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Verizon Announces December 1 LTE Press Event
Hopefully we'll finally see some pricing details

Verizon has announced that the company will be holding a press event on December 1 to further detail the launch of their upcoming LTE wireless broadband network. The company has already detailed how they'll launch the 5-12 Mbps service in 38 markets and 60 airports, covering roughly a third of the country's population right at launch. What they haven't been willing to talk about is price, despite an annoyingly constant series of hints that they're interested in charging a premium for access and would like to further explore usage-based pricing. As of a few weeks ago, Verizon still hadn't decided on pricing, and indicated their recent round of 3G price changes were essentially a test to see what consumers were willing to pay. Hopefully, at the very least, Verizon won't follow Sprint and Bell Canada in charging a $10 "just because" fee.

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Duramax08
To The Moon
Premium Member
join:2008-08-03
San Antonio, TX

Duramax08

Premium Member

Sweet

Hopefully it has better coverage then wimax. Its suppose to penetrate walls and objects better right? Hope the plans are somewhat decent
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: Sweet

said by Duramax08:

Hopefully it has better coverage then wimax. Its suppose to penetrate walls and objects better right? Hope the plans are somewhat decent

Yes, better penetration but high data speeds at 700mhz will have to deal with more interference than at 1900/2500mhz. They might have to step down the transmission in urban areas to avoid interference. Should be great in rural areas though.

The pricing will be the interesting part. Sprint has the $10 4G tax but so far it's truly unlimited. It doesn't sound like VZW will offer unlimited, at least not that low.

TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium Member
join:2000-11-08
Da Bronx
·Verizon FiOS
Ubiquiti NSM5
Synology RT2600ac
Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)

TamaraB

Premium Member

Re: Sweet

said by xenophon:

Sprint has the $10 4G tax but so far it's truly unlimited.

And we know this for sure? No caps? No throttling? I am tempted to get the EVO. I am in a Sprint 4g covered area. I would want to ditch my 1Mb Verizon DSL and use the EVO rooted/tethered for my primary data connection.

HOWEVER

Data Usage Limitation (Mobile Broadband Cards, USB Modems, Embedded Modems and Phone-As-Modem): The amount of data transmitted over our network is measured in kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). Sprint reserves the right to limit throughput speeds or amount of data transferred; and to deny, terminate, modify, disconnect or suspend service if usage either exceeds (a.) 5GB/month in total, unless specified otherwise or (b.) 300MB/month while off-network roaming. 1024KB equal 1MB. 1024MB equal 1GB.

So, if I were to tether my not yet (and probably never) purchased Sprint phone, as many do, unlimited = 5GB/Mo. A deal breaker! I currently have TRUE unlimited as a grandfathered AT&T customer, but their 3g speeds are slower than my Verizon DSL. A tethered iPhone Saved my butt recently when my VZ DSL went out for 3 weeks.

It will be interesting to me to see what this LTE pricing has to offer. No unlimited? No deal!
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: Sweet

Yeah, like the terms of just about every ISP, Sprint says they 'reserve the right' but I haven't seen throttling happen yet on my EVO. I tend to get 6-10Mbps at home and 3-6 at work desk. Around town it just depends. Am streaming Pandora just about every day, for many hours.

I've tethered a PS3 doing Netflix HD streaming and two laptops browsing while talking on the phone. Worked quite well with no rebuffering on netflix.

Downside is that deep inside building/elevators may not get a 4G signal, but 3G is still there and hasn't been a big deal for me.

TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium Member
join:2000-11-08
Da Bronx
·Verizon FiOS
Ubiquiti NSM5
Synology RT2600ac
Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)

TamaraB

Premium Member

Re: Sweet

said by xenophon:

I've tethered a PS3 doing Netflix HD streaming and two laptops browsing while talking on the phone.

When I WiFi tether my iPhone 3g and pump a lot of data, the battery runs out FAST (3-4 hours) even when the thing is plugged into the wall. I know the EVO has a bad battery rep, how does it do plugged in and running lots of data?
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: Sweet

I have my EVO plugged in USB on either PS3 or laptop when doing any tethering. Tethering does drain battery quickly of course, but is fine if charging, at least on EVO. It slows down the charging rate but net charges overall even when streaming Netflix.

entropy1
Premium Member
join:2002-09-25

entropy1

Premium Member

Re: Sweet

I'll second this. I've no no big problems when plugged in. The short battery life is annoying but ok considering the thrill of such speed through my phone. :P
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Better up the caps

If they insist on keeping a measly 5 GB cap LTE is pointless.
vlad1000
join:2005-05-19
Brooklyn, NY

vlad1000

Member

Re: Better up the caps

i second that!!!
Anything less than a 100GB cap is useless as far as internet:) We shall know tomorrow, I guess:)

PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD

PGHammer to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
LTE may well be uncapped in areas where they compete heads-up with CLEAR (such as the mid-Atlantic states), because CLEAR has no caps. CLEAR (not AT&T) is VZ's biggest competition on the data side (basically, it's WiMax v. LTE). Rates may go up (prices and transfer rates, in both direction); however, the caps may well go away.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

Sprint's extra $10 for no caps

charging a $10 "just because" fee

I am not saying I support Sprint's $10 Wimax fee, but they claim it was because when using the 4g network, there are no caps on usage. In any case, I didn't get an EVO because I refuse to pay $10 extra for slightly faster browsing on my smartphone.

As to whether Verizon will follow Sprint in this pricing scheme, it very well may do that. The carriers tend to play follow the leader when it comes to pricing.

But it is a SLIM possibility that they may finally try a real pay-by-byte scheme. That would be a real break from current pricing schemes.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: Sprint's extra $10 for no caps

said by FFH5:

charging a $10 "just because" fee

I am not saying I support Sprint's $10 Wimax fee, but they claim it was because when using the 4g network, there are no caps on usage. In any case, I didn't get an EVO because I refuse to pay $10 extra for slightly faster browsing on my smartphone.

I have an EVO and agree that 4G for the phone itself isn't a huge benefit unless doing video. Downloads are indeed faster but it's not like waiting another minute under 3G is annoying. Where '4G' really makes a difference is with tethering and that it allows doing voice/data at the same time, both of which are worth the extra $10 for me.

julesism
join:2001-12-12
North Little Rock, AR

julesism

Member

coverage map

I'm still itching to see a true coverage map. My folks live on the outskirts of DFW and are stuck with shoddy WISP service. If the LTE footprint reaches them, they will giving this a go.
decifal7
join:2007-03-10
Bon Aqua, TN

decifal7

Member

Re: coverage map

said by julesism:

I'm still itching to see a true coverage map. My folks live on the outskirts of DFW and are stuck with shoddy WISP service. If the LTE footprint reaches them, they will giving this a go.

Lol, I understand the "true coverage" map on lte.. I am currently covered with the pretend map.. I'd love it if they actually covered me and weren't greedy as hell with pricing/use.. But we shall see tomorrow I guess..
criggs
join:2000-07-14
New York, NY

criggs

Member

Moment of Truth

Well, I'm sitting here with a grandfathered 3G Unlimited plan from Sprint, that I purchased three or four years ago.

I've been wondering whether to take the plunge and upgrade to a 2-year 4G/3G plan with Sprint or wait to see what Verizon offers.

So here's where I'm at: I download an average of 14 gigs a month, and I pay $60 a month. So if I can get a decent Verizon plan with a cap no lower than 20 gigs for less than $60 I'm dumping Sprint so fast it'll make your head spin, since LTE Upload speed is significantly better than Sprint's 1megps-capped Upload speed.

On the other hand, if the best that Verizon can do with a 20 gig or higher cap is $100 or higher then f$%^&*k Verizon, and I'll be taking the Sprint WiMax plunge.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

said by criggs:

So here's where I'm at: I download an average of 14 gigs a month, and I pay $60 a month.

Will be very surprising is VZW offers unlimited for $60/month. I think they currently do 5GB for $60/month and unlimited for $80/month for 3G. There have been some hints that VZW won't offer an unlimited option for LTE.

Eagles1221
join:2009-04-29
Vincentown, NJ

Eagles1221

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

There is no such unlimited VZW 3G plan. The 80 plan is a 10 GB plan which in VZW Marketing may be truly unlimited.

QuakeFrag
Premium Member
join:2003-06-13
NH

QuakeFrag

Premium Member

Re: Moment of Truth

...Unlimited data on smartphones though.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

said by QuakeFrag:

...Unlimited data on smartphones though.

The rollout of LTE will only be data cards for PCs at first. And you can't get unlimited with those plans. The best you can do is get 10 GB for $80 a month and $10 per GB overage and that's only if you use their mi-fi thing.
criggs
join:2000-07-14
New York, NY

criggs

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

said by 88615298:

The rollout of LTE will only be data cards for PCs at first. And you can't get unlimited with those plans. The best you can do is get 10 GB for $80 a month and $10 per GB overage and that's only if you use their mi-fi thing.

Probably not relevant in this LTE case, since you're talking their 3G plans, pricing structures which will almost certainly get thrown out the window as part of the LTE rollout.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

said by criggs:

said by 88615298:

The rollout of LTE will only be data cards for PCs at first. And you can't get unlimited with those plans. The best you can do is get 10 GB for $80 a month and $10 per GB overage and that's only if you use their mi-fi thing.

Probably not relevant in this LTE case, since you're talking their 3G plans, pricing structures which will almost certainly get thrown out the window as part of the LTE rollout.

REALLY?
criggs
join:2000-07-14
New York, NY

criggs

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

said by 88615298:

REALLY?

No, not really. I was dead wrong. It never occurred to me that Verizion would roll out LTE with EXACTLY THE SAME PRICING AND DATA CAPS as for their geometrically slower 3G. Where are these lame-brain heads at??????????????
criggs

criggs to xenophon

Member

to xenophon
said by xenophon:

Will be very surprising is VZW offers unlimited for $60/month. I think they currently do 5GB for $60/month and unlimited for $80/month for 3G. There have been some hints that VZW won't offer an unlimited option for LTE.

Just to clarify, I have no expectation whatsoever that they will offer an unlimited plan, and I certainly didn't intend to convey such an expectation. They do not currently offer unlimited at $80 in 3G; that plan has a 10 gig cap. My expectation is strictly limited to their probably raising their monthly data caps, in light of the fact that LTE is a little(!) faster than 3G EVDO Rev A.

A realistic possibility, in my opinion, is a cap system that roughly tracks the greater speed of LTE. LTE runs roughly ten times faster than EVDO Rev A at a minimum, which might mean data caps roughly ten times those of their 3G.

For example, I could see them offering 50 gigs a month for $150 and 100 gigs a month for $200, something like that, a pricing structure geared for business, not the individual consumer.

The question is whether they'd be ready to offer individual-friendly smaller plans of the 20 or 30 gig variety for less. That's what they're probably trying to work out now.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

said by criggs:

For example, I could see them offering 50 gigs a month for $150 and 100 gigs a month for $200, something like that, a pricing structure geared for business, not the individual consumer.

So would you be willing to pay that when Sprint 3G/4G is (currently) unlimited for $60/month for data cards and only $10 extra for phones (which can tether).

BTW, we will only know VZW pricing for data cards as they apparently won't have LTE phones til later next year.
criggs
join:2000-07-14
New York, NY

criggs

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

said by xenophon:

So would you be willing to pay that when Sprint 3G/4G is (currently) unlimited for $60/month for data cards and only $10 extra for phones (which can tether).

Absolutely not. I'd tell Verizon to go stick it where it doesn't shine.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to criggs

Premium Member

to criggs
said by criggs:

So here's where I'm at: I download an average of 14 gigs a month, and I pay $60 a month. So if I can get a decent Verizon plan with a cap no lower than 20 gigs for less than $60 I'm dumping Sprint so fast it'll make your head spin, since LTE Upload speed is significantly better than Sprint's 1megps-capped Upload speed..

Verizon will be rolling out a broadband only plan this year. No smartphone plans until next year. Their current broadband USB 3G 5 GB cap plan is $60/mo before fees. Somehow I doubt they will come in at a lower price for the LTE USB offering. And there will either be caps or a pay-by-byte option.
criggs
join:2000-07-14
New York, NY

1 recommendation

criggs

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

said by FFH5:

Verizon will be rolling out a broadband only plan this year. No smartphone plans until next year.

I have no interest in smartphone plans. I'm strictly looking for a replacement for my current Sprint laptop connection, so a broadband-only plan would be quite interesting to me.
said by FFH5:

Their current broadband USB 3G 5 GB cap plan is $60/mo before fees. Somehow I doubt they will come in at a lower price for the LTE USB offering. And there will either be caps or a pay-by-byte option.

Yes, I know about their current 3G 5gig cap. Note that my cutoff is $100. If they come in with a 20 gig plan at $90 or less I said I'd be interested cause of the extra upload speed. I doubt if anyone, least of all me, expects their LTE to be anything other than just as expensive as, or more expensive than, their 3G.

As for a charge-by-byte plan, so you'd be paying a certain amount per gig, I gather. For example, one might pay $5 a gig up to a 20 gig cap, at which point your charges might increase or you might be throttled back to 3G or your connection would be suspended until the first of the next month, etc. etc.

Perhaps they'd charge a certain amount up front for the month, with additional charges once one got past a certain data point. For example, they might charge $100 for an LTE 10 gig plan, with a charge of $5 a gig thereafter capped at 20 gigs ($150), after which they could charge you more, or throttle you, or suspend you for the rest of the month.

Or they could even have an unlimited charge-by-byte plan, with each gig costing $10 bucks, which would translate to an average cost, in my case, of $140 (14 gigs). Or they could even tier it, with the first 10 gigs costing $10 per gig, after which the next 10 gigs would cost $11 per gigs, followed by $12 per gig, and so forth and so on.
criggs

criggs

Member

Re: Moment of Truth

I just finished reading »www.informationweek.com/ ··· 28300127 . According to that article, another possible pricing arrangement would be based on speed. For example, one could charge $100 a month for an unlimited 5 megabytes per second connection, or $150 for an unlimited 10 megabytes per second connection, and so on.

Personally I can live with a relatively slow 2 megabyte per second download speed in an unlimited plan if I could get the same on the upload side.

What's interesting about this, I think, is that there are as many different potential profiles of such arrangements as there are potential customers; no two customers are alike.

For example, I'm sure there are people here who would view the LTE connection as a joke unless one got at least 5 megabytes per second download speed guaranteed, with the upload speed of very little comparative importance (needless to say, I don't fit that profile!).

I guess what I'm saying is that as long as the package is unlimited, the idea of different prices for different speeds actually makes some sense to me. What do we think?
horseshoe
Premium Member
join:2006-10-11
Upland, CA

horseshoe

Premium Member

Market penetration?

How many miles wide is a market?
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Market penetration?

it's going to be in 38 markets at first. Everywhere they currently have 3G wil have LTE by the end of 2013.
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG

Member

Competing for Rural $$$

I'm sure I read that one of VZW's goals was to reach rural customers. If they're really interested, they're going to have to offer a package that's competitively priced with satellite service. I had Wildblue for two years, paid $70 for 7.5G a month and had to babysit a FAP meter. Yes, LTE may have better speeds and much better latency, but it's going to take more than that. A low cap will be a deterrent. In my case it's a major point of hostility; try babysitting a low cap when you have two teens! Ain't. Gonna. Happen.

•••••••••••••••

Lop2546
@mycingular.net

Lop2546

Anon

I hope LTE will come with great optional features

It would be nice if they offered some VoIP integration with visual voicemail or higher speeds and caps with permanent hardware installation for homes away from urbanized areas.
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG

Member

Re: I hope LTE will come with great optional features

My dream is that everything is consolidated into terms of data. No more monthly minutes, separate text/picture packages, etc. It would simplify billing and result in fewer headaches for customers, but it won't happen soon because wireless companies like to pad their bills more than Victoria Secret beefs up their bras.
oneacn
Greetings
join:2001-05-03
Orlando, FL

oneacn

Member

Details Of Conference

Verizon has announced that it will be holding a press conference on December 1st to brief the world on the launch details of its 4G LTE network. According to the carrier, the network is slated to go live in 38 metropolitan areas, covering more than 110 million people before the end of the year. With the network going live before 2011, customers will still have to wait until early 2011 for LTE-supporting phones to arrive, though the good news is that USB modems and Mi-Fi devices of sorts should be available fairly soon.
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG

Member

Re: Details Of Conference

It's do-or-die for VZW with me today.

I have a lot of decisions to make that involve a LOT of prognosticating:

1) I have a grandfathered Alltel broadband contract I renewed in August. Yep -- true unlimited 3G with no cap. VZW was willing to extend my contract and give me a new USB760 to help with diagnosing a problem (more on that soon).

2) My only other ISP choices are Wildblue (PTOOEY!), Hughesnet (DOUBLE PTOOEY!)...and possibly a new WiMAX company that now serves my area. I'm waiting for a call back to determine if their new 3Mbs down speed works in my location.

3) A drastic change in the local State Police tower has trashed my once wonderful signal. I went from 2.2-2.75Mb down to a 30KB (on good days). Often the signal is so choppy I have no access at all and the signal is so choppy downloads are impossible. The one time I tried to download a 5MB file it took 20 minutes and was corrupted.

4) The signal problem has been ongoing since May 2010; VZW says that a new "cell site" is scheduled to be put up just two miles to my north. I'm still waiting for a call back to give me some kind of idea as to WHEN it will go live.

5) If LTE is going to cost +$60 and comes with a small cap, forget it.

I'm not asking for free service; I understand I'm going to pay a premium. What I would like is REASONABLE service. FIOS or cable will never happen and I'm fine with that. I understood the limitations when we moved to middle-last mile area. I'd be happy to invest my money with a local company, especially if they're going to provide me with *reasonable* service (3MB, 5-20ms ping, $60 a month, no cap).

So, VZW, what do you say? I'm willing to work with you but I need a bit of hope that MEANS something.
biochemistry
Premium Member
join:2003-05-09
92361

biochemistry

Premium Member

December 5

Remember remember the 5th of December, the launch of the LTE!
biochemistry

biochemistry

Premium Member

That's it. I'm moving.

Was planning on dumping satellite for LTE. However $80 for only 10 GB? Are you f*cking kidding me? 10 GB? I'm just gonna have to move to an area with cable.
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG

Member

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Now we know.

PRICING: Verizon LTE plans are $50 for 5 GB/month, $80 for 10GB/month. Overages are $10 per extra gig.

NO SALE.
dapersico
join:2009-07-15
Leonard, MI

dapersico

Member

Re: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Pricing just blew it for me. Worthless for somebody who needs it as their primary internet.
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG

Member

Re: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

It would be my primary internet IF I stayed with VZW. Now it looks like I won't, especially with that price.

I need to call the WiMax guys back...they're pretty busy. I hope to get in before they get REALLY busy!