Posts Tagged ‘Sprint’
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
 AT&T took the lead in customer service quality in the last three months of 2011 as Sprint and T-Mobile lost ground, according to the latest study on phone-based customer service quality conducted by Vocal Laboratories Inc. (Vocalabs).
In telephone interviews conducted immediately following a customer service call during the three months ending December 31, 2011, 69% of AT&T customers surveyed were “Very Satisfied” with the experience, up from 65% a year ago.
Fifty-nine percent of Sprint customers gave the experience their top rating, down 12 points from the end of 2010; while T-Mobile posted a 17-point drop to end 2011 at 48% “Very Satisfied.” Verizon was effectively unchanged at 60% satisfaction.
“When companies get distracted, or focus on only one part of their customer experience or product portfolio, the overall customer experience can suffer. We will be watching Sprint and T-Mobile in 2012 to see if they can recover the ground lost in 2011.”
“Providing a consistently high-quality customer service experience requires ongoing commitment and focus throughout an organization,” said Peter Leppik, CEO of Vocalabs.
“When companies get distracted, or focus on only one part of their customer experience or product portfolio, the overall customer experience can suffer. We will be watching Sprint and T-Mobile in 2012 to see if they can recover the ground lost in 2011.”
Tags: AT&T, customer service quality survey of wireless providers, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Vocalabs
Posted in Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports, Telecommunications | Comments Off
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
 Most cell phone and tablet users can purchase digital goods and charge them to their monthly bill or prepaid phone account. But they may not get the protections they need to limit their financial liability if something goes wrong with the transaction.
The protections consumers receive will vary depending on their wireless carrier’s policies and what’s in their cell phone contract, according to a new analysis by Consumers Union.
“Consumers using mobile payments should get the same strong protections they currently enjoy when they make purchases with a credit card or debit card,” said Michelle Jun, senior attorney for Consumers Union, the nonprofit advocacy arm of Consumer Reports.
“But we found that consumer rights can vary widely between wireless carriers and the protections carriers claim to provide are often nowhere to be found in customer contracts.”
In May 2011, Consumers Union called on the top wireless carriers to strengthen their contracts to protect consumers in the event that their phone is lost or stolen or if a merchant makes a billing mistake or the customer is not satisfied with a purchase.
Consumers Union urges carriers to provide stronger protections
The consumer group urged the carriers to provide the same strong protections guaranteed by law when consumers use a credit card or debit card. In addition, Consumers Union pressed the companies to provide consumers across the country with the same protections California phone customers are entitled to receive as a result of regulations issued by the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
Since May, Consumers Union has been in communication with representatives from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless to find out how they handle disputed mobile payment transactions. All four carriers maintain that they provide ample protections for consumers.
However, Consumers Union found that the protections these carriers provide fall short of what consumers get when they use credit cards and debit cards or when California consumers report a disputed charge on their phone accounts.
In addition, many of the protections that wireless carrier representatives described to Consumers Union are not disclosed in customer contracts, making it difficult to know whether consumers can count on these safeguards when problems arise.
“As new mobile payment options become available, consumers are better off sticking to services linked to credit cards or debit cards, which come with strong protections required by law,” said Jun. ”If wireless carriers want consumers to have confidence in direct carrier billing programs, they should strengthen their contracts with the protections consumers need.”
Below is a summary of the protections that Consumers Union analyzed and what is provided by the top wireless carriers:
Limit liability when phones are lost or stolen: A credit card customer’s liability is limited to no more than $50 for unauthorized charges. In practice, credit card issuers usually shield customers from any financial liability for fraudulent charges. Verizon Wireless’ contract makes clear that its customers are not liable for charges related to a lost or stolen phone.
Contracts for AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile protect customers from fraudulent charges made after a phone is reported lost or stolen but consumers may be on the hook for charges made before making a report.
Limit liability for disputed charges: If a billing error appears on a monthly credit card statement, there is no liability for the customer as long as the customer reports the error within 60 days.
“Billing error” also includes a dispute with a merchant about the delivery or acceptability of goods or services. While all four wireless carriers insist they provide refunds for billing errors or when customers are unhappy with purchases, these rights are not clearly disclosed in their contracts.
Re-credit pre-paid customers within 10 days for disputed charges: After a consumer reports a fraudulent transaction involving a debit card, the bank must either complete its investigation within 10 business days or provisionally re-credit the consumer’s funds within that time.
AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile indicated that they strive to provide prompt refunds but none guarantee in their contracts that pre-paid customers will get a provisional refund within ten days after reporting fraudulent charges. Verizon Wireless does not allow customers with pre-paid phone accounts to make mobile payment charges.
Give customers the right to withhold payments for disputed charges: California’s PUC rule gives phone customers in that state the right to withhold payment of disputed charges while an investigation is conducted and requires investigations to be completed within 30 days. Sprint’s contract indicates that customers don’t have to pay for disputed charges as long as they are reported within 60 days.
AT&T said that it gives all customers the right to withhold payments during an investigation but its contract only discloses this right to Californians.
T-Mobile discloses these rights for California customers but not for customers living in other states. Verizon Wireless’ contract allows customers to withhold payment for charges related to lost or stolen phones but it does not indicate that consumers have this same right for other kinds of disputed charges.
Enable customers to set a cap on mobile payment charges: The California PUC rule allows consumers to block third party charges on their accounts. All four wireless carriers allow customers to block third party charges but AT&T and Sprint do not disclose this right in their contracts.
AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless set their own dollar limits on allowable charges (AT&T has a $100 limit per month per line while Sprint and Verizon Wireless limit charges to $25 per month per line). AT&T enables consumers to set their own limits but charges $4.99 per line each month to do so.
For more details, see How Top Wireless Carriers Compare on Consumers Protections for Mobile Payments. For Consumers Union’s mobile payment tips for consumers, see: Mobile Payments Tip Sheet: What Can Consumers Do Now
Tags: AT&T, Consumers Union says mobile payment protections needed, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, wireless carrier contracts
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
 An issue of Consumer Reports magazine When it comes to cell-phone carriers smaller may be better, according to a new satisfaction survey of Consumer Reports online subscribers.
At the top of the Ratings for standard service providers were Consumer Cellular, a national carrier that uses AT&T’s network, and U.S. Cellular, which operates in just over half the United States.
Credo, which offers service to much of the country on Sprint’s network, also bested the major carriers. AT&T, America’s second-largest carrier, again found itself at the bottom of the Ratings.
The full report features carrier Ratings in 22 metropolitan markets and can be found in the January 2012 issue of Consumer Reports and at www.ConsumerReports.org.
In this year’s annual Consumer Reports survey on cell-phone service providers, more than 66,000 ConsumerReports.org subscribers weighed in about their service and customer support experiences with standard service (billed at month’s end) and prepaid providers.
Of the four major U.S. national cell-phone standard service providers, Verizon and Sprint were the better-rated carriers.
Verizon had an edge over Sprint in texting and in knowledgeable support staff, but Sprint rated better in value. T-Mobile was below Verizon and Sprint but continued to rate significantly better than the higher-priced carrier AT&T, which recently withdrew its application to the FCC to merge with its better rival.
TracFone rated as one of better pre-paid carriers
TracFone was rated one of the better carriers among prepaid cell-phone service providers, with Straight Talk, T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile. All of the top four prepaid carriers received above average scores for value. Readers who prepaid for their cell-phone service were more satisfied overall than respondents with standard service.
“Our survey indicates that prepaid customers and those with smaller standard service providers are happier overall with their cell-phone service,” said Paul Reynolds, electronics editor for Consumer Reports. “However, these carriers aren’t for everyone. Some are only regional, and prepaid carriers tend to offer few or no smart phones. A major carrier is still a leading option for many consumers.”
How to Cut Your Cell-phone Bill
- Don’t automatically buy from the company store. Two-thirds of cell phones are bought at carrier stores, but Consumer Reports has found that prices can be lower at warehouse stores and mass merchandisers.
- Consider a lower-priced carrier. When Consumer Reports compared 100 plans to similar alternatives in 21 matchups covering the full spectrum of plans, both prepaid and standard, Consumer Cellular came out on top. It had the best deal most often – in more than one out of three cases. Savings usually ranged from $30-40 per month over pricier rivals such as Verizon and AT&T, though you might find a smaller selection of the hottest smart phones with smaller carriers such as Consumer Cellular.
- Use Alternative Services. Bypassing the carrier and using third-party services for texting and voice calls can be a real money-saver. New apps such as Heywire and TigerText let you send text messages for free over your data connection. With most carriers, that means you won’t have to pay 10 cents per text or $5 to $30 a month for limited-to-unlimited messaging plans.
- Max out on Wi-Fi. Consumers should avoid using their plan’s allotment of data by tapping into the rising number of Wi-Fi networks that are available. Those who own 4G phones should set them to connect only to 3G whenever its adequate such as when texting or streaming music.
Tags: AT&T, cell phone carrier satisfaction, Consumer Reports, Credo, Paul Reynolds, pre-paid mobile, Sprint, Straight Talk, T-Mobile, Trac-Fone, Verizon, Virgin Mobile, which cell phone carriers provide most value
Posted in Internet/New Media, Mobile, smartphones, Studies, surveys, reports, Telecommunications | Comments Off
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
 Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, (CIRP), which provides securities research to the investment community using advanced market research strategies, methods, and analysis has released, “Apple’s iPhone Launch – October 2011,” with the first detailed analysis of consumer trends for Apple Inc.’s new iPhone 4S and related models.
The report reveals a number of important findings since the October 14, 2011 launch:
- High-end iPhone models selling well
- Mobile phone carrier (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint) shares shifting
- Significant online sales
- iPhone is the “gateway” to Apple product ecosystem
- Women buy the white iPhone more.
CIRP surveyed customers that purchased an iPhone since October 14, 2011, the launch date for sale of the new Apple iPhone 4S and for new aggressive pricing for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS models.
From an initial response of 4,632 subjects, CIRP surveyed 504 qualified subjects for the analysis. “This report represents the first analysis of the Apple iPhone 4S results since the October launch date,” noted CIRP Partner and Co-Founder Josh Lowitz.
Said CIRP Partner and Co-Founder Mike Levin, “The most expensive and presumably highest margin iPhone 4S – 64 GB model accounts for 23% of all iPhone 4S sales.
30 percent of iPhone 4S buyers upgraded
A surprising 30% of iPhone 4S buyers upgraded from the iPhone 4, which is just over a year old.
And, in the first three weeks since the launch, 43% of the customers bought their new phones online, at the Apple website, the carrier websites, or other retailer websites such as Best Buy Online.
Only 25% of iPhones were sold through Apple owned channels – the approximately 245 Apple Stores and the Apple website – and 75% sold through the carrier stores and websites, and multi-line retailers such as Best Buy. “
Tags: Apple, AT&T, CIRP, high end iPhones selling well, iPhone4S, Sprint, Verizon
Posted in Hardware, Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports, Tech Culture, TechLife, Telecommunications | Comments Off
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
AT&T led the U.S. business ISP market with 20 percent of all browser-based Internet page views (i.e. traffic) in September 2011, followed by Verizon with a 12-percent share of the market. CenturyLink, which merged with Qwest in April 2011, ranked as the third largest business ISP at 7 percent share, according to comScore.
The five largest business ISPs drove nearly 50 percent of business Internet traffic across the U.S.
“The current state of the domestic business ISP market reveals a landscape led by a couple of top providers. However, even with smaller carriers contributing only a fraction of the traffic delivered by top carriers, the business ISP market is still more competitive than the residential ISP market,” said Greg Mishkin, comScore Vice President of Telecom and Wireless. “The small business segment is even more competitive among ISPs, highlighting the need for providers to develop strong marketing strategies to ensure they can retain and grow market share.”
Top 10 U.S. Business Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
September 2011
Total U.S.
Source: comScore Business ISP Market Share Report |
| Business ISP |
Share (%) of All Business Internet Traffic |
| AT&T |
20% |
| Verizon |
12% |
| CenturyLink |
7% |
| TW Telecom |
5% |
| Level 3 |
5% |
| Comcast |
5% |
| Sprint |
4% |
| Time Warner Cable |
4% |
| Cogent |
4% |
| Cox |
3% |
Business ISPs See Increased Competition When Catering to Smaller Businesses
A more detailed look into the business ISP market according to the size of businesses being served also reveals AT&T to be the leading business ISP in the large, medium and small business segments. In addition, the top five ISPs accounted for nearly 70 percent of all traffic in the large business segment in September 2011, showing a high concentration of the top providers. In contrast, the share of traffic driven by the top five ISPs was significantly lower within the medium (56 percent) and small business (40 percent) segments.
The small business segment has proven to be the most competitive for business ISPs, with nearly 40 percent of traffic driven by ISPs that rank outside of the top ten carriers for this segment. While AT&T continues to lead all ISPs for small businesses, its 13-percent market share is significantly lower than its share in the large and medium business segments. Comcast (8 percent) and Verizon (7 percent) rounded out the top three ISPs in the small business segment.
Top 10 U.S. Business ISPs According to BusinessSize*
September 2011
Total U.S.
Source: comScore Business ISP Market Share Report |
| Large Businesses |
Medium Businesses |
Small Businesses |
| ISP |
Share (%) of Internet Traffic |
ISP |
Share (%) of Internet Traffic |
ISP |
Share (%) of Internet Traffic |
| AT&T |
28% |
AT&T |
24% |
AT&T |
13% |
| Verizon |
19% |
Verizon |
10% |
Comcast |
8% |
| CenturyLink |
8% |
TW Telecom |
9% |
Verizon |
7% |
| Sprint |
7% |
CenturyLink |
8% |
CenturyLink |
6% |
| Level 3 |
7% |
XO |
5% |
Time Warner Cable |
6% |
| TW Telecom |
5% |
PaeTec Comm. |
4% |
TW Telecom |
6% |
| Internap Network Svcs. |
4% |
Level 3 |
4% |
Cogent |
5% |
| Mzima Networks, Inc. |
3% |
Sprint |
4% |
Cox |
4% |
| Global Crossing |
2% |
Cablevision |
3% |
Level 3 |
4% |
| XO |
2% |
Windstream |
2% |
PaeTec Comm. |
3% |
| Share for Top 5 ISPs |
69% |
Share for Top 5 ISPs |
56% |
Share for Top 5 ISPs |
40% |
| Share for Top 10 ISPs |
85% |
Share for Top 10 ISPs |
73% |
Share for Top 10 ISPs |
62% |
*Based on the number of employees per business
AT&T and Verizon Lead Among Business ISPs in the Top Ten U.S. Local Markets
An analysis of the top ten U.S. local markets shows AT&T holding the top position in the majority of these markets in September 2011. Verizon led in 3 of the top 10 markets, including New York, the country’s largest local market. Similar to what was observed at the national level, the competition for business ISPs increases among smaller businesses. In the small business segment, Comcast and AT&T each ranked as the top ISP in 4 of the top 10 local markets, while Verizon and Cablevision each led in one local market.
Business ISP Market Leaders by Business Size* in the Top 10 U.S. Local Markets
September 2011
Total U.S.
Source: comScore Business ISP Market Share Report |
| Local Markets |
All Businesses |
Large Businesses |
Small Businesses |
| ISP |
Share (%) of Internet Traffic |
ISP |
Share (%) of Internet Traffic |
ISP |
Share (%) of Internet Traffic |
| New York |
Verizon |
20% |
Verizon |
24% |
Cablevision |
18% |
| Los Angeles |
AT&T |
22% |
AT&T |
27% |
AT&T |
17% |
| Chicago |
AT&T |
23% |
AT&T |
29% |
Comcast |
21% |
| Philadelphia |
AT&T |
19% |
AT&T |
32% |
Comcast |
27% |
| San Francisco |
AT&T |
20% |
Verizon |
23% |
AT&T |
23% |
| Boston |
Verizon |
22% |
Verizon |
36% |
Comcast |
24% |
| Washington, DC |
Verizon |
19% |
AT&T |
28% |
Verizon |
17% |
| Dallas |
AT&T |
29% |
AT&T |
34% |
AT&T |
24% |
| Detroit |
AT&T |
31% |
AT&T |
37% |
Comcast |
22% |
| Atlanta |
AT&T |
30% |
AT&T |
38% |
AT&T |
25% |
*Based on the number of employees per business
AT&T Drives Approximately 30 Percent of Financial Services and Healthcare Business Internet Traffic
An analysis of the business ISP leaders for different industries revealed AT&T drove approximately 30 percent of traffic in the Financial Services and Healthcare and Medical industries in September 2011, showing a notable lead over other ISPs. In contrast, the Telecommunications and Software and Technology industries showed greater market fragmentation among business ISPs, with the leading providers driving less than one-fifth of traffic in these markets, followed closely by their competitors. Verizon and CenturyLink/Qwest ranked among the top three business ISPs for several industries as well.
Top 3 Business ISPs for Selected Industries
September 2011
Total U.S.
Source: comScore Business ISP Market Share Report |
| ISP |
Share (%) of Internet Traffic |
| Financial Services |
|
| AT&T |
30% |
| Verizon |
24% |
| Level 3 |
9% |
| Healthcare & Medical |
|
| AT&T |
31% |
| CenturyLink/Quest |
10% |
| Verizon |
9% |
| Software & Technology |
|
| AT&T |
18% |
| Verizon |
17% |
| MZIMA |
16% |
| Telecommunications |
|
| CenturyLink/Q |
13% |
| Internap Network Svcs. |
11% |
| AT&T |
11% |
Tags: AT&T, Business ISP market, CenturLInk, Cogent, Comcast, comScore, Cox, Level 3, Sprint, Time Warner Cable, TW Tlecom, Verizon
Posted in Internet/New Media, IT, Telecommunications | Comments Off
Friday, July 29th, 2011
 Motorolla's Xoom Xoom, Motorola’s tablet entry, hit the market at $800 but didn’t move the retail dial much. The company slashed the price to $500 – which makes it more competitive with the iPad – earlier this month. Now, however, the company warns that the price cut may also slash its Q3 profits.
CEO Sanjay Jha admitted he had misjudged price points for tablets, but says the company will introduce five new devices, including two new high speed tablets capable of using high speed LTE technology. And, he says, “We now recognize where the price points are.”
We tested a Xoom and found it less than an ideal tool for the types of things we need from a mobile device, such as taking photos (too heavy for comfortable use as a camera and it was tough to see the screen outdoors), or typing. We don’t care much for virtual keypads. It, like Apple’s iPad, weighs about 1.6 pounds, and it does have features the iPad does not.
It plays Flash video, which is nearly ubiquitous on the web, and it did perform tasks quickly, connected to Wi-Fi easily and shows color books to good advantage.
We suspect, however, that much of the iPad’s success is due to the Apple prestige factor and dedicated Apple fans, so we’re not sure cutting the price on the Xoom will help it much. It will be interesting to see how the company’s next batch of tablets and devices perform in the marketplace.
HTC hits record profits
One device we tested that we did like was the Windows Phone 7 Arrive from HTC with a handy slide-out keypad to supplement the virtual one on screen, easy to use, intuitive photo controls, quick and easy connections, and the operating system we like best so far on smartphones (we haven’t tested an iPhone, but used several Android devices).
We’re not the only ones who like HTC products. The company reported record Q2 profits,selling 12.1 million units and racking up a 123.7 percent year-over-year growth rate.
A lot of that growth came from China, the top market for the Taiwan-based firm.
The company faces trouble over its patent dispute with rival Apple, though. An International Trade Commission recently ruled in Apple’s favor in its request to have the ITC impose an import (to the U.S.) ban on HTC products. That could throw some legal static into HTC’s continuing success going forward.
Verizon edges out T-Mobile for best customer service, AT&T last
Verizon won the J.D. Power and Associates award for the best customer service in the industry, edging out T-Mobile by on six points of a 1,000.
Verizon scored well for the way it handles calls, while T-Mobile stood out for its online options.
Neither Sprint nor AT&T managed to score the industry average of 762 in their “Power Circle” ranks. Sprint only hit 752, leading last place AT&T by only a point.
Apple has more cash than the U.S. Treasury
The Washington Post’s Matt Hartley says Apple Inc., which reported it has $76.156 billion in cash on hand in its latest earnings report, has more money than the U.S. Treasury (which has an operating balance of $73.768 million).
Other reports say many American Corporations are flush with cash, yet most remains skittish about hiring. Seems to us that no one is going to keep making money if not enough working people are making money.
Tags: Apple, Apple has more money then U.S. treasury, AT&T, customer service awards, HTC, JD Powers, Power Circle, Sprint, Verizon, Windows Phone 7 Arrive
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Friday, June 24th, 2011
 Two of the most highly anticipated wireless devices of 2011, HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G, debut today, exclusively from Sprint (NYSE: S). HTC EVO 3D, America’s first glasses-free 3D phone will cost $199.99 and HTC EVO View 4G, the first 4G-enabled tablet in the United States, will cost $399.99. Both prices exclude applicable taxes, and the devices require a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade.
We haven’t seen one of these yet, but it sounds intriguing. We’re not big on 3D, which seems over-hyped and not that consumer friendly in many cases. But we have been testing an HTC Windows 7 smartphone that performs very well with an intuitive interface, a camera that is easy to use from the get-go and a slide-out keyboard that makes up for our clumsiness in using touchscreens.
“HTC EVO 3D brings to life a visual experience that comes alive in front of the viewers’ eyes and offers crisp, clear pictures on the large display that showcases yet another new innovation from Sprint; and HTC EVO View 4G combines a wonderful tablet experience with the ability to use the optional HTC Scribe digital pen to take notes on web pages, e-books, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way,” said Fared Adib, vice president – Product Development, Sprint.
Early reviews have been positive:
- “A lot of the hype on this phone will be centered on its 3-D capabilities. But take away the 3-D and you still have one of the better smartphones in the market.” – The Wall Street Journal
- “When it comes to gaming on the HTC EVO 3D, I am impressed.” – TheGamerAccess
- “So, if the way you use your phone and ease of navigation and functions is important, you want the best Mobile UI on the market, and you love glasses-free 3D technology, get the only phone that has them both, the HTC EVO 3D 4G for Sprint.” – VideoGamingPros
- “The HTC EVO 3D builds on the original EVO 4G in every way possible. It’s thinner, it feels better in the hand, and it’s way more powerful.” – BGR
- “The EVO 3D is more or less the same ass-kicker its 2D predecessor was, but a year later and faster.” – Gizmodo
Here are a few nice things industry experts had to say about HTC EVO View 4G:
- “I love the form factor and absolutely solid build quality of the View 4G. It’s a top notch tablet, the size is great, and it’s lovely having 4G WiMAX data speeds wherever I go.”2 –BGR
- “The EVO View’s 7-inch, 1024 x 600-pixel glossy display is one of the brightest and most vibrant we’ve seen on a tablet. With the brightness turned up, images appeared bright and colorful even at 90-degree viewing angles.” – Laptop Magazine
- “The HTC EVO View 4G for Sprint adds a fast 4G connection to the HTC Flyer, an already capable tablet with excellent pen input options.” – PC Magazine
- “The HTC EVO View 4G is undeniably fun to use. The interface is fast and responsive.” – CNET
The 3D phones are sold via Sprint online and at both Radio Shack and Best Buy stores. HTC EVO 3D requires activation on one of Sprint’s Everything Data plans plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones.
–Allan Maurer
Tags: Best Buy, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO 3D 4G, new phones, Radio Shack, Sprint
Posted in Hardware, Internet/New Media, Mobile, smartphones, Telecommunications | Comments Off
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
 Millennials are the most connected generation and use mobile for shopping, going online and more. Just what the heck is 4G anyway? Verizon’s Karen Shultz, visiting the NC Research Triangle to tout the July launch of its 4G service in the region, says, “4G just means its a fourth generation system and every carrier is using a different technology.”
Verizon’s, slated to go live in the Research Triangle July 21, is ten times faster than its 3G system. At between 5mb to 12mb a second, “It’s the difference between a kitchen faucet and a fire hose,” Shultz says. “You’ll be able to download books and songs in seconds and movies in minutes. A lot of the things that drive you crazy working in the field on 3G will be no trouble on Verizon’s 4G. It will be comparable to working on a home computer.”
Verizon is also putting an extra 58 towers operating at the lower end of the spectrum, which provides a wider service area, to support the new 4G service in the Triangle area. The new towers expand the coverage area by 40 percent.
We recently tested phones with service by Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T, and while all performed adequately, Verizon’s service was consistently the best, particularly indoors, on the train between Durham, NC and Charlotte, NC, and even in more outlying areas. The 3G service, however, felt like a return to the early computer use, as mobile web pages took their time to load or change pages. The idea of actually working on one of those phones at more than communication was daunting.
Time Warner Cable, Sprint and Clear also offer 4G services in the Triangle. But that doesn’t mean they’re all the same.
That’s why Rep. Anna Eshoo, (D-CA) introduced a bill June 22 that would require providers to disclose actual data speeds at point of purchase. Called the “Next Generation Disclosure Act,” the bill would require the FCC to provide the speed information.
The International Telecommunications Union defines 4G as a 1 gigabit/sec and as yet, none of the major carriers achieve that speed. The ITU allows carriers to use the term 4G to describe “evolved 3G technologies providing a substantial level of improvement. in performance and capabilities.”
Shultz says there is is more to the increased speeds to the 4G service Verizon offers.
“Down the road, as the LTE service kicks into gear, we’ll see increasing machine to machine connections. Those connect consumers to power provider smart grids for better control of energy consumption, or even to a refrigerator for inventory control, and other “humanless connections” leading to that everything connected world we’ve heard so much about in futuristic forecasts.
Here’s Verizon’s 4G speed comparison chart:
Tags: 4G speed chrat, AT&T, bill requires 4G definition, Clear, Karen Shultz, machine to machine connections, NC, Rep. Anna Eshoo, Research Triangle, Sprint, Time Warner Cable, Verizon
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Friday, March 18th, 2011
 WASHINGTON, DC – Once again, the Internet is showing its ability to do some good. More than 200,000 LivingSocial users took the company up on an unusal daily deal it ran across its whole network of $5 for a $10 donation to to the American Red Cross’s Japan Earthquake & Pacific Tsunami fund.
Even before the deal ended the company’s users donated more than $1 million, which will result in a matching million from LivingSocial.
Users donated the first million in half a day and had another few hours to go Friday morning. The final figure donated is likely to be considerably more than that first million.
Another tech firm, G Data Software, which recently opened its US headquarters in Durham, NC, will be running a charity campaign for the earthquake victims in Japan from now to April 11th. During this time, $7 per sale of each G Data Software product will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross to aid in assisting the victims and repairing damage caused by the disaster. The complete sum will be transferred at the end of the campaign.
We’re currently running G Data’s Total Security software, a cloud-based system that updates hourly and has an excellent malware snagging record. We wrote about them here: German Antivirus pioneer opening US headquarters in Durham
From today to April 11th, part of the proceeds from each of the below products will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross:
o G Data AntiVirus
o G Data InternetSecurity
o G Data TotalSecurity
o G Data NotebookSecurity
See: www.gdata-software.com/earthquake-catastrophe-in-japan/ for more information on the G Data charity campaign.
See also: www.techjournalsouth.com/2011/03/tech-and-the-japan-quake-free-calls-donations-radiation-protection/
TechJournal South is a TechMedia company. TechMedia presents the annual conferences:
SoutheastVentureConference: www.seventure.org
Internet Summit: www.internetsummit.com
Digital East: www.digitaleast.com
Digital Summit: www.digitalsummit.com
Tags: American Red Cross’s Japan Earthquake & Pacific Tsunami fund, AT&T, free calls to Japan, G Data Software, LivingSocial matches donations to Japan fund, Sprint, tech firms aiding Japan relief, Verizon
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