Posts Tagged ‘Verizon’

Graphic courtesy of Wired.

Do you know how long mobile phone service providers keep records about which cell tower you used? Or, text messages? Or, call detail records? Wired took a look at a photo copy of a U.S. Department of Justice summary table titled “Retention Periods of Major Cellular Service Providers” that provides the specifics.
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Electronista doesn’t have to work too hard to convince me that mobile phone companies’ wireless data plans charge way too much for people who do not even come close to their plan’s monthly data quota. Here, they report on a study by Validas.
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Lomg before Apple even hinted that the iPhone would be available from Verizon, there was a lot of doomsday speculation that huge number of AT&T iPhone customers would defect to Verizon to get improved call quality (fewer dropped calls). However, while Verizon now has an estimated 23.9% of U.S. iPhone customers, it appears that defections from AT&T is not the only big factor.
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It looks like mobile payments systems are getting traction. However, the current leader is not depending on NFC (Near Field Communications) which requires special hardware in phones (like the Nexus S). American Express’s Serve found a partner in Sprint last month.

Sprint Rolling Out American Express’ Serve Mobile Payment System to Select Android Phones

And, now the even bigger CDMA mobile giant, Verizon Wireless, signed up for Serve.

Serve simplifies the online checkout experience by authenticating a mobile number, then allowing a customer to make a purchase on-screen. Verizon Wireless customers who use Serve can expect to buy goods and services on their mobile phone in just a few clicks. Merchants who accept Serve mobile payments will enjoy a streamlined option for processing and settlement. The Serve card is currently accepted by the millions of merchants in the United States who accept American Express.

Serve supports select Android devices and iOS (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad). Support is planned for Microsoft Windows Phone and RIM BlackBerry.

Verizon to Integrate American Express’ Serve on Wireless Phones and Tablets

Via GigaOm: American Express’ Serve digital wallet now serving Verizon devices

When AT&T was the exclusive provider of the iPhone, there was much speculation about what would happen when the day came that a competitor would start selling the iPhone. Verizon started selling the iPhone in February, and enough time has now passed to take a look back and see what the impact has been.
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After looking at Nielsen’s report titled “Average U.S. Smartphone Data Usage Up 89% as Cost per MB Goes Down 46%,” I wrote:
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You’ve probably seen Verizon Wireless’ commercial of three people downloading media to 4G tablets while a rocket speeds to destory a 4G MiFi hotspot. If you have a 4G capable Android phone running OS 2.2 (Froyo) or newer, you don’t need a MiFi hotspot since the phone can become a hotspot itself. However, Verizon Wireless has apparently asked Google to block third tethering apps in the Android Market. These apps are apparently not directly detected by Verizon and provides a way to avoid tethering fees. CNET reports that an advocay group has filed a complaint to the FCC about this blockage because an FCC rule states that Verizon cannot “deny, limit or restrict” applications use by customers.

Complaint to FCC: Verizon mustn’t bar 4G tethering

It should be noted that if tethering apps available outside of the Android Market can be downloaded and installed as a “sideload.”

Video courtesy of Verizon Wireless

Windows Phone 7′s launch last Fall had some interesting twists for those of us in the United States. Windows Phone devices were available in Europe a month earlier than the U.S. And, when it launched in the U.S., devices were not available on the two CDMA networks: Sprint and Verizon. Sprint picked up a device earlier this year. But, Verizon’s first Windows Phone device is only now in the pipeline.

Verizon HTC Trophy on sale May 26 (Microsoft Windows Phone Blog)

The HTC Trophy follows the design specifications Microsoft laid out for the first round of hardware devices with a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 5 megapixel camera (no front facing camera), and 720p video capture. It adds virtual surround sounds with SRS WOW HD like the HTC Surround sold by AT&T Wireless. The Trophy does not have the slideout speaker found in the 7 Surround, however.

Verizon is adding the incentive of a free Xbox 360 game (up to $60) for people who buy an HTC Trophy before July 15.

Microsoft announcement about their next major update for Windows Phone (“Mango”) is on May 24. So, those who buy a Trophy on May 26 will have a clear roadmap of what is ahead for them.

All of the major cell phone companies in the U.S. offer some kind of family plan that lets family members share a pool of voice call minutes. However, each smartphone requires its own data plan that usually costs about $30 per month. Reuters reports that Verizon Wireless is considering changing this status quo by offering a family plan for wireless data too.

Verizon eyes family data plans

Indications are that Verizon could roll out a family data plan sometime this summer. Pricing structure information was not disclosed. A pooled data plan could help Verizon maintain and attract customeres. If allowed, it may even help individual users who want, for example, both a smartphone and a tablet on a single pooled data plan.

ISIS demo

ISIS (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) NFC-driven Mobile Commerce in a Few Years?

Google Led NFC Mobile Payment Group on One Side. ISIS Mobile Carrier Group on the Other

Sprint Goes Alone for its NFC Wireless eCommerce Plan

We probably should not be surprised that this fragmented approach might not be good for getting NFC deployed in 2011. Based on this report from Reuters, it looks like the effort to get NFC implemented may be unraveling.

Wireless carriers scale down scope of mobile payment system

Retuers reports that Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile USA, AT&T and Verizon Wireless have now adopted a less ambitious goal to set up a “mobile wallet”.