Verizon Wireless Archive

12

Droid RAZR Purple Packs Ray Lewis-Like Power

By
Rob Jackson
– January 9, 2012Posted in: Handsets, Motorola Droid RAZR, NewsFeed, Verizon

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Hey, any Baltimore Ravens fans out there? What better way to celebrate a first-round bye and Pittsburgh Steelers playoff loss than the announcement of a Purple Droid RAZR by Verizon Wireless? Probably a lot of better ways, but being from Baltimore, I thought I’d show some home-town love. I can think of a few Verizon-toting friends who are stuck between getting a Droid RAZR or Galaxy Nexus… and this might put them over the edge (see what I did there?).

Usually, offering additional colors isn’t a press release worthy occasion and almost never is it cause for its own article. The more noteworthy Verizon and Motorola news items are the announcement of the RAZR MAXX and Droid 4, two phones you’ll definitely want to check out (stay tuned for coverage).

That’s the end of this public service announcement… back to your regularly scheduled actually-newsworthy CES coverage. Here is what we’ve got coming up:

  • Samsung at 2PM Pacific
  • NOKIA at 3PM Pacific
  • Panasonic at 3PM Pacific
  • NVIDIA at 4PM Pacific
  • Sony at 5PM Pacific
  • Keynote at 6:30PM Pacific

And then we’ll be attending some extracurricular events where we hope to get hooked up with additional coverage. Then tomorrow is the big day where we are unleashed to the show floor. Whose gone’ protect this house?

Full press release:

VERIZON WIRELESS AND MOTOROLA ANNOUNCE NEW ADDITIONS TO DROID FAMILY AT CES 2012
New DROIDS and New Colors - Verizon Wireless and Motorola Have Something for Everyone

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - From the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced an expansion of the DROID RAZR™ family.  In coming weeks, customers will see the DROID RAZR™ by Motorola in Purple and the DROID RAZR™ MAXX™ by Motorola. Both new DROIDs are powered by America’s fastest, most reliable 4G network and build upon the successful DROID RAZR by Motorola.

DROID RAZR - Thin, Powerful and now in Purple

DROID RAZR in Purple will debut in the coming weeks with 16 GB on-board memory and gives customers a third stylish option from which to choose.  Regardless of color - classic Black, pristine White or Purple, the DROID RAZR is equipped with the same great features that let customers search the Web or download more than 300,000 Android Market™ apps at breakneck speeds on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network.  The DROID RAZR in Purple will be $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

Taking DROID RAZR to the MAXX

The DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola will join the DROID family for customers who want all the great features of the DROID RAZR, but need a smartphone that overachieves. DROID RAZR MAXX is designed for customers who spend their days and nights multi-tasking. This smartphone is a marathon runner with enough endurance to let customers talk on the phone for more than 21 hours straight on a single charge.  It’s the longest-lasting smartphone on the block, and at just 8.99 mm, the device is still impossibly thin.  The DROID RAZR MAXX comes equipped with 32 GB of total memory and will be $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

The DROID Family by Motorola Complete with Tablets

The DROID family also includes the two recently launched DROID XYBOARD tablets by Motorola.  Both boast the blazing speeds of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network and the power of dual-core 1.2 GHz processors for lightning-fast Web browsing and multi-tasking. Customers can select what size XYBOARD they want to command by choosing either the 10.1-inch or 8.2-inch DROID.

Ice Cream Sandwich Update

DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX are powered by the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network and run on Android™ 2.3.5 Gingerbread, to be upgraded to Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.  The DROID XYBOARD tablets will also be upgraded to Android 4.0.  Both DROID smartphones will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com in the coming weeks.

Additional Features and Smart Accessories

A full suite of accessories that extend the power of DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola are also available from Verizon Wireless.  Accessories compatible with both DROIDs include the 10.1-inch Lapdock 100, 14-inch Lapdock 500 Pro with built-in webcam and Ethernet connection, HD Dock, HD Station and vehicle navigation mount.  Plus, each device has all the software needed to customize DROID RAZR or DROID RAZR MAXX to the fullest.  Stream music, photos and videos from home or work computers straight to the smartphone with MotoCast™, or automate everyday tasks by creating rules using Smart Actions.

Data Plans

Customers that purchase a DROID RAZR or DROID RAZR MAXX will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.  Customers that purchase a DROID XYBOARD tablet will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband data plan starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

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10

Motorola Droid 4 Announced

By
Rob Jackson
– January 9, 2012Posted in: Handsets, Motorola Droid 4, NewsFeed, Verizon

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Motorola and Verizon Wireless have just announced the newest version of their epic line of Droid phones: the Motorola Droid 4. The duo are claiming the device is the thinnest 4G LTE QWERTY Smartphone on the planet. If that’s a tongue twister you can’t tie your noodle around, let me put it in more basic terms: the Droid 4 is only half an inch thick and has a full 5-row slide-out keyboard and 4G connectivity. Pretty impressive.

Some quick Droid 4 Specs:

  • 1.2GHz processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • Android 2.3.5 (Android 4.0 coming soon)
  • 4.0-inch qHD display
  • Scratch and scrape resistant glass, water-repellant nanocoating for splash resistance
  • 8MP camera with 1080p video
  • HDMI mirroring
  • MotoCast
  • 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot support (up to 8 devices)
  • Water-repellent nanocoating for splash resistance
  • 16 GB on-board memory
  • MicroSD slot

There will be a line of accessories available for compatibility with the Droid 4 including a 10.1-inch lapdock, 14-inch lapdock with webcam, HD Dock, HD Station, and Vehicle Navigation Mount. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced, but are expected to come in the following weeks.

My opinion is torn with the Droid 4. I used to be a huge hardware keyboard proponent who couldn’t live without one. The Droid 4 performs what seems to be magic by cramming a full 5-row QWERTY Keyboard into a .5-inch thick frame with a solid set of alterior specs. But personally, with tremendous growth of touchscreen accuracy and performance, I’ve found my own interest in hardware keyboards to wane.

I still see the huge benefit of them for different use cases, but for the average consumer I think 4.0-inch+ touchscreens and greatly improved display input and technology have pushed hardware keyboards onto their last leg in terms of mainstream mobile adoption.

Do you agree? Disagree? Give us your thoughts on the Droid 4 below!

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Verizon Wireless Officially Announces the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX; Alleges 21 Hours of Straight Talk Time.

By
Quentyn Kennemer
– January 9, 2012Posted in: Handsets, NewsFeed, Verizon

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The folks at Verizon have just officially unveiled the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX, an Android 2.3 smartphone that is pretty much a slightly thicker follow-up to the original Motorola DROID RAZR. Verizon and Motorola are touting its ability to allow users to talk on the phone for more than 21 hours straight. Yes – 21 hours of talk time.

We’re not exactly sure how they supposedly pulled this feat off but we’ll certainly be eager to learn. They also mentioned it’ll come with a significant amount more memory than the original with 32GB on-board. It’ll be available for $300 on a new two-year agreement and will be ready for your battery-draining fingers.

Verizon didn’t give details on a release window but we’re sure those of you who are looking for a phone with superior battery will be waiting long and hard for it whenever it may launch.

You can expect the device to be compatible with the usual suspects of accessories (lapdocks, HD docks and more) and you can expect it to be upgraded to Android 4.0 sometime down the line. Read on for full press details.

VERIZON WIRELESS AND MOTOROLA ANNOUNCE NEW ADDITIONS TO DROID FAMILY AT CES 2012

New DROIDS and New Colors - Verizon Wireless and Motorola Have Something for Everyone

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - From the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced an expansion of the DROID RAZR™ family. In coming weeks, customers will see the DROID RAZR™ by Motorola in Purple and the DROID RAZR™ MAXX™ by Motorola. Both new DROIDs are powered by America’s fastest, most reliable 4G network and build upon the successful DROID RAZR by Motorola.

DROID RAZR - Thin, Powerful and now in Purple

DROID RAZR in Purple will debut in the coming weeks with 16 GB on-board memory and gives customers a third stylish option from which to choose. Regardless of color - classic Black, pristine White or Purple, the DROID RAZR is equipped with the same great features that let customers search the Web or download more than 300,000 Android Market™ apps at breakneck speeds on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. The DROID RAZR in Purple will be $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

Taking DROID RAZR to the MAXX

The DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola will join the DROID family for customers who want all the great features of the DROID RAZR, but need a smartphone that overachieves. DROID RAZR MAXX is designed for customers who spend their days and nights multi-tasking. This smartphone is a marathon runner with enough endurance to let customers talk on the phone for more than 21 hours straight on a single charge. It’s the longest-lasting smartphone on the block, and at just 8.99 mm, the device is still impossibly thin. The DROID RAZR MAXX comes equipped with 32 GB of total memory and will be $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

The DROID Family by Motorola Complete with Tablets

The DROID family also includes the two recently launched DROID XYBOARD tablets by Motorola. Both boast the blazing speeds of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network and the power of dual-core 1.2 GHz processors for lightning-fast Web browsing and multi-tasking. Customers can select what size XYBOARD they want to command by choosing either the 10.1-inch or 8.2-inch DROID.

Ice Cream Sandwich Update

DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX are powered by the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network and run on Android™ 2.3.5 Gingerbread, to be upgraded to Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The DROID XYBOARD tablets will also be upgraded to Android 4.0. Both DROID smartphones will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com in the coming weeks.

Additional Features and Smart Accessories

A full suite of accessories that extend the power of DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola are also available from Verizon Wireless. Accessories compatible with both DROIDs include the 10.1-inch Lapdock 100, 14-inch Lapdock 500 Pro with built-in webcam and Ethernet connection, HD Dock, HD Station and vehicle navigation mount. Plus, each device has all the software needed to customize DROID RAZR or DROID RAZR MAXX to the fullest. Stream music, photos and videos from home or work computers straight to the smartphone with MotoCast™, or automate everyday tasks by creating rules using Smart Actions.

Data Plans

Customers that purchase a DROID RAZR or DROID RAZR MAXX will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. Customers that purchase a DROID XYBOARD tablet will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband data plan starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.
For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Media can access high-resolution images of the DROID RAZR™ in Purple and the DROID RAZR™ MAXX™ by Motorola in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.)

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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.

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

All talk and standby times are quoted in Digital Mode, and are approximate. Battery performance depends on network configuration, signal strength, operating temperature, features selected, and voice, data and other application usage patterns.

MOTOCAST supports many popular file formats and codecs. Additional software is necessary to enable use of unsupported files on your mobile phone. DRM-protected content is not supported. Respect the rights of copyright owners by only using MOTOCAST to stream and sync authorized content.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Facebook is a trademark of Facebook, Inc. Adobe and Adobe Flash are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and other countries. Google, Android Market, Google Maps Navigation Beta, Google Mail, and YouTube are trademarks of Google, Inc. DLNA is a service mark of Digital Living Network Alliance in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Motorola Mobility, Inc. All rights reserved.

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0

LG Spectrum for Verizon Wireless Coming January 19th for $199

By
Rob Jackson
– January 9, 2012Posted in: Handsets, Verizon

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The LG Spectrum, previously rumored as the LG Revolution 2, has been officially announced for Verizon Wireless at CES 2012. It will be yet another device on Verizon’s 4G LTE network, adding processor speed to it’s already fast network speed by featuring a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

While it only launches with Android 2.3, an upgrade to Android 4.0 ICS has already been promised. You know how those things work – they are finicky and the timing is unpredictable – but the LG Spectrum looks like a nice offering all around, available for $199 on January 19th.

And a large offering. The LG Spectrum features a 4.5-inch true HD IPS display with 329 pixels per inch and 16:9 aspect ratio. Pile on the multimedia features with an 8MP camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 1080p HD Video Recording, and – get this sports lovers – the first phone to have ESPN 720p HD video with an ESPN ScoreCenter App. Add that to Verizon’s already awesome and exclusive NFL Mobile service and sports nuts may want to take a serious look at the Spectrum.

LG’s Press Release came in beautiful graphical form, complete with a promo sheet and specs (below). Unfortunately, LG didn’t offer hand-on with the device afterwards, but we’re guessing they’re holding back, hoping for more media attention on Day 1 of the Show Floor by playing hard to get.

I’m sure there are plenty of Verizon customers out there wondering what phone they should get. The Galaxy Nexus, Rezound, and RAZR are already hot Android options-o n first glance, where does the LG Spectrum fit on your Big Red Want List?

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0

Verizon Wireless Backtracks – Says They Will NOT Charge $2 Fee To Pay Bills

By
Chris Chavez
– December 30, 2011Posted in: Verizon

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Breaking news from the Wall Street Journal who is reporting that Verizon Wireless has offically reversed its plans to charge customers a $2 convenience to pay bills online. This news comes right after the FCC announced they would be investigating the matter. Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead said in an official statement,

"At Verizon, we take great care to listen to our customers.  Based on their input, we believe the best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient options, eliminating the need to institute the fee at this time."

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Galaxy Nexus Battery Now 50% Off At Verizon Wireless – $20 For A Limited Time

By
Chris Chavez
– December 29, 2011Posted in: Accessories, Galaxy Nexus, Handsets, Samsung, Verizon

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If your recent Galaxy Nexus purchase found the battery life to be a bit… lacking, I have some good news. Verizon Wireless has the official Samsung — NFC enabled — 1850 mAh batter for only $20. That’s half-off the original asking price! Let me tell you, there’s nothing quite as liberating as having a spare battery at hand. Still a bit expensive for a regular ‘ol battery (you can get a 3-pack from China for half that price) but that’s the price you pay to keep full NFC capabilities intact.We have no idea how long this deal will last so you may want to hurry.

[Verizon Wireless]

Via Droid-Life

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Verizon Wireless To Begin Charging “$2 Convenience Fee” For Online and Phone Payments

By
Chris Chavez
– December 29, 2011Posted in: Verizon

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I hate to be the bearer of bad news but before I begin, I just want to say — please, keep it civil in the comments, folks. Starting January 15th, Verizon Wireless will be charging their customers an additional $2 “convenience fee” for paying their cellphone bill whether online and/or through the phone. Verizon already has a reputation as the most expensive carrier in the US and this just further adds to the nickel and diming customers have to pay for “premium” wireless services. You can see all the leaked documentation down below.

Of course, you can always avoid this fee by enrolling in “auto pay” (an option I have to take with my car insurance to avoid higher fees) but I’m still curious. How are all you Verizon Wireless customers going to take this news? Is $2 a month — $24 a year — a small price to pay for amazing coverage and 4G LTE (when it’s working). Or will this be the final straw sending you to more affordable carriers with possibly less coverage? I’m sure Republic Wireless is sounding better every day…

 

[Via Droid-Life]

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11

Verizon Announces In-House Network Enhancements for Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium

By
Kevin Krause
– December 23, 2011Posted in: Industry News, Verizon

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Just in time for tomorrow’s home game against the Cleveland Browns, M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, has been outfitted with in-house network enhancements from Verizon. The overhaul consists of “600 small antennas, 146 remote radio units, 35 miles of coaxial cable, and 327 miles of fiber, or enough to run from M&T Bank Stadium to Providence, Rhode Island” and will provide increased coverage for 3G and 4G users alike. As a season ticket holder and avid fantasy football player who can never seem to find a signal in that stadium to save a life (or to check my team’s stats), I can speak from experience that the news will find me more than merry this Christmas Eve. Commence the Ravens bashing after an admittedly horrible loss to San Diego in the comments below. I can’t wait to see what the Pittsburgh fans have to say about this one.

Verizon Wireless Completes Buildout of In-Stadium Communications Network to Help Fans Stay Connected on their Mobile Devices

BALTIMORE, MD — Fans coming to see the Baltimore Ravens take on the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Eve will have additional reason to cheer when they learn that M&T Bank Stadium is now among a select few NFL venues in the country to feature a state-of-the-art, wireless communications network.

The new customized communications network, designed and built by Verizon Wireless, is a distributed antenna system (DAS) consisting of approximately 600 small antennas, 146 remote radio units, 35 miles of coaxial cable, and 327 miles of fiber, or enough to run from M&T Bank Stadium to Providence, Rhode Island. Verizon Wireless customers will benefit immediately from the installation of this new system and be able to take advantage of improved 3G and 4G data speeds and coverage. Since the system is a universal DAS platform, it is able to accommodate equipment from other carriers to provide improved coverage for all wireless users in the future.

"We are constantly looking for ways to improve the fan experience at M&T Bank Stadium," said Dick Cass, Baltimore Ravens team President. "We believe that the installation of this state-of-the art wireless communication network is an important step forward."

"Our customers want and need to stay connected with family, friends, co-workers and clients and share their experiences and excitement while attending games at M&T Bank Stadium and cheering on the Ravens to victory," said Mike Maiorana, regional president, Verizon Wireless. "As a Ravens’ partner and the official wireless sponsor of the NFL, Verizon Wireless is proud that our customers will be the first to enjoy improved coverage and even faster speeds when sending photos, videos or checking other game scores on their smartphones or tablets while watching the Ravens continue their winning season."

"The Baltimore Ravens, as the AFC North Division leader and having clinched a playoff berth, are a world-class team deserving of a world-class stadium," said John Morton III, Chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority. "The installation of this new, state-of-the-art communications network is an important upgrade and investment in Maryland’s infrastructure and places M&T Bank Stadium in a unique group of professional sports venues around the country to offer an enhanced wireless experience for fans."

The building of DAS platform at M&T Bank Stadium began in February 2011 and was completed in mid-December in time for this season’s remaining home game on December 24, 2011, against the Cleveland Browns.

About the Baltimore Ravens
For a franchise-record fourth consecutive season, the Ravens have clinched a playoff berth and are currently the only NFL team to earn a postseason spot each of the past four years. Since the arrival of head coach John Harbaugh in 2008, Baltimore has produced 46 total wins, tying for second most in the NFL.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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.

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Motorola DROID RAZR OTA Update Rolling Out Now From Verizon Wireless

By
Chris Chavez
– December 23, 2011Posted in: Handsets, Motorola Droid RAZR, Verizon

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Christmas will be arriving a little bit early for Motorola Droid RAZR users. Verizon Wireless is currently rolling out a software update for the device that will fix a few issues customers have been experiencing with the kevlar reinforced smartphone. Some of the highlights from the 6.11.748 update include:

  • SIM error notification has been fixed
  • Improved camera features and quality
  • Improved stability of menu access, browser, phone dialer, video playback and music player to prevent force-close errors and lockups
  • Updated group message notification in e-mail
  • Improvement in 3G/4G data connectivity
  • Maintain network connection upon completion of a voice call
  • Background color has been adjusted to improve readability in Lapdock connection UI menu items.

You can either wait around for Verizon to notify you of the update, or you can take the more proactive route and check for it manually by jumping into your Settings > About Phone > System Updates. Have any of our readers received theirs yet?

[Via VZBuzz]

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Verizon States No LTE Performance Issue with the Galaxy Nexus, Will Adjust Status Bar to Better Match Other Devices

By
Kevin Krause
– December 21, 2011Posted in: Handsets, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Verizon

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Verizon has made a statement regarding a planned update to handle Galaxy Nexus 4G issues, and it doesn’t involve tweaking the phone’s radio firmware. As was reported yesterday after independent testing, the Galaxy Nexus is privy to the same signal strength as other 4G devices on Verizon’s network, the difference is the way it reports its status. To adjust for this, Verizon will be updating the phone’s software to translate signal strength to status bars in a similar way to other currently available LTE devices. The fix seems counter-intuitive by merely masking a potentially weak 4G signal with an exaggerated representation of service strength, but it will be enough to please more than a few customers worried that they aren’t getting the most out of Verizon’s network. Here is the full statement:

There is no issue with the performance of the device. There is a difference in the way the signal is translated into bars on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus compared to other smart phones. A future software update will adjust the signal strength indicator to more closely match other Verizon Wireless devices.

[via The Verge]

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