Items tagged with Verizon
Some families have struggled to afford internet services during the pandemic due to highs price and a waning jobs market. As such, the FCC introduced the Emergency Broadband Benefit program to help these families with a discount of up to $50 a month toward broadband service. However, companies only need to offer one plan to comply with the program, and Verizon is accused of trying to game the system. Earlier in May, Ars Technica reported that Verizon required people who wanted the $50 government subsidy to switch their internet plan, which sometimes became more expensive. The company claimed that the EBB could not be used on some old or grandfathered data plans, so they would need to switch....
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Verizon is getting ready to bolster a couple of its 'unlimited' mobile phone plans with another entertainment perk. Starting tomorrow (May 25), subscribers to Verizon's Play More and Get More unlimited plans will be eligible for a free year of either Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass, both of which normally run $4.99 per month. That works out to a nearly $60 value, when all is said and done. Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass are similar, in that they both offer up a large selection of games without annoying in-game ads or in-game purchases. Google's catalog is bigger, with there being more than 800 games and apps available, while Apple's catalog spans more than 180 games with titles like NBA 2K21...
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The recent feud between Apple and Facebook has been well documented. The companies have been at odd for years, but tensions between the two came to a head most recently when Apple detailed its newest privacy guidelines at WWDC 2020. Those guidelines would force companies to disclose how a customer's data was being used by its apps and require users to Opt-In, to allow gathering of personal data. To date, apps have been able to leverage the Apple Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) feature to analyze user data and provide targeted advertising. This week’s launch of iOS v14.5, however, changes the paradigm. Instead of having to jump through hoops to Opt-Out, with Apple’s latest iOS update,...
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The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro were first announced just over a week ago, and we followed up with our review of both smartphones. Today, however, marks the flagship Snapdragon 888 devices' official launch, and here's where you can purchase them in both unlocked and carrier-locked form. You can get the base OnePlus 9 unlocked direct from OnePlus, or you can choose to go with Amazon or Best Buy. Amazon only offers the OnePlus 9 in Winter Mist, while both OnePlus and Best Buy offer Winter Mist and Astral Black. The price at each store is $729.99, which is value-priced for a Snapdragon 888-powered flagship smartphone. OnePlus 9 $729.99 8GB RAM 128GB Unlocked @ Amazon OnePlus 9 $729.99 8GB RAM 128GB...
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When the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro were first announced last week, it was confirmed that the smartphones would support 4G LTE across all three major U.S. networks: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. However, when it came to 5G support, things were definitely more limited. When announced, the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro only supported 5G connectivity on T-Mobile. At the time, OnePlus said that 5G support on Verizon's wireless network would be coming at a later date. Well, Verizon announced late last week that both smartphones are now certified to work on its "Nationwide 5G" network. Nationwide 5G in Verizon parlance refers to its sub-6GHz 5G network, in case you were wondering. Since I’m...
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It is April Fools' Day, but Verizon claims that its latest deal is #NoJoke. Your broken devices may still have a bit of value, and Verizon is currently allowing customers to turn in their broken smartphones for an upgrade. Customers can trade-in their “cracked, broken, and even phones that no longer turn on” for up to $1,000 USD on 5G devices with Verizon’s port-in and select Unlimited plans. Verizon will not accept devices with battery damage for safety reasons. This deal will allow customers to upgrade to devices like the Samsung S21 5G and Apple iPhone 12 Pro. Although most Verizon stores are open, Verizon is encouraging customers to reserve an appointment at their local...
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The true promise of 5G connectivity has yet to be realized, for a few reasons. For one, it is simply not as widely available as 4G LTE. Secondly, not all cellular devices support 5G. And then there is the issue of speed. In a lot of places, 5G connectivity can actually be slower than 4G. That is set to change with Verizon spending big money on mid-band spectrum known as C-band, but there's a very big catch for consumers. Only customers who subscribe to a premium unlimited plan will have access to the desirable C-band spectrum, when Verizon flips the switch. Customers on lower tier plans will be stuck with slower 5G, which has been a disappointment so far. We wrote about this last November when...
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Verizon is expanding access to its greater 5G network to its customers that prefer prepaid accounts. Verizon previously provided access to both its 5G Nationwide (sub-6GHz) and 5G Ultra-Wideband (mmWave) to its postpaid customers, however, only the former was available to prepaid accounts. With this week's announcement, prepaid accounts will also gain access to the 5G Ultra-Wideband network, but it's not cheap. The new 5G unlimited data prepaid plan costs $75 per month, or $10/month more than what Verizon charges for the standard unlimited plan. That extra $10/month gets you access to month the fastest 5G speeds available in the United States with downlink speeds in excess of 1Gbps. However,...
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Last year, 5G availability and performance was disappointing, and realistically not much has changed on that front. Apple touted "5G just got real" when the iPhone 12 family launched, but 5G tended not to be much better than 4G, if at all. Either way, the technology is still improving, and has more widely rolled out, so improvements are to be expected nationwide. Ookla has released its Q4 findings for mobile networks, and we get to see how the competitors stack up. First and foremost, AT&T got to take the crown for both "Fastest Provider" and "5G Performance" based on weighted scores correlated to download and upload speeds. For the overall fastest provider, AT&T had a Speed Score of...
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We reported last month that Verizon's nationwide 5G network isn't all it's cracked up to be. While it’s true that Verizon's mmWave 5G network (which it dubs UWB 5G) is among the fastest around offering speeds that can approach 1Gbps in some instances, it has limited range, has trouble penetrating buildings, and is available in relatively few locations. The company's nationwide 5G network -- which uses low- and mid-band spectrum -- is what most customers will be accessing daily, and it leaves much to be desired. New testing from PC Magazine confirms the previous assessment of Verizon's nationwide 5G network, and its test results shows that customers should probably go...
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Hey, good news everyone, 5G has arrived and every major carrier in the US offers it, to some extent. Pop the champagne, right? Not so fast. Why? Because the 5G we are getting is, by and large, not so fast compared to what has been hyped. That is true even of Verizon's 5G network, despite its collaboration with Apple touting "5G just got real" with the roll out of the iPhone 12 series. 5G will eventually get us to the Promised Land of game-changing connectivity. But as it stands, 5G speeds in many parts of the country are not blowing away what people are already getting on 4G networks. That is because when it comes to 5G, it is all about the spectrum and frequency bands. The fastest 5G speeds...
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At first glance, it may seem like a decoder ring is needed to decipher TCL's new 10 5G UW handset, but the model name actually makes sense (even though it is also a bit goofy). It is the latest in TCL's 10 series, hence the 10, and is a 5G handset that can deliver those delightful ultra-wideband speeds that are a potential game changer. But best of all, it's only $399.99. That makes it the cheapest 5G handset around that I am aware of (if you know of one that costs less, feel free to splash it into the comments section below). It undercuts Motorola's One 5G by $45 (it's priced at $444.49 at Best Buy), and is a few hundred bucks less expensive than Apple's recently launched iPhone 12 mini at $699....
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Google announced the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 yesterday after months of leaks. The smartphones share the same processor -- the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G -- the selfie and rear cameras, and display resolution. However, they differ with regards to screen size, battery capacity, and in many other details. But the biggest difference between the two is with regards to price. The Pixel 4a 5G is priced at just $499 unlocked, making it a pretty good bargain in the mid-range 5G market. The Pixel 5, on the other hand, is priced at $699, putting it higher than some of the cheaper Snapdragon 865 flagships on the market like the OnePlus 8 and Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition. However, there is a new...
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While we are still in the early stages, more and more PC manufacturers have jumped aboard the Windows on Arm train. First we had Microsoft's initial offering, the Surface Pro X. Then Samsung joined the fray with the traditional-looking Galaxy Book S, with battery life that lasted for days. Now Lenovo has crashed the party with the Flex 5G, a machine with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx 5G system on a chip (SoC) stuffed inside a versatile, a do-it-all convertible 2-in-1 design. Reviewing an Arm-based Windows PC every few months gives us a glimpse into the evolution of the Arm ecosystem. At first, there weren't many production-ready apps—even Microsoft's Edge web browser was in its beta infancy...
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Typically, when a smartphone maker builds a mobile phone, it makes a device that may have slightly different hardware inside for some carriers, but is physically the same on the outside. That means any case designed for the phone will fit all carrier versions. However, that's not the case with the OnePlus 8 5G sold at Verizon, known as the OnePlus 8 5G UW. Verizon's version of the OnePlus 8 is physically different on the outside compared to versions of the smartphone available from other carriers. The external differences are significant enough that Verizon's device won't fit in cases made for any other version of the smartphone, because this particular version places the volume buttons in a...
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The launch of the OnePlus 8 Pro is getting off to a bit of a rocky start. On paper, it's certainly a worthy successor to previous OnePlus handsets, and is priced competitively for a premium phone. However, display and compatibility woes have marred the release. As it pertains to the latter, apparently the OnePlus 8 Pro has not yet been fully validated for Verizon's wireless network. OnePlus 8 Pro owners have posted various complaints on the OnePlus forums, in regards to getting their handsets working correctly on Verizon's network. Some claim they are having trouble sending and receiving SMS text messages, while others say they are unable to make or receive phone calls. So, what's going on? The...
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Verizon has updated its Emergency Management policy to help eliminate worry for customers during the coronavirus pandemic. The wireless carrier has announced that it is reinforcing its pledge to keep Americans connected and to protect those who are most vulnerable. Verizon says that it will waive overage charges and late fees to support customers who may be financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The carrier is also offering two months waived internet and voice service charges for current Lifeline customers along with rolling out a new affordable internet option for low-income households. An additional 15GB of high-speed data has been added for wireless consumers and small business customers;...
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Motorola has officially announced its new Edge+ smartphone, and it has nearly everything you’d expect from a 2020 flagship. After a few years of ignoring the flagship market with devices like the Moto Z3 and Moto Z4, the Edge+ is a true return to high-end form for Motorola. For starters, the obvious talking point of the Edge+ is its new Waterfall Display, which measures 6.67 inches across and includes a hole punch cutout for the 25MP selfie camera. The display features dramatic wraparound curves on its left and right edges. Samsung popularized this type of display curvature with its Galaxy “Edge” smartphones, but has toned down the effect with its most recent Galaxy S20...
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While 5G coverage certainly isn't widely available from major carriers around the United States today, many people looking to upgrade to a new smartphone want one that is 5G compatible. One of the most recent 5G-compatible smartphones that has been announced is the LG V60 ThinQ 5G with dual screens. This isn't a folding screen smartphone like the Galaxy Fold or Motorola Razer. Instead, it has two separate screens on each side of a smartphone that opens like a book (when using the Dual Screen accessory). Three of the four major carriers have announced that they will be selling the LG V60 ThinQ 5G. On AT&T, the device will be available starting on March 20, and will be offered for...
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Pressure on ISPs is building as a result of the coronavirus and the glut of people who are moving to online work and learn. The problem that many consumers are having is their Internet service has data caps. Presumably, the data caps will be hit quickly with the increased demands from remote workers and from people in high school and universities who are trying to learn remotely. Some believe that the coronavirus may be the push that finally eliminates these data caps. ISPs don’t want to fall into the trap that Verizon tripped in the past when it throttled the connectivity of first responders for going over caps during an emergency. As a result, many ISPs and wireless carriers are preemptively...
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Yahoo is getting into the business of mobile phone service as an MVNO, which stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. MVNOs piggyback on the networks of major wireless carriers—in this case, Yahoo Mobile operates on Verizon's network—and they often charge cheaper rates than going through one of the big four directly. Some of the more popular MVNOs include Cricket Wireless (AT&T), Metro (T-Mobile), Straight Talk (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon), and Virgin Mobile (Sprint), to name just a few of the many offerings. More recently, ISPs have been joining the fray. Charter Communications, for example, sells a Spectrum Mobile service and Comcast offers Xfinity Mobile, both...
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A little over a week ago, Samsung went official at its Unpacked event with the Galaxy S20 range of smartphones. Samsung also promised at the time that preorders would kick off on February 21, which is today. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T are all talking about some of their special deals offered to lure customers into buying the smartphones on their service. For Galaxy S20 fans who prefer T-Mobile as their carrier, it is offering up to $500 back with a qualifying trade-in on the purchase price of Samsung's latest smartphones. Buyers will be able to get that full $500 trade-in if their trade device is an Apple iPhone down to the iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S9 or newer, Google Pixel 3 family or 4...
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