IronWil Blog » Verizon

Verizon’s Salt Peter iPhone

Iron Wil — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:28:15 +0000

I have to admit that I was shocked when Verizon announced the CDMA iPhone (4). I didn’t think that this would happen. What I expected from my previous posts was a LTE iPhone 4(G). I have to say I am stunned.

First, with CDMA you can’t use data and voice at the same time – this is HUGE!!! I can’t tell you how many times I have needed to get online for some information and was able to while on a phone call. I guess Verizon customers are used to this limitation and they are okay with it.

Second, I expected Apple would develop and release an LTE iPhone that would cover both AT&T and Verizon. I based that expectation on both AT&T and Verizon moving to the 700MHz radio band, to which the rights for use were acquired when the FCC auctioned the bandwidth off.

I still anticipate an iPhone 4G that will run on the 700MHz or LTE band this summer; however, this could be the first time that Apple skips a summer release. I don’t anticipate that Sprint or T-Mobile will come online anytime soon; yet I am wrong … and more often then I would like.

What I can say is that Apple continues to surprise me.

iron wil

The Next iPhone, will it be 700MHz?

Iron Wil — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:17:42 +0000

There is a lot of rumor about when the next iPhone, the Verizon iPhone, will be out in January. I have to admit that this does 2 things, it puts the iPhone out of the standard development cycle and releases a phone onto a brand new network, an UNTESTED network. Well, the network trials are going on now and limited user trials are rumored to be going on now.

LTE or 4G is being rolled out this January by Verizon. LTE is built on the 700MHz band that was purchased a few years ago by Verizon and AT&T. The promised speeds can be up to 5 – 12 Mbps. This is different from Sprint’s 4G service which is WiMax and it is not based on the 700MHz radio band.

There are several articles on Verizon’s 4G network and the Verizon iPhone. What I think we will see is an iPhone 4[X], or 4G, that is the same device with the 700MHz chip set. That way there will be a phone that covers the new services being rolled out by Verizon and AT&T in 2011. It makes sense that even if Verizon is rolling out the new service in January that Apple would wait until the summer before delivering the new device; that way Apple will cover 2 networks at once. I believe there will be an announcement in January and the phone in late June. Apple likes to plan things out and deliver their products with panache.

iron wil

Update, 2010.08.16

Adam from MacCast also supports my beliefs on the full 700MHz spectrum iPhone 4. It was also discussed on TWIT.tv on TWiT #260 and TNT #49. Some of the panelists feel the same way, others share their points of view.

Are we getting 700MHz screwed?

Iron Wil — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:15:19 +0000

Two recent articles on Ars Technica, Small wireless carriers: always stuck with crappy phones? and No iPhone for Alaska? Rural cell phone group asks FCC to act, highlight the problems that are facing the spreading of powerful hand-held devices like the iPhone, Android handsets, and other Smartphones. Before I have talked about my excitement to see Smartphones capable of moving between carriers, like in Europe, and the power that would give the consumer. I have highlighted the openness that Google pushed for with the 700MHz bandwidth sale. The question comes down to whether we will actually see it happen or not.

The small wireless carriers are prohibited from getting the better devices because the mobile providers lock the manufacturer into contracts that prevent them from selling to everyone. Verizon and AT&T said that they would open their services so that customers would be able to bring the device they wanted to their network or move to another. However, we are still locked into contracts and carriers because of incompatible hardware and exclusivity contracts.

Despite the promises, we currently don’t see a change on the horizon.

In the other article the small or rural carriers ask the FCC to intervene and disrupt the exclusivity contracts. These issues affect all those that want to take their iPhone to Verizon or another carrier. This has a larger implementation that just the little guys that want to bring the latest bling to their networks.

The next change in hardware and services should, I hope, see the creation of a 700MHz chipset that will allow the owner of the hardware to migrate to the best provider for the area they live in. I believe, eventually, that the carriers will become like the internet providers today and who you have won’t matter as much as the quality of service and the device you have.

Who wouldn’t like to have the iPhone in Alaska or Vermont?

iron wil

The Future of the iPad

Iron Wil — Tue, 11 May 2010 23:47:25 +0000

The iPad comes directly from Alan Kay’s dynabook and Apple‘s 1987 video on the knowledge navigator. Jon Udell wrote a blog post back in 2003 titled Computers that mimic intelligence that talks about his expectations of how soon we will reach a semblance of the dynabook and knowledge navigator.

If you have been paying attention, Apple recently bought Siri, ‘Your Virtual Personal Assistant’. Their tag line … “You Ask, Siri Does”. 3G and soon to come 4G services, or ubiquitous wireless services and a person can get access to their data anywhere. It is coming and I am excited to see next years products.

So, if you take all the things I have been thinking about the iPad from my previous posts, it is understandable where Apple is going. They know what they are looking forward and planning for. Do you see it?

iron wil

Curse of the Mobile Providers

Google unwires the US?

Verizon pulls a 180 on the Band Width Auction

Google Phone?

OS X on your WinBox!!!

The iPhone and Wired prove ME right!

Mobile Moving towards Freedom

Next Awesome iPhone App!

A Possible Apple Tablet

Rotten Apples? Nope, Just Complaints

Apple Tablet Prediction

Where can Nexus One Go?!?

Iron Wil — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:59:34 +0000

I was listening to MacBreak Weekly #174 and I listened to them discuss the Nexus One, Google, where the phone can be used, and Verizon’s closed network.

As I thought about it, I remembered that Verizon & AT&T both said they would open up their networks by the end of 2008. Well, it is the beginning of 2010 and Verizon & AT&T, from what I know, are still clam-shelled. They are not allowing users [us] to bring the device that we want to their service.

I am disappointed in this, very disappointed.

I believe that one day the mobile providers will have to open up because hardware manufactures & users will stick it to them and they will change. The beginning of the end for their selecting of hardware we can use was started when Apple released the iPhone. Since then, Google has released the Android software package and now the Nexus One phone. Other hardware manufactures are jumping in and building handsets and devices that access mobile providers networks.

Times are changing. The hardware manufactures are tightening the thumb screws and things will change for users and the carriers that provide our services. I have to say that my prediction for 3 to 5 years is looking dismal; however, I am hopeful that it will happen. That soon handsets and NetBooks will be open to provider transfer. I know there are people that would like to take their iPhone to Verizon or T-Mobile and have the ability to move around per their need.

Time will tell, I am hopeful that it will happen soon.

iron wil

New TWiT NetCasts – 2009.11.16

Iron Wil — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:01:54 +0000

TWiT 220: Buffet Neutrality

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Tom Merritt, Wil Harris, Frank Barnako, Mark Milian

Why bandwidth shaping is like potato salad, how the Higgs Boson protects itself, and AT&T vs. Verizon…

Show Notes

MacBreak Weekly 166: Ground Control To Major Don

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, and Andy Ihnatko

Steve Jobs is CEO of the decade, Rick Astley penetrates jailbroken iPhones, pirated iPhone applications, and more.

Show Notes

Security Now 222: Your Questions, Steve’s Answers 79

Hosts: Steve Gibson with Leo Laporte

We’ve got the latest security news, including an SSL hack, plus eight great questions from you and Steve’s answers…

Show Notes

Windows Weekly 130: Trapped, Like Carrots

Hosts: Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte

Paul calls Modern Warfare 2 the best shooter EVAH!

Show Notes

This Week In Google 16: We Need The Eggs

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Gina Trapani, Jeff Jarvis and Mary Hodder

Online stalkers, Wikipedia fundraising, Droid, Google’s Go, Chrome OS, and more.

Show Notes

iron wil

New TWiT NetCasts – 2009.08.01

Iron Wil — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:31:28 +0000

TWiT 205: Step Up To The Guru Bar

Hosts: Leo Laporte, John C. Dvorak, Pete Cashmore, and Jason Hiner.

Apple charges a premium, Palm and Apple argue, Microsoft and Yahoo rumors, MySpace is fading, and more.

Show Notes

MacBreak Weekly 151: Unresponsive When Sweaty

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, and Andy Ihnatko

Apple tablet, Verizon, hackintoshing, Googe Voice app, iPhone OS, Project Cocktail, and more.

Show Notes

Security Now 207: Listener Feedback 71

Hosts: Steve Gibson with Leo Laporte

Steve answers questions on AES-256, iPhone security, TrueCrypt, Firefox privacy, and more.

Show Notes

Windows Weekly 117: OMG!

Hosts: Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte

Microsoft and Yahoo get cozy, Microsoft relents to EU/Opera pressure, Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 and more.

Show Notes

iron wil

iPhone Hardware Update for the Summer of 2009

Iron Wil — Sat, 09 May 2009 02:45:23 +0000

Despite rumor, Apple has a history of updating the hardware of a device, iMac or MacBook, and keeping the same price point. I expect, from the past history that this summer will bring 2 changes. New iPod Touch’s, the high end with 64gb hard drives and then scaled down 32gb and 16gb. I would expect the iPhone to follow with 32gb & 16gb hard drives.

I would also expect if the iPhone ‘Lite’ or iPhone Nano for 99$ would be an 8gb device with the exact same hardware as the standard model. We will find out in a few weeks but no later than 2 months. I also expect that we will see something like a MacBook Touch or something in the 10′ to 10.4′ screen size. It only makes good sense to release a killer device that fills this space. No, not a phone, but maybe a tablet running OS X: iPhone or something that runs that on the cover and then drop into full Leopard. There is also a rumor that it will be on the 700mhz band that AT&T and Verizon will be opening up in 2010 for all hardware and devices. I think that they will release the device for Verizon only and then after a year or even right away, it will be available on AT&T.

I am excited to see what happens. This Fall, after my wife’s contract expires, should be our iPhone & service change. I am not excited about having AT&T, my favorite carrier comes in a different color; however, I know my hardware needs & can see the solution in the iPhone.

iron wil

Free The Airwaves with Google

Iron Wil — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:23:36 +0000

Business Week posted a story today about Google’s Bandwidth Petition. I feel that this is another step in opening up the old 700Mhz band for Mobile and Wi-Fi services. It is something that will allow the internet to reach the ‘last mile’ and it should change the face of mobile phone service the country over.

I have written about this over the past year or more. I would suggest that each of you take the time and see the article and more importantly hit Google’s site and sign the petition.

iron wil

Mobile Moving towards Freedom

Iron Wil — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:52:03 +0000

I didn’t have time to work on this yesterday, but I felt it was noteworthy and wanted to bring it forward. Darren Waters from the BBC who writes the dot.life blog had an interview with Andy Rubin of Google and got a demo of Android [which is still in Alpha].

I am really looking forward to seeing how Android shapes the future of Mobile Phones and Mobile Computing [which the iPhone has really pushed to the forefront]. I am really excited to see [hands on] what the software will be capable of doing. With the expected changes [Verizon & AT&T opening their Wireless Networks] coming this year, I hope to see both AT&T and Verizon pick this up when it is a finished and polished product. It will also be interesting to see where and how other coders and system hackers implement the software. With open Wi-Fi becoming more pervasive and the availability of systems like the ASUS Eee PC, PSP, iPhone, and Nokia’s [N800] Internet Tablet; we may see system hacks that revolutionize the Mobile Phone/Computing markets.

I know that whatever happens, we are moving into exciting times. Now, if I could get the iPhone [without having to hack it] on my preferred wireless carrier.

iron wil

Notes:

1) dot.life article, Under the bonnet of Android

2) Open Handset Alliance