Which US network has the fastest 4G?  According to a new study, Verizon takes the cake -- by a wide margin to boot.

In the extensive study, RootMetrics performed a variety of tests that sought to clock and compare different carriers' 4G speeds.  Held around the Seattle area, they used four different phones: the HTC Thunderbolt for T-Mobile, the HTC Inspire for AT&T, the HTC Evo for Sprint and the Samsung Galaxy S for Verizon.  According to RootMetrics, the smartphone model should not cause any issues in this case -- 4G performance should be almost all network-related.

As a point of reference, here are the promised speeds from each carrier on their 4G (and pseudo-4G HSPA+) networks:

• Verizon - 5 to 12 Mbps
• AT&T - 6Mbps
• Sprint - 3 to 6 Mbps
• T-Mobile - 5 to 10 Mbps

The findings look very good for Big Red.  First, their LTE network performed with a 100% data success rate, meaning the connection was stable and available throughout the duration of the tests.  Average download speeds for Verizon clocked between 4 and 14.5 times what other carriers were able to get, while uploads were similarly fast getting between 4.7 to 49.3 times better speeds than their competitors.  They also provided over 10Mbps download speeds at a close to 90% consistency, which is mighty impressive.

You can check the rest of the report (PDF) from the link below.

[4G Data Speed Study]

With Android smartphones flooding the market and the iPhone holding strong, HP has an uphill battle with the Palm Pre 2.  The fact that majority of the improvements here happened on the software end probably won't help its case any.

Physically, the handset's design doesn't stray far from the original Pre -- pebble shape, compact build and a slide-out portrait QWERTY.  Display is a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen (320 x 480 resolution), which is more common in bargain Androids by today's standards than high-end performers.  Regardless, it works just fine, provided your tastes haven't been spoiled by the 4-inch behemoths that are slowly becoming the norm.  If the screen is small, so is the keyboard, which will likely give those with larger fingers a whole lot of problems.

As a phone, the Palm Pre 2  makes for good calls.  Voices came through clear, but static seemed to find its way into conversations regularly.  Those on the other end reported a similar experience.  Speakerphone is usable, but very hollow-sounding.  Battery should be good for up to 6 hours of talk time.

Like we said, the major changes here happen on the software end with WebOS 2.0.   Features like Stacks (which improves the Pre's multitasking  immensely) and Type (combined universal search plus quick actions) really sweeten up the user experience, especially when paired with all of WebOS' already solid offerings.  Since the phone is equipped with a beefy 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, everything runs zippily, although there's occasional sluggishness when you've got a huge pile of apps running.

You get the usual smartphone goodies on board, such as multiple calling options, basic and advanced messaging and a slew of wireless connectivity options (WiFi with mobile hotspot, 3G, GPS and Bluetooth).  A few tools and apps are also included, with access to more via the App Catalog (which, unfortunately, is far from bustling with activity these days).

The media player is nice and functional, but nothing special.  There's 15GB of available storage on the device, but no expansion slots, so manage your large files wisely.  The 5.0 megapixel camera comes with LED flash and manages very good photo quality (both outdoors and indoors).

As capable of a smartphone as the Palm Pre 2 is, it really is behind on the times, even at the slightly lower $149.99 contract price on Verizon.  With the Palm Pre 3 just a few months away, it may be wiser for WebOS fans to wait for the bigger and faster successor to hit shelves.

Today's press conference brought no surprises, as Verizon announced they will soon begin selling the iPhone 4.  The handset will be almost identical to the AT&T version, save for the fact that it has a CDMA antenna and whatever changes that required.

Yes, this iPhone 4 is still an iPhone 4.  There's no upgrade, downgrade or major change.  The most telling one, in fact, is the position of the buttons along the side, which had to be slightly altered to accommodate the CDMA antenna.  This is big news for case manufacturers, though, as they'll need a new product line to fit those repositioned controls.

Because it runs on CDMA, you can't use both voice and data simultaneously, although Verizon claims they'll have this fixed within the next few months.  They're also adding WiFi mobile hotspot as an available option, unlike the AT&T iPhone 4 (although the latter could have it when they officially update to iOS 4.2.5).

On the software end, the Verizon iPhone 4 is just like the AT&T version -- there's no bloatware of any kind from the carrier .  The Big Red doesn't have an exclusive contract for the CDMA version, either, so expect this same model to trickle down to other CDMA-based carriers around the world.

Availability is being set for February 10th, likely with the same $199.99 contract price as competing smartphone models.

[via Cnet]

It's tough to get excited for a feature phone nowadays, given the low price point of some entry-level Android smartphones.  Still, there should be room in the market for handsets like the LG Cosmos Touch, a touchscreen candy bar with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

The compact messaging handset pairs full touch controls using a 2.8-inch touchscreen display (480 x 270 resolution) with the convenient typing of a four-row QWERTY keyboard.  Naturally, it offers the full range of messaging capabilities, including SMS, MMS, Mobile IM and Mobile Web Email, along with Social Beat for access to your social networking accounts.

Details of the Cosmos Touch include a 1.3-megapixel camera module, Bluetooth 2.1, aGPS (with VZ Navigator) and microSD card expansion (up to 16GB).  It comes with a custom interface, with three home screens and customizable widgets.

Slated for availability in Verizon stores beginning November 23, the LG Cosmos Touch will retail for $79.99 with a new two-year agreement.

[Verizon]

Verizon has finally made the successor to the original Droid official.  Uncreatively billed as the Motorola Droid 2, it will be the first handset to ship with the latest Android 2.2 Froyo.

Like its predecessor, the new smartphone will pack in a heavyset collection of features, paired with a full QWERTY keyboard.  According to Motorola, the device "takes a big leap forward from the original Droid," packing a faster processor, 3G mobile hotspot capabilities (for up to 5 devices) and an upgraded keyboard, which promises to address user complaints about the previous phone's uncomfortable keypad.

Core hardware consists of a 1GHz TI OMAP processor, paired with a dedicated GPU.  Details include a 3.7-inch touchscreen display, a 5.0 megapixel camera module (with DVD-D1 video capture), aGPS (with VZ Navigator), 3G with HSPA, WiFi, DLNA wireless sharing, Bluetooth 2.1, a 3.5mm jack, 8GB of onboard storage and microSD card expansion (with another 8GB preloaded).

A semi-world phone, the handset is ready for use in up to 40 countries.  It will come with all of Froyo's updated capabilities, including hardware-accelerated support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 and a unified calendar (both Google and corporate).

The Motorola Droid 2 will go on preorder from Verizon's website beginning tomorrow.  Price is $199.99 with a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year customer agreement. No word on actual ship date, although it's being speculated for the 12th. A special R2-D2 version will also come sometime in September, which will come preloaded with exclusive Star Wars content and “external hardware designed to look like the trusty Droid from the film saga.”

[via Mobile Crunch]

It is finally official, or at least, somewhat official.  Verizon Wireless has given a somewhat official date, or timeline, of their first 4G LTE mobile phone.  It appears that Verizon will be releasing their first LTE 4G phone around the middle of next year.

Verizon first expected to have their handset on the market in the last few months of 2011 or the first few months of 2012, but they’ve been able to bring that time scale down quite a bit.  Some regions will be able to latch onto these new 4G phones from Verizon at the end of this year.

Competitor and rival, Sprint Nextel Corporation has successfully launched data cards already with 4G capabilities and are in preparation of launching their first 4G cell phone summer of 2010.

Verizon is expecting to launch a mobile phone that uses Long Term Evolution technology, which is wireless high-speed technology, for their 4G phones.  They are hoping to use this integration of LTE within about six months after the launch of the 4G wireless service.  The phones that use the Long Term Evolution technology will more than likely come with dual-chip sets instead of single chip sets as the dual-chips are needed for the Verizon network and the 4G LTE phones to be compatible with each others in its fullest form.

You can expect to see broadband data cards in 4G before anything else and you can also expect that complete full coverage won’t be likely in the immediate future of the 4G mobile phone and plan launch, says Verizon.  Furthermore, Anthony Melone, a chief technology officer of Verizon, thinks that they will need to eliminate the unlimited data packages in order to fully integrate the Long Term Evolution technology and 4G handsets and plans.  Frankly, it’s not going to be cheap for this technology and 4G, and unlimited data plans simply take away a lot of their revenue, which could ultimately be used towards this new 4G service.

If Verizon decides to eliminate their unlimited phone and data plans, will they be able to survive in this heavy competitive market between cell phone carriers? In my personal opinion, if they do this and the competitors, such as Sprint and AT&T decide to allow their unlimited plans to stay intact, then there may just be a problem for Verizon Wireless.  On the other hand, who will be on top if all mobile carriers remove their unlimited plans?



First announced back in November of last year, the Casio G'zOne Brigade has finally gone on sale over at Verizon's website. Sporting ultra-rugged features paired with a slew of multimedia and messaging capabilities, it's one of the most unique handsets to make its way to the market.

As expected, the handset can withstand some serious stress, certified to 810F military standards for resistance to shock, water, dust and a whole host of extreme conditions. If you're used to rugged phones being short on features, you'll appreciate the talents that this outdoor-ready clamshell brings forward. Designed for serious messaging, it boasts a full QWERTY keyboard, visual voice mail, IM and corporate email. Not to be outdone, it's heavy on the multimedia prowess too, providing support for the range of VCast services (including streaming music and videos).

The Brigade comes with two screens - a 1.2-inch external display (paired with a T9-style keypad so you can use it like a candybar phone) and a 2.9-inch horizontal panel with 400 x 240 resolution. Details include a 3.2 megapixel camera module, aGPS (with VZ Navigator), Rev. A push-to-talk, a full HTML browser, microSD card expansion (up to 16GB) and six hours of talk time. It measures 4.4 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches and weighs 6oz.

Sure, Casio G'zOne looks a tad bulky and industrial. However, this kind of feature set rarely comes posted right next to a rugged device, that also especially a cell phone . One possible barrier? The price. Available for $249.99 with a two-year agreement (after a $50 rebate), it's more expensive than the current crop of high-profile smartphones. Still, if you need a heavy-duty cell phone that can do more than the basic stuff, it's hard to beat.

[Verizon via Softpedia]

Talk about piling up the Android releases.  That's definitely the case with Motorola, who has officially announced the Motorola Devour, their latest smartphone running Google's open-source OS.  Set for release under Verizon, it will be the carrier's first Motoblur-equipped device.

As it did in the Motorola Cliq, MotoBlur will bring its unique and customizable content delivery service to the new handset.  Aggregating information from Gmail, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other sources, it streams updates directly to the home screen, apart from adding other management features, such as contacts syncing and personal messaging.

Instead of a pure touchscreen device, though, the Devour takes on a form factor with more similarities to the Motorola Droid, sporting a slide-out QWERTY keypad along the left-hand side.  Details of the Devour include a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen, a touch-sensitive navigation pad, aGPS, stereo Bluetooth and 3G connectivity.   A bundled 8GB microSD card will come with the package.

Like most Android phones, a host of Google apps will be preloaded on the device, including Gmail, Talk, YouTube and Maps Navigation.  Verizon is putting it under their list of "advanced devices" and will thus require a $29.99 data plan.

The Motorola Devour is scheduled for availability in early March.  Price has not been set, but expect it between $170 to $200.

[via Verizon News]

Durability and PTT capability take front and center for the Samsung Convoy, which was recently released on Verizon's network.  Like many of Samsung's phones, form and features are very similar to another existing handset, the Samsung Rugby, so if you're familiar with that, you'll probably take to this device in much the same way.

Physically, the Convoy is unmistakably rugged - hard plastic skin, thick rubber sidings and an extremely firm battery cover.  It passes all the usual military specifications, although it's only water-resistant to a certain degree (don't dare swim in a pool with it).  The clamshell mechanism is sturdy and it feels solid overall.

Like most flip phones, it comes with two screens, a very small microSD-sized one outside and a 2.2-inch LCD inside.  Both are quality displays, with sharp colors and bright graphics.  The menu and navigation array, usually casualties in many rugged phones (especially those from Verizon), are surprisingly good.

As a phone, the Convoy manages very good call quality, apart from offering compatibility for both M4 and T4 hearing aids.  Voices sound loud and natural, despite busy surroundings.  The speakerphone was similarly admirable.  This phones supports 3G, although speed is not very impressive.  Since we're sure it's not the network that's problematic, it's probably the phone.  Take note if you're planning to use this for heavy downloading.  It has a stated battery life of 5 hours of talk time, which pales in comparison to many rugged devices.

On the features end, it has all the basics covered: 1,000-contact address book, stereo Bluetooth and a decent messaging suite (SMS, MMS, IM and POP3 mail).  PTT costs an extra $5 a month, which isn't bad, and there's an onboard GPS too (with VZ Navigator preinstalled).

It comes with a 2.0 megapixel camera, with a good range of editing options, including multiple shooting modes.  Photo quality is good for such a low-res phone camera, although it lacks flash.  Media playback is decent and, since it has 3G, comes with support for Verizon's range of streaming services.  Performance, like we said, isn't the fastest (videos encounter some amount of buffering), but it's tolerable.  One disappointment is the 2.5mm audio jack.

Overall, the Samsung Convoy ($99 on contract) is a pretty good phone, particularly if durability and PTT support are primary considerations in your decision-making.  It's easier to use than most handsets I've seen in the category and the inclusion of 3G makes it a passable entertainment device, too.

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Verizon is apparently keen on getting into the app store business and is willing to step on its smartphone partners' toes to make it happen.  According to new reports, the VZW-branded downloads storefront will look to merge downloadable content from all major platforms released with the company under one roof.  That, as it turns out, will include those for existing marketplaces such as the Android Market and Blackberry App World.

The main selling point of such a set-up is that Verizon will integrate app catalog purchases with its regular billing cycles, allowing customers to download apps with no separate payment processing necessary.  It's undoubtedly a more convenient process for end consumers.  For their part, developers are being promised "competitive" revenue shares, although details aren't clear as of yet.

What's turning out to be a big deal is the competitive stance that Verizon is taking with their app store efforts.  According to the carrier, all phones released under their banner will no longer come bundled with the respective handsets' default app store software (e.g. App World for Blackberry, Marketplace for Android), which means users will have to acquire them separately.

There's no reaction yet from the hardware and software companies, though I can't imagine Microsoft, Google or Research In Motion (and, for that matter, every manufacturer angling to set up their own downloads storefront) taking it all that amicably.  Expect Verizon to present their plans in greater detail (along with the possible backlash from other companies afterwards) during the upcoming Verizon Developer Community Conference on July 28th.

Photo Credit: Engadget