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LG VX5600 could be headed to Verizon prepay

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new prepaid phone, so I got kind of excited when HoFo user The Sweeper noticed a ditty on Phone Scoop that might be headed Verizon prepay soon. It’s the LV Accolade, a/k/a the VX 5600, which could be an upgrade to the 5500. It features a 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth, and really not much more. It fits perfectly with the new trend of releasing featureless but affordable prepaid phones. No mention of release date or price, but I assume soon and cheap.

Verizon rumored to launch prepaid BlackBerry

When Verizon Wireless announced monthly prepaid plans that mirrored their postpaid offerings, I wondered if they’d start to allow data services. Previously, this was not an option. Verizon prepaid ran voice and text, and that was it. But with the new plans looking so much like postpaid, it seemed like they had opened up an opportunity. As we learned yesterday, Verizon indeed plans to offer a prepaid BlackBerry. The service should launch within the next three months.

Verizon adds monthly plans to prepaid lineup

In November 2007, Verizon did away with their popular EasyPay prepaid monthly plans. The reason, as they told it, was so they could focus more on their pay-as-you-go plans. They introduced new rate plans earlier that month, and with fees from 99 cents to $2.99 per day, it made sense that they wanted customers on those plans. But with other prepaid services changing to a rate plan system, Verizon has adapted. They’ve introduced new monthly plans that mimic their contract counterparts.

The difference between Verizon postpaid and prepaid coverage

Verizon Wireless has done a good job of marketing its services. It claims to be “America’s Most Reliable Wireless Network,” and openly displays its coverage map on TV commercials. While Verizon’s coverage claims are true for its postpaid network, it does not extend to prepaid coverage. Verizon’s network does not actually span the entire country. Instead, it covers a good portion, with gaps filled in by roaming agreements with other carriers. Verizon allows contract customers to roam in these areas free of charge, but in most cases prepaid users have to pay roaming fees. Since Verizon has its own prepaid service and a number of MVNOs, it is important to note the differences between prepaid and postpaid coverage.

Verizon releases its own low-end prepaid phone

We often see small, regional prepaid carriers introduce low-end phones. That’s because they don’t subsidize them. Lower end phones are a necessity for a market like that, because unsubsidized phones are so expensive. This time, though, it’s not a regional carrier. It’s Verizon Wireless. According to Howard Forum user The_Sweeper, the are now selling the CDM7076 on prepaid. It’s as basic as it gets, with no mid-range features except a VGA camera. It can browse the mobile Web, though, which is a plus. You can get the CDM7076 on the Verizon website for $39.99. That comes with $10 of airtime, though.

Verizon introduces prepaid wireless broadband

Prepaid wireless broadband plans can benefit consumers. Instead of committing to around $60 per month for 5GB of data on a two-year contract, customers can use service when they need it, paying only for smaller intervals rather than the month as a whole. The problem, of course, is that absent a contract many carriers aren’t as willing to provide ample amounts of data (and some would say that even the 5GB on contract isn’t ample). Late last week Verizon announced prepaid wireless broadband plans. They come in daily, weekly, and monthly intervals, though the price, and most notably price per usage, is far more than their postpaid mobile broadband plan.

Verizon promoting prepaid service in NYC

I missed it! Apparently Verizon Wireless wants to make a splash with its prepaid service, at least in New York City. So on June 10, yesterday, when I roamed around the city all morning, they were offering 99 cent cab rides. True, there were only 40 cabs in the select fleet, but they were running to and from major destinations, but I just so happen to be walking up Fifth Avenue. You know, with the emblematic Apple Store. Anyway, I missed out, but it was still a quality promotion to bring awareness to Verizon’s 99 cent daily access charge. However, there will be another promotion later this month.

Verizon has no plans to offer unlimited plan it already offers

Did you know that prepaid subscribers accounted for 80 percent of the adds in the U.S. wireless industry? It sounds like a lot, but when you look back on the earnings reports it makes sense. With Boost Mobile, MetroPCS, and Cricket wireless all turning in stellar quarters, with T-Mobile continually adding more prepaid subscribers than postpaid, and with Sprint continuing their subscriber hemorrhage, it starts to make sense. This has caused an industry-wide focus on prepaid. Well, except for Verizon. Their CFO, John Killian, spoke about the company’s postpaid strategy and why they won’t be expanding their prepaid offer. It’s quite funny, actually.

Verizon overhauls prepaid plans

It’s been 15 months since we saw Verizon eliminate their Easy pay plans in favor of tiered pay-as-you-go service, all with daily access fees. We’ve since seen them offer an unlimited messaging bundle, but other than that things haven’t changed much. They ran a pre-holiday press blitz in which they fooled many sites into thinking they had released new prepaid plans, but really were just pimping their old ones. Starting today, they really will get new prepaid plans. Much has stayed the same, but as always, the story is with what has changed.

Verizon Alltel merger to close today

We’ve known about it since the transaction in June, but today marks the closing of the Verizon Alltel merger. We know of a number of maneuvers Verizon had to make to get the deal done, including a number of divestitures in areas where Alltel and Verizon overlapped. It also included some asset swaps in areas where Verizon and Alltel were the primary services. So yes, as of today Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in America with 78 million subscribers. Our question: what does this mean for prepaid?

Quick note on Verizon INpulse

Why are so many blogs writing that Verizon has rolled out new prepaid offers? I know they issued a press release last week — I even wrote about it. However, that doesn’t mean that there are any new plans. Nothing has changed at Verizon. They’re merely trying to get people talking about their prepaid service — which apparently is working.

Verizon putting focus on prepaid

A few weeks ago, I saw what I thought was a run of the mill Verizon commercial. You know, the ones where they show the Can You Hear Me Now guy with his massive posse. What I found strange, though, was that the commercial was specifically geared to prepaid. This I thought was strange coming from a major carrier. Then again, we saw that T-Mobile added more prepaid than postpaid customers in the third quarter. So maybe the bigger companies are taking notice.

Motorola w755 to replace RAZR on INpulse lineup?

The Motorola RAZR V3m has been a mainstay of the CDMA cell industry since its inception. There was a time, not too long ago, where it seemed everyone had a RAZR. While those days are seemingly coming to an end, the RAZR is still the top-selling phone in America. Over at Verizon, they only have the RAZR left on their INpulse prepaid service. Could it be exiting even there, though?

Could the Verizon-Alltel merger fail?

Verizon spent some time last week assuring us that the Alltel acquisition was still happening. This despite the economic turmoil which has affected the nation and the world. Jim Barthold of FierceWireless wonders, though, if Alltel’s debt really will play a part in the proceedings. Apparently, they use $7.7 billion this year, and it’s not the easiest time to refinance. Says Barthold:

Verizon INpulse gets unlimited texting to any network

Back in July, Verizon introduced unlimited messaging to other Verizon subscribers for their INpulse prepaid service. This cost $10 per month, and provided a number of free messages to other networks. Now we hear, via a kind poster at Howard Forum that they’re now offering an option for unlimited messaging plan to anyone in the U.S. Details after the jump.

Verizon debuts no-contract plans

We heard the rumor last week that Verizon would offer service without a contract starting this week. Yesterday, the news became official. While it’s no INpulse, there are a number of advantages to Verizon’s new plans. Of course, since they’re not really prepaid, there are also a number of disadvantages which might turn off a typical prepaid user.

Verizon to offer service without a contract?

When it comes to BlackBerry news, I often turn to Boy Genius Report for scoops. They’ve got inside sources with not only service providers, but with Research In Motion, so they always have exclusive content. Today, though, we get a little news on the prepaid end. According to their sources, Verizon will soon offer contract-free plans, much like T-Mobile FlexPay. The rumor has these plans dropping on September 21, which is this Sunday. We’ll be awaiting an announcement. For now, here are the supposed details.

Verizon INpulse customers get unlimited messaging

One of the biggest customer complaints about Verizon INpulse is the lack of text messaging bundles. Well, your complaints have been heard, and now they have been answered. Verizon has announced an unlimited messaging plan for INpulse subscribers. Well, unlimited to other Verizon subscribers. The plan will also provide 250 text, video, and picture messages to subscribers of other carriers, so you can get your fill all month long. The price: $10 per month.

Verizon purchases Alltel for $28 billion

The rumors started making their rounds yesterday, and this morning it was announced. Verizon Wireless has agreed to purchase Alltel for roughly $28 billion. This comes less than a year after two venture capital groups finalized their purchase of Alltel. Once this deal passes through the FCC, and likely the Department of Justice, the new company will become the No. 1 cellular carrier in the United States, with over 80 million subscribers total. AT&T, the current leader, has over 70 million customers. Of course, this has looming implications for the companies’ respective prepaid services.

Verizon open handsets clear new avenue for developers

When Verizon first announced their open initiative, I was a bit skeptical. It wasn’t truly open, after all, so to me, the skeptic, it seemed like a publicity ploy. But as we’ve moved along the timeline, it has seemed like a better and better idea. Verizon laid down the guidelines for its new handset developers recently, so the process should get underway shortly. The best part, though, isn’t in the handset development itself. It’s in the small business potential therein.

Verizon impermeable to economic conditions

Okay, so maybe the headline is a bit over the top. Still, Verizon is saying that the recent economic slowdown “has not affected its frontline business units.” This comes a few days after AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said that he’s seeing some “softness” in the consumer market, which could lead to it following a similar path to the economy in general. Many investors believed that telecommunications, now an essential industry in America, would move ahead unabated by economic conditions. Verizon, though, is saying that they’ve seen “no impact on its sales to small businesses, enterprise businesses, or on total control access lines.” Verizon says these industries are “in good shape.”

Verizon hits Alltel with false advertising suit

My first instinct was to place this at our postpaid sister site, but since I already covered a false-advertising-related issue earlier today, I figured why not talk about it here. You know those Alltel “MyCircle” commercials? The ones where the Alltel rep is a blonde playboy, and his competitors — the Big Four — are nerdy underlings. Apparently, there’s a commercial where the Verizon nerd says something about having to extend your contract when changing calling plans. As we learned earlier this year, that is no longer the case.

Verizon faced New Year volume problems

Verizon was expecting a spike in text message volume from midnight through about 4 a.m. on New Year’s eve/day. Since they had seen 284 million messages exchanged at that time last year, the projection for this year was 300 million. We haven’t seen word of whether texters did in fact send that many, but we were forwarded a radio report that claims that Verizon experienced some issues with its voice network during the first hours of the new year. We found confirmation in the Washington Post.

Verizon revamps help site

One thing we love about the Internet is how simple it is to go anywhere and find an answer to just about anything. However, some sites make it harder than others. Not that Verizon’s help site was poor before, but yesterday they announced that they’ve overhauled it to make it more user friendly. Specifically, it’s starting to integrate information, so that wireless help can be found from the same search as FiOS help. It makes sense, considering the multitude of telecommunications services Verizon offers.

Verizon announces move to LTE technology

We originally heard about this story in September, but Verizon made the announcement yesterday. They have chosen Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology for their 4G network. This isn’t something to worry about immediately, but Jupiter Research estimates that 24 million people will be using that technology by 2012. Testing, though, will begin next year.

Holy crap! Verizon offering third party apps, phones

At around 7:30 this morning, we were e-mailed a press release regarding Verizon Wireless. We see these all the time. Sometimes they’re newsworthy, sometimes they’re fluff pieces. We assure you this is not fluff. Verizon has announced that “it will provide customers the option to use, on its nationwide wireless network, wireless devices, software, and applications not offered by the company.” You mean…third party apps? We’re not sure what kind of fever the execs at Verizon have come down with, but we’re willing, for the moment, to forgive them for past sins.

Verizon getting aggressive with marketing


Well, hello there, Verizon. So you think the LG Voyager is so good that people will want to turn in their iPhones for your offering? Fat chance, but we appreciate the effort. Yes, the Voyager is a bit more versatile than the iPhone, and runs on a faster network. But we’re not quite sure there is anyone out there who wants to pay an early termination fee and eat at least some of the cost of the phone. Then again, they’re going for over retail price on eBay. Makes you wonder. (Remember, too, that this is an authorized Verizon retailer, so this shouldn’t reflect on the company, but rather the independent retailer.)

[HTLounge]

A little twist in the Verizon/Vermont ordeal

The more we read about this issue of a Verizon monopoly in Vermont, the more interested we become. Now, we’ve seen that Verizon is turning on new towers, which is good, and they are trying to divest some of their interests in the area, which is also good — in theory. From what we gather, both through news reports and Vermonter friends, it appears that Verizon isn’t exactly divesting any of its hot commodities. Instead, it’s in the process of selling their DSL service in Vermont to Fairpoint Communications. So while we like divestment in this case, it seems lopsided for them to sell off DSL, a dying technology, while they hold better Internet technology in FiOS, which, given the potential monopoly, will likely become available in Vermont within the next year or so.

Verizon trying to appease Vermonters

As we’ve mentioned, Verizon’s purchase of Unicel isn’t going over too well up in Vermont. Senator Bernie Sanders has been the most vocal, demanding that Verizon provide coverage throughout the state if they’re allowed to be the only carrier. So, in a seeming response, Verizon has announced that they will turn on 12 new cell towers in Bennington County by the end of the year.

Verizon customers most loyal

So we have all of our quarterly reports in, and Verizon has decided to take advantage of that with some pats on the back. For the 12th straight quarter, they’ve maintained the lowest churn rate in the industry. Their 1.3 percent rate (1.0 percent for postpaid) ranks the best among “Carrier X” (AT&T, 1.7 percent, 1.3 percent postpaid), “Carrier Y” (T-Mobile, N/A overall, 2.3 percent postpaid), and “Carrier Z” (Sprint, 2.9 percent overall, 2.0 percent postpaid). Since quarterly reports are pubic, we’re not sure why Verizon chose to make the other carriers anonymous. However, we’d like to point out an inaccuracy in the company’s reasons why it has the most loyal customers.

Verizon’s Unicel purchase met with resistance

Back in August, Verizon made a play to expand it’s network coverage by acquiring Ramcell, a regional service provider. Ramcell owns Unicel, which is Verizon’s main competitor in Vermont. The union would mean a virtual monopoly in the state, and as we found out last week, that’s probably not going to fly. So Vermont senator Bernie Sanders is on the task, speaking out against the deal as-is. He wants a few conditions met before approval, some of which could be deal breakers.

Verizon to offer NBA games on VCast

The NBA season got underway last night, starting another 82 games of excitement. While all the hoopla has been about where the Lakers will trade Kobe Bryant (aside: we betcha he stays in L.A.), Verizon is making a splash of its own. Partnering with ESPN Mobile TV and MediaFLO, the nation’s No. 2 wireless carrier will offer more than 70 games this season through its V CAST service. And yes, you’d be getting the entire game, real-time. You’ll be the envy of the train ride home; while everyone else uses their BlackBerry to answer e-mails, you’ll be watching Tracy McGrady slamming one home.

Verizon unveils new pay-as-you-go plans

If you’ve ever checked out the user comments on our Verizon Wireless review, you might have noticed a lot of griping about the 99 cents per day access fee that goes along with their INpulse pay-as-you-go plan. Well, those gripes might get a bit louder today. Verizon has introduced two more prepaid plans to better fit a larger number of subscribers, which sounds good on the surface. The catch: There are access fees for both of these new plans, and they ain’t cheap. We’re talking $1.99 and $2.99 per day. So, tell us Verizon, what are you going to give us for a minimum of $59.70 or $89.70 per month?

Verizon claims it doesn’t lock your phones

We heard earlier in the week about Sprint’s locked phone settlement, which we said would set a precedent if it accomplished nothing else. Well, it appears that the precedent scared Verizon into settling a similar suit. Of course, Verizon denies any wrongdoing, saying that 1) they don’t lock phones with software, and 2) the settlement doesn’t mean that the plaintiffs’ claims have any merit. Mmhmm. It’s just another example of extreme posturing in the wireless industry.

GPhone ahoy: Google in talks with Verizon


So remember when we were asking whether Google’s mobile development would be a physical phone or just an operating system? New developments suggest that it is the latter. The company is reportedly in talks with Verizon to “work together on mobile-phone software and services.” If the reports are true — the information is coming from leaks, not directly from either company — it would signal no bad blood between Google and Verizon, who fundamentally oppose one another on the rules of the coming 700 MHz spectrum auction.

Verizon gains 1.6 million subscribers

So if Sprint Nextel is going to announce customer losses this quarter, where did they all go? To Verizon, of course! The telecommunications superpower added 1.7 million subscribers in the third quarter, roughly a half-million more than rival AT&T. That gives keeps Verizon in the lead for postpaid customers, 59.4 million to AT&T’s 52.7 million. AT&T, though, has more overall subscribers when you count those of the wholesale variety and prepaid accounts, which give AT&T the edge 65.7 million to 63.7 million.

Verizon settles “unlimited data” suit

Yesterday was not a good day for the Verizon legal department. First they dropped their appeal of the open-access provision in the 700 MHz spectrum auction. Now they’ve settled a suit in New York over their deceptive offering of “unlimited internet” mobile packages. Apparently, “unlimited” really meant “a limit set by us, but not known to you.” And when people broke that threshold, their service was terminated. This is going to cost Verizon over one million dollars — a million to the customers it had wronged, and $150,000 to the State of New York.

Verizon drops open-access challenge

A month ago, we railed against Verizon for their appeal of the open-access provision of the 700 MHz spectrum auction. They later filed for an expedited hearing, given our proximity to the auction date. That was shot down by the courts, though. Now Verizon is using that as their reason to drop the appeal completely. Though it might not have mattered. Legal experts imply that they would have lost the appeal anyway, since the courts don’t routinely supersede the FCC.

“Its interesting how Verizon’s mistakes always seem to work in its favor”

We spend a lot of time ripping on Verizon around these parts. And why not? They’re trying to stack the chips on their side, and we’re flailing aimlessly just to get one or two of them back for the consumer. No, they’re not Big Brother or anything radical like that. They’re just exploiting regulations created before the widespread use of cell phones. We’re just trying to keep the stories balanced. And so, courtesy of Ed Foster’s Gripe Line, we bring you some Verizon billing issues. Be wary of these if you plan to sign up for Verizon’s phone/Internet/cable FiOS plan. They plan to bundle that with wireless next year, so it becomes even more of an issue.

Verizon’s telemarketing costs you minutes

We stumbled upon this story and couldn’t let it go to rest. It appears that Verizon actually deducts your plan minutes when it places sales calls to you. We’ll let that sink in for a minute, then repeat it. Okay. When Verizon calls you to sell you upgrades to your account, minutes are being deducted from your account. Excuse us? We know we seem appalled at many aspects of the cell industry, but come on. This is beyond absurd. We can understand being charged if you did something wrong to warrant the call, but this is a sales pitch…from the company providing your phone service!

Verizon and AAA team up for mobile roadside service

GPS-enabled handsets have become a boon for travelers. No more will your passenger have to search an unnavigable map in order to find where you’re going — or even where you are. Services like Verizon’s VZW Navigator pick up your location and give you turn-by-turn directions to your destination. Yeah, it’ll cost you, but that’s one service we think is totally worth it. Now they’ve teamed up with AAA to provide even better GPS functions. You can easily find AAA-approved points of interest, as well as receive emergency roadside assistance.

Verizon issues statement on customer data

Much hoopla has been made during the past five or so days regarding Verizon’s move to sell call data to third parties. Hey, they want to make a few bucks in advertising, and advertisers are frothing at the mouth for Verizon’s data. It will help them better target ads, which should lead to fewer dollars wasted and better conversion rates. However, this is coming at the cost of their customers’ privacies. What if we don’t want their stinkin’ advertisements?

Verizon to begin selling your call records

Oh, Verizon. We were once fond of you because of your superior network coverage in our area. Now, though, we’ve grown beyond sour. Whether it’s their abhorrent contract, or them challenging the open-access provision in the 700 MHz spectrum auction, they’ve been really low lately. Now we’re hearing that they plan to sell customer call data to third parties unless their customers opt out. Yeah, subscribers can avoid this practice, but we wonder how readily accessible they’re making this opt-out policy.

Spectrum fight!

vs.
So it appears Google is really serious about this 700 MHz spectrum bid. Don’t get us wrong…we always thought Google was in this thing. But before, it seemed more of a position of aloofness. They talked about what they want, saying “yeah, maybe we’ll bid; it’s a possibility.” Now that Verizon has challenged the FCC rules, though, Google is a bit ticked. They’re telling it how it is: Verizon wants to squash competition and basically own the airwaves.

Verizon to improve prepaid offerings

We’ve stayed rather mum on Verizon’s prepaid offerings, mainly because, beyond the $1 per day access fee, they’re rather unremarkable. So rather than harping on the access fee (which sucks big time), we just kind of left their prepaid division alone and focused on their (sometimes shady) business dealings. However, news has come from marketing chief Mike Lanman that the company plans to overhaul their prepaid services over the next month, with a hope to make them available by November. Yes, Verizon is actually catering to a market that doesn’t sign their lives away. We checked ourselves for a fever just now, to make sure we weren’t hallucinating, and no, we’re fine.

Verizon to launch iPhone killer for holidays


Hey, look! It’s an iPhone with a slightly smaller viewable screen! But it’s the LG Voyager, and it’s coming soon to Verizon. Yes, we’re now seeing the first viable “iPhone killer,” though we’ve come to despise the term over time. Anyway, it’s a touch-screen, just like the iPhone, but unlike the iPhone it has a hidden compartment. Concealed there is a full mechanical keyboard and a large, non-touch screen. A novel idea by Verizon and LG, we have to say; they basically copied the iPhone, and then fixed one of the major complaints about the Apple device. Unfortunately, there are not legions of people loyal to products released by LG, so this clearly won’t sell as well as the iPhone, at least not initially.

Verizon throws you bone, pats self on back

So it’s come to this. Verizon corrects a horribly consumer unfriendly policy, and we’re ripping them for it. The news: Verizon will now allow you to change rate plans mid-contract without having to extend said contract. There are two sides to this. First, it’s good because Verizon is actually empowering the consumer, even if only slightly. It’s bad, though, because it took this long to get something as simple as this done. Imagine how long it’s going to be before their contracts don’t bar us from filing a class action suit.

Verizon facing sanctions for auction challenge?

This whole thing is turning into a massive mess. First, Verizon challenges the FCC auction rules, basically saying that the open-access rules aren’t proven to be effective, and even unlawful. Then, reports abound that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is working to change the open-access provision, “coincidentally” coming on the heels of a meeting with Verizon. Now Frontline, another potential auction bidder, wants Verizon and their slimy tactics barred from bidding. Why? Because Frontline alleges that Verizon has violated FCC lobbying rules.

Verizon Wireless to move on from CDMA

We’ve long been a fan of CDMA technology. Yeah, it has its drawbacks, like phones that can’t be unlocked and things like that. But overall, we feel it provides superior quality, both in voice and data, over GSM. It appears, though, that Verizon Communications and Vodafone, joint owners of Verizon Wireless, are set to move on to the next big thing in wireless technology: Long Term Evolution (LTE). According to representatives from the companies, this will put them on the long-sought path to 4G.

iPhone sales increase, but they’re not stealing Verizon customers

“We have the better network.”
“But we have the better phone.”
If you want the gist of AT&T and Verizon’s little battle since the release of the iPhone, there you have it. The companies have continued to release information — sometimes contradictory to each other — that states their service is doing just fine, iPhone or no iPhone. It’s a silly ordeal, really, almost like a bunch of 5th graders competing over who has the better tree house (we totally had the best one when we were in 5th grade). Yesterday, Vodaphone, co-owners of the Verizon network, and AT&T released separate statements regarding the price cut of the iPhone.