Verizon and Vodafone to Partner on LTE

By Geoff Duncan November 29, 2007

Verizon and Vodafone to Partner on LTE

Although it’s not news that Verizon Wireless has been eyeing Long Term Evolution (LTE) as the basis for future high-speed wireless communications options, the company formally let the cat out of the bag today, with co-owners Verizon and Vodafone announcing a partnership that will have the companies launching a coordinated LTE trial in 2008. Often referred to as a “4G” mobile technology, LTE offers theoretical download rates of 100 Mbit/s and upload rates of 50 Mbit/s for every 20 MHz of spectrum available to the technology.

“The company’s move toward a 4G network is driven by our vision of pervasive wireless Internet connectivity and mobility,” said Verizon executive VP and CTO Richard Lynch, in a statement. “A number of factors are setting the stage for our 4G network migration; most importantly, our view of customers’ evolving appetite for more information, entertainment, and functionality, combined with an increasing customer expectation for easy access, high speed, easy handling, and seamless mobility. With a host of new devices and applications, and a particular focus on embedded wireless in virtually every piece of electronics you buy in any store, we believe LTE is the best technology with global scale to deliver on the promise.”

Verizon’s decision to go with LTE rather than the competing WiMax technology may hurt telecommunications developer Qualcomm, which builds the CDMA technology on which Verizon’s current network is build. Qualcomm also backs WiMax.

Verizon says it is working with Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia-Siemens, and Nortel on designing and building out the service, while the company says talks with device suppliers have “expanded” beyond the usual suspects like LG, Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, and Sony Ericsson to consumer electronics companies.

The LTE announcement follows Verizon’s decision to open up its network in late 2008 to devices and applications from other providers. Taken together, LTE technology and an open network policy may put Verizon Wireless in the driver’s seat for “de-Balkanizing” the U.S. mobile phone industry as 4G technology begins to emerge.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Mobile

Hurry and sign up to this Verizon Wireless plan before it’s too late

This content was produced in partnership with Verizon.
Prices are climbing steadily, and while we can cite many reasons why, the most important thing to note is that, for at least the next couple of years -- and maybe even longer -- we'll be looking at elevated prices for a lot of goods and services. That means that if you have a chance to lock in reasonable prices, particularly for something you pay for regularly, you'll want to take advantage. And that's precisely what Verizon Wireless is offering via its Welcome Unlimited Plan. Not only can you join America's most reliable 5G nationwide network -- according to Rootmetrics -- but also you can lock in that price for three years. For families with four or more lines, the savings stack up. With four lines, you could be paying just $25 per line per month for the next three years. To take advantage of these low prices, you'll need to bring your phone with you, and that's true for both new and existing customers looking to snag a Verizon Wireless plan. You'll have to hurry though, the offer is only available for a limited time.

Here's how it works: You must switch to Verizon, bring your own phone -- and your phone number too -- and activate at least one new line on the Welcome Unlimited plan. If you are an existing customer already on the same plan, you can take advantage of this offer when you add a new line and bring your phone. You'll get the Welcome Unlimited plan, which offers Unlimited 5G nationwide talk, text, and data access for all new lines. The offer price includes an additional $10 per line discount when you sign up for paper-free billing and auto pay, but it's a bit more expensive if you want to get your bills in the mail or disable autopay. Either way, that's an excellent price, and the three-year price guarantee means that cost won't increase on you for quite a while, which is a huge game-changer in this day and age.

Deals

Best Verizon Fios new customer deals for January 2023

Fios TV Package

Fiber-optic technology is sure to play a huge role in the future of the internet, although it may be some time still before it's available across the majority of the U.S. Verizon has been at the forefront of this ongoing rollout, and as one of the "big three" cellular network carriers in the country, it's always offering exclusive deals and discounts to draw in new customers. If Verizon Fios is available in your area
and you're looking to upgrade your internet (and possibly save by bundling a TV streaming plan and/or landline phone with it), there's never been a better time to make the switch. These are all the best Verizon Fios new customer deals and sign-up offers available right now so you can build your perfect internet, TV, and phone package and start saving right away.

Verizon Fios covers your home landline phone service, but if you're specifically after a new mobile plan, then check out these cell phone plan deals once you're finished here.
Best Verizon Fios deals
Gigabit Verizon Fios connection -- $90 per month
When you buy Verizon's 1GB connection, which has speeds up to 940Mbps, you're not just getting the fastest internet Verizon Fios currently offers. Verizon will throw in some awesome free benefits with it. You get 2TB of Verizon Cloud Storage for free, a service that would normally cost $15 per month. You also get a $300 voucher for a Samsung soundbar, something to rival some of the best soundbar deals out there. You also get your choice of either a free year of the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu, or a free PS5 controller and headset. That's a ton of perks on top of incredibly fast internet.

Mobile

Verizon’s cheapest 5G unlimited plan just got even cheaper

Verizon banner splashed across iPhone screen.

Verizon is one of the top service providers in the world, and now it's sweetening the deal on its cheapest unlimited 5G plan. Currently, Verizon offers a handful of different service options, with the Welcome Unlimited plan being its cheapest.

An end-of-the-year deal, however, is reducing the price of the Welcome Unlimited plan even further by $5 per month per line — making it one of the cheapest unlimited 5G plans on the market.