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Verizon Wireless today announced that it has revised the specifications for devices on its Long Term Evolution network in the 700MHz band.  Per the press release, the new specs address network access, SMS requirements, data retry test plans, new information about lab and signaling conformance, and details on the open development device approval and introduction process.  The information will help developers in bringing LTE devices to market.  A webcast will be hosted on January 20, 2010 to discuss the updated specifications. 

Verizon plans to launch the 4G LTE wireless network in 25-30 trial markets next year, and cover most of its existing 3G footprint by 2013.  For more information, the full press release can be found below.

VERIZON WIRELESS UPDATES SPECIFICATIONS FOR 4G LTE 700 MHz DEVICES
 
Jan. 20, 2010, Webcast for Developers will Review Specifications and Answer Developer Questions
 
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless today announced it will host a webcast on Jan. 20, 2010, to review updated specifications for wireless devices that will run on the nationwide 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network it is building on the Upper 700 MHz C-Block spectrum.  Released today, the updated specifications address network access and SMS requirements and data retry test plans, as well as include new information about lab and signaling conformance, the open development device approval and introduction process and more.  These documents will help guide developers into the next phase of bringing their LTE devices to the Verizon Wireless network.
 
Verizon Wireless plans to launch its 4G LTE wireless network in 25 to 30 markets next year and cover virtually all of its current nationwide 3G footprint with the next-generation network by the end of 2013.  The company’s 4G LTE network will ultimately connect a full range of electronics devices and machines.
 
The webcast will begin at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010.  Registration for the webcast is available now at www.verizonwebcasts.com/vzw/10027/registration.html.  Developers can access the Verizon Wireless 700 MHz LTE Specification updates from the open development Web site at www.verizonwireless-opendevelopment.com.  To view which sections of the specifications have been updated, developers can check the Revision History.  Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE wireless network.  
 
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ and LSE: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
 

Boy, do times change.  Back in 2004, the Motorola RAZR (in that original silver color, if you remember correctly) was the hot ticket.  At about $400 on a two-year agreement, it was the phone that everyone wanted.  Fast forward to 2009, and it and the V3M hold the top two spots on a recycling list.  Ouch.

Phone recycling company ReCellular has released their annual ten most-recycled handset of the year list, and it's certainly interesting.  Besides the RAZR line taking the first two spots, Motorola and LG each take the lead with four devices on the list, followed by a Nokia and a Samsung device each.  What's more, seven of the devices were released on Verizon Wireless at some point, while three were on AT&T/Cingular.  Some very well known (and reliable) devices are on the list: the Motorola E815, LG VX8300, and Nokia 6010.

Who knows - in a few years, the original Apple iPhone model may be on the list.  Has anyone owned one of these devices, and more importantly, are you still using it?  Sound off!

Via: Engadget Mobile

I reported on the Opus One a few weeks back, but thanks to BGR, a specifications list has leaked.  Said to launch with Android 1.5 and sporting features like Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, and a 3.0-megapixel camera, the iDEN-equipped Android handset is a nice mid-tier device.  Other features include:

    •    3.1″ hVGA 320×480 capacitative touchscreen display
    •    3 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash
    •    Accelerometer
    •    Proximity sensor
    •    Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
    •    Bluetooth
    •    microSD card slot
    •    2.5mm headset jack
    •    iDEN PTT & PTX
    •    Android LBS which is integrated into the iDEN GPS engine
    •    “Enterprise email”
    •    Plastic-molded housing with some rubberized texture finishes
    •    58mm in width, 118mm in length
    •    100g weight
    •    512MB Flash / 256MB of RAM
    •    64k and 128k iDEN SIM card support
    •    A-GPS
 
For additional specs, head on over to BGR.  Considering the data-centric nature of Android devices, will iDEN networks be able to successfully handle the added strain? 

San Francisco’s Moscone West convention center has been booked from June 28 to July 2, under the vague-sounding slot called "Corporate Event."

Apple watchers know that June has typically been the month of iPhone announcements, and since the company’s had its WorldWide Developers Conference every June at Moscone West over the last few years, you’ve got to know that this is setting some tongues wagging.

The original iPhone debuted at WWDC in June 2007, with the next two models each year at the same event on the same month: the iPhone 3G in 2008 and the 3GS in 2009. Given that the pundits are expecting a big refresh this year — not just a minor upgrade — and the June tradition looking good for 2010, it seems some excitement may be heading our way this summer. Since it seems that Apple’s sticking to its typical schedule, can we also look forward to an iPhone SDK event in March as well? Man, I hope so.

iPhone 4.0 — It’s kind of amazing that so few words could hold so much potential excitement.

Via: Engadget

So Big Red had some ‘splaining to do, and recently had to cough up a few answers for a FCC inquiry. The commission wanted to know more about the early termination fee levied on smartphone users, who were singled out for higher fees (up to $350) for breaking two-year contracts. And even if they were just one month short of the 24-month term, they would still have to pay $120.

It doesn’t take a mind reader to know what the carrier was thinking: Smartphones aren’t cheap, and providing low up-front retail prices costs a lot initially. These costs don’t get recouped when users break their contracts early. According to Verizon, that $350 ETF doesn’t even quite cover it, but at least it’s a deterrent — especially to people who try to beat the system using BOGO (or buy-one-get-one) deals. These users may get an extra handset through those kinds of specials, which often require signing up for two lines. So crafty individuals then sell the extra handset, quit one of the contracts, pay the ETF and pocket the difference. Verizon believes this profit is money taken right out of the carrier’s bottom line.

Here’s what I found a little confusing, though: On one hand, the company says that the $350 ETF doesn’t quite fully make up for its out-of-pocket costs, but then later admits that the fee isn’t just for recovering its investment. The ETF is also used to defray the cost of operating a smartphone network, advertising, tech support and managing a broadband network. (It might just be me, but these explanations seem kind of contradictory, no?)

Another point of inquiry had to do with those annoying little $1.99 fees. Upon closer inspection, it looked like those couple of bucks were tacked on whenever users hit up the mobile web — whether intentionally or not. Verizon denies this. The company insists that users who accidentally launch the mobile web don’t get charged. Only users who open the launch page, and then navigate away from it — indicating that genuine web browsing is happening — are assessed the fee.

Sounds good, but here’s the wrinkle: Verizon subscribers (and even employees) say there are still penalties being levied for accidental access. According to a Verizon staffer cited by DSL Reports, those two little dollars have been used to generate millions in extra revenue for the carrier every month.

The FCC is reviewing Verizon's responses, so we’ll find out whether they satisfy the agency. But what about you? Are they up to snuff for you?



Via: PhoneArena, BoyGenius Report, DSL Reports

Looking for some projector action? I thought, since AT&T released the LG eXpo a couple weeks ago, we’d be awash in vids demonstrating the phone’s unusual attachment by now. Alas, the accessory’s not available yet, and so the vids aren’t quite bursting at the seams. But don’t despair — it turns out our Northern neighbors have the goods. Canada’s MobileSyrup did a little demo showing off the projector playing a YouTube vid from the phone (which is called the LG IQ on the Telus network).

The video seems to play a little dark, but it’s hard to know if that’s the fault of the projector or if the camcorder's just underexposed. Either way, it looks like the device plays well with scant few hiccups. Apparently, the biggest downside is the heat radiating from it. (So projecting feature-length films may not be the best idea — unless you want to pop some popcorn off the underside to go with your movie.)

Via: MobileCrunch