Verizon 4G LTE

[Moot]

I received an offer from Verizon the other day to upgrade my current 3G, 5GB, $60/month mobile broadband plan to their new 4G, 5GB, $50/month plan. I know that more G's are way more better and that saving an extra $10/month is super cool, but...would going 4G have any negative impact on 3G reception? I guess I would have to purchase a new USB blinky light stick thing, is this plan worth it?

 

[TeamCaffee]

Moot I have a 4g Sprint and I have yet to see it find a 4g signal.

My thoughts are wait until 4g becomes available in more locations.

 

[EnglishLady]

Moot I have a 4g Sprint and I have yet to see it find a 4g signal.

My thoughts are wait until 4g becomes available in more locations.

See post

http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/loading-dock/44657-4g-myth-confusing-mess.html

 

[Moot]

The Verizon 4G plan is $10 less than my current Verizon 3G plan for the same amount of gigabyte stuff. If switching to 4G still allows me access to the 3G world plus gets me admission into the 4G land of make-believe for $10/month less, why not sign up? I'm sure there is some kind of catch, I just can't see it.

 

[greg334]

10 bucks is 10 bucks, savings are cool and if you can use 3g, I would say go for it.

Maybe Turtle can answer this one or maybe you can Moot, can phone browsers use compression technology that some websites have turned on to save bandwidth thus saving the bandwidth on the plan?

 

[Moot]

Of course phone browsers can use compression technology. Without such technology phone browsers would experience the "bends" requiring time out in a decompression chamber; wasting both bandwidth, time and money.

 

[yayashas]

I think the catch is they want to add another year to your conrtact.

 

[Turtle]

4G is in the early stages, just like when 3G (EVDO) was new and you could only get a signal in large metropolitan areas. It'll take a year or so for it to be rolled out in wide areas, and then 2 maybe 3 before 4G has the same coverage as 3G does now (at least with Verizon). If you have a 4G device and there is no 4G signal, you'll get a 3G signal, instead.

My aircard is long overdue for the NE2, but I've been waiting for the 4G devices. With the online discount and the NE2 discount, I can get either of the 4G aircards for $9.99. I also like the fact that they have a 10GB plan for $80, in addition to the 5GB $50 plan.

 

[Moot]

I think the catch is they want to add another year to your conrtact.

I think you are right or in my case 2 years, but I can live with that.

Turtle, what is this NE2 that your aircard is long overdue for? What is the NE2 discount and would Verizon offer it to some idiot like me who doesn't even know what it is?

One more question, does the Panther discount apply to aircard service also. I did the thing with the thing several months ago and got the discount on my cell phone service but not my aircard service. Should I have done the thing with the thing for my aircard also?

 

[highway star]

Of course phone browsers can use compression technology. Without such technology phone browsers would experience the "bends" requiring time out in a decompression chamber; wasting both bandwidth, time and money.

That's wrong, it allows better combustion of the phone signal.

 

[Turtle]

Turtle, what is this NE2 that your aircard is long overdue for? What is the NE2 discount and would Verizon offer it to some idiot like me who doesn't even know what it is?

Sorry, NE2 is "New Every Two", where you get that $50 discount on a new device. My Aircard was eligible for the New Every Two on 04/09/2010, but I've been waiting for the 4G modems.

Go to MyVerizon and it will tell you if and when you are eligible for the NE2 discount for your phone and aircard. You can go to Shop, and select upgrade phone, and see what the discounts are. Or go to "I want to... Device, Upgrade Device," and it'll give you your options.

One more question, does the Panther discount apply to aircard service also. I did the thing with the thing several months ago and got the discount on my cell phone service but not my aircard service. Should I have done the thing with the thing for my aircard also?

No, the discount only applies to cell phone service, and accessories that you buy online. Unfortunately it doesn't apply to the Mobile Broadband aircards. I tried registering the aircard's number, but it said I was already signed up for the discount. At least it discounts both the cell service and the data plan that's added on to the Droid, tho.

Either one of the 4G modems at Verizon:
Retail Price - $249.99
w/2 Year - $109.99
Online Discount - $50.00
NE2 Discount - $50.00
Price - $9.99

 

[skyraider]

How fast is fast and where are we all going in such a hurry. My cell phone works, it a Model A, I drive my van at 62mph, and get there just as fast when I did run at 70mph. IM happy for all u 3G,4G folks, I hve seen several demos on a 3g I phone, it is impressive, all I want for next year is steady runs, thats it, oh,,that pay well, IMO

 

[jaminjim]

An article about the faster speeds can be read here.Smartphone users face confusion - USATODAY.com

 

[purgoose10]

I think the catch is they want to add another year to your conrtact.

When they ad a year to your contract, that pays for their equipment. Verizon is making the announcement about 4g Wed/ Jan 12th of 11.
Sprint might work well in the mid west and east but down south it's very sporadic. At my house I don't have a Sprint signal at all.