By 
In a media conference call today, and then in a press release, Verizon Wireless announced that their 4G network will go live in 38 cities on December 5th. Customers can pay $50/month for 5GB of data or $80/month for 10GB of data that Verizon says is 10 times faster than their 3G network… WOW.
Customers will have the option of two USB 4G modems to get their 4G access: the LG VL600 and the Pantech UML290. In 2011 we’ll start to see consumer oriented handsets which will make things even more exciting.
Wondering if Verizon 4G LTE covers your area? Check their website. Want all the nitty gritty details? Read the press below:
Verizon wireless launches the World’s Largest 4G LTE Wireless Network on Dec. 5
Laptop Users Benefit First from Fastest and Most Advanced Wireless Network, Arriving in 38 Major Metropolitan Areas with New Value-Priced 4G Data PlansBASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless announced today it is turning on the world’s first large-scale 4G LTE network on Sunday, Dec. 5. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network will be the fastest and most advanced 4G network in America. Business users will be the first to take advantage of the 4G LTE network with speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network.
With the launch, Verizon Wireless is also offering new value-priced 4G LTE Mobile Broadband data plans starting at $50 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance, as well as two new 4G LTE USB modems: the LG VL600 which will be available at launch, and the Pantech UML290, available soon.
Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless, said, “Beginning Sunday, Verizon Wireless is making the best network even better. Our initial 4G LTE launch gives customers access to the fastest and most advanced mobile network in America and immediately reaches more than one-third of all Americans, right where they live. That’s just the start. We will quickly expand 4G LTE, and by 2013 will reach the existing Verizon Wireless 3G coverage area.”
Road warriors using laptops will immediately benefit from Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network with super-fast connectivity that’s up to 10 times faster than the company’s current 3G network. The company expects 4G LTE average data rates in real-world, loaded network environments to be 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
Mead continued, “We are building our 4G LTE network with the same commitment to performance and reliability for which we have long been recognized. Our commitment to superior network performance, combined with broad 4G coverage areas and the strong value of our data plans make 4G LTE Mobile Broadband the best choice for laptop users.”
4G LTE Mobile Broadband Data Plans, Devices and Coverage Areas
Verizon Wireless customers can choose from two 4G LTE Mobile Broadband data plans: $50 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance or $80 monthly access for 10 GB monthly allowance, both with $10/GB overage. For laptop connectivity, two 4G LTE USB modems will be initially available: the LG VL600 is available at launch and the Pantech UML290 will be available soon, each $99.99 after $50 rebate with a new two-year agreement. Both USB modems provide backward-compatibility with Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. If laptop users travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, they will automatically stay connected on the company’s 3G network.
The two modems harness the power of the company’s 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network to help enterprise, business and government customers make their workforces more productive, providing super-fast laptop connectivity. Both modems will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, online at www.verizonwireless.com, by phone by calling 1-800 256-4646 and through the company’s business sales channels.
The company expects consumer-oriented handsets will be available by mid-2011.
Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network is initially launching in 38 major metropolitan areas and in more than 60 commercial airports coast to coast – at both airports within the launch areas plus airports in other key cities. Street level coverage area maps will be available online on Dec. 5. Today, customers can go to www.verizonwireless.com/4Glte to check if their addresses will be in the initial 4G LTE coverage area.
Spectrum and Network Partners
By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment in the United States, Verizon Wireless is capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless broadband network with excellent coverage. Verizon Wireless’ primary 4G LTE network vendors, Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent, are providing the underlying infrastructure for the 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.
Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.
Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Initial Major Metropolitan Area Deployment (Dec. 5, 2010)
Akron, Ohio
Athens, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Baltimore, Maryland
Boston, Massachusetts
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, Dallas, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Houston, Texas
Jacksonville, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
Los Angeles, California
Miami, Florida
Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota
Nashville, Tennessee
New Orleans, Louisiana
New York, New York
Oakland, California
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Orlando, Florida
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix, Arizona
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Rochester, New York
San Antonio, Texas
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California
San Jose, California
Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
St. Louis, Missouri
Tampa, Florida
Washington, D.C.
West Lafayette, Indiana
West Palm Beach, Florida
Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Initial Commercial Airport Deployment (Airport Name, City, State) Dec. 5, 2010
Austin-Bergstrom International, Austin, Texas
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshal, Glen Burnie, Maryland
Bob Hope, Burbank, California
Boeing Field/King County International, Seattle, Washington
Charlotte/Douglas International, Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago Midway International, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago O’Hare International, Chicago, Illinois
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Covington, Kentucky
Cleveland-Hopkins International, Cleveland, Ohio
Dallas Love Field, Dallas, Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth International, Fort Worth, Texas
Denver International, Denver, Colorado
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
George Bush Intercontinental/Houston, Houston, Texas
Greater Rochester International, Rochester, New York
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Atlanta, Georgia
Honolulu International, Honolulu, Hawaii
Jacksonville International, Jacksonville, Florida
John F. Kennedy International, New York, New York
John Wayne Airport-Orange County, Santa Ana, California
Kansas City International, Kansas City, Missouri
La Guardia, New York, New York
Lambert-St. Louis International, St. Louis, Missouri
Laurence G. Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts
Long Beach/Daugherty Field, Long Beach, California
Los Angeles International, Los Angeles, California
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, Metairie, Louisiana
McCarran International, Las Vegas, Nevada
Memphis International, Memphis, Tennessee
Metropolitan Oakland International, Oakland, California
Miami International, Miami, Florida
Minneapolis-St. Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nashville International, Nashville, Tennessee
New Castle, Wilmington, Delaware
Newark Liberty International, Newark, New Jersey
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International, San Jose, California
North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Orlando International, Orlando, Florida
Orlando Sanford International, Sanford, Florida
Palm Beach International, West Palm Beach, Florida
Philadelphia International, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, Mesa, Arizona
Pittsburgh International, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Port Columbus International, Columbus, Ohio
Portland International, Portland, Oregon
Rickenbacker International, Columbus, Ohio
Ronald Reagan Washington National, Arlington, Virginia
Sacramento International, Sacramento, California
Salt Lake City International, Salt Lake City, Utah
San Antonio International, San Antonio, Texas
San Diego International, San Diego, California
San Francisco International, San Francisco, California
Seattle-Tacoma International, Seattle, Washington
St. Augustine, Saint Augustine, Florida
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International, Clearwater, Florida
Tampa International, Tampa, Florida
Teterboro, Teterboro, New Jersey
Trenton Mercer, Trenton, New Jersey
Washington Dulles International, Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C.
Will Rogers World, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
William P. Hobby, Houston, Texas
mid 2011 for handsets. shitty.
sounds nice! but another 50 bucks on top of my already high phone bill. i think i will pass. it will be more then what i pay for my truck a month
no, what is shitty are those prices. $50 and $80 for 5GB and 10GB, respectively is crazy.
@Brian – Agreed….I assume the pricing will be different for handsets when they become available, but the $30 currently is high enough. Any higher probably isn’t worth it at this point.
On top of no devices, limited network and expensive ..its not as fast as t-mobile is today and tmo is doubling their speeds early next year!
are you serious? who can even afford that? 10 gigs is nothing. Right now I burn through several hundred gigs on my droid. PASS.
Makes me want to Hurry to Verizon, so I too can increase my Bill and Decrease my Data……..NOT!
I’LL stay with Slow AT&T and buy a wireless card for my laptop with the money I save from NOT being with Verizon or just use AT&T hotspots and buy a.new truck with the savings.
Bend over Verizon customers and give a Big Smile. Lol
Off topic, that girl is cute…
For those concerned about the pricing: These prices are no different than the current 3g mobile broadband prices ($50 for 5 gb and $80 for 10 gb). The announced 4g plans are for the two mobile broadband adapters; Verizon’s plans for the 4g handsets, ie the phones, will be announced at CES in January.
@Lawrence
What in the holy fuck are you doing on your Droid
@Lawrence…….you burn through more than 10gb on a Motorola Droid??? What are you doing might I ask using it as a TV??
@Lawrence: “several hundred gigs”.. are you sure you are not thinking of MB?
personally, $10 per GB is okay with me. I would hope for half that by the time handsets come out, but even the $50 price is reasonable for a brand new technology.
@mdmadph
I wanna know too
@Lawrence, you sir, are a complete f-ing idiot and have no idea what you are talking about. the existing data plans right now for phones have a 5 Gb limit. you would be paying $1000 monthly for 100’s of Gb. not to mention what in the freak could you possibly be doing to use that much bandwidth?
im always surprised as to how people are so fast to post about shit they dont know about. this pricing is completely in line with existing 3g usb modem pricing. so why is it shocking?
@Stanky: People are assuming this will be the pricing for a 4G phone. If the current 3G pricing stands for the 4G phones, all will be good. Dammit we paid for the 4G network through our high phone bills we shouldn’t have to pay even more than we currently do to access it.
I believe the plans for phones will be the same. I want to see the handsets they will have. CES should be fun this year!
@mdmadpj and tmooey
bet he is
A. tethering way too much
B. has no idea or is lying about it.
C. probably confused Mb with Gb
i vote C. :)
Verizon Hasn’t Even Perfected 3g Coverage Yet And Now They Introduce 4g. That’s Great So When Will They Get There Service To Stop Dropping My Phone Calls When I’m on The Phone
@mdmadph and @Tmooey
the answer to that question=porn :)
Yea, I am almost positive the prices for 4g phones will be way less than that. We probably won’t pay $30 for unlimited data like now but I use 3GB at the max so I mean I would be fine with $30 for 5GB on a phone.
The article is too unclear for the morons reading it.. The data plans are for the mobile broadband devices not handsets. Stop being stupid.
Let’s not forget that Ver.izon CEO said last week that the first Lte phone will be out in Feb. Seeing these prices has me feeling really good about 4G phone data pricing.
this is just blatant thievery – LTE costs to deliver 1gb are currently less than .25 cents with all costs included fiven what a mere 5gb costs there profit margin is almost 49.00 or 49,000%
Personally I can’t wait until the first customers receive there hundreds and thousands of dollars in overages bills in January and congress steps in to end the party.
I think the initial target are business users on the go, aka road warriors. I can’t justify paying $50/$80 for personal use, but business users have no issues with expensing it.
26. Droid wrote on December 1, 2010
I have it for personal use, but that’s because I was an Alltel merged customer who still has UNLIMITED data plan.
Verizon actually let me upgrade to a Verizon aircard and keep my unlimited Alltel plan; I was shocked.
Again, no love for Detroit. I guess we are last on everyone’s 4G plans.
What??? People still LIVE in Detroit!??! I though it was rusting away. Verizon probably thinks the same.
Can’t wait to see handset plan pricing! VZW FTW!
What, people still LIVE in Detroit!??! I thought it was rusting away, Verizon probably thought the same.
no one in detroit can afford it! man, that was cold but funny. of course, not if you live in detroit. anyway.
In response to the several hundred gigs…If you download any music from the gTunes (lol) store or the Amazon music market place, right there thats cost me at least 100-150 megs a week. 1 album. If you stream youtube, which I do, that uses an insane amount of bandwidth. I also use my NFL mobile app with video which uses bandwidth also, lots of it. I’m not typical, I am just saying that if you are using your phone a lot, its not that hard to go WAY over 5 and even 10 gigs like its nothing. Especially if you are using it on a laptop, where the access to porn (500 megs a download) makes it worse. keep in mind large business files (certain projects, cad files) they can use about a gig or so to upload. Yes it is nice to be able to upload that quicker, but after a week or so on the road writing and rewriting data to a server, that will add up. Bottom line is if they want this to see mass adoption, I think they need unlimited plans. You eat what you have. If its faster you WILL use more data. You stay below the limit on 3G, because its 3G. When you get home you eat it up I’m sure. When its faster, itll be a lot harder to resist streaming Monsters Inc waiting in an airport and eating up a gig in 2 hours.
To clarify. I was trying to draw a comparison to my phone. Im sure the LTE plan for phone will be different. Maybe more closely to the Sprint plan $10 extra for 4G a month = $40 a month unlimited mobile net. Im just saying that if my phone can use that much doing minor things, a laptop/netbook will blow through 5 gigs in no time. I think having 3G on a laptop serves a good purpose because its fast, but not fast enough. With LTE, its like being at home. You forget all the stuff you download and do at home when you have enough speed. Gaming, porn, mp3s, youtube. Youtube knows your connection. Itll stream in HD based on connection, which means it will eat up more bandwidth quicker. I am concerned for that price I see a lot of people shocked at how high their bill will get without doing all that much.
it is still impossible for you to have used hundreds of GB per month. $30 data plan for first 5GB, $10 per GB over x 95GB=$950 or if we take your “hundreds” literally that would be $10 x 195GB=$1950 monthly. damn, your either big ballin or a liar.
also, it seems like you sure do love your porn
Too damn expensive!!!
#1 Verizon has no 5GB cap for smartphone unlimited data.
#2 These prices are completely in line with 3G pricing; they only apply to air cards, so quit complaining about average Verizon plans.
#3 Sprint charges $40 for unlimited 4G(&3G) even if you have no 4G service. Expect Verizon to try the same.
This all seems fine to me; we’ll have to wait until January.
Ummm faster speed same price…yep that’s a rip off when your a tard!!!
Sprint charges $40 a month?? for what? Sprint’s unlimited 4G and 3G for smartphones is only $10…
I’m just going to put this here: http://goo.gl/p0p6G
If you kiddies are doing your research, you’ll see that a sheot-ton of people (If you’re not only a Verizon Wireless customer AND a Time-Warner Cable customer) are going to get ripped off in the VERY near future.
I hope the tards don’t think these prices are added on top of the 3g service per month. 4g cards also work in 3g coverage so you can trash your old card and just get a new 4g card, pay the same price per month, even if you don’t have 4g coverage yet. Think of it like having an iPhone, no 3g coverage but you can still use it…kind of.
@gameboid
Sprint charges $30/mo. for unlimited smartphone data plus an ADDITIONAL $10/mo. for WIMAX capable smartphones (EVO and Epic). So if you have an Evo or an Epic, data costs you $40/mo., regardless of whether or not you are covered by WIMAX at all.
Cool, way faster to reach …. the quota limit :P
@wolverineguy55 — Detroit… and Buffalo… have narrow maritime borders with Canada. Canada also uses 700 mhz, and will be auctioning that spectrum off in the next few years for cellular use as well. In order for both cities to be lit up, Verizon will need an agreement with the Canadian Government to either avoid interference to to ensure roaming on those towers is not treated as such. It happened with 3G for all the carriers, and I’m sure it won’t be long for this. The problem Sprint faces is entirely different, Canada also is opening up 2500… but not using WiMax. A bigger hurdle to jump.
@Jason you are among the few with such a compliant that being so maybe you should switch to one of the other guys for your area…Verizon maybe the best but even they have black spots
Verizon Prices may seem high now, but wait till others join the bandwagon offering similar data speeds. Nice thing about competition is that it drives the price down. Look at home residential phone plans. Remember the days of long distance phone bills? Now long distance is free. Once other carriers start offering the service, I really think the data plan prices will drop as they fight over who has the best service. And AT&T will still suck. Go IPhones!
I was waiting for 4G phone when I had to give up my company assigned Droid. It sucks. I really don’t want to buy a new smartphone now, so I use $8 prepaid phone from Walmart…
Are there any verizon phones out now that are LTE-ready? sorry for the newbie question, but have yet to see that clearly posted anywhere. Wondering if I should postpone my upgrade till the handheld plans are available. Thoughts?
New Data Plans On The Way
“Now, as far as the data plans go, 3G will be unlimited, but the new 4G data bundles will be capped. Our understanding is that the 4G plan won’t be separate from 3G plans, but will be included. So when you sign up for the $30 data plan, 3G will naturally be unlimited while your 4G/LTE usage might be limited to roughly 5GB per month. One thing our source did tell us is that the caps may be more or less than 5GB, but that was the estimated guess for now.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get any word for the cities that matter (no offense, cities that I mentioned here; I’m sure you’re all lovely) like Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Chicago. Details about the roll-out of LTE in other regions are scant, but we’ll certainly keep you all updated as we hear more from our sources.
In all, it looks like Sprint will have some serious competition in the 4G realm as LTE goes live to take on WiMax. While Sprint’s WiMax has more available spectrum than that of Verizon’s LTE network, the frequency at which LTE operates might make it more usable in buildings as well as provide more reliable signal strength. Also consider the fact that Verizon will blanket almost the entire nation in LTE by 2013 and you might have to reconsider carrier options if 4G is a big deal for you. After all, we’re constantly hearing rumors that Sprint will be ditching WiMax for LTE in the future.”