Verizon Fios on Xbox 360? Yes, thanks Microsoft

Microsoft has finally made good on its E3 pledge for live TV via your Xbox Live. Verizon Fios was download and we will have a full review later today. Standby..

AT&T says Apple iPhone 4S is 4G. Good PR but bad on facts

I’m not sure where these reports that AT&T is working with Apple to change the network indicator to “4G” from “3G” for iPhone 4S is coming from but thus far it has not happened. It is unlikely that Apple would call the iPhone 4S a 4G phone after the fact it has already been released.

There are some that say AT&T hasn’t waited for Apple to make to the indicator change. The report is that AT&T’s website already has the iPhone 4S is a 4G device. This can not be confirmed. When we visited the website to check the iPhone 4S was still listed as a 3G phone. A rep for AT&T said “AT&T considers the iPhone 4S as a “4G” device because of HSPA+ but its more 3.5G than actual 4G.

AT&T however is showing off the Apple iPhone 4S next to Impulse 4G, BlackBerry Torch 9810, Samsung Infuse 4G. We can see how that is misleading as those aforementioned phones are all 4G. To be fair iPhone 4S on AT&T is the only one in the states that supports the faster HSPA+ network. Verizon and Sprint both are using CDMA for the iPhone.

Senior Vice President at Apple Phil Schiller said; “Now, if you follow the phone industry, these numbers might sound familiar – 5.8 up, 14.4 down. Where have I heard that before? Well, this is what the majority of our competitors claim when they talk about 4G performance. The Motorola Atrix 4G, the LG Thrill 4G, the HTC Inspire 4G – they even put it in their names. We’re not going to get into a debate in the industry of what’s 4G and what isn’t. We leave that to others to talk about. What’s most important, when it comes to real-world performance – the iPhone 4S is just as fast as all these phones. In fact, we think with some of our software enhancements, it’s even faster in real-world use.”

If Apple does indeed give AT&T the go ahead for the change. This should anger Verizon to no end as they have a true for 4G network in LTE. Many carriers claim HSPA+ is a 4G network and market that way. So AT&T is not alone here but since they have e iPhone it is big news. The fact still remains calling the iPhone 4S a 4G device is very misleading.

Do you have Verizon? They are now using your personal info for ads

If you are a Verizon customer you need to read this carefully. Verizon Wireless is changing its privacy policy. While this on its own is nothing new; companies change them all the time. What is new and should have you very concerned is that the carrier will now monitor your usage and mine that information for marketing reports and targeted ads.

The information will not be mundane things like how much data you use? Instead the new privacy policy calls for Verizon to mine the websites you visit, what search terms you use, location information, app usage and what phone features are usage. As stated earlier Verizon will also monitor how you use your calling plan and what mobile phones you buy.

Verizon plans to use your information internally and share it with third-party companies to create targeted ads and generate marketing reports. The most unsettling part about this is that they will start doing this without your consent. Taking a page out of the Facebook policy playbook. Users will be opted in to this new program to share their information by default.

If you don’t want Verizon to use your data in this way take a moment to change your settings. To opt out call Verizon at 1-866-211-0874 or by going to the privacy page. On the site you should check “Don’t use my information” for all of your Verizon cell numbers.

Best Buy guaranteeing iphone 4S will be in store for pickup, October 14th

Best Buy is guaranteeing your handset will be available for pickup on Friday, October 14th. That is a bold statement for them to make but Best Buy is big enough to fill it. So if you haven’t yet preordered their iPhone 4S there is still hope short of waiting inline for one. They are also offering up to $300 for an iPhone 4 as part of its Phone Trade-In offer. That is a very good deal, considering the iPhone 4 is not that old.

iPhone 4S preorders began today on Apple, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. All sites then crashed for a few hours. So someone people were not able to jump on the iphone fanboy line. Now that Best Buy is offering it that helps a lot of people. You can go to the store instead of siting and waiting for a delivery.

iPhone 5: Only on Sprint? Crazy but might be true, money talks after all.

What is this? Less than 24 hours and yet one more rumor for in the  iPhone pool to swim in. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint has entered into an agreement with Apple to purchase over $20 billion worth of iPhones over the next four years. That is something like 30 million iPhones that would have to be sold before they break even. That is crazy talk but Sprint might be trying to pull an AT&T play. It worked well for them. Even people who hated AT&T stayed or joined because they loved the iPhone. It will be 2014 before Sprint hits even ground if this rumor is true.

As the rumor goes; Sprint will be getting a WiMAX iPhone 5. Now that in its self would be crazy since Sprint is reportedly moving to LTE soon. AT&T and Verizon would only get the iPhone 4S and get the iPhone 5 the first quarter of next year as an LTE device.   Would Sprint really be subsidizing the $500 cost of each handset? They just might. Looking in the face of AT&T combining with T-Mobile and Verizon firmly at number 2. They have little left they can do but double down on the River. That’s poker talk and that seems to be the game that Sprint is playing with the industry and its stock holders. We will all find out tomorrow what really happens. One thing is for sure. Sprint will be able to offer an iPhone to its over 52 Million customers.

No iPhone 5? Would Apple disappoint you like that? Yes they would, here’s why

Even though there are only two days left until Apple has its big day the rumors continue. They might continue up to the last moment. To call all the rumors that have been flying around abundant, would be an understatement. The newest rumor however has this part-time Apple fan-boy and Apple Hater a little worried. Everyone and their mother is expecting Apple to unveil the iPhone 5 this Tuesday October 4th but disappointment may be had instead.

There is new evidence that suggest the next Apple money maker will not be an iPhone 5 but instead an iPhone 4S. That would really catch people off guard. One has to ask, would Apple really release something people are not asking for? The answer is a great big yes. Apple does not care about what customers want. Apple rather make great products and give customers what they need. The iPhone 5 many be what people are expecting but not what Apple feels you need at the moment. Remember the iPhone 3GS?

What is this rumor based on? Every rumor has at least a grain of fact in it. Fact 1: The new iTunes developer beta has references to a CDMA iPhone 4S. Fact 2: Apple’s inventory system has references to an iPhone 4S with the codename “N94AP.” What does it all mean? Well nobody actually knows what Apple is planning. iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 or even iTouch maybe on display this week. One thing is for sure, what ever Apple decides to share with the public; people are going to go crazy over it then buy it. That is the Apple way.

AT&T says sorry Sprint but we’re going to buy T-Mobile

 

Verizon is the best phone network in the USA. Everyone knows that. So what do you do when you are branded one of the worse and another company tries to buy it’s way to into the top.? Beat them to the punch, AT&T is buying T-Mobile.

AT&T will pay roughly $39 billion to Deutsche Telekom for T-Mobile USA. Deutsche Telekom will get  8% ownership stake in AT&T and an executive will join AT&T’s Board.

AT&T has about 95 million customers now add in the  35 million customers T-Mobile has and AT&T will go well past Verizon in terms of subscriber numbers. Verizon has about 100 million subscribers in the U.S.  That leaves Sprint who was slow to the buy with about 50 million subscribers.

The agreement has already been approved by both Boards but will have to pass government scrutiny.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson’s quotes from the release:

“It will improve network quality, and it will bring advanced LTE capabilities to more than 294 million people. Mobile broadband networks drive economic opportunity everywhere, and they enable the expanding high-tech ecosystem that includes device makers, cloud and content providers, app developers, customers, and more. This transaction delivers significant customer, shareholder and public benefits that are available at this level only from the combination of these two companies with complementary network technologies, spectrum positions and operations. We are confident in our ability to execute a seamless integration, and with additional spectrum and network capabilities, we can better meet our customers’ current demands, build for the future and help achieve the President’s goals for a high-speed, wirelessly connected America.”

Free Calls & Text to Japan

 

Sprint to provide its customers with free calling and text messaging to Japanese phone lines. AT&T, Verizon Wireless and  MetroPCS announced similar policies for both their subscribers. T-Mobile  been silent so far. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon have all committed to waiving fees assessed to users making a donation to the Japanese relief effort via text message.

What & where to buy on #iPad2Day (yeah, we made a hash mark, love it, use it)

This has been the day that a lot of Apple fanboys and the public as a whole have been waiting for. Today, well a few hours ago you were able to order the iPad 2. At 5pm you will be able to buy it everywhere from Sam’s Club to Verizon to Apple’s own retail stores. There 24 different models to choose from. Yes, 24 if you do the math. Three size choices 16GB, 32GB or 64GB. Then there is the color white or black. Then there is the network AT&T, Verizon or none if you just go WI-Fi only.

It took a while to pick one but I went with Verizon’s 32GB black iPad 2. That was the one that won me over. Why? AT&T does have a fast network but speed does not mean anything if I can not connect to it. Verizon has the best and most reliable network in the states. JD Powers just awarded them for it as well. Ordering it online took just moments. Although the shipping said it would take only 3-5 days. I noticed my delivery date was a fully after the 5 days. Hopefully that is not the case. If it really does take two weeks one might as well just try the stores.

Why 3G at all? I am doing it based on experience. I had the 16GB WI Fi only iPad already. I had a my phone the HTC Touch Pro 2 wirelessly tethered to it. I know its time to upgrade my phone. I am holding out for a iPhone 4 jailbroken on Sprint or iPhone 5 on Sprint for the win. So internet was not a problem. Unless that is, I wanted to use my phone. Plus it drained my battery life. After about 3 hours of internet it would be completely empty. It will be nice to not have to bring a charger with me everywhere.

The size was a toss up. Not really a need. I needed to use my phone. You don’t really need more space since apps take full advantage of the cloud. I choose to go with the 32GB iPad 2 because of past experience. I found that I wanted more music than what I was able to put on the original 16GB iPad. I didn’t like the daily compromise over what was more important my podcast, movies or music. My podcast always lost the fight. Sorry MSNBC FastMoney, your podcast though informative and entertaining; its too big.

So there you have it. No waiting on a line. Just point and click and wait. That last part sucks though. I’m half tempted to try to get it at the store and return the one I ordered once it comes it. Two weeks better not happen.

Not so fast, AT&T tries last ditch effort to keep and get new customers of iPhone

Not so fast, AT&T tries last ditch effort to keep and
get new customers of iPhone. Simultaneous voice and data is great but AT&T needs to do more than that to keep and get new customers. I mean after all Verizon iPhones can make calls. So AT&T has made the old out of date AT&T’s iPhone 3GS just $49, it’s $150
cheaper than the 16GB iPhone 4 and $250 cheaper than the 32GB model. This makes the device cheap for those that just want to say they have an iPhone. If under contract with AT&T wait for the iPhone 5 launch. Don’t extend your contract. If not under contract wait for iPhone 5 because, Verizon Wireless will have to mark their iPhone 4 for cheap. I don’t see $49 cheap but cheaper than now.