Verizon Wireless on Thursday announced that its lightning fast 4G LTE network now covers more than half of the U.S. population. We have repeatedly called Verizon’s LTE network the fastest cellular network we’ve ever used, and the fact that the carrier has been able to roll it out so quickly with only a few hiccups is nothing short of impressive. ”In eight short months we’ve introduced our 4G LTE network to more than half of the U.S. population, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless, in a statement. “This matters to millions of Americans because they can take advantage of faster 4G LTE speeds both at home and when they travel throughout the country – today and in many more markets to come this year.  Each new market and expansion is significant as it brings us closer to delivering on the promise to bring our 4G LTE network to more than 185 million Americans by the end of 2011.” Verizon Wireless’ full press release follows below.

VERIZON WIRELESS’ 4G LTE NETWORK AVAILABLE TO MORE THAN HALF THE U.S. POPULATION

On Thursday, Verizon Wireless Turns on 15 Additional 4G LTE Markets and Expands Its 4G LTE Network in 10 Cities

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless is turning on the world’s most advanced wireless network in 15 additional cities and expanding its network in 10 cities on Aug. 18, bringing the blazingly fast speed of 4G LTE to more than 160 million Americans – more than half the U.S. population – in fewer than eight months.  Consumers and businesses can choose from an array of 4G LTE-enabled smartphones, tablets, notebooks and netbooks, and hotspots to connect to the fastest 4G LTE network in the country, now available in 117 cities.

On Thursday, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will be available in Tucson, Ariz.; Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, Ark.; Bakersfield and Salinas/Monterey/Seaside, Calif.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Frederick, Md.; Worcester, Mass.; Omaha, Neb./Council Bluffs, Iowa; Albany, Ithaca and Syracuse, N.Y.; Altoona and Johnstown, Pa.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Provo, Utah.  The company is also expanding its 4G LTE network on Thursday in Washington, D.C.; Tampa, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Baltimore, Md.; Boston, Mass.; Lansing, Mich.; New York, N.Y.; Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; and Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah.

“In eight short months we’ve introduced our 4G LTE network to more than half of the U.S. population, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless.  “This matters to millions of Americans because they can take advantage of faster 4G LTE speeds both at home and when they travel throughout the country – today and in many more markets to come this year.  Each new market and expansion is significant as it brings us closer to delivering on the promise to bring our 4G LTE network to more than 185 million Americans by the end of 2011.”

4G LTE Devices

Consumers can choose from 10 devices to access the blazingly fast speeds of the 4G LTE network, including:

• Smartphones: Revolution^™ by LG, DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt^™ by HTC
• Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab^™ 10.1 with 4G LTE
• Notebooks and Netbooks: HP^® Pavilion dm1-3010nr Entertainment PC and Compaq^™ Mini CQ10-688nr with built-in 4G LTE
• Hotspots: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi^™ 4510L and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot SCH-LC11
• Modems: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE USB Modem 551L and Pantech UML290 USB modem

In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.  For details on all 4G LTE devices visit www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE.

When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.  Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas today who purchase 4G LTE devices to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas.

Reliability: In and Beyond Major Cities

As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy game-changing 4G LTE technology, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G LTE network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized.  Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.  The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G LTE, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Verizon Wireless’ vision also includes bringing its 4G LTE network beyond major cities.  The company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G LTE network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum.  Already, 10 rural companies have announced their participation in the LTE in Rural America program and have leased spectrum covering, in total, more than 2.1 million people in rural communities and nearly 62,000 square miles.  These companies include: Bluegrass Cellular, Cross Telephone, Pioneer Cellular, Cellcom, Thumb Cellular, Strata Networks, S&R Communications, Carolina West/Clear Stream, Custer Telephone Cooperative and Convergence Technologies.

Verizon Wireless on Thursday confirmed that its 4G LTE network is now available in Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Connecticut; Gainesville Pensacola and Tallahassee Florida; Fayetteville-Lumberton, North Carolina; and Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen, Texas. The nation’s largest wireless carrier also said that it’s expanding the 4G footprint that is already available in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, and Philadelphia, to cover more customers. Verizon’s chief technical officer, David Small, said that Verizon’s 4G LTE network is now available in 55 metropolitan areas and that the carrier plans to expand its 4G LTE footprint to match its entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013. Hit the jump for the full press release.

VERIZON WIRELESS LAUNCHES NINE NEW 4G LTE MARKETS TODAY AND EXPANDS 4G LTE NETWORK IN FIVE MAJOR CITIES

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless is turning on the world’s most advanced wireless network in nine additional metropolitan areas today, as well as expanding the 4G LTE network in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans and Philadelphia.  The wireless leader announced today the 4G LTE network is now available in Mobile and Montgomery Ala.; Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.; Gainesville, Pensacola and Tallahassee, Fla.; Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.; and Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen, Texas.

David Small, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless, noted, “We’re now offering consumers and businesses in 55 metropolitan areas the most advanced 4G wireless network on the planet, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast.  We plan to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to our entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013.”

Consumers can choose from several devices to access the blazingly fast speeds of the 4G LTE network, including the newly-launched DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt™ by HTC smartphones, MiFi® 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot.  Laptop users can enjoy speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network with three USB modems from Novatel, Pantech and LG.  In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

When customers travel outside of a 4G coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.  Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable network in the country, allowing customers with laptops and smartphones to download and use cool apps, from mobile social networking platforms to GPS-enabled maps.  Customers can also can rapidly browse the Web to keep up with news, sports, stock quotes, Hollywood gossip and more, work on-the-go with fast file sharing and stream must-see video and customized radio stations.  Customers in 3G coverage areas today who purchase 4G devices will be able to take advantage of 4G speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas.

As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy game-changing 4G LTE technology, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized.  Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.  The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Verizon Wireless’ vision also includes bringing its 4G LTE network beyond major cities.  The company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum.  Already, 10 rural companies have signed on to leverage Verizon Wireless’ scale for infrastructure while keeping their customers on the cutting edge of technology, including Bluegrass Cellular, Cross Telephone, Pioneer Cellular, Cellcom, Thumb Cellular, Strata Networks, S&R Communications, Carolina West / Clear Stream, Custer Telephone Cooperative and Convergence Technologies.

While Verizon Wireless’ 3G network covers more than 290 million Americans, the company’s 4G LTE network is already available in 55 metropolitan areas, including:

·         Mobile Ala.
·         Montgomery Ala.
·         Phoenix, Ariz.
·         Los Angeles, Calif.
·         Oakland, Calif.
·         San Diego, Calif.
·         San Francisco, Calif.
·         San Jose, Calif.
·         Denver, Colo.
·         Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.
·         Washington, D.C.
·         Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
·         Gainesville, Fla.
·         Jacksonville, Fla.
·         Miami, Fla.
·         Orlando, Fla.
·         Pensacola, Fla.
·         Tallahassee, Fla.
·         Tampa, Fla.
·         West Palm Beach, Fla.
·         Athens, Ga.
·         Atlanta, Ga.
·         Chicago, Ill.
·         West Lafayette, Ind.
·         New Orleans, La.
·         Baltimore, Md.
·         Boston, Mass.
·         Detroit, Mich.
·         Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
·         St. Louis, Mo.
·         Las Vegas, Nev.
·         New York, N.Y.
·         Rochester, N.Y.
·         Charlotte, N.C.
·         Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.
·         Wilmington, N.C.
·         Akron, Ohio
·         Cincinnati, Ohio
·         Cleveland, Ohio
·         Columbus, Ohio
·         Oklahoma City, Okla.
·         Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, Pa.
·         Philadelphia, Pa.
·         Pittsburgh, Pa.
·         Columbia, S.C.
·         Hilton Head, S.C.
·         Clarksville, Tenn./Hopkinsville, Ky.
·         Cleveland, Tenn.
·         Nashville, Tenn.
·         Bryan-College Station, Texas
·         Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
·         Houston, Texas
·         San Antonio, Texas
·         Temple-Killeen, Texas
·         Seattle, Wash.

Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, with many being fostered at the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and the Application Innovation Center, slated to open in San Francisco later this year.

The nation’s fifth largest wireless provider — MetroPCS — announced the addition of Tampa, Florida to its LTE portfolio. “As we have built-out our 4G LTE service across the nation, we continue to be dedicated to making our customers’ lives easier by providing them with feature-rich smartphones that let them do more on our network,” said the company’s president, CEO and chairman Roger D. Linquist. Tampa joins Atlanta, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento and San Francisco on the list of cities blanketed with MetroPCS’s LTE network. The full press release is after the break.

MetroPCS Launches 4G ^LTE Service in the Tampa Metropolitan Area

Experience unlimited 4G ^LTE mobile broadband with the world’s first commercially available 4G ^LTE enabled Android smartphone

DALLAS – (April 1, 2011) – MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) today expanded its 4G^LTE service into the Tampa metropolitan area featuring the Samsung Galaxy Indulge^TM, the world’s first commercially available 4G^LTE enabled Android^TM smartphone with unlimited talk, text and 4G^LTE web browsing. The Samsung Galaxy Indulge is available on MetroPCS 4G^LTE service plans that range from $50 to $60 a month, including all applicable taxes and regulatory fees.

“As we have built-out our 4G^LTE service across the nation, we continue to be dedicated to making our customers’ lives easier by providing them with feature-rich smartphones that let them do more on our network,” said Roger D. Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of MetroPCS. “The Samsung Galaxy Indulge offers the total package, allowing consumers to manage every aspect of their lives from their mobile phone, using the latest Android technology and our MetroPCS 4G^LTE service.”

The Samsung Galaxy Indulge Experience
The Samsung Galaxy Indulge is available in-store or online for $299 after a $100 mail-in rebate, plus tax. Customers can take advantage of all MetroPCS 4G^LTE has to offer with the Samsung Galaxy Indulge, including:

• Data access to streaming audio, video and gaming content, downloads and Android applications.

• The latest Android 2.2 technology with quick access to more than 100,000 apps on the Android Market^TM.
• A three megapixel camera and camcorder with auto-focus, music player, Stereo Bluetooth® capabilities and expandable memory storage up to 32GB.
• MetroSTUDIO, powered by RealNetworks, delivers audio content over 4G^LTE and Wi-Fi, and premium video content on the $60 plan from NBC Universal, Black Entertainment Television (BET) and Univision, available on-demand from one easy-to-use application.
• A social networking and instant messaging application which harnesses notifications from friends and content from Facebook, MySpace and Twitter and AIM, MSN and Yahoo! IM clients into a single interface that’s accessible with one click.

The Samsung Galaxy Indulge is equipped with both a touchscreen and full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, making it easy to text or email in seconds. The smartphone has a 3.5″ brilliant display and seven homescreens that can be personalized to meet your news, service and entertainment needs with apps, widgets and folders.  You also get full access to Google Mobile services, such as Google Search^TM, Google Maps^TM, Gmail^TM and YouTube^TM. Additionally, the Galaxy Indulge includes a 4GB microSD^TM card, preloaded with the action film “IRONMAN 2,” produced by Paramount Pictures.

With today’s launch in the Tampa metropolitan area, MetroPCS’ 4G^LTEservices are available in all MetroPCS’s metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento and San Francisco.  4G^LTE service is also available on the Samsung Craft^TM, the world’s first commercially available 4G^LTE smartphone that launched in 2010.

Via a press release today, AT&T announced a new, comprehensive insurance offering dubbed Mobile Protection Pack. As the company explains, the new offering is a combination of three services: mobile insurance, enhanced support, and mobile locate. Mobile Protection, which will retail for $9.99 per month, covers subscribers against equipment loss, theft, accidental damage, liquid damage, and out-of-warranty malfunction. It also provides users with the ability to locate, lock, and trigger an alarm on a misplaced phone — and includes a handful of setup services. The complete list of covered devices can be found here, and includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Atrix 4G. Users looking to replace a damaged or lost device will have to pay a $50 or $125 deductible and, like all AT&T insurance offerings, Apple’s iPad and iPhone are not eligible. Hit the jump for the full press release.

AT&T Introduces the AT&T Mobile Protection Pack, a First-of-its-Kind Offer to Replace, Support, and Locate Your Mobile Device

Mobile Protection Pack features Mobile Insurance, Enhanced Support and Mobile Locate

AT&T* today announced the availability of the new AT&T Mobile Protection Pack, providing comprehensive protection and service support for several devices in AT&T’s mobile phone portfolio. The new package, available for $9.99 a month, combines two existing AT&T services – Mobile Insurance and Enhanced Support – along with the new Mobile Locate app, offered exclusively as part of the protection pack.

“This package is designed with the customer and their wireless support needs in mind,” said Mark Collins, senior vice president, Voice and Data Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Now concentrated in one service package, customers have a more convenient, affordable and seamless way to protect and manage their wireless device.”

AT&T Mobile Protection Pack combines the following services:

Mobile Insurance. Formerly Wireless Phone Insurance, Mobile Insurance provides replacement for approved claims involving loss, theft, accidental damage, liquid damage, or mechanical and electrical failure after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. Customers can sign up within 30 days of service activation or device upgrade.

Enhanced Support. Customers can take advantage of direct live support (via phone or web chat) for device setup, plus general “how to” help and ongoing troubleshooting assistance. Customers can also grant the service agent permission to remotely access a capable device and/or customer’s computer via a secure connection to help manage account and device needs.

Mobile Locate. Available exclusively within the AT&T Protection Pack, Mobile Locate allows users to remotely locate, lock or sound an alarm on their missing phone via the Mobile Protection Pack website. Compatible phones must be powered-on and be within an AT&T coverage area. Highlights include:

• Locate missing phone in real-time. Customers can locate their phone in real time, plus retrieve the last five locations of the device, including turn-by-turn directions to each of the locations.
• Sound an alarm. An alarm on the device can be activated, even if the phone is on silent or vibrate. The alarm will sound for three minutes unless turned off by the customer.
• Secure data by remotely locking the phone. Customers have the ability to remotely lock the phone if lost. If the phone is found, customers can simply enter a unique pin to unlock the phone.

To enroll in and learn more about the AT&T Mobile Protection Pack, customers can call 866-MOBILITY or visit www.att.com/mobileprotectionpack.Mobile Insurance is available separately for $4.99 per month per enrolled mobile number. Enhanced Support is also available separately for $9.00 per month per enrolled mobile number.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Customers must enroll in AT&T Mobile Protection Pack within 30 days of activation date or device upgrade date. Existing Mobile Insurance customers can upgrade to the Mobile Protection Pack at any time. Both Mobile Insurance and Enhanced Support are available as standalone products, however Mobile Locate is only available as part of the Mobile Protection Pack. If the customer is enrolled in Mobile Protection Pack and decides to drop Mobile Insurance, both Enhanced Support and Mobile Locate will also be dropped. However, the customer can still purchase Enhanced Support separately for $9.00 per month per enrolled number. Mobile Locate is available on select phones. All features may not work on all devices. Visit att.com/mobileprotectionpack for more information.

Mobile Insurance: A nonrefundable deductible of either $50 or $125 applies, depending upon the device model for each approved claim. Claims may be fulfilled with a new or remanufactured device. Customers are allowed 2 claims within any consecutive 12 months with a maximum device value of $1,500 per occurrence. Customers can cancel the optional coverage at any time and receive a prorated refund of unearned premium. Mobile Insurance is insurance underwritten by Continental Casualty Company, a CNA company (CNA), and administered by Asurion Protection Services, LLC (in California, Asurion Protection Services Insurance Agency, LLC, CA Lic. #OD63161. In Puerto Rico, Asurion Protection Services of Puerto Rico, Inc.) a licensed agent of CNA.

Verizon Wireless on Tuesday announced the addition of 59 new markets that will be covered by the carrier’s 4G LTE service in 2011. These new regions are in addition to the 88 markets Verizon Wireless already announced, bringing the total number of projected markets that will receive LTE coverage from Verizon this year to 147. “Aggressively expanding this powerful network beyond major metro areas reflects the reality that the 4G LTE ecosystem is growing quickly, ” Verizon Wireless CTO David Small said in a statement. “Our commitment to reach deep into medium-sized cities and smaller communities by the end of 2011 means the power of 4G LTE can be harnessed and provide advanced services to law enforcement, healthcare workers, educators, and other professionals, as well as to individual consumers, sooner than many thought possible.” Verizon Wireless launched its first 4G LTE-enabled smartphone, the HTC ThunderBolt, last week, and the carrier currently offers a variety of LTE modems. Hit the break for the full press release.

VERIZON WIRELESS BRINGS 4G LTE TO MORE THAN 145 MARKETS BY THE END OF 2011

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Today, Verizon Wireless unveiled an additional 59 markets that will benefit from the world’s first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network by the end of this year.  These newly named areas, added to the 39 initial markets launched in December 2010 and 49 markets announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, mean that consumers and businesses in at least 147 U.S. cities will have access to the fastest, most advanced 4G mobile network in America.

David Small, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless, said, “Aggressively expanding this powerful network beyond major metro areas reflects the reality that the 4G LTE ecosystem is growing quickly.  Our commitment to reach deep into medium-sized cities and smaller communities by the end of 2011 means the power of 4G LTE can be harnessed and provide advanced services to law enforcement, healthcare workers, educators, and other professionals, as well as to individual consumers, sooner than many thought possible.  So whether you spend time in New York and San Francisco, or Harrisburg, Penn., Saginaw/Bay City, Mich., Huntsville, Ala. and Las Cruces, New Mexico, you can connect to the most advanced 4G network in the country.”

The HTC ThunderBolt™, launched Thursday, March 17, is the first in a suite of consumer-oriented smartphones, tablets, hotspots and notebooks that will run on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network by the middle of this year.  The new consumer devices join two USB modems from Pantech and LG which have been providing laptop users with speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network.  In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

Verizon Wireless is building its 4G LTE network with the same commitment to performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized.  Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.  The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Verizon Wireless is also working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum.  Already, six rural companies have signed on to leverage Verizon Wireless’ scale for infrastructure while keeping their customers on the cutting edge of technology.

Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, including the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and an LTE Applications Center, slated to open in San Francisco this fall.

Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network already reaches 110 million people, more than one-third of all Americans, and is available today in the following metropolitan areas:

·                Phoenix, Ariz.

·                Los Angeles, Calif.

·                Oakland, Calif.

·                San Diego, Calif.

·                San Francisco, Calif.

·                San Jose, Calif.

·                Denver, Colo.

·                Washington, D.C.

·                Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

·                Jacksonville, Fla.

·                Miami, Fla.

·                Orlando, Fla.

·                Tampa, Fla.

·                West Palm Beach, Fla.

·                Athens, Ga.

·                Atlanta, Ga.

·                Chicago, Ill.

·                West Lafayette, Ind.

·                New Orleans, La.

·                Baltimore, Md.

·                Boston, Mass.

·                Detroit, Mich.

·                Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.

·                St. Louis, Mo.

·                Las Vegas, Nev.

·                New York, N.Y.

·                Rochester, N.Y.

·                Charlotte, N.C.

·                Akron, Ohio

·                Cincinnati, Ohio

·                Cleveland, Ohio

·                Columbus, Ohio

·                Oklahoma City, Okla.

·                Philadelphia, Pa.

·                Pittsburgh, Pa.

·                Nashville, Tenn.

·                Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

·                Houston, Texas

·                San Antonio, Texas

·                Seattle/Tacoma, Wash.

Additional areas to be covered by Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network in 2011 include:

·                Decatur, Ala.

·                Huntsville, Ala.*

·                Mobile, Ala.*

·                Montgomery, Ala.*

·                Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.

·                Fort Smith, Ark.

·                Little Rock, Ark.*

·                Tucson, Ariz.

·                Bakersfield, Calif.

·                Fresno, Calif.

·                Modesto, Calif.

·                Sacramento, Calif.

·                Salinas-Monterey, Calif.

·                San Luis Obispo, Calif.

·                Santa Barbara, Calif.

·                Stockton, Calif.

·                Colorado Springs, Colo.*

·                Fort Collins, Colo.

·                Fairfield, Conn.

·                Hartford, Conn.

·                New Haven, Conn.

·                Daytona Beach, Fla.

·                Fort Myers, Fla.

·                Gainesville, Fla.*

·                Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.*

·                Pensacola, Fla.*

·                Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.*

·                Tallahassee, Fla.*

·                Augusta, Ga.*

·                Hilo, Hawaii

·                Honolulu, Hawaii*

·                Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii*

·                Lahaina, Hawaii*

·                Davenport, Iowa

·                Iowa City, Iowa

·                Boise-Nampa, Idaho*

·                Bloomington/Normal, Ill.

·                Carbondale, Ill.*

·                Champaign, Ill.

·                Rockford, Ill.

·                Springfield, Ill.

·                Fort Wayne, Ind.

·                Indianapolis, Ind.

·                Lafayette, Ind.

·                Wichita, Kan.*

·                Louisville, Ky.

·                Baton Rouge, La.*

·                Hammond, La.*

·                Springfield, Mass.

·                Worcester, Mass.

·                Hagerstown, Md.

·                Flint, Mich.*

·                Grand Rapids, Mich.

·                Lansing, Mich.

·                Saginaw-Bay City, Mich.

·                Starkville, Miss.

·                Asheville-Henderson, N.C.

·                Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.*

·                Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, N.C.*

·                Raleigh-Durham, N.C.*

·                Wilmington, N.C.*

·                Fargo, N.D.

·                Omaha, Neb.

·                Albuquerque, N.M.

·                Las Cruces, N.M.

·                Santa Fe, N.M.

·                Reno, Nev.

·                Albany, N.Y.

·                Ithaca, N.Y.

·                Syracuse, N.Y.

·                Dayton-Springfield, Ohio*

·                Lima, Ohio

·                Toledo, Ohio

·                Tulsa, Okla.*

·                Portland, Ore.

·                Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa.

·                Erie, Pa.*

·                Harrisburg, Pa.

·                Johnstown, Pa.

·                Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Pa.

·                State College, Pa.*

·                Charleston, S.C.*

·                Columbia, S.C.*

·                Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.*

·                Hilton Head, S.C.*

·                Sioux Falls, S.D.*

·                Chattanooga, Tenn.*

·                Clarksville, Tenn.*

·                Cleveland, Tenn.*

·                Dyersburg-Union City, Tenn.

·                Jackson, Tenn.

·                Kingsport-Johnson City, Tenn.-Bristol, Va.*

·                Knoxville, Tenn.*

·                Memphis, Tenn.*

·                Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas*

·                Bryan-College Station, Texas*

·                El Paso, Texas

·                Temple-Killeen, Texas

·                Provo-Orem, Utah*

·                Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah*

·                Olympia, Wash.*

·                Centralia, Wash.*

·                Spokane, Wash.

·                Charleston, W.Va.*

·                Madison, Wis.*

·                Milwaukee, Wis.*

* Indicates a metro area previously announced in 2011

Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.

Look, I have been dreaming about a Verizon iPhone since the original announcement was made in 2007. I’ve always admired Verizon’s insanely solid and reliable wireless network, even before it was Verizon (someone tell James Earl Jones I said what’s up). I had the first digital phone Verizon Wireless offered (following countless analog phones prior to that), and I’ve had many more since then. But I switched away from Verizon Wireless as soon as I saw that the handsets available in Europe were becoming more advanced, because these new phones typically didn’t become available from Verizon for months or even years later, if at all. As soon as I saw that I could switch my SIM card from phone to phone myself, I was on a tear — first on T-Mobile, then AT&T when I realized how much better AT&T’s coverage was in my area, even five years ago.

During all of this, however, I always knew that Verizon’s network was better than any other wireless network in the United States. Why? Not because it was the fastest or because Verizon had the best phones (that’s arguable in today’s day and age), but because Verizon worked wherever you wanted it to work, whenever you needed it to work. In Vermont in the middle of nowhere? Verizon Wireless has a signal. Driving across the country? Verizon’s got your back.

Fast forward to 2011: I was sitting at the Verizon iPhone event liveblogging, and I was ridiculously excited for what was about to be announced (plenty more people were excited as well — BGR crashed for 40 minutes due to the sheer number of people checking the site for the latest updates). My favorite smartphone, the only phone I choose to use day in and day out, was going to be available on the best damn network in the country — finally! I pre-ordered it at 3:00 a.m. on February 3rd, and then sat and waited for FedEx to deliver it days later. Side note: the friendly FedEx delivery person had me write my name on a piece of paper saying that I received the phone since FedEx had so many Verizon iPhone shipments that day that their system crashed.

I opened the phone, and connected it to iTunes, and saw the waiting for activation message. It failed. Three times. No worries — after turning it on and off, my phone was up and working, and it was time to go drive around to all the places my AT&T iPhone failed miserably and test things out.

The Verizon iPhone 4 performed decently at first, though I was quite surprised that Verizon had dead areas in most places AT&T did up in Connecticut. How could this be possible, I thought to myself? I have the best phone on the best network. I needed to head into Manhattan for a couple meetings that day, so, let’s just see how it holds up on the drive down, I told myself. First phone call on I-95? Dropped. What made things worse was that I was stuck on 2G a lot of the time, even in the heart of New York City once I was out and about.

How is this happening?

Well, after a couple calls to Verizon Wireless — and everyone I spoke with was extremely helpful — it turned out my phone didn’t fully activate. I believe the PRL and roaming configurations weren’t updated properly, and after I reprogrammed the phone (something most people won’t ever have to do, as iTunes discreetly does this on first plug-in), I was doing much better. Or was I?

After the “fix” was performed, I still saw 2G on the Verizon iPhone as much or more than I had seen EDGE on the AT&T iPhone that I have used for years (I realize it’s not the same exact phone — I’m referring to the signal quality and coverage). Back in Connecticut, I was still experiencing dropped calls, and it was almost comical. “Dude, I thought you got a Verizon iPhone finally?” I did… it’s just… not that different.

In the end, my personal experience with Verizon’s iPhone in and around New York City ended up being about the same as it was when I was on AT&T. This, combined with other advantages AT&T’s network has, has made me finally decide to switch back. Literally moments before I wrote this article, I synced up my Verizon iPhone and restored it to my AT&T iPhone (I can do this because the OS on the Verizon iPhone is lower than the AT&T iPhone — if I ever wanted to switch back, I couldn’t restore my data until the Verizon iPhone OS is updated to version 4.3). I missed the ability to talk on the phone while data is still flowing (even though I hate talking on the phone). I missed AT&T’s extremely fast data speeds. I missed knowing that if I ever travel outside of the country, I don’t have to get a new phone (even though I hate flying — no, seriously, try me). I missed feeling like I’m in the digital age instead of the stone age.

It’s just true. One of the reasons Verizon’s network is so expansive and solid is because it’s old. Verizon has been building this same network out for ages and so it seemingly stretches beyond any other — but it’s built on an aging and extremely outdated cellular technology. Verizon is in the midst of rolling out its incredible new LTE network in an effort to get with the times, but until then, I’m tired of CDMA. I’m tired of the limitations. What network powers my MiFi? Verizon. What network has the most reliable and robust data offering? Verizon. What network do I want on my iPhone? For now, and I believe for the foreseeable future, it’s AT&T.

Once the iPhone 5 comes out this summer, I’ll reevaluate things. Apple has stepped up its game in the radio and antenna department with each new iPhone release, and the company is practically confirmed to continue using Qualcomm chips (one of the reasons AT&T has had so much trouble with the iPhone is due to Apple’s use of Infineon-baseband chips). But for now, if I’m going to drop just as many calls on Verizon’s network as I do with AT&T, there’s just no reason to give up all of the other perks AT&T’s iPhone 4 affords. I want to talk and surf the Web at the same time on a super-fast data network, and roam internationally, and enjoy the latest iPhone OS, and have my voice calls come through instantly, and hold conference calls with more than two other participants at a time… so I’m back with AT&T.

Via a short press release, T-Mobile announced the addition of five metropolitan areas to its HSPA+ portfolio. Des Moines, Iowa; Gainesville and Panama City, Florida; Monterey, California; and Savannah, Georgia will now have access to T-Mobile’s 21Mbps, HSPA+, 4G network. The company notes that customers can expect real-world speeds between 5Mbps and 12Mbps depending on network traffic. T-Mobile now covers 157 markets with its 21Mbps, HSPA+ network, and expects to double speeds to 42Mbps in 2011.

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Allow us to bring you up to speed in case you missed it — Verizon Wireless just announced that it will finally begin carrying the iPhone 4 starting on February 10th. It’s kind of a big deal. There are definitely plenty of positives tied to the Verizon iPhone, of course. For starters, choice is always a good thing and the fact that AT&T finally lost iPhone exclusivity will benefit consumers in a big way. And there are plenty more benefits as well — for example, there’s a redesigned antenna that might reduce the effects of the death grip, and a mobile hotspot option that AT&T iPhone users have been wishing for since Android first popularized the feature. But it’s not all double rainbows and jazz hands, we’re afraid. There are definitely some areas where Verizon’s upcoming iPhone 4 is sorely lacking, and we’ve listed a few of the main missteps after the break.

Slooooooooow
This was covered in our feature yesterday entitled Why I’m not switching to the Verizon iPhone: Need for speed. Verizon’s 3G network, while sturdier than the Great Wall of China, is slower than your great grandmother driving a Cadillac on the highway. Ok, it’s really not that slow and it’s more than quick enough to handle basic functions like Web browsing, email and use of basic apps. But this is 2011 and data speeds should be increasing, not decreasing. If heavier usage is your cup of tea — streaming media, data-gulping apps and so on — Verizon’s 3G service crawls.

Those who jump ship from AT&T could be in for a rude awakening in this department. Then again, they also might finally be able to make phone calls.

No simultaneous voice and data
There was an off chance that Verizon Wireless would finally announce a solution for simultaneous voice and data over its CDMA network, but it didn’t happen. We’ll just have to wait for the LTE-enabled version of the iPhone to drop in 2012. In the meantime, if you want to talk and receive emails on your iPhone 4 at the same time, you’ll need AT&T. After all, where would we be without young professionals traipsing through our city streets with their faces buried in smartphones while they bark at their Bluetooth headsets?

Roam or get off the pot
Roamers may have a tough time finding ways to travel internationally with their Verizon iPhones. Well, they can travel anywhere they want with their iPhones as long as they don’t need to talk or use cellular data. Verizon’s iPhone 4 will only operate on CDMA networks and the rest of the world, for the most part, uses GSM. There are some countries where Verizon iPhone users will be able to roam on CDMA, but service won’t be great in many cases — and prepare to sell some organs a month later when your bill arrives.

To be fair, however, AT&T iPhone users may have to cough up the deeds to their houses as well if they roam internationally. It’s not cheap. Less expensive options used to be just a jailbreak, an unlock and a prepaid local SIM away, but the iPhone 4 complicates matters thanks to its Micro-SIM. Average users definitely won’t be hacking up foreign a SIM card to perform a Micro-SIM-ectomy, so international roamers are basically screwed in either camp.

No 4G
Verizon’s entire presence at CES last week was focused on one thing and one thing alone: 4G. Its LTE network is now live in 38 markets and a flurry of 4G phones will launch in the coming months. But the iPhone… the smartphone millions of Verizon Wireless subscribers have been dying for… is a 3G device.

We knew Verizon’s iPhone 4 would be a CDMA phone for a number of reasons, but 3G is so 2010. Sprint launched its first 4G phone with minimal WiMAX coverage and it ended up being the fastest-selling phone in the carrier’s history. Now, we won’t see a 4G iPhone from Verizon until 2012. That means while millions of Android phones are surfing Verizon’s 4G airwaves later this year, iPhones will still be puttering along at EVDO speeds.

UPDATE: Post updated to remove a reference to FaceTime over 3G, which will not be available on Verizon’s iPhone 4.

Yesterday, my cohorts weighed in on the question on countless iPhone owners’ minds right now — should I ditch AT&T and buy an iPhone from Verizon? The answer is going to be different for everyone, of course. Some people have a compulsive need to switch phones constantly, so they can’t use a CDMA carrier. Some people have a need for speed and Verizon’s 3G network doesn’t cut it. Well guess what? I have a need for a phone that actually works wherever and whenever I want it to. That need is way more important than any need I have to swap phones every day or download iTunes tracks at lightning-fast speeds. I want to make phone calls. I want to receive emails instantly. I want to load Web pages and refresh apps any time, anywhere. AT&T, fast as it might be, just can’t hang.

Before AT&T scored Apple’s iPhone exclusively in the U.S., its network was solid. Once tons of iPhones began hammering its airwaves constantly, however, things changed — especially in big cities. Calls dropped more frequently than they connected, data pipes were clogged, and the iPhone experience on AT&T pretty much became a disaster in many regions. Now, it wasn’t all AT&T’s fault. Reports emerged that Apple, which was new to the cell phone game, didn’t quite know how to make the most efficient use of cellular networks. Internationally, iPhone users on several other networks found themselves experiencing problems as well, but none were as bad as AT&T. To AT&T’s credit, things have improved a lot over the past six months or so, but I still drop calls constantly in Connecticut and in New York City, where I spend most of my time.

I don’t think we’ll see the same thing happen with Verizon Wireless. The nation’s top carrier has had over three years to prepare for the iPhone and I think it’s ready. Beyond that, a video showing what appears to be parts from the upcoming Verizon iPhone surfaced recently, and it looks like we may be in store for a redesigned antenna. Antennagate might not have affected iPhone sales much, much it definitely impacts the user experience. I don’t use a case and I’m sick of dropping calls every time I accidentally touch the black strip in the lower left corner of the phone. I think Apple spent a ton of time on this issue following the Antennagate affair, and I think the new model will definitely be improved.

There are obvious downsides to switching and I’m well aware of them. Verizon’s 3G is typically slower than AT&T’s network, battery life will probably be a tiny bit worse, and I’ll lose the ability to use voice and data at the same time unless Verizon shocks us with a workaround today. But you know what? I dropped five calls before 9:00AM this morning and I just can’t take it anymore. I’m someone who needs to be connected at all times, in all places, and I need to be able to rely on that connection because by business often depends on it. AT&T simply doesn’t seem to be up to the task — I really hope Verizon will succeed where AT&T continues to fail.

Are you currently deciding whether you should get a new iPhone 4 from AT&T or wait a few weeks for the imminent Verizon iPhone launch? Do you need help determining which carrier provides the best cellular coverage in your most treaded areas? Do you just want extra fodder for the perpetual and infinitely ridiculous “my network is better than your network” argument that takes place on countless forums and blogs? Say hello to Coverage?, a new iOS app from Technomadia. The function of this great little app is quite simple; it allows users to quickly and easily view coverage maps for each of the four major U.S. carriers. Focus can be narrowed by carrier to 3G, 2G or roaming service, and multiple carriers can be viewed on the same map using simple toggle switches. The app uses Google Maps so it supports zooming and multitouch, and it really is quite useful for travelers and those who live in areas with fringe coverage. Coverage? costs $1.99 and is currently available in the App Store for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Hit the break for a video demo.

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The image above says it all. It shows a screen capture of an actual speed test performed on an Apple iPhone 4 while connected to AT&T’s 3G network in northern New Jersey. It is not an anomaly. In fact it’s pretty standard in my home town and in the surrounding areas. Sometimes my download speed is faster and sometimes it’s slower, but it generally stays between 3.5 and 5Mbps¹. I can’t give that up.

Verizon Wireless has an incredibly strong network. It works everywhere, seemingly without fail, and hopefully the carrier can maintain its reputation as a rock solid network even after it is infested with data-gulping iPhones. What the Verizon Wireless network is not, however, is fast. In my town, which is roughly 15 minutes northwest of the George Washington Bridge, Verizon’s average download speed sits around 800Kbps¹. The fastest I’ve seen it in this area is just over 1Mbps. I use Verizon devices all the time as part of my job, and I often carry them with me outside my job. When I want to do something that involves downloading large files or streaming video content, I use an AT&T phone.

But what about reliability? AT&T is horrible! Wrong. AT&T might be horrible for you, but it works just fine for me. Not always, of course, but often enough that I have no interest in switching my main personal account to another provider and sacrificing data speed in the process. In late 2009 and early 2010, it was a very different story. I could rarely make phone calls in the area around my office in New York City and had Verizon scored the iPhone back then, I would have switched in a second. But beginning last summer, however, AT&T’s service in midtown Manhattan improved dramatically.

The other big part my decision comes down to the core reason any “my network is better than your network” argument is patently ridiculous. A network’s coverage, performance and reliability vary greatly depending on region — without exception. Notice the full five bars my iPhone 4 was reporting when the screen shot above was captured. Along with every other AT&T phone I have lying around, my iPhone just about always displays five bars of coverage near my home, office and nearly everywhere else I go in the area. Even when I give it the death grip.

In 2012 when AT&T and Verizon Wireless each have LTE networks that offer widespread coverage and speedy data connections, I’ll reassess the situation. I expect a 4G LTE iPhone to launch for both networks in 2012, so pricing and coverage will become the two main factors I consider. Today, however, switching from AT&T to Verizon would be like switching from broadband to dial-up — and I just can’t handle that.

¹Figures represent estimated average download speeds observed on AT&T and Verizon Wireless’ 3G data networks. The figures are based on independent speed tests performed using various devices with various speed test applications and are in no way scientific.

AT&T might not call its HSPA+ network “4G” like T-Mobile does, but trust us when we tell you… AT&T’s enhanced 3G network can move. The screen shot above, taken just outside New York city on Wednesday afternoon, shows an iPhone 4 enjoying download speeds of 5Mbps on AT&T’s HSPA+ network. According to AT&T CTO John Donovan, 80% of AT&T’s network is now covered by HSPA+, though he did not elaborate on average speeds are experienced in various regions. Donovan also discussed the growth rate of data traffic on the carrier’s network, which is up 3,000% over the past three years — from approximately 1 billion MB in Q3 2007 to a staggering 30.3 billion MB in Q3 2010. Growth has slowed in recent months, from 50% growth in Q2 of this year to 30% in Q3, but the carrier isn’t expecting its data growth rate to continue decreasing. AT&T is currently preparing to launch an LTE network next year that will be even faster than its HSPA+ network, which has a theoretical downlink limit of 21Mbps. AT&T has not publicly stated firm speed expectations for its LTE network.

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Remember that Verizon phone recovery service we told you about five days ago? Well… today, Verizon has made it a reality; albeit four days later than predicted. Via a press release, Big Red announced Mobile Recovery, “a web-and phone-based application that can help customers in the event they lose or misplace their phones.” The Mobile Recovery software — which will work on Android, BlackBerry, Palm, and Windows Mobile handsets — can remote lock and remote wipe your device as well as show your phone’s position, via GPS, on a map. The service can also be used to make your phone sound an alarm (which can be especially useful for those times your phone is lost in the couch cushions). The Mobile Recovery application will be available to customers who subscribe to the Total Equipment Coverage (TEC) program that Verizon offers; the TEC service is underwritten by Asurion. Hit the read link for all the details.

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You can say what you want about the quality of AT&T’s network — and we know you will — but at least they are trying. In a barrage of press releases this morning, AT&T announced that it has spent over $3.5 billion on its network during the first six months of 2010. Some of the investments include $1.1 billion in California, $350 million in Illinois, $275 million in New York City, $225 million in New York, and $200 million in Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Anyone out there seeing improved AT&T coverage as a result of the investment?

Read [California, New York City, New York, Illinois, Alabama, Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Washington, DC, New Jersey, North Carolina, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, Kentucky, Hawaii, Minnesota]

AT&T may want to be the darling of the US wireless carriers, but some of its policies are seemingly designed to turn a customer into an enemy and not an ally. Such is the case with its 3G MicroCell which is promoted as being a solution for those with cellular coverage issues. For those unaware, the 3G Microcell is a hardware device that lets customers use their broadband Internet connection to make and receive phone calls and, in the case of AT&T’s 3G-enabled MicroCell, to utilize the 3G data capabilities of their phone. On the surface, this sounds like a win-win solution with customers receiving solid 3G cellular coverage and AT&T offering a solution for customers with coverage issues. Unfortunately, AT&T seems destined to shoot itself in its foot by instituting a data usage policy that counts data used through the MicroCell against your cellular data allotment. Seems a bit counter-intuitive that AT&T is charging for data used through the MicroCell when the bulk of the data transmission is carried by your broadband Internet provider, no?

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