UPDATE: We have a official VZW doc detailing the stats above!

Currently, Verizon Wireless smartphone users with family plans are required to pay $29.99 per line for cellular data. Non-family-plan smartphone customers can purchase unlimited mobile data (with a 5GB allowance) for the same monthly price. That is all about to change when the free hotspot promo ends. Tiered pricing is now set to begin the day after the promotion ends , which is July 7th, for new contract holders. Yes, existing contracts will remain grand-fathered in and not incur any changes until their contract is up for renewal.

Verizon has made it very clear for quite some time now, that the future of its data network is going to be tiered. Late last year, Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg told investors that the company would eventually swap its unlimited option with several data plans somewhat similar to AT&T’s tiered plans.
When speaking at the Reuters Global Technology Summit, Shammo again mentioned the plan and stated they would start offering data tiers instead of the unlimited plan sometime this summer, but once again at this time, he failed to offer any further details on what those tiers would be or how much they will end up costing.

Still, while this is sad news for Verizon’s heavy data users, it may be a positive move for families or even individuals with multiple smartphone or data intensive devices. Verizon CFO Fran Shammo also confirmed that Verizon would try to soften the bad news by stating the company was planning to roll out “family” data plans that could be shared among several devices.

Well the days of tiered data plans is almost here and we now have those details: via droidlife

Data plans:
• 2GB – $30/month
• 5GB – $50/month
• 10GB – $80/month

If you would like to add tethering on to any of those packages, you can purchase 2GB of data at an additional cost of $20 per month.

Data plans w/ tethering:

• 4GB – $50/month
• 7GB – $70/month
• 12GB – $100/month

Overages will be $10 per 1GB.
Tablet data plans will be $30 for 2GB of data, instead of $20 for 1GB of data as it is now.

How does this match up to the competitor?

AT&T’s tiers:

• 200MB – $15/month
• 2GB – $25/month
• 4GB – $45/month

Given that many different devices are now in market and users tend to have various data usage patterns, a family plan shared among several devices might not be a bad idea. A combined data cap could prove more efficient in terms of data utilization as both a low data user and a high data user from the same family can then share the cost and the data.

How do you think family plans will work out?
Do you think the tiered plans will work to your benefit? Why or why not?
Let me know in the comments, how you feel about this move from the carrier.

source: droidlife

Sources have been following information on this mysterious device since the beginning of April. While some thought the Samsung Replenish may only be a feature phone, it’s recently been confirmed in training documents that it is actually an Android powered “green” device. Would you want to use a “green” phone? Keep reading to find out more.

The image below surfaced at the beginning of the month with not too many details so nobody really made a big deal about it until now. This 3G, touchscreen device is rumored to have an eco-friendly solar rechargeable battery door. That’s where the “green” codename is coming from.

Rumors suggest that the phone will be announced on April 15th and land in Sprint stores by May 5th. This is news to most of us and we will be happy to see any announcements made, unfortunately there haven’t been any just yet. We will keep our eyes open and share the news when there is more. For now, let us know what you geeks think in the comment box below.

Source: AndroidCentral

Sprint’s latest WiMAX device, the Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot from Sierra Wireless has recently been announced and you’ll be seeing it available March 20, 2011. Pricing is marked at only $49.99 after a $50.00 mail-in rebate. This device will allow Sprint users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share a 3G/4G connection.

Sprint expresses to consumers that this is one great device. It’s not only smaller than their original but it also has major improvements in power up and down time as well as a larger LCD display. Sources suggest this device may be shown at the CTIA convention next week so we will hear about just how well it works then.

Take a look at the press release below:

Available March 20, Sprint’s 19th announced 4G-capable device is the next generation of the popular Overdrive mobile hotspot, with an increased number of shared users from five to eight, and a 45 percent larger LCD screen.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and VANCOUVER, Canada–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sprint (NYSE:S) and Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ:SWIR) (TSX:SW) today announced upcoming availability of Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless. As the second generation of the popular Overdrive device, Overdrive Pro allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously – including laptops, tablets, eReaders, gaming devices, cameras and even smartphones from other carriers – through a single connection (via Wi-Fi) to a 4G network offering download speeds up to 10 times faster than today’s 3G service.

Overdrive Pro creates a connection between the Sprint 4G network and virtually all of the hundreds of millions of Wi-Fi-enabled electronics devices owned by or available to customers today. Beginning on March 20, customers will be able to purchase Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot exclusively from Sprint for $49.99 (excluding taxes) after a $50 mail-in-rebate with a two-year service agreement. Customers can purchase the device and sign up for 3G/4G plans at select Sprint retail stores, through business sales, Web (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1).

“There are endless possibilities for how our customers can take advantage of the easy wireless connection to Sprint 4G through this small device,” said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Teams can travel and share access on-the-go, families can be connected in one household with tablets, game consoles and televisions, and shuttle buses can provide Internet access to their customers while en route to a destination. With Overdrive Pro, customers no longer have to look for mobile hotspots because they always have one with them.”

With Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, the benefits to consumers and businesses are endless:

• Stream a favorite TV show or movie from Hulu or Netflix® to your Netbook or tablet while simultaneously surfing the Web in another room
• Wirelessly connect an Xbox 360 and game real-time with someone located across the country
• Move pictures wirelessly from a camera to a digital picture frame and surf the Web on a laptop while streaming Pandora®
• Work remotely anywhere in a 4G coverage area (or virtually anywhere with 3G) and easily connect a laptop, smartphone, tablet or wireless phone through a single connection
• Teams that are travelling can share Internet access with each other at hotels, airports and conference centers
• Taxis, limos and shuttle buses can provide Internet access for customer use while en route to their destination
• Healthcare teams can rely on an easy, reliable, power-up-and-go solution to use in Emergency Response Team (ERT) Go Kits, or while treating patients bedside
• Engineering, construction and insurance teams can instantly upload data, pictures of sites, accidents and images remotely
• Reporters first on the scene of a breaking story can share access to upload stories and photos while at the scene, without missing a beat.

Overdrive Pro offers several enhancements over its predecessor, Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, focused on performance and usability, including a 35 percent improvement in power-up and power-down times. Overdrive Pro’s integrated LCD screen, which provides valuable information like signal strength, battery life, and number of devices connected, is 45 percent larger than the previous version for a wider viewing angle, while the device itself is smaller for easier portability. The LCD display has also been made even more informative, with detailed connection and device information available through additional screens that can be accessed by double-pressing the power button.

Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless requires activation on a Sprint 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Plan starting as low as $49.99 per month.2 Device can be used on both the Sprint 3G and 4G networks. This flexibility allows customers to enjoy 4G performance in any of the 71 Sprint 4G markets or to use Sprint’s reliable, nationwide 3G network.

“Overdrive Pro, combined with the power of Sprint’s 4G network, is a valuable tool for both consumers and business users looking for the best way to stay connected on the go,” said Dan Schieler, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile Computing for Sierra Wireless. “It’s remarkably easy to get up and running, and with support for eight Wi-Fi connections and a range of up to 150 feet, it’s equally useful to a remote work team sending reports and presentations back to the office as it is to a varsity team posting highlights from their winning game.”

Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless offers an easy way to keep all of your Wi-Fi-enabled devices connected, even when you’re on the move:

• Connects up to up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices
• Provides all the information you need to connect and monitor your connection through a simple user interface with integrated LCD screen
• Offers up to 150 foot range for Wi-Fi connections, providing flexibility in device placement and freedom of movement for users
• Supports 802.11n for wider compatibility with new Wi-Fi devices
• Shared microSD storage, GPS support and location-based services available to all connected devices
• Integrated security out-of-the-box requires no additional setup and provides peace of mind when working in public areas.
• External antenna ports, to be used with the separately sold docking station, coming soon

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

Let us know what you think. Have you used Sprint’s WiMAX device before? Do you see room for improvement and consider getting this one? Let us know what you think.

Source: BGR via Sprint

Well folks, today is just a couple of weeks before the unexpected announcement Sprint is supposed to make in New York and we’ve just gotten an unexpected announcement today that may blow some of you away, some of you won’t mind. Either way, nobody knew this was coming, or did you?

The announcement starts out by saying, “Today’s ability to do more things on the go — such as watching videos, sharing pictures or checking directions — is not only changing the way we live; it is driving exponential growth of mobile data traffic. Sprint is committed to providing its customers with a great wireless experience now and in the future.” They then proceed to explain that for postpaids the $10 per month Premium Data add on charge will now be required on all smart phones beginning January 30, 2011.

You may have questions as to why this is happening? Here is a hint at what looks like their explanation for beginning to charge the fee from here on out:

Background: Mobile Data Explosion

• The world is in the midst of a mobile data explosion.
• Mobile data volumes are growing about 2.4 times faster than fixed broadband.
• Smartphone penetration is expected to double over the next four years.
• About 60 percent of Sprint’s postpaid CDMA handset sales (upgrades and gross adds) in third quarter 2010 came from smartphone sales (4Q09: 49%, 1Q10: 57%, 2Q10: 58%)
• More than half of mobile web users go online from their phones on a daily basis (Mobile Access 2010, PEW INTERNET & AMERICAN LIFE PROJECT)

Don’t be confused current Sprint customers, existing 3G Everything plan holders won’t see their rates go up until they “upgrade or activate another smartphone.” What do you all think about this Geeks? Were you considering getting that 4G phone and now thinking twice about it or does the $10 fee not really bother you? We want to know what you think so leave your comments below or hop into our forums, in this thread, and join the discussion.

Source: Sprint

Today, At&t announced that is has completed the first half of its upgrade to 7.2Mbps HSPA. They’ve upgraded the software at the cell sites, but the expensive part, getting the backhaul there, will still be coming with hopes of completing it for the majority of their 3G network by the end of the year. “The backhaul process has already begun in the initial test markets of Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami”.

Source: Gizmodo

America’s most dependable 3G network. For a while now that has been what Sprint has used to describe their wireless network. However, Verizon Wireless has now called turkey (Ed.- It is Thanksgiving here in the U.S. so this cliche is allowable.) on this claim.

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, which is a consumer advocacy group that focuses on advertising, has recently asked that Sprint stop using the slogan after Verizon complained that Sprint is indeed not the most dependable 3G network. The NAD had this to say-

“Verizon Wireless had a lower connection failure rate and a lower task failure rate than Sprint and performed better in terms of session reliability. NAD determined that Verizon’s superiority on those measures – according to the most recent Nielsen drive tests – undermined Sprint’s “most dependable” claim as to outdoor usage…Following its review of the evidence, NAD determined that the advertiser lacked sufficient support for its claim to be “America’s most dependable 3G network.”

Sprint, which uses both old and new Nielsen data to draw their conclusion, says they will appeal the ruling-

“The NAD is mistaken in its determination that signal strength is not relevant to dependability,” Sprint said in an official statement sent to eWEEK. “Between 70-80% of 3G data use takes place indoors, and the Nielsen signal strength tests indicate whether a signal is likely to penetrate a building and provide coverage inside. If a 3G signal is too weak to penetrate a building, a subscriber will not be able to dependably connect to the network… The Nielsen test data continues to show Sprint leading in 3G signal strength. As a result of this and other factors, we stand by our ‘most dependable’ claim and we are confident that it is well-supported by timely and appropriate data.”

With Verizon claiming that it has the biggest network, and AT&T chirping it has the fastest network, Sprint found that it can claim that it has the most dependable network.

So readers, who does have the most dependable wireless network?

Source- DSLReports.com ]]> https://www.ppcgeeks.com/2009/11/26/sprint-is-not-america%e2%80%99s-most-dependable-3g-network/feed/ 38 https://www.ppcgeeks.com/2009/11/21/apples-3g-money-gambit/ https://www.ppcgeeks.com/2009/11/21/apples-3g-money-gambit/#comments Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:47:51 +0000 http://www.ppcgeeks.com/?p=1540 If you want to create a 3G-operating device, do you know who you will have to pay a license fee to? If you guessed Qualcomm, you would be right  as they currently hold a multitude of patents related to 3G technology. However, something you most likely do not know is that Apple has seemingly gotten away with paying a much lower fee to Qualcomm. Every licensee (HTC, LG, Motorola, etc.) must pay 5% of the wholesale price of their 3G product to Qualcomm. If the device cost $500 to manufacture wholesale, then the company must pay $25 to Qualcomm. If they make 1 million devices, that is $25 million out of pocket to Qualcomm.

It seems that Apple has found a way to circumvent this. Although the Apple iPhone sell’s for on average $590, it looks like they only pay the 5% on the unit price Apple pays Foxconn (the company that actually manufactures the iPhone), which is a mere $244. This loophole has been estimated to save Apple $290 million in fiscal 2009 alone. Qualcomm is only seeing $9.70 for each iPhone sold, instead of making $23.60 per iPhone. That is a savings of $13.90 per device sold, quite a pretty penny when you are selling millions of units per quarter.

How you may ask is Apple able to do this without Qualcomm taking them to court? The entire manufacturing process of the iPhone is done externally, through Foxconn. Qualcomm seems fine with the arrangement as they still make $9.70 per device. Looking at the available data, Qualcomm has raked in close to $27,000,000 in licensing fees.

Source- MaximumPC.com