phone", but I'd like to see Apple get out there first. And maybe they will.