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The most interesting latest news on the topic: LTE |
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Verizon plans to launch the Droid Incredible 4G LTE "in the coming weeks," but consumers should pass and wait.
The Incredible 4G features some decent specs: it's powered by Google's new Android 4.0 software, runs on Verizon's faster LTE network, and features a 4-inch high-resolution display, top-notch 8-megapixel camera with 28-millimeter f/2.2 lens, Beats Audio for better music and a speedy 1.2-gigahertz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip. So what's not to love? 1. Consider the HTC Rezound The HTC Rezound, Verizon's fourth-quarter flagship phone, features a bigger 4.3-inch screen, with a higher 720-by-1280 pixel resolution -- that's a big difference. The Rezound also comes with an 8-megapixel camera, a plenty-fast 1.5-gigahertz chip, and will soon run on Android 4.0 -- initially released with Android 2.3 -- and works on Verizon's 4G LTE network too. While the Incredible is thinner, lighter, and offers NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, its only real advantage is HTC's Sense 4 -- over the Rezound's 3.5 -- a big improvement for a more streamlined interface, a 50 percent improvement in processing speed and lower power consumption. For a new flagship phone, the Incredible offers slight upgrades in hardware. If you're considering the Incredible, give the Rezound some serious thought. 2. Consider the HTC One The Incredible couldn't have come at a worse time. HTC is in the midst of a turnaround, after a serious decline last year. Why does that matter? The company overhauled its product line to focus entertainment, and the first batch of new phones is the... "One" series, which hit the market a few months ago. That's right. The One is the future. The Incredible is the past. AT&T and T-Mobile carry versions of it, but Verizon has yet to announce a launch -- but that's just a matter of time. 3. Sit Tight, HTC Is Revamping Its Products Still, it's probably best to wait. HTC's second batch will be leaps and bounds ahead. So if you're looking at HTC, give the first generation of One phones a pass, and wait for them to work out the kinks before diving in. 4. Samsung Is on Top of Its Game There's a reason Samsung sold over 20 million Galaxy S2 phones in under nine months. And the South Korean company just announced the successor, the S3, which also runs on Android 4.0, but features a massive 4.8-inch display, advanced "S Voice" technology that responds to spoken orders and gestures, and a 1.4-gigahertz "quad-core" -- not dual-core -- chip. It also comes with a 8-megapixel camera, but with "intelligent" camera options that tracks and adapts to what it sees you doing. Verizon may water down the specs before releasing its version in the summer, but if you can wait a few months, it'll blow the Incredible out of the water. 5. The IPhone 5, Nuff Said Rumors. They're all rumors, really. But still, we'll run through the list: made of liquidmetal, similar 4.6-inch screen, LTE-compatible, and other major changes. In short, it's the iPhone. Expect it sometime in June. Bottom Line If you're going cheap, the Rezound is a better choice. If you're sticking to HTC, wait for the next batch. And if you want the best, wait a few months. When everyone's showing off their quad-core phones, Galaxy S3s and iPhone 5s, just don't say we didn't tell you so. |
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Verizon plans to launch the Droid Incredible 4G LTE "in the coming weeks," but consumers should pass and wait.
The Incredible features some decent specs: it's powered by Google's new Android 4.0 software, runs on Verizon's faster LTE network, and features a 4-inch high-resolution display, top-notch 8-megapixel camera with 28-millimeter f/2.2 lens, Beats Audio for better music and a speedy 1.2-gigahertz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip. So what's not to love? 1. Consider the HTC Rezound The HTC Rezound, Verizon's fourth-quarter flagship phone, features a bigger 4.3-inch screen, with a higher 720-by-1280 pixel resolution -- that's a big difference. The Rezound also comes with an 8-megapixel camera, a plenty-fast 1.5-gigahertz chip, and will soon run on Android 4.0 -- initially released with Android 2.3 -- and works on Verizon's LTE network too. While the Incredible is thinner, lighter, and offers NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, its only real advantage is HTC's Sense 4 -- over the Rezound's 3.5 -- a big improvement for a more streamlined interface, a 50 percent improvement in processing speed and lower power consumption. For a new flagship phone, the Incredible offers slight upgrades in hardware. If you're considering the Incredible, give the Rezound some serious thought. 2. Consider the HTC One The Incredible couldn't have come at a worse time. HTC is in the midst of a turnaround, after a serious decline last year. Why does that matter? The company overhauled its product line to focus entertainment, and the first batch of new phones is the... "One" series, which hit the market a few months ago. The One is the future. The Incredible is the past. AT&T and T-Mobile carry versions of it, but Verizon has yet to announce a launch -- but that's just a matter of time. 3. Sit Tight, HTC Is Revamping Its Products Still, it's probably best to wait. HTC's second batch will be leaps and bounds ahead. So if you're looking at HTC, give the first generation of One phones a pass, and wait for them to work out the kinks before diving in. 4. Samsung Is on Top of Its Game There's a reason Samsung sold over 20 million Galaxy S2 phones in under nine months. And the South Korean company just announced the successor, the S3, which also runs on Android 4.0, but features a massive 4.8-inch display, advanced "S Voice" technology that responds to spoken orders and gestures, and a 1.4-gigahertz "quad-core" -- not dual-core -- chip. It also comes with a 8-megapixel camera, but with "intelligent" camera options that tracks and adapts to what it sees you doing. Verizon may water down the specs before releasing its version in the summer, but if you can wait a few months, it'll blow the Incredible out of the water. 5. The IPhone 5, Nuff Said Rumors. They're all rumors, really. But still, we'll run through the list: made of liquidmetal, similar 4.6-inch screen, LTE-compatible, and other major changes. In short, it's the iPhone. Expect it sometime in June. Bottom Line If you're going cheap, the Rezound is a better choice. If you're sticking to HTC, wait for the next batch. And if you want the best, wait a few months. When everyone's showing off their quad-core phones, Galaxy S3s and iPhone 5s, just don't say we didn't tell you so. |
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AT&T built a solid base selling the iPhone, but Verizon gains the advantage with an LTE version, forcing AT&T to shift allegiances to Android or Windows to sustain its success. |
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AT&T built a solid base selling the iPhone, but Verizon gains the advantage with an LTE version, forcing AT&T to shift allegiances to Android or Windows to sustain its success. |
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Verizon plans to have 4G LTE service in at least 400 U.S. markets by the end of this year, trying to attract customers through its upgraded network as carriers vie for spectrum. Verizon chief technical officer David Small also said the company's coverage should grow from 250 million to 260 million by year's end, saying Alaska will be the only state without LTE service by 2013. The expansions are part of the Basking Ridge, N.J.-based carrier's plans for a more inclusive 4G system with expanded coverage as it attempting to gain more subscribers to the updated network. Verizon will also exclusively release LTE-capable handsets this year, underlining the company's ambition to move business away from the overwhelmed 3G grid and onto 4G. The carrier is pegging its future successes to the 4G LTE network, betting its head start on the competition will confer benefits once customers start making the 4G switch in larger numbers. AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile all intend to ramp up or earnestly start up their 4G LTE networks, but Verizon came out ahead of the curve creating the infrastructure. Now the company is working overtime to attract customers before the other carriers develop their own networks. Verizon's newer network is up and running, but customers are reluctant to switch, especially iPhone users, as the current models do not run on LTE. Analysts expect the iPhone 5 will support LTE technology, however, and the debut of Apple's next handset could kick off a larger migration. Still, Verizon's plan hinges on the continued availability of spectrum, as its plan to sell only LTE phones requires a great deal of data capacity, requiring Verizon to secure more bandwidth to bolster its 4G LTE network to accommodate subscribers' data demands. To accomplish this, the carrier is pleading with the FCC to approve deals, but T-Mobile is attempting to stake its claim in the spectrum scramble by blocking Verizon's attempts to stay on top. Verizon's comprehensive coverage may prove prescient as long as the carrier can get consumers to make the switch and buy enough spectrum to sustain additional subscribers. Verizon is following the "if you build it, they will come" philosophy of business, and now the carrier needs to make sure customers make an appearance. |
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Sprint CEO Dan Hesse's job may be in jeopardy, as investors fear his strategy with the iPhone and 4G LTE is failing to reverse flagging company fortunes. Hesse's leadership worries Sprint's investors, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Hesse gained credibility for his efforts to stem losses following Sprint's ill-received merger with Nextel. However, sources suggest the CEO's job is up in the air following a series of missteps, and Sprint's board shows little faith in Hesse's command as they step in to manage the company. Sprint paid a hefty fee to carry the iPhone, viewing the high costs as a necessary evil to compete with AT&T and Verizon, which both carry the device, but Apple's signature handset is failing to boost the company as expected. The iPhone attracted new subscribers, but the high cost of subsidizing the handset means payoffs are still further down the road. Hesse pushed hard for the iPhone, but investors want to see returns now. Also, Sprint failed to secure the new iPad, and investors are questioning the value of Hesse's Apple gambit in light of missing out on the most popular tablet offering so far this year. Apple began selling the LTE-capable device through AT&T and Verizon, Sprint's biggest rivals, but Sprint could not support the device without a workable LTE network. Sprint's inability to sell the LTE iPad points to another huge crisis in Hesse's leadership: the CEO's failure to secure spectrum. Sprint bet big on its deal with LightSquared, but the Federal Communications Commission axed the merger over concerns of GPS interference. Without LightSquared, Sprint is scrambling to strengthen its network, and the spectrum squeeze is likely to affect the company's LTE network rollout as well as future devices it carries. Hesse did navigate a successful deal with Clearwire, but it may not be enough to expand LTE capabilities in time to effectively compete against AT&T and Verizon, meaning possible delays for rolling out Sprint's three announced LTE devices. As AT&T and Verizon pick off smaller spectrum deals, Sprint faces a dwindling group of potential allies, making Hesse's moves in spectrum acquisition all the more vital and time-sensitive. The investor pressure does not bode well for Hesse. The Sprint CEO is pursuing a company turnaround through a myriad of endeavors, but investors are tiring of waiting for results from Hesse's efforts, and may seek more immediately gratifying leadership. |
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Dish Network's plan to break into the wireless market is facing regulatory roadblocks, reducing the chance for a new carrier to enter the market in the near future. After previously approving a Dish spectrum purchase, the Federal Communications Commission says it's now going to examine the potential for the satellite operator to launch a wireless network, instead of giving its approval outright. Dish wants to build an LTE-advanced network in a band of spectrum it acquired last year, worth around $3 billion. At the heart of the FCC's discussions is whether Dish Network's wireless carrier is worth the resources at a time when spectrum is tightly held and carefully controlled. The skyrocketing popularity of smartphones and tablets is pushing the boundaries of what the wireless infrastructure can handle, causing carriers to scramble for airwaves and giving spectrum owners the chance to break into the wireless market. The FCC's cautionary stance responds to these circumstances, but the potential denial of the satellite provider's plans could be a blow to developing competition in the mobile market, keeping a new network off the market for at least another year. The FCC says it will take until the end of the year to decide whether to allow Dish's network, which will involve a public comment period that will likely feature statements from top industry players like Verizon and AT&T. Both carriers stated in the past a Dish network would interfere with existing services. Dish's spectrum acquisition doesn't guarantee use, and similar efforts to add new market players and reallocate airwaves were not granted. For example, the FCC denied network approval for LightSquared after ruling using its band of spectrum interfered with GPS networks, including those used by the Department of Defense. That decision came after an initial approval for the network, and after receiving comments from federal agencies and others questioning the decision. The FCC could use the Dish buy as an opportunity to check and decide new standards for network approval, maybe through a process that will examine interference issues in a more thorough approach while weighing the need for new carriers. "The rulemaking process will best serve the public interest and maximize the long-term value of the spectrum for the American economy," said an FCC spokesperson after the Dish announcement. Dish, as a popular pay-TV network, could use a mobile network to bundle services. On the other hand, if the allowances are not granted, Dish could sell off the spectrum, or pursue plans to partner with another carrier in trying to offer a bundled service, a future possibility other carriers mentioned. Since spectrum resources are shrinking, the FCC will continue to exercise caution as proposed uses crop up for approval. At the same time, the crunch is inevitable, and a growing cause for concern as data-hungry smartphones transform into the standards means of communication. As a result, the FCC is on a quest for expanded resources, and carriers compete wildly on purchases. Despite the acquisition approval, Dish's attempt to build a network is far from over. But a delayed process doesn't equal a failure, as the FCC may be taking its time to ensure whatever decision they make makes sense in the long-term for resource allocation in the mobile industry. |
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T-Mobile will abandon its plans for expanding its HSPA-plus network in favor of LTE, the carrier announced at the Mobile World Conference 2012. Previously, the fourth-place carrier said it will double its HSPA-plus 42-megabits per second network to 84 megabits. Those plans won't go through, however, as T-Mobile instead invests in a LTE network. The moves comes at time when T-Mobile, like all carriers, is attempting to best manage its spectrum resources to support the growing smartphone and tablet consumer base. Instead of developing an outdated resource like HSPA-plus, T-Mobile is choosing LTE, signaling an interest in staying current in the wireless market for the future. T-Mobile will invest $4 billion in the LTE network, setting up infrastructure for the next wave of high-speed network usage. The decision is expected to boost T-Mobile as it steadies its footing after the failed buyout from AT&T. T-Mobile acquired a settlement that included $1 billion in spectrum and $3 billion, which will help fund the LTE network. T-Mobile is looking to launch the LTE-enabled iPhone 5 when it comes out this year, a first for the carrier, and the LTE network will provide service for customers who convert to the device. LTE, combined with the iPhone 5, will likely T-Mobile attract new customers, and keep current customers interested in Apple's device. The move underscores T-Mobile's building competitive momentum, and the implementation of LTE could be a valuable investment during an industry-wide spectrum crunch. By using its infrastructure and financial resources to build a LTE network, T-Mobile positions itself to support top-of-the-line devices as they come out. A stronger LTE platform also also increases T-Mobile's value to another carrier in a merger, similar to the one proposed by AT&T. Top competitors, AT&T and Verizon, are already well on their way to success with high-speed LTE networks. Verizon plans to make all its devices LTE, while AT&T is competing by rolling out new devices that includes the first-ever LTE-powered Windows phone. In order to get the LTE network up and running, T-Mobile will use the spectrum it allocated for HSPA-plus 82-megabits per second, which will lessen the 2G network. T-Mobile is slowly phasing out 2G-compatible devices, but the move shouldn't affect existing customers. T-Mobile has lagged behind Verizon and AT&T in the market, but choosing to invest in LTE over HSPA-plus is a strategy to keep pace. If T-Mobile unrolls it fast enough, it could reclaim consumers who've branched out in the name of the latest and greatest handset technologies. |
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Verizon is banking on its 4G LTE network to help it stand out from the competition, but research shows it's not drawing customers the way the company hoped. The Basking Ridge, N.J.-based carrier said that only five percent of its customers have made the switch to its new data network, despite the fact that it now reaches more than 200 million Americans. The numbers are discouraging for Verizon, which has invested billions of dollars in a network that isn't yet paying dividends. The iPhone's popularity is one of the biggest reasons for customer's slow adoption of LTE. The iPhone is Verizon's top-selling device, but it does not support the company's LTE network, leaving the carrier's largest faction of customers with 3G devices. Customers are likely slow to adopt LTE handsets because of the early complaints about the devices. Analysts panned early LTE phones for having poor battery life and 4G coverage, leading many potential buyers to steer clear until the technology evolved. Current LTE phones are a sizable improvement on early models, but subscribers could still have preconceived notions about the devices. Verizon has run several promotions to kick-start the sale of its 4G devices, but analysts criticized the company for not properly showcasing the value of the network to its customers. The carrier is now in a difficult position as it waits for widespread adoption of LTE. Most Verizon customers still run on 3G service, but the carrier does not want to spend any more money on improving it, preferring to save that cash for potential spectrum acquisitions. Being the carrier with the top LTE network in the country is not an advantage for Verizon the way it expected, but the numbers are expected to change as the year continues. Prices for LTE devices are beginning to come down and Apple's next iPhone will likely support the technology, which will likely bring millions of new customers to the network in a matter of days. As Verizon finishes bringing LTE support to the rest of the country, handset prices become more affordable and the iPhone joins its catalog of LTE devices, the carrier's new network could become the significant advantage it always hoped it would be. |
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T-Mobile plans to release 10 LTE devices in 2013, updating its network to become a better candidate for the iPhone. The Bellevue, Wash.-based carrier said it would launch its LTE service in 50 different markets by the end of next year. In addition, T-Mobile plans to improve its HSPA+ technology to allow the iPhone 4S and future devices from Apple to achieve greater data speeds while operating on its network. T-Mobile's 4G network will be compatible with a broad range of devices, according to chief technical officer Neville Ray. The carrier is missing out on some of the best phones manufacturers have to offer because it cannot give their devices the highest possible data speeds, making an LTE network a tremendous help to the company. A high-speed network for T-Mobile, rolled out by 2013, will help level the playing field with competitors, once again making T-Mobile a practical landing spot for top-of-the-line devices and helping it bounce back from a failed acquisition attempt by AT&T. The biggest victory T-Mobile could achieve from upgrading its network is the ability to offer the iPhone. The carrier has stated its desire to carry the device, but analysts believe the iPhone maker has passed on the company because of its poor data speeds. Apple would have little reason not to let T-Mobile have the iPhone if the carrier performs all the necessary upgrades to its data service. One big question that remains for T-Mobile is whether it can convince Apple to let it carry the new iPhone when it launches later this year, with the promise of network improvements in 2013. T-Mobile lost more than 800,000 customers last quarter as subscribers continued to jump ship when the iPhone 4S launched on every other major carrier in the U.S. T-Mobile can avoid more subscriber losses if it launches the new iPhone on its network later this year, but if it doesn't, the carrier will likely be in an even deeper hole. T-Mobile will likely benefit from the upgrades its planning to its network in 2013, but if the changes can help deliver the carrier the iPhone this year, it could make 2012 a resounding success as well. |
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