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Verizon Switches On LTE Advanced In 461 Cities -- Is Your Phone Compatible? (betanews.com)

Posted by msmash on from the faster-speeds dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Today, the carrier announces that its LTE is getting much faster. In 461 cities across the USA, it switches on the speedier 'LTE Advanced' (LTE-A). Best of all, many existing devices are compatible.
The company said in a blog post:"Verizon LTE Advanced uses software that combines multiple channels to speed mobile data over the network more quickly than ever before. The result is 50 percent faster peak speeds in cities nationwide for Verizon customers using one of the 39 LTE Advanced-capable phones and tablets already on Verizon's network -- including top-selling Samsung Galaxy S6 and S7 smartphones, Moto Droids and Apple iPhones. As new devices from Apple, Samsung, LG and other manufacturers are introduced, they will be LTE Advanced-capable right out of the box."

19 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. Fuck Verizon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    There's plenty of bandwidth, yet they've restricted the hell out of what users are allowed. It's for the purpose of violating net neutrality and pushing their own content platforms like go90. Fuck Verizon. LTE-A is great, but Verizon is evil.

  2. I wouldn't say "many" phones are compatible.. by toonces33 · · Score: 1

    Just the most recent high-end phones. If you have something slightly older, then no soup for you.

    1. Re:I wouldn't say "many" phones are compatible.. by bev_tech_rob · · Score: 1

      Just the most recent high-end phones. If you have something slightly older, then no soup for you.

      Agreed. I have had my phone only one year and it is not compatible...

      --
      You're messin' with my Zen Thing, man.....
    2. Re:I wouldn't say "many" phones are compatible.. by dyslexicbunny · · Score: 1

      Nexus 5x isn't even a year old. Oh well.

    3. Re:I wouldn't say "many" phones are compatible.. by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      It also supports it, but isn't on the list according to the comments section of that article. Likely the issue is that VZ never sold the phone, so didn't test it for compatibility.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  3. hailcorporate by markfinn · · Score: 2

    So, this is an embedded advertisement, right?

  4. Ummm by NEDHead · · Score: 2

    Does this mean I have to talk faster?

  5. Nope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    My flip phone is still slow as ever...

  6. Cities list by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    https://www.verizonwireless.com/featured/lte-advanced/#cities

  7. How can I tell? by crow · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have a Galaxy S7. Is there an easy way to tell if it is a regular LTE connection vs. an LTE Advanced connection?

    Is there an app that will tell you what the theoretical bandwidth based on the channels in the current connection?

    1. Re:How can I tell? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I have an S5 (Specific sub model for LTE-A). I get a "4G+" icon on my signal strength when connected to LTE-A

    2. Re:How can I tell? by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

      I have a Galaxy S7. Is there an easy way to tell if it is a regular LTE connection vs. an LTE Advanced connection?

      Yes. If the unblockable browser ads no longer stutter, you have LTE 'advanced'.

  8. Drop to 3G Speeds by KermodeBear · · Score: 1

    Is this why my phone has suddenly dropped down to 3G from 4G LTE?

    I'm not amused.

    --
    Love sees no species.
  9. 225 Mbps by dogvomit · · Score: 1

    The wireless carrier further says, "LTE Advanced currently uses a combination of two- and three-carrier aggregation. Customers will continue to enjoy typical download speeds of 5 - 12 Mbps, but two-channel carrier aggregation has shown peak download speeds of up to 225 Mbps, far exceeding the current speeds being experienced by wireless data networks nationwide.

    Awesome. I can now exceed my monthly data cap in just under nine minutes.

    —George

    1. Re:225 Mbps by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      Awesome. I can now exceed my monthly data cap in just under nine minutes

      You're assuming that we're going to max out the connection at all times. Me, I use the same amount of data on LTE as LTE-A. I just waste less time staring at a loading screen.

  10. Re:1.5Mbps is enough for anyone by kungfool · · Score: 1

    and bill gates once thought 640K of ram would be enough for anyone. times change, needs change. unless you're 16 and living in moms basement, you should already know this.

  11. Their priorities don't match mine. by Rebar · · Score: 1

    I'm really interested in "reliably works at my house". Next in line would be "stop gouging for bandwidth". After that "better battery life". Somewhere way down the list is "faster".

  12. What's this do to battery life? by dyslexicbunny · · Score: 1

    Mobile data use always seems to drain my battery anyways. What impact does this have on it? Should I even be upset about missing out on it?

  13. Re:Call and Data at the same time? by steveg · · Score: 1

    It's been available ever since LTE came along. Doesn't work on CDMA, does work on LTE.

    --
    Ignorance killed the cat. Curiosity was framed.