If  Verizon Wireless uses the same packages as they have now 5 lines can share 2 GB for $30, 5 GB for $50 or 10 GB for $80. That’s a huge saving over the current data plans. The overage I think will still be $10 a GB over the alloted amount. I also think they will include simple phones on the family pan that also can share in this bucket of data.

I don’t recommend the $30 data package for more than 3 smarthphones unless you are using a Blackberry or you know that this package will cover your needs. You can always check your usage online with an Verizon Wireless usage application or by dialing #data (#3282) send from your device.

The promo data plan for simple phones ends September 30th it was extended another monthst and I think right after that the shared data plans will be offered.

Some people like using a task manager application to stop applications from running but these task killer app use more memory and power than they save. Android phones with 2.1 or newer software have a built in task killer and adding a task killer defeats the purpose.

Yesterday I had a client complain his battery died after a few hours. After examining his HTC Incredible 2 I realized he had downloaded a battery saver application and that was the culprit. That app ate up 72% of his battery so we deleted the app and problemsolved was solved.

The older versions of Android operating systems did require a task killer but Android learned from this and corrected the issue with later updates and all new Android phones are already equipped with battery saver and app killer options.

Read this article below from Motorola concerning turning your phone off.

http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Support/5697/verizon/rss/tips/en-US/d0e947b.5697.en-US.html

1. First and foremost which is the hardest decision….which operating system do I want to go with? Do I want to go with a chosen leader for ease of use like the Apple iPad? Do I want to have the freedom to add widgets withing Android Honeycomb? Or are you still addicted to your BlackBerry (in an Apple and Android World) that you want to continue the legacy with a BlackBerryPlaybook? This isn’t the easiest of decisions. The last quarter of this year we will see an influx of Tablet makers and this is one decision that cannot be judged by price and specs. Is it for social networking, remote access to your server, or just looking for an easy way to access your company mail on the go.

2. Next…this decision doesn’t get much easier. Which screen size should I choose? They typically range from the small 7 inch screen to the large 13.3 inch screen. Remember, that bigger isn’t always better or more expensive. Unlike desktop monitors, tablet monitors are meant to be small and handy to carry anywhere. Choose a screen that you are comfortable with, but remember sometimes the bigger they are the shorter the battery life will be! 

3. What kind of performance are you looking for? Single core processor? Dual core processor or does it even matter? With a world of tablets coming to the table performance doesn’t always = price. The best “bang for your buck” might be in the middle of the road so avoid the most expensive tablets (unless you have money to burn) and check the consumer reviews of the models you have in your sights.

4. Are you looking for expandability? Determining what type of ports might actually determine which operating system you choose. Typical ports include Type I and II PC card slots, SD card reader, USB ports, VGA port, docking connector, microphone jack, and headphone jack, but Apple limits you to only the microphone jack so expandability is what your looking for than an Android tablet might be what your looking for. Take into account what you might be doing on this tablet in a year to make a better informed decision.  5. Battery life is more important than you may think! Here is a great Wiki that shows a complete comparison of the available models out there with their run times. Once you find a style and OS of your future tablet, make sure it meets your demands for battery life.

The Mobilewiseguy will help guide you with all the different choices and features so contact me.

Offer ends August 31

FREE SAMSUNG TEXTING PHONE for Verizon Wireless offer ends July 31

Verizon Wireless will end the unlimited data smartphone feature on July 6th 2011. The feature is $29.99 now for unlimited data usage and after July 6th customers will be able to pick from three packages.

$30 for 2 GB of data  $10 a GB for any overages
$50 for 5 GB of data $10 a GB for any overages
$80 for 10 GB of data $10 a GB for any overages
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What does that mean for Verizon Wireless current customers is if you already have the unlimited data feature you will be able to keep it (grandfather in) but after July 6th current and new customers looking to get into a smartphone will only have one of the three options above to pick from.

My recommendation is anyone that streams a lot of media like music and videos should jump on the unlimited data option now before its too late.

What I am hoping is with the new data plans families now can share data. If you had a family plan with 5 smartphones now you are paying $29.99 times 5 smartphones close to $150 a month for the data feature only on the smartphones but after July 6th you can spend $30 and share 2 Gigabytes of data between the 5 smartphones. I don’t recommend the 2 Gigabytes for 5 smartphones thats not much data to share unless the smartphones are Blackberry devices the other two higher data plan options should cover most users.

After July 6th 2011

$30 gives you a monthly allowance of 2GB/mo. For 90% of customers, it is more than sufficient for uploading pictures, browsing the web, checking in on Facebook, downloading and using apps, and everything in between.

What are the levels of data I can purchase?

- 2GB for $30/mo, 5GB for $50/mo, and 10GB for $80/mo. Adding mobile hotspot adds 2GB of allowance and $20/mo on top of your data package.

How can I check to make sure I won’t go over my monthly allowance?

- An app called My Verizon is included with your phone. You can use it as well as a widget included to monitor your useage and check on it anytime.

I’m an exisiting customer. Can I keep my $30 unlimited data plan if I upgrade to a smartphone from a smartphone?

- Yes you can. It stays on your plan unless you ask to change the data plan.

What if I’m going to a 4G smartphone from a 3G smartphone?

- You can keep your unlimited data plan even if you are upgrading to a 4G device.

I have a feature phone with a $30 unlimited data package. Can I keep that when upgrading to a smartphone?

- Yes you can. It stays on your plan unless you ask to change the data plan.

Any other questions, email me.

The new Android phone by Casio is a military spec smartphone that is shock resistant and water resistant. That is great feature for construction workers and outdoors men but lets get one thing straight the phone is not water proof and the phone is not indestructible the phone is a lot more rugged than all the other Android phones on Verizon Wireless. The picture above is a Commando with a crack screen that was supposedly dropped from a 4 foot high fall.
On the Casio’s website they claim during testing the phone was dropped from 4 feet 26 times during testing. I guess this phone had a unlucky 27th fall.

Back To School Promo: Droid X2 Buy 1, Get 1 Free

Verizon Wireless Casio Commando Free with new service!!!

Samsung Charge (4/28/11) Top Customer WOW Factors  1. 1st DROID to run on America’s fastest 4G LTE network. 2. Offers the best mobile entertainment experience in the market today! 3. The super-bright touch screen provides high-quality, true-to-life color and images for pictures, videos and games. 4. It uses the AndroidTM 2.2 platform and Adobe Flash 10.2 for a rich web experience and smooth streaming video. 5. Its front-facing camera can be used for video chatting using apps available in the Android Market.

DROID Incredible 2 (4/28/11):  With all of the features and apps customers enjoyed on the DROID INCREDIBLE, the DROID INCREDIBLE 2 takes the user’s experience to the next level. Here’s what you and your customers need to know about enhancements to the DROID INCREDIBLE 2 by HTC, available on the Verizon Wireless 3G network.  § Larger screen for better browsing,viewing of videos and reading. § New – global capability to more than 220 voice and 200 data service countries. § Added a front facing 1.3MP camera to complement the 8MP rear camera. § More than double the memory with a pre-installed 16GB microSD™ card. § New – Sync & Connect* email will provide multiple email and address books in one place. § Wireless media sharing capability with DLNA.

CASIO G’zOne Commando (4/28/11):  Top 5 things you should know: 1. Form Factor: Touch screen; Virtual QWERTY keyboard 2. Processor & Memory: Android 2.2; Processor: 800Mhz; 8 GB microSD pre-installed; MicroSD up to 32GB 3. Connectivity: 3G Mobile Hotspot capable up to 5 devices; WiFi 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth wireless technology 4. Camera/Video: 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, and video capture 5. Multimedia: HTML Browser Supports Adobe Flash 10.1; Audio/Music formats supported: AAC+,MP3, WMA, unprotected AAC+.

Coming SOON!! Blackberry Playbook:  Top 5 things you should know: 1. Form Factor: 7” LCD display, 1024×600 screen resolution, Multi-touch capacitive screen 2. Processor & Memory: 1 GHz dual –core processor, 1GB RAM, Symmetric multi-processing 3. Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Out of the box compatibility with Blackberry Enterprise Server 4. Camera/Video: 3MP high-definition forward-facing camera, 5 MP high-definition rear facing camera, Video Calling 5. Multimedia: 1080p HD video; H.264, MPEG4, WMV HDMI video output, Micro USB and Micro HDMI ports, FullAdobe Flash 10.1 enabled, Built in support for HTML5.

Motorola Xoom™ 3G to 4G LTE™ Upgrade

General Information

1. Why should I upgrade my Motorola Xoom™ from 3G to 4G LTE™?

4G LTE is the next generation of wireless. It will provide network speeds that are up to 10 times faster than 3G when you’re within the 4G LTE coverage area. Verizon’s 4G LTE network is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in America. Maximize the experience on your Motorola Xoom with 4G LTE —download songs in seconds and movies in minutes and video chat live using Google Talk™ without any network interruptions.

Google and the Google logo are trademarks of Google, Inc.

2. When will the Motorola Xoom™ 4G LTE™ upgrade be available?

We expect to offer the 4G LTE upgrade shortly after launching the Motorola Xoom. For more information, visit our Upgrade Information page and register your email address. You’ll receive an email notification once the upgrade becomes available along with simple instructions for getting your device upgraded.

3. Where is 4G LTE™ available?

Visit the 4G LTE coverage map to find out the coverage in your area.

4. How do I upgrade my Motorola Xoom™ from 3G to 4G LTE™?

Visit our Upgrade Information page to view the Getting Ready Guide. The guide provides simple instructions for shipping your device to Motorola for the 4G LTE upgrade.

5. What data speeds can I expect once I upgrade my Motorola Xoom™ to 4G LTE™?

Verizon’s 4G LTE network delivers an average throughput of 5-12 megabytes per second (Mbps) downlink and 2-5 Mbps uplink.

6. How much will it cost to upgrade my Motorola Xoom™ from 3G to 4G LTE™?

There is no additional cost for the 4G LTE upgrade.

7. Do I have to change my plan once I upgrade my Motorola Xoom™ to 4G LTE™?

No, you will not have to change your plan when 4G LTE is complete.

8. Do I need to back up content on my Motorola Xoom™ before initiating the 4G LTE™ upgrade process?

Although it’s not required, we strongly recommend that you back up any personal content, such as pictures, files, applications, programs or personal information, before shipping your device to Motorola for upgrade. See the Getting Ready Guide for step-by-step instructions.

9. How long will I be without my Motorola Xoom™ while the 4G LTE™ upgrade is being performed?

You will be without your device for approximately six business days from the time you ship your Xoom to Motorola.

10. How do I track the upgrade progress for my Motorola Xoom™?

You will receive a confirmation email once Motorola has received your Xoom. The notification will contain a link to track the status of your return shipment.

11. Will I have to reload all my content and reconfigure my Motorola Xoom™ after completing the 4G LTE™ upgrade?

Although we do recommend that you back up all your content as part of the upgrade procedure, you will have the option of encrypting (password protecting) the content and configuration settings of your device as part of this process. This option will keep your content secure throughout the 4G LTE upgrade.

While this is great news for both companies, it’s an awful idea for consumers – and I desperately hope the US antitrust authorities rake this merger over the coals.

An AT&T/T-Mobile merger at least makes more sense than the silly T-Mobile/Sprint idea which was being bandied about. Both carriers use the same technologies: GSM, HSPA+ and LTE. While they’re on different frequency bands, radios which use all of the relevant bands are becoming easier to build.

The merger neatly solves T-Mobile’s long-term problem of not having enough spectrum for LTE, the 4G technology which will soon be a global standard. It gives T-Mobile’s struggling parent, Deutsche Telekom, a gigantic cash infusion. And it lets AT&T once again position itself as the number-one carrier against Verizon Wireless, which leapfrogged AT&T technologically this year with Verizon’s 4G LTE launch.

AT&T is ahead of T-Mobile on building LTE. T-Mobile is far ahead of AT&T on building HSPA+, a intermediate 4G technology that fits right between the carriers’ existing 3G networks and LTE. Together, they could have a smooth and powerful nationwide network.

Smartphones on Verizon will only have the $29.99 option for data. The introduction of the Apple iPhone was probably a significant factor on this decision. 

That $15 150 MB data package was great for most Blackberry users.  If you want to save money on your monthly bill because you don’t use much data, change your plan before 1/30/11 and that plan will be grandfather in. I would recommend any Blackberry user to check there data usage and change now.

There is also another great deal being lost because of this data change. The Palm Pixi can add the $15 data package and that also includes 5 GB of hot spot data on the Palm Pixi.

Get the Palm Pixi now!

I wonder if you get a smartphone before the $15 data package ends on 1/30/11 and switch to the Apple iPhone within the 14 day exchange policy if you can keep the $15 data package?

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9205038/Verizon_iPhone_antenna_redesign_may_thwart_death_grip_says_expert?source=CTWNLE_nlt_mobilew_2011-01-20

4G is downloads speeds of 100MB per second and at this time Verizon Wireless which has the fastest network with their LTE network rollout only has downloads speeds of 5 to 12MB per second less than one quarter of the 4G definition. The marketing departments of the major carriers did a great job changing the definition of 4G.

In March 2011 a satellite company Viasat will be introducing a true 4G network with downlink speeds of 100MB per second but at the beginning it will be only for military use and consumer use will still be a few years out.

ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) has rescheduled the launch of its high-capacity satellite ViaSat-1 with International Launch Services (ILS) to summer 2011.

I wonder if they will claim to have 5G.

Blackberry Storm 3

A Blackberry representative from Marketstar showed me a site with a preview of the unofficial new Blackberry Storm 3. I was amazed at the new design and features of the new Blackberry Storm 3.
The much rumored specifications of the device which include: 16 GB of internal memory via propriety SSD/Flash hybrid technology, 10 hour+ talk time on 3 G and a whopping 300 ppi screen resolution.

More on the New Blackberry Storm 3

Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.

First the Backflip screen is sometimes cluttered with applications and most users do not know how to clean it up to their liking. Second the form factor of having the keyboard on the outside when the device is closed confuses most people. They are not used to seeing the keyboard exposed when the device is closed. Third navigating through its menus is not the easiest, I was confused when trying to use the GPS. I would have thought the Google maps would be the default GPS but the first two GPS applications I saw was AT&T maps and the AT&T Telenav. I am not sure about the first but AT&T Telenav cost $10 a month. It gives you one month free to try it then you must cancel. A lot of customer get this service added by accident.

The keyboard is too flat, the letters should be raised a little. It is hard to do one handed texts or emails. The battery life is terrible, I can’t go a full day. I miss a lot of calls because of reception issues, when sitting next to the Backflip and call it from my Blackberry a lot of times it goes to voicemail.
I tried sending a ringtone by MMS and the Backflip can play the song but I can not save as a ringtone.
(I found a free ringtone application Secret Garden for Android)
My experience with this smartphone is both good and bad. Let me explain how I got a free Motorola Backflip for myself.

AT&T and Motorola had a sales contest for the first few weeks after the launch of the Motorola Backflip. AT&T had this contest in a few markets mine being South Florida. We had to complete two online trainings on the Backflip and submit our sales on a Challenge Rewards website. The contest would give the top sellers in that market a free Motorola Backflip for the most sales entered that week. It was a four week contest and every week you would enter your sales and about 4-5 Backflips were giving out per region. I won my Motorola Backflip in the second week of the contest. I ONLY SOLD ONE! That’s was pathetic for South Florida one of the largest markets for cell phones.

We are now selling a little more and I mean a little and a lot of them come back with the customer complaining that’s its too complicated. Luckily I have not had any returns from my customers yet since I was able to show them how to use the phone a little better.

I am still learning the Backflip but so far I realized the voice dialing sucks, the screen sometimes jumps into a menu by accident and Bluetooth pairing with my Blackberry stereo gateway is very difficult. It could be me but if its hard for me an experience cell phone user the average user would be frustrated.

this is a display we got from Motorola

Wireless internet cards – also called laptop cards, wireless modems and PC cards – are devices that attach to your computer to give you access to the internet over a wireless carrier’s cellular network. Most wireless internet cards now support 3G data speeds, and are convenient if you want to access the internet wirelessly anywhere, anytime, without a Wi-Fi hotspot or a wired connection.

My laptop has Wi-Fi. Do I need a laptop card?

No, but a wireless internet card and data plan from your wireless carrier will let you access the internet at high speeds from anywhere in the country where your carrier provides coverage – indoors, outdoors, or even on the road. With Wi-Fi you need to be within range of a Wi-Fi hot spot (usually 20-30 feet) to get connectivity to the internet.

How much does this kind of connection cost per month?

To use a wireless internet card, you will need a data plan subscription from a wireless carrier. Most carriers’ standard data plan offers 5 GB (or gigabytes) of data use per month for about $60 per month. This information is intended as a guide and actual usage and rates may vary.

So the standard data plan includes up to 5 GB of data – how much is that?

5 GB is the equivalent of 5,120 MB (or megabytes) of data. Using general assumptions, 5 GB per month lets you send or receive 150,000 emails with no attachments or 50,000 emails with a five page Microsoft Word document attached to each. Surfing the internet, you could visit 30,000 typical web pages per month if you aren’t downloading files. A song download is about 1 MB per song (or 5,000 songs per month). Short internet video clips are about 3 MB, but downloading a 2-hour movie will use about 1.5 GB (that’s only 3 movies per month). We recommend downloading large files when you are connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, which doesn’t use your 3G data allowance at all. In short, 5 GB is a lot of data for most users. This information is intended as a guide and actual usage and rates may vary.

Can I share my card between multiple laptops?

Your data service will only work with your wireless internet card. You can easily move your card from one computer to another, but it can only be plugged into one computer at a time. Multiple computers can access the internet through a single laptop card if the card is used to power a 3G Wi-Fi router, provided that all PCs are in range of the router’s hot spot. Another alternative is a MiFi, now available with certain carriers. A MiFi has a built-in wireless internet card and allows up to 5 devices to connect simultaneously to the internet via Wi-Fi. Think of it as a mobile hotspot you can control.

Do wireless internet cards work on Macs as well as PCs?

Yes. Most of our wireless internet cards work on both Macs and PCs. Just make sure to choose a card that’s compatible with your laptop.

How do I know which wireless internet card to choose?

Wireless internet cards are distinguished by how they connect to your computer. Some connect via USB, and this may be the best option for you if you are unsure what type of card is compatible with your laptop. Also, there are several 2-in-1 cards available now that come with an Express-to-PCMCIA adaptor, thus allowing the card to be used in either an Express slot or a PCMCIA slot.

Wireless data cards, MiFi and more information on remote access to the internet.

A replay of de la Vega’s remarks can be found here (select Windows Media Player), and look for a brief video interview with him to be posted on Insider Thursday afternoon. Here’s a brief recap of his presentation:

Our leadership position in wireless
Aggressive focus on network investments and improvements
Best technology path forward
Our emerging devices leadership
Strong U-verse TV growth
The power of One AT&T
What sets AT&T apart
AT&T’s leadership position in wireless, especially wireless data

Our wireless growth is impressive. Over the past year, in a weak economy, we led the U.S. wireless market in net adds and increased our subscriber base by more than 6 million customers. Compared to our major U.S. competitors last quarter, we were:

#1 in gross subscriber additions
#1 in total net adds
#1 in postpaid net adds
#1 in smartphones
#1 in total wireless revenue growth
#1 in total churn
#1 in postpaid ARPU (average revenue per user/month)
and in postpaid ARPU growth
What’s driving these results? Excellent nationwide coverage. A strong network handling unprecedented data traffic. Great marketing. A terrific device line-up. And our smart technology decision a few years ago to go with GSM, the global network standard. And most importantly, our strategy to put wireless data services — and advanced wireless data devices — at the center of our customer experience. As a result, twice as many smartphone customers have chosen AT&T than any of our competitors.

Our focus on network investment and improvements

To deliver on the great potential of mobile data, we have an aggressive network investment program to further enhance our wireless network and customers are benefiting. There’s always more to be done, but we have a high sense of urgency and are on the right track.

When you look at drive-test results by an independent third party:

On a national basis, our 3G data throughput speeds are faster than the competition.
Based on independent drive-test data, the difference between AT&T and the industry leader on a national level on dropped call percentages is less than 2/10ths of a percentage point…which translates to a difference of less than two calls out of 1,000.
Root Wireless, a new, independent network performance monitoring company not affiliated with AT&T, just released data comparing wireless carriers in several markets including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. The data showed our 3G network outpaced Verizon’s, producing far fewer peaks and valleys in network capacity and much greater data speeds.
Our own internal metrics tell the same story. Over the past year, our internal network performance measurements indicate overall quality is up more than 25 percent.

These improvements reflect a number of initiatives, including near-completion of our 850 MHz spectrum to 3G — that delivers strong in-building coverage. We are adding some 2,000 new cell sites this year, adding 100,000 new circuits to strengthen backhaul, doubling our number of fiber-served cell sites this year. And there’s much more to come. We will continue to be aggressive in investing to strengthen network performance.

Best technology path to capture data growth

The mobile data revolution is still in its infancy…there’s huge opportunity ahead of us…and the great news from our perspective is that our technology path puts us in the best position to capture that growth going forward.

When you compare our path forward with that of our CDMA peers, there’s a major difference that involves technology and timing. It comes from HSPA 7.2, which is largely a software enhancement for GSM-based networks. HSPA 7.2 speeds are a major step up — they double theoretical peak speeds. We already have the fastest 3G network in the U.S., based on independent tests. With 7.2, the nation’s fastest network is getting even faster.

Most important? HSPA 7.2 is ready now — and we are deploying it now. We will have this technology up and running in six markets by the end of the month…and we plan to be launched in 25 of our top 30 markets by the end of second quarter next year.

Customers will see the difference and experience the benefits of 7.2 very soon. We already have more than a dozen HSPA 7.2 compatible devices, including iPhone 3GS, feature phones, smartphones, laptop devices, with more to come.

It’s easy to talk about LTE, but it will be some time before we see a rich set of devices to run on that technology. Meanwhile, HSPA 7.2 is being adopted and deployed around the world…devices are coming on board quickly…and we believe customers will be thrilled with the speeds. It’s an important competitive advantage for us over the next few years.

When you put it all together, HSPA 7.2 already has a rich set of devices and provides a customer-friendly transition path to LTE…combined with our industry-leading Wi-Fi coverage, we are putting in place the industry’s most powerful set of network capabilities for mobile data connectivity. That’s exciting for us…for customers…and a major opportunity.

U-verse TV growth

Lots of good news about U-verse this year. We surpassed the 2 million customer mark today.

Our deployment is on track: We now pass more than 20 million living units, and are on track with our plan to pass 30 million by the end of 2011.

Our operational metrics continue to improve… install times and intervals continue to move in the right direction — and we surpassed the 2 million customer mark today.

And most importantly, U-verse is delivering in a big way for customers.

We ranked highest in the JD Power survey for residential TV customer satisfaction in the West and South regions, which align with our wireless Southeast, Southwest and West regions. This was the second consecutive year.
We continue to add new features and HD channels — and the technology has proven itself.
Across all eligible living units our U-verse TV penetration is now above 12 percent. In areas we’ve been marketing to for 24 months of longer, overall penetration rates are now more than 20 percent. And looking at homes marketed to, in green areas where we compete head to head with cable, our research tells us U-verse is taking roughly 60 percent of the TV flow share

Our emerging devices leadership

Our network today handles two times as many smartphones as any of our competitors. And our postpaid integrated device penetration is still in the low 40-percent range. So there’s still huge upside potential in integrated devices. Beyond that, emerging devices represent the next wave of wireless growth, and our network provides the connectivity.

Some time ago, we set up an organization devoted specifically to developing new products and new ideas in the emerging devices space…and that work has paid off.

Today we are the clear leader in emerging devices connectivity: like e-Readers and personal navigation devices. Plus we offer a host of net books. And in the area of machine-to-machine connectivity, wireless services is just getting started. Everything from medical monitoring to metering and industrial applications.

The power of One AT&T

One AT&T is a powerful advantage for us — to be able to offer wireless, broadband and TV solutions in a seamless, single and unmatched approach.

We can create integrated and converged services that combine wireless and wireline. We can take content and applications — many of them exclusive to AT&T — and make them portable across the TV, PC and wireless screens. We can combine customer care platforms, billing and support systems. That’s a powerful advantage for us, and it further sets us apart from the competition.

What sets AT&T apart?

Despite economic pressures, we have a strong growth record in key areas that will define the future: wireless, U-verse and IP-based services. We have a proven record of disciplined execution on the cost side of our business. We are strong financially.

AT&T has significant areas of opportunity ahead:

Best technology path to capture wireless data growth
Leadership in integrated and emerging devices
Upside potential in wireless margins
Solid momentum with U-verse growth
One AT&T

As Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ, NYSE:VOD) and AT&T (NYSE:T) argue on TV whose network is fastest and most ubiquitous, independent performance testing firm Root Wireless has put their claims to the test, mapping out the performance metrics of all of the big four’s 3G networks in seven major metro markets. The findings were surprising. Though AT&T has taken a huge public relations hit for poor coverage and capacity on its high-speed packet access (HSPA) network, Root found that it’s network performed best in almost every single category from average download speed to level of connection failure (See TelephonyOnline’s related analysis of AT&T and Verizon’s networks). Root’s complete market data can be seen after the break.

ADD A LINE TO YOUR FAMILY PLAN

All four operators, however, had their strengths and weaknesses. Sprint (NYSE:S) has the highest coverage networks on the books: typically 90% of its footprint receives receives signals of 50% or greater of full strength. But Root found that Sprint also had the highest data connection failure rate, as high as 15% in Seattle, while the rest of the operators kept their failure rates well below 5%. So while Sprint 3G customers are getting more bars consistently, they’re much less likely to actually complete a data session.

Though T-Mobile (NYSE:DT) was the last to deploy its 3G network, it has managed to build up coverage quite quickly. In five of the seven markets Root tested, T-Mobile’s 3G build out is comparable to its three competitors’. Only in Seattle and San Francisco does it significantly lag the others–surprising considering T-Mobile USA is headquartered in Seattle. Also, though T-Mobile’s HSPA network is much newer than AT&T’s–Cingular was the first operator in the world to deploy HSPA–it’s still much slower than AT&T’s. In several markets AT&T’s average download speeds were as much as double that of T-Mobile’s.

While AT&T seemed to run away with the prize in most of the performance categories, there was one area where weaknesses in its network design were evident. While AT&T had high signal strength in much of its metro footprint, that signal strength tended to fall off rather rapidly outside of those hotzones. In most markets, 30% to 50% of AT&T’s footprint received half-strength signals or worse, which in part explains many of the lack of coverage and capacity complaints AT&T has received from many of its iPhone customers. And that’s that’s to say nothing of Verizon’s most damaging argument: AT&T doesn’t offer 3G service to 25% of population.

Apple iPhone 3GS – 16 GB – Black

Here are Root’s market-by-market results:

CHICAGO

Network Technology: 3G vs 2.5G
Verizon: 98% runs 3G infrastructure
AT&T: 98%
Sprint: 97%
T-Mobile: 96%

Signal Strength

Verizon:
Percentage of network operating at 75% of full strength or better: 22% of network mapped
50 – 75%: 36%
25 – 50%: 37%
25% or less: 5%

AT&T:
75% or better: 34%
50 – 75%: 16%
25 – 50%: 44%
25% or less: 5%

Sprint:
75% or better: 69%
50 – 75%: 24%
25 – 50%: 5%
25% or less: 2%

T-Mobile:
75% or better: 51%
50 – 75%: 18%
25 – 50%: 27%
25% or less: 4%

Data Speeds: Average Download/Upload speeds

Verizon: 259k/138k
AT&T: 359k/94k
Sprint: 236k/72k
T-Mobile: 167k/106k

Connectivity: Chance of data connection failure

Verizon: 2%
AT&T: 2%
Sprint: 11%
T-Mobile: 4%
DALLAS

Network Technology: 3G vs 2.5G

Verizon: 97% runs 3G infrastructure
AT&T: 99%
Sprint: 98%
T-Mobile: 96%

Signal Strength

Verizon:
75% of full strength or better: 16% of network mapped
50 – 75%: 39%
25 – 50%: 41%
25% or less: 4%

AT&T:
75% or better: 54%
50 – 75%: 17%
25 – 50%: 27%
25% or less: 2%

Sprint:
75% or better: 61%
50 – 75%: 30%
25 – 50%: 7%
25% or less: 2%

T-Mobile:
75% or better: 44%
50 – 75%: 18%
25 – 50%: 35%
25% or less: 3%

Data Speeds

Verizon’s average download/upload speeds: 208k/121k
AT&T: 428k/97k
Sprint: 204k/69k
T-Mobile: 266k/161k

Connectivity

Chance of data connection failure:

Verizon: 2%
AT&T: 1%
Sprint: 11%
T-Mobile: 4%

LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTY

Network Technology: 3G vs 2.5G

Verizon: 97% runs 3G infrastructure
AT&T: 99.99 %
Sprint: 89%
T-Mobile: 93%

Signal Strength

Verizon: Percentage of network operating at:

75% of full strength or better: 21% of network mapped
50 – 75%: 36%
25 – 50%: 33%
25% or less: 10%

AT&T:

75% or better: 33%
50 – 75%: 18%
25 – 50%: 42%
25% or less: 7%

Sprint:

75% or better: 66%
50 – 75%: 26%
25 – 50%: 5%
25% or less: 3%

T-Mobile:

75% or better: 42%
50 – 75%: 20%
25 – 50%: 35%
25% or less: 3%

Data Speeds

Verizon’s average download/upload speeds: 241k/115k
AT&T: 350k/93k
Sprint: 207k/67k
T-Mobile: 188k/119k

Connectivity

Chance of data connection failure:

Verizon: 3%
AT&T: 2%
Sprint: 12%
T-Mobile: 4%

NEW YORK CITY

Network Technology: 3G vs 2.5G

Verizon: 97% runs 3G infrastructure
AT&T: 99%
Sprint: 98%
T-Mobile: 96%

Signal Strength

Verizon: Percentage of network operating at:

75% of full strength or better: 37% of network mapped
50 – 75%: 38%
25 – 50%: 21%
25% or less: 4%

AT&T:

75% or better: 71%
50 – 75%: 16%
25 – 50%: 12%
25% or less: 1%

Sprint:

75% or better: 83%
50 – 75%: 12%
25 – 50%: 4%
25% or less: 1%

T-Mobile:

75% or better: 62%
50 – 75%: 17%
25 – 50%: 20%
25% or less: 1%

Data Speeds

Verizon’s average download/upload speeds: 201k/103k
AT&T: 246k/131k
Sprint: 176k/59k
T-Mobile: 198k/119k

Connectivity

Chance of data connection failure:

Verizon: 2%
AT&T: 1%
Sprint: 12%
T-Mobile: 5%

SEATTLE/TACOMA

Network Technology: 3G vs 2.5G

Verizon: 94% runs 3G infrastructure
AT&T: 98%
Sprint: 93%
T-Mobile: 65%

Signal Strength

Verizon: Percentage of network operating at:

75% of full strength or better: 22% of network mapped
50 – 75%: 33%
25 – 50%: 31%
25% or less: 14%

AT&T:

75% or better: 46%
50 – 75%: 19%
25 – 50%: 31%
25% or less: 4%

Sprint:

75% or better: 60%
50 – 75%: 30%
25 – 50%: 7%
25% or less: 3%

T-Mobile:

75% or better: 42%
50 – 75%: 20%
25 – 50%: 33%
25% or less: 5%

Data Speeds

Verizon’s average download/upload speeds: 195k/103k
AT&T: 350k/126k
Sprint: 205k/68k
T-Mobile: 251k/148k

Connectivity

Chance of data connection failure:

Verizon: 3%
AT&T: 3%
Sprint: 15%
T-Mobile: 3%

SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION

Network Technology: 3G vs 2.5G

Verizon: 96% runs 3G infrastructure
AT&T: 93%
Sprint: 91%
T-Mobile: 68%

Signal Strength

Verizon: Percentage of network operating at:

75% of full strength or better: 30% of network mapped
50 – 75%: 32%
25 – 50%: 31%
25% or less: 6%

AT&T:

75% or better: 33%
50 – 75%: 18%
25 – 50%: 40%
25% or less: 9%

Sprint:

75% or better: 68%
50 – 75%: 23%
25 – 50%: 5%
25% or less: 3%

T-Mobile:

75% or better: 38%
50 – 75%: 18%
25 – 50%: 39%
25% or less: 5%

Data Speeds

Verizon’s average download/upload speeds: 259k/138k
AT&T: 359k/94k
Sprint: 236k/72k
T-Mobile: 167k/106k

Connectivity

Chance of data connection failure:

Verizon: 2%
AT&T: 2%
Sprint: 11%
T-Mobile: 4%

WASHINGTON, DC

Network Technology: 3G vs 2.5G

Verizon: 97% runs 3G infrastructure
AT&T: 99%
Sprint: 91%
T-Mobile: 82%

Signal Strength

Verizon: Percentage of network operating at:

75% of full strength or better: 17% of network mapped
50 – 75%: 30%
25 – 50%: 39%
25% or less: 14%

AT&T:

75% or better: 46%
50 – 75%: 17%
25 – 50%: 32%
25% or less: 5%

Sprint:

75% or better: 63%
50 – 75%: 26%
25 – 50%: 7%
25% or less: 3%

T-Mobile:

75% or better: 35%
50 – 75%: 19%
25 – 50%: 41%
25% or less: 5%

Data Speeds

Verizon’s average download/upload speeds: 204k/119k
AT&T: 308k/135k
Sprint: 192k/60k
T-Mobile: 201k/116k

Connectivity

Chance of data connection failure:

Verizon: 2%
AT&T: 2%
Sprint: 12%
T-Mobile: 2%

Features
*256MB bulit-in memory
*3G
*Word capabilites
*5 hrs talk time, 14 days standby time
*480×340 pixel screen
*Enhanched multimedia support
Blackberry Tour 9630 for Verizon Wireless