Three weeks ago, Verizon Wireless announced it was rolling out 4G LTE service in the Fredericksburg area. That’s pretty vague, and Verizon declined to be more specific. It simply promised to make an announcement about what parts of which counties are seeing 4G deployment.
We’re still waiting for the announcement.
But some area residents are reporting that it’s been deployed in their parts of the area and that their mobile download and upload speeds have been bumped up significantly.
This week, Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Melanie Ortel said the company is conducting tests so it can provide an accurate coverage map.
However, Chuck Tolson has good news for Verizon Wireless customers in Stafford:
“I just tested my new iPad and have a three bar LTE signal! Did a speedtest.net and got Ping: 51 ms, Download: 20.02 Mbps, and Upload: 12.46 Mbps !!
“I live on Truslow Road in Stafford about a mile south of its intersection with Popular Road so the LTE signal is reaching this far west off US 17.”
Eric Watkins, GM of Infinity Technologies Inc., says Verizon 4G LTE is going strong in the Southpoint area of Spotsylvania County.
And Melisa Casacuberta of Fredericksburg posted on Facebook:
“What … ALREADY?! Sheeesh! Have had this 4G Droid & a 4G mifi hotspot for SIX months & only in the last 20ish minutes or so, when I happened to glance up at the top of my screen to check the time, did I notice a 4G LTE icon. FINALLY. Now to see if it lives up to the hype … ’cause I am SICK of SLOW!!”
Richard Weedon, an IT engineer for a large company in Richmond, moved into a new home in King George County because he could get ”naked” Verizon DSL Internet service there.
Now Verizon has announced that after May 6, any new DSL customer must bundle Internet service with Verizon landline phone service. There will be no more stand-alone, or “naked,” DSL.
Weedon and millions of other current Verizon DSL customers across the country are “grandfathered” and won’t be affected unless they decide to make changes to their service.
But he’s outraged by what he sees as a grab for cash that’s unfair to those who live in rural areas and may not have other Internet service provider options.
“This is a huge deal and one of the boldest monopoly moves by a telco in a very long time,” Weedon said.
On the Web, Verizon has been offering basic standalone DSL starting at $24.99 per month. With basic voice service, it starts at $29.99. Call Verizon to order the service and it’s $5 more.
Many “rural Virginia residents have no choice other than Verizon,” Weedon said. “They should not be allowed to impose this policy on customers who don’t have any choice for other Internet service.”
Some consider this a step backward because of the trend toward cheap Internet phone services such as Vonage. About 30 percent of American homes have eliminated landline service.
Obviously, Verizon disagrees… And Verizon Wireless thinks it may have the broadband solution for customers in underserved rural areas.
Richard Weedon, an IT engineer for a large company in Richmond, moved into a new home in King George County because he could get Verizon DSL Internet service there.
Now Verizon has announced that after May 6, any new DSL customer must bundle Internet service with Verizon landline service. There will be no more stand-alone, or “naked” DSL.
Weedon and millions of other current Verizon DSL customers across the country are “grandfathered” and won’t be affected unless they decide to make changes to their service.
But he’s outraged by what he sees as a grab for cash that’s unfair to those who live in rural areas and may not have other Internet service provider options.
“This is a huge deal and one of the boldest monopoly moves by a telco in a very long time,” Weedon said.
On the Web, Verizon has been offering basic standalone DSL starting at $24.99 per month. Bundled with basic voice service, it starts at $29.99. Call Verizon to order the service and it’s $5 more.
Many “rural Virginia residents have no choice other than Verizon,” Weedon said. “They should not be allowed to impose this policy on customers who don’t have any choice for other Internet service.”
Some consider this a step backward because of the trend toward cheap Internet phone services such as Vonage. About 30 percent of American homes have eliminated landline service.
See today’s Free Lance-Star Business section for more…
Customers in the Fredericksburg area may already be beginning to experience intermittent Verizon Wireless fourth generation, Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) service as the carrier prepares to roll it out here, regional spokeswoman Melanie Ortel said Wednesday evening. She couldn’t be specific on the county boundaries of the area where the 4G LTE rollout is about to occur.
“We expect to be making a big announcement in the short term,” she said.
4G LTE speeds are said to be up to 10 times faster than 3G. Verizon Wireless promises download speeds of 5-12 MB per second and upload speeds of 2-5 MB per second. But according to CNET.com, a third-party test has shown Verizon doing even better, at 14 MB downloads and 8 MB uploads.
Verizon Wireless announced earlier this month the launch of its new HomeFusion service. “Just like the company’s new 4G LTE wireless Internet service, HomeFusion will deliver super fast, broadband connectivity to the home and provide customers with an easy, seamless, always-on way to connect today’s technology and devices – from laptops, PCs, and gaming consoles – to the Internet,” Ortel said.
Verizon Wireless 4G HomeFusion broadband home Internet service diagram
Beginning Thursday, HomeFusion will be available to customers in Roanoke. ”HomeFusion works by delivering Verizon Wireless’ powerful 4G LTE signal to a small antenna that is attached to the outside of the customer’s home,” Ortel said. ”The antenna then transmits the 4G LTE signal to an in-home broadband router, which allows the customer to then connect up to four wired and at least 20 wireless devices in the household using Wi-Fi.”
No word yet on when HomeFusion will be available in our area, but it could be a boon to thousands of frustrated area residents in pockets not currently served by cable and Verizon FiOS.
An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old find out what happens the AT&T Pantech Element goes in the toilet.
The 8-inch, $299 (with a two-year service agreement) Android Honeycomb tablet actually plays video and audio while submerged–something the New iPad won’t do. But its touch screen interface won’t work underwater, which means you can’t update your Facebook status in the shower–something AT&T and Pantech don’t suggest, but which I thought would be fun. ”Using Pantene and the Pantech at the same time.”
It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to plug it in and watch a movie in the tub when the battery is low and you have the Element plugged in. That could turn into a really hot bath.
For more on the Pantech Element, check out Tech Toys in Saturday’s Business section of The Free Lance-Star.
That gridlock you curse on Interstate 95 could soon prove to be a lifesaver. It will slow down people who are updating their Facebook status and ordering movie tickets over the Internet while driving.
Texting behind the wheel was one example of distracted driving Virginia Del. Bobby Orrock recently tried to curb. Del. Orrock’s distracted driving bill, which never got out of committee, would have banned drivers from engaging in activities such as texting and eating behind the wheel. He was moved to take action when he saw someone using an iPad while driving.
Cars will become iPads on wheels soon, according to the San Jose Mercury News–and multitasking behind the wheel is likely to become “epidemic.” The piece says high-tech features that once were options on luxury cars are now becoming standard on lower-priced vehicles–for example, buying movie tickets with the touch of a button on a steering wheel.
I recently wrote a tongue-in-cheek piece poking fun at those who think distracted driving restrictions are unnecessary. I wrote that in America, we should all be free to eat spaghetti and watch YouTube videos behind the wheel. But reality might be about to imitate satire. Here’s a link to the Mercury News story:
There may be more to the partnership announced today between Verizon and Redbox than an attempt to challenge Netflix.
Cable service is pricing itself out of business. And it’s getting easier and more affordable to stream content from the Internet to your TV –and to mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets.
So perhaps Verizon is hedging its bets by building its entertainment inventory and wireless capability.
Here’s the full press release:
Verizon and Coinstar’s Redbox Form Joint Venture
to Create New Consumer Choice for Video Entertainment
Joint Venture Will Offer the Best of Both
Worlds – Physical and Digital – to All Consumers Nationwide
NEW YORK – Verizon and Coinstar, Inc. today announced the formation of a joint venture that will create a new choice for quality- and value-conscious consumers seeking a simple and affordable way to access the video entertainment they crave. The venture’s services will offer all of the convenience, simplicity and value of Redbox® new release DVD and Blu-ray Disc® rentals combined with a new content-rich video on-demand streaming and download service from Verizon.
The joint venture plans to introduce the product portfolio in the second half of 2012. It will offer subscription services and more in an easy-to-use, flexible and affordable service that will allow all consumers across the U.S. to enjoy the new and popular entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the media and devices they prefer. Additional brand and product information will be revealed in the coming months.
“When you consider the core elements the parties bring to this venture – our powerful brands; our national rental kiosk footprint; our anytime, anywhere network presence; and our mutual commitment to customer-focused innovation – it’s clear that Verizon and Redbox are a powerful entertainment team,” said Bob Mudge, president of Verizon consumer and mass business markets.
“Consumers rely on Redbox for the latest new release movies at a great value, and our joint venture with Verizon will enable us to bring them even more value by offering expanded content offerings and greater flexibility for how and when they enjoy entertainment,” said Paul Davis, chief executive officer of Coinstar, Inc. “This alliance is the result of a deliberate and strategic process to identify a partner who shares our commitment to delivering innovative solutions to consumers. We look forward to rolling out the shared benefits this venture will bring to consumers, retailers, and shareholders.”
This venture between Verizon and Redbox will create the kind of national multi-platform product that customers are demanding from video entertainment service providers. It will leverage Verizon’s industry-wide relationships with entertainment content providers, its advanced cloud computing technologies and state-of-the-art IP network infrastructure to distribute video on-demand content to its customers.
“The joint venture will combine the accessibility and value of Redbox with Verizon’s vision for a borderless lifestyle – where consumers easily accomplish what they want or need to do, on their terms, through the power of the network,” said Mudge. “Together, we are erasing old technology boundaries, freeing people to spontaneously enjoy the entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the devices and media they prefer, at home or away.”
By offering instantly available online and mobile content with immediate access to physical media through rental kiosks, Verizon and Redbox will be uniquely positioned to deliver the best of both worlds – digital and physical – to consumers across the country.
The joint venture is a limited liability company with Verizon holding a 65 percent ownership share and Redbox holding a 35 percent ownership share at the outset.
I’m considering buying a new television that’s web-enabled so I can cut my cable bill. Any suggestions? I’m considering getting one that’s 42-inches or smaller.–CP in Spotsylvania.
What new gadgets do you expect will be available a year from now? FT in Fred
Again, Apple’s iTV, which is expected to be a cable TV killer. Also, Lytro’s new camera will revolutionize photography, allowing shooters to refocus over and over after taking a picture.
What are some good gift ideas for my four-year-old grandson? He already plays with my daughter’s cellphone. Would LeapFrog or something similar be appropriate? DM in Culpeper
You nailed it. The LeapPad Explorer ($99.99) is sort of an iPad for kids, games and apps and a camera for still photos and videos.
But I heartily agree with what PBS KIDS said last week.
“Parents can open a new world of opportunities for children to learn by making smart media choices when handing down their tech devices,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children’s Media, PBS. “The key is ensuring that devices are preloaded with high-quality, age-appropriate educational content that will help nurture their curiosity and eagerness to explore the world around them.”
Obviously the IPhone and Kindle Fire are hot items, can you tell me about another tech item or two for 16 to 20 year olds? ED in Fredericksburg
The Looxcie LX2 Wearable Video Cam for iPhone and Android lets you instantly share video clips or stream live video hands-free. $139.99
The Voltaic Systems Off-Grid Solar Backpack will allow them to carry books, and tech gear and recharge their cell phone, handheld video games and other devices on the go. $229, Amazon.com.
If these aren’t what you had in mine, let me know.
Is there any way to cut off the tracking ability of cellphones? It bugs me that companies are following my every move. PB in Stafford
Are any carriers actually providing true 4G bandwidth in the Fred area? If I’m looking for a new cell-provider, what’s your opinion on the best carrier to go with (keeping in mind, budget is a major factor) mr in fred
4G in our area? No, not yet. That’s at least six months and maybe a year away.
I’m assuming you’re talking about an inexpensive plan for a smart phone, including data. Sprint has the best deal on that, unless you want to go with a carrier that isn’t likely to give you very good coverage. I’ll write more about that later this week.
Any ideas for my husband who already has lots of techy stuff but who would love more? Gifts and/or stocking stuffer ideas? Thanks! ek in Fredericksburg
You’re a very, very good wife. If I asked for one more piece of tech, I’d probably be hit in the head with it.
Look for some possibilities in my Tech Toys column on Saturday in The Free Lance-Star business section.
Meanwhile, if you’re a husband who’d like me to give your wife hints, let me know…
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