Verizon

RIMarkable Recap: Our Top Stories From The Week Of Dec. 6th

by Robb Dunewood on December 12, 2010 · 0 comments

Check out some of our top posts from last week, and, be sure to check out episode #48 of the SMRpodcast.  Chris’s theory on the ice in Chicago is hilarious…

BlackBerry 6 Soon To Be Released For Bold 9650 and Curve 9330: Simulators Now Available — Research in Motion released BlackBerry 6 simulators for both the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and the BlackBerry Curve 9330.

Consumer Reports — AT&T Is The Worst Wireless Carrier In United States… By Far — Consumer reports conducted a survey of its members on their thoughts of their wireless service provider and AT&T fared significantly worse than its competitors.

RIM Begins Roll-Out Of BlackBerry App World 2.1 With In-App Purchases

BlackBerry App World Now Accepting Apps For BlackBerry PlayBook — BlackBerry App World started accepting BlackBerry PlayBook app submissions. Any developer getting a tablet application accepted into App World gets a free BlackBerry PlayBook.

Video: Mike Lazaridis Demos The BlackBerry PlayBook At Dive Into Mobile Conference — Mike Lazaridis gave a 6 minute hands-on demo of the the BlackBerry PlayBook at All Things Digital’s Dive Into Mobile Conference.

RIM Renames WES To BlackBerry World Conference — To get a little more in line with all that is going on within the company, Research in Motion changed the named of WES, their biggest conference of the year, to BlackBerry World.

Best Buy Offering The BlackBerry Torch 9800 Free For The Remainder Of December

Verizon BlackBerry Sales Down 45% Since Last Year

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Verizon BlackBerry Sales Down 45% Since Last Year

by Robb Dunewood on December 10, 2010 · 10 comments

Post image for Verizon BlackBerry Sales Down 45% Since Last Year

I just took a look at Verizon sales metrics from ITG Investment Research analyst Matthew Goodman, and, to make a long story short, the numbers aren’t pretty for Research in Motion and the BlackBerry on the nation’s largest network.  BlackBerry sales dropped 45 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of this year, and Goodman sees them trending down 49 percent YOY in the fourth.

80 percent of smartphone sales at Verizon in November were Android devices (46 percent of those were Droids). Which is astonishing for two reasons. 1.) That’s a huge percentage for a relatively new mobile OS in a very competitive market. 2.) In December of 2008, RIM was touting the BlackBerry as Verizon’s best-selling device. In two years, it’s gone from a flagship to a johnboat.

[Via AllThingsD]

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Verizon Flyer Touts The Benefits Of BlackBerry 6 — Official Update Imminent

by Robb Dunewood on December 8, 2010 · 0 comments

Verizon BlackBerry 6 Flyer

There is a pretty good chance that a Verizon Flyer, if it hasn’t already, will hit your mailbox over the next few days that touts the benefits of BlackBerry 6.  Verizon doesn’t currently offer BlackBerry 6 on any of its devices, at least not officially, so, it is probably a pretty safe bet the the official release of BlackBerry 6 for the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and the BlackBerry Curve 3G 9330 is imminent.

BlackBerry 6 Simulators for both the 9650 and the 9330 have already been released so I am betting that we will see the actual OS releases coming within days.

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Consumer Reports — AT&T Is The Worst Wireless Carrier In United States… By Far

by Robb Dunewood on December 6, 2010 · 4 comments

Post image for Consumer Reports — AT&T Is The Worst Wireless Carrier In United States… By Far

Consumer Reports has released findings from a member survey which, as we’ve been saying for years, ranks AT&T as the worst wireless provider in the country when it comes to voice, value, and data performance.  AT&T scored the lowest possible score in 8 of 9 total categories, only scoring the second to the worst score in texting.

Consumer Reports isn’t as popular as it once was, however, quite a few still value their opinion highly…  AT&T is just hoping that most of their customers are don’t…

We take this seriously and we continually look for new ways to improve the customer experience. The fact is wireless customers have choices and a record number of them chose AT&T in the third quarter, significantly more than our competitors. Hard data from independent drive tests confirms AT&T has the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network with our nearest competitor 20 percent slower on average nationwide and our largest competitor 60 percent slower on average nationwide.  And, our dropped call rate is within 1/10 of a percent – the equivalent of just one call in a thousand – of the industry leader.

The fact that AT&T can be rated this low, but, be the sole carrier of the highest rated device says a heck of a lot about the iPhone.  My guess is that carrier churn from iPhone users switching from AT&T over to Verizon once Verizon gets the iPhone will be unprecedented.

[Source]

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Verizon To Announce LTE Roll-Out Plans December 1st

by Robb Dunewood on November 30, 2010 · 0 comments

Post image for Verizon To Announce LTE Roll-Out Plans December 1st

Verizon has announced that they will be holding a 4G LTE press conference, tomorrow, Dec. 1st where it is expected that they will unveil roll-out plans of, what will be, the worlds largest LTE network.

Verizon Wireless will launch the world’s largest 4G LTE network in 38 major metropolitan areas, covering more than 110 million Americans, before the end of the year. To view a video about Verizon Wireless’ 4G network, visit http://bit.ly/vzw4g. For more information about 4G from Verizon Wireless, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte.

The press conference will begin tomorrow, Dec. 1st at 12 noon EST.  Teleconference details are as follows:

Via teleconference: 888-254-7414 (United States)
+1 706-643-5869 (International)
Conference ID: 27940471

I wonder how long it will be before we see the first LTE BlackBerry?

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OS 5.0.0.1015 Officially Released For The BlackBerry Storm2 9550

by Robb Dunewood on November 26, 2010 · 2 comments

Post image for OS 5.0.0.1015 Officially Released For The BlackBerry Storm2 9550

Verizon Wireless has officially released BlackBerry OS 5.0.0.1015 for the BlackBerry Storm2 9550.

Improvements and Enhancements include:

Improvements:

  • Boot up more quickly.
  • Transition smoothly between wireless coverage areas.
  • Deliver improved audio on:
    • Voice calls.
    • Content-protected video.
  • Deliver improved video playback:
    • Through a headset.
    • With media files designated as protected content.

Enhancements:

  • Send text messages to multiple recipients while receiving a call.
  • Enter more than 160 characters in a text message when connected to a GSM/UMTS network.
  • Browse, download, and install widgets from V CAST Apps.
  • New access to multiple widgets that provide users with quick access to Internet content of their choice.
  • Smoothly activate enterprise secure wipe/lock IT policy rule sets.

You can download OS 5.0.0.1015 for the BlackBerry Storm2 from Verizon here…

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AT&T, T-Mobile, And Verizon Join Forces And Launch ISIS Mobile Commerce Network

by Robb Dunewood on November 16, 2010 · 0 comments

ISIS Mobile Commerce Network

Press Release

AT&T, T-MOBILE AND VERIZON WIRELESS ANNOUNCE JOINT VENTURE TO BUILD NATIONAL MOBILE COMMERCE NETWORK

Isis to Lead the U.S. Payments Industry from Cards to Mobile Phones; Available to All Merchants, Banks and Wireless Service Providers; Venture Led By Former GE Capital Financial Executive

New York – November 16, 2010 – AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless today announced the formation of a joint venture chartered with building ISIS™, a national mobile commerce network that aims to fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save.

Isis’ initial focus will be on building a mobile payment network that utilizes mobile phones to make point-of-sale purchases. By utilizing smartphone and near-field communication (NFC) technology to modernize the payments process, Isis intends to deliver new levels of competition and value to consumers and merchants. Isis expects to introduce its service in key geographic markets during the next 18 months.

Michael Abbott has been named as Chief Executive Officer of Isis. Formerly with GE Capital, Abbott is a veteran financial services executive with extensive experience in the payment and technology industries.

“Our mobile commerce network, through relationships with merchants, will provide an enhanced, more convenient, more personalized shopping experience for consumers,” said Michael Abbott, Chief Executive Officer of Isis. “While mobile payments will be at the core of our offering, it is only the start. We plan to create a mobile wallet that ultimately eliminates the need for consumers to carry cash, credit and debit cards, reward cards, coupons, tickets and transit passes.”

Isis Brings Both Consumer and Merchant Scale

Founding members, AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, collectively provide wireless services to more than 200 million consumers who will have access to the Isis service. Isis is working with Discover Financial Services’ payment network, currently accepted at more than seven million merchant locations nationwide, to develop an extensive mobile payment infrastructure for the joint venture.

Barclaycard US, part of Barclays PLC, is expected to be the first issuer on the network, offering multiple mobile payment products to meet the needs of every customer.

“We believe the venture will have the scope and scale necessary to introduce mobile commerce on a broad basis. In the beginning, we intend to fully utilize Discover’s national payment infrastructure as well as Barclaycard’s expertise in contactless and mobile payments,” said Abbott. “Moving forward, Isis will be available to all interested merchants, banks and mobile carriers.”

How It Works

The new venture will enable contactless mobile payment and commerce services using near-field communication technology. NFC uses short-range, high frequency wireless technology to enable the encrypted exchange of information between devices at a short distance. The new system is being designed and built to include strong security and privacy safeguards.

About Isis

The joint venture is between AT&T Mobility LLC, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless and is based in New York City.  The venture is chartered with building ISIS™, a national mobile commerce network that will fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save.  The Isis mobile commerce network will be available to all merchants, banks and mobile carriers. ISIS is a trademark of JVL Ventures, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries.  Other logos, product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Press Release

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Research In Motion Is Giving Me No Option But To Make Android My Primary Device…

by Robb Dunewood on November 16, 2010 · 13 comments

HTC Droid Incredible

My BlackBerry Storm is on it’s last leg.  I got it the day it came out over two years ago and am in dire need of something to upgrade to.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a new BlackBerry on Verizon that I am at all interested in and my little journey over to AT&T to try out the BlackBerry Torch didn’t work out too well.  I really would like to upgrade to a new BlackBerry, however, there aren’t even any new high-end BlackBerry devices on Verizon let alone any new Touch screen BlackBerry devices available on the carrier that introduced them.

I am not going to buy Bold 9650… It came out over 5 months ago and still doesn’t officially run BlackBerry 6.  It doesn’t have a touch screen, and, I can’t honestly see myself using it for anything other than email if I had one.  The Storm2 is over a year old and, from what we’ve heard, won’t run BlackBerry 6.

As many of you know, I’ve been carrying around an HTC Droid Incredible as a secondary device for some time now.  It looks like Research in Motion is giving me no option but to make Android my primary device…

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Poll: Does Verizon Still Care About The BlackBerry?

by Robb Dunewood on November 7, 2010 · 8 comments

Does Verizon Still Care About The BlackBerry

For the first time since I’ve been a Verizon subscriber there isn’t a new, or, even a relatively new, BlackBerry device on their network that I am interested in enough to purchase for personal use.  The BlackBerry Curve 9330 is just too low end of a device for my needs.  The BlackBerry 9650 is a good, but, I’ve become accustomed to BlackBerry devices with touch screens and can’t see myself won’t switch back to a full QWERTY device unless it is a slider with a full touch screen.

In years past there was no way that Verizon would have have entered the holiday shopping season without a big promotion or two generating buzz around the BlackBerry devices being offered or soon to be offered on their network.   In 2008 and 2009, Verizon had exclusive devices, the BlackBerry Storm and BlackBerry Storm2, come out at this time of the year, but, for 2010, Verizon has no exclusives, their “new” high end device came out 6 months ago, and, although the Curve 3G came out less than 6 weeks ago, there really isn’t much marketing buzz coming out of Verizon.

There is no question that since the introduction of the Motorola Droid back in 2009 that Verizon’s wagon has been hitched to the horse that is Android, but, it seems as though Verizon isn’t even paying to attention to the BlackBerry, which, brings us to our poll question:

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