WebProNews

Tag: Verizon

  • NAD Supports Some T-Mobile 5G Claims, Disputes Others

    NAD Supports Some T-Mobile 5G Claims, Disputes Others

    The National Advertising Division (NAD), a division of BBB National Programs, has sided with T-Mobile on some of its advertising claims, while disputing others.

    The NAD is a branch of the BBB that helps ensure accuracy in advertising by providing dispute resolution and self-regulation. The challenge to T-Mobile’s advertising claims about its 5G service was lodged by Verizon.

    The NAD found that T-Mobile’s claims that its 5G is faster than its 4G, or competitors’ 4G was accurate. Similarly, the NAD found that T-Mobile’s claims that its 5G service offered better coverage than other providers’ 5G was also accurate.

    In spite of those wins, the NAD did recommend that T-Mobile alter or discontinue other claims. For example, it recommended T-Mobile stop implying its 5G was superior to 4G in other ways, such as reliability. Similarly, the NAD “recommended that T-Mobile discontinue the challenged claim that its 5G service is generally available in locations that have traditionally been challenging for cellular service (or disclose, clearly and conspicuously, the typical performance of T-Mobile’s 5G).”

    The NAD also recommended T-Mobile stop using demonstrations that implied other carriers’ 5G coverage footprint was as small as a city bench. The NAD also recommended T-Mobile stop comparing coverage to Verizon’s in the “Rock Stadium in Miami shortly before the Super Bowl and the related implied claim that T-Mobile’s current 5G network consistently provides no signal loss, decrease in signal strength, or reversion to 4G LTE service”

    This is just the latest spat between the carriers, as each tries to check the others’ advertising. The NAD recently ruled against Verizon, and the BBB’s National Advertising Review Board (NARB) upheld an unfavorable NAD ruling against AT&T. T-Mobile has said it will appeal the recommendation. We will provide an update once the NARB rules.

  • Verizon 5G Brings the Indy 500 to Fans’ Homes

    Verizon 5G Brings the Indy 500 to Fans’ Homes

    The coronavirus pandemic may be keeping people at home, but Verizon is bringing the Indy 500 right to them.

    Verizon, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and NBC Sports have teamed up to provide a front-row experience to fans. A high-definition, 360-degree camera will be placed in the infield and take advantage of Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband service, as well as augmented reality (AR).

    In addition to being streamed via Verizon’s BlueJeans platform, AR will allow fans to watch the race on their smartphones, choosing the perspective that best suits them. They will even be able to tour the garages and see the drivers.

    “Thanks to Verizon, fans around the globe will be given unprecedented digital access to the biggest personalities and the most exciting behind-the-scenes action of this year’s Indianapolis 500,” said Jonathan Gibson, Executive Vice President, Penske Corporation. “From 5G powered Race Day footage to a public drivers meeting on an innovative platform like BlueJeans, we’re excited to team up with Verizon for an epic Race Weekend.”

    This is just the latest example of what can be accomplished when combining 5G with other innovative technologies, such as AR.

  • Verizon Bundles Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, Talks Nationwide 5G

    Verizon Bundles Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, Talks Nationwide 5G

    Verizon has significantly upgraded its Disney+ bundle, including both Hulu and ESPN+ for select plans.

    Verizon made headlines when it bundled a year of Disney’s new Disney+ streaming service for upper tier plans. The company is now expanding that to include the ad-supported Hulu plan, as well as ESPN+.

    “Our new Mix & Match plans make the choice clearer than ever: customers get the best network and the best value with Verizon,” said Frank Boulben, SVP Marketing and Products of Verizon Consumer Group. “We led the industry by giving customers Disney+ on us. Now we’re adding The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, for more entertainment choices that appeal to a variety of interests. We can’t wait to see what customers choose to suit their needs.”

    “The addition of The Disney Bundle to our agreement with Verizon reinforces our commitment to providing their subscribers with access to high-quality entertainment from Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+,” said Sean Breen, EVP, Platform Distribution, The Walt Disney Company. “We are always looking for the most advantageous ways for consumers to experience our content and we are pleased to work with Verizon so that they can provide their customers with these appealing new offers.”

    Verizon also took the opportunity to speak, albeit briefly, about their upcoming nationwide 5G network. According to the company, all of its new Mix & Match plans will support nationwide 5G, which it says is coming this year—although there were no dates given.

    Verizon is currently the only one of the three major carriers to not have a nationwide 5G network. T-Mobile is currently in the lead, in terms of coverage, with AT&T in second place. In contrast, Verizon opted early on to focus almost exclusively on the high-band mmWave variety of 5G. This flavor is exceptionally fast, but offers limited range and poor building penetration. As a result, it is only suitable for cities and densely populated areas where base stations can be installed every couple of hundred meters.

    At the root of the problem is Verizon’s lack of available low and mid-band spectrum. T-Mobile used its 600 MHz spectrum for its nationwide network, while AT&T used its 850 MHz spectrum. Verizon’s 700 MHz spectrum is tied up with its 4G LTE network. As a result, the company has been looking at Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) to share it’s low-band spectrum between LTE and 5G networks, using DSS to switch back and forth depending on what type of device is currently accessing the tower. Unfortunately, while a good idea on paper, DSS has faced its fair share of criticism and issues.

    With Verizon so far behind in the 5G race, one can’t help but wonder if its increased bundling is an effort to add value for its customers, and keep them from defecting, while it plays catchup.

  • Verizon Introduces Next Generation Location Service

    Verizon Introduces Next Generation Location Service

    Verizon has introduced the next generation location service, featuring Hyper Precise Location using Real Time Kinematics (RTK).

    GPS has become one of the most important tools in modern times, used by civilians, governments and militaries worldwide. While GPS access used to require dedicated devices, such as those by TomTom, modern cell phones have largely taken over the consumer market. Compared to cell phones, however, dedicated devices are often more accurate, despite only providing three to nine meter accuracy.

    Verizon’s announcement, however, ushers in a significant evolution of GPS, leapfrogging the accuracy provided by traditional devices. The company deployed RTK stations nationwide to provide IoT devices with pinpoint accuracy.

    “We are scaling RTK to enable mobile location accuracy to within a few centimeters, transforming what is currently possible when it comes to location-enabled services and new IoT solutions coming onto the market,” said Nicola Palmer, Chief Product Development Officer for Verizon. “Continued growth in the IoT environment means billions of devices in fields where precision location services are becoming more critical, such as vehicle automation, unmanned aerial vehicles, precision agriculture technology, infrastructure monitoring, asset tracking, and high value shipping.”

    Verizon’s new RTK network will have far-reaching implications on multiple industries, and will help the company continue to play a dominant role in the wireless industry.

  • Verizon Launches 5G Ultra Wideband in San Jose

    Verizon Launches 5G Ultra Wideband in San Jose

    Verizon has added another city to its 5G map, rolling out 5G Ultra Wideband in parts of San Jose.

    Verizon has been working to expand its 5G coverage, although its coverage still lags far behind AT&T and T-Mobile. This is largely as a result of the frequency Verizon is using.

    Unlike its competitors, who have rolled out low-band nationwide 5G networks, Verizon is currently focusing on the high-band flavor of 5G. While it offers the fastest speeds, it has exceptionally short range and building penetration. As a result, even in the cities Verizon offers 5G Ultra Wideband, it usually only offers it in parts of those cities.

    Nonetheless, San Jose is the latest city to be added to the list.

    “5G Ultra Wideband service will be concentrated in parts of Downtown San Jose, Little Saigon, Little Italy, West San Jose, North San Jose in the technology corridor, and South San Jose near landmarks such as Japanese Friendship Garden, Guadalupe River Park, Arena Green East, and outside of the CEFCU Stadium & Excite Ballpark,” says the company’s announcement.

  • T-Mobile Passes AT&T to Become Nation’s Second-Largest Carrier

    T-Mobile Passes AT&T to Become Nation’s Second-Largest Carrier

    Following its merger with Sprint and a strong second quarter, T-Mobile has passed AT&T to become the nation’s second-largest wireless carrier.

    T-Mobile closed its merger with Sprint on April 1 and has been chalking up one milestone after another. It’s worked hard to integrate Sprint’s spectrum into its own network, rolled out mid-band 5G in major cities and unveiled the world’s first nationwide standalone 5G network.

    With its second quarter report, T-Mobile has added some 1,245,000 total net additions, including 1,112,000 postpaid net additions. This represents the 22nd consecutive quarter where T-Mobile has led the industry in net custom additions.

    Even more impressive, T-Mobile has managed to overtake AT&T as the second-largest wireless carrier in the US.

    “Surpassing AT&T to become #2 was a huge milestone to kick off Q2, but that was only the beginning! In our first quarter as a combined company, T-Mobile led the industry in total branded customer adds – even in a challenging environment – and there is no doubt that we are THE leading growth company in wireless,” said Mike Sievert, T-Mobile CEO. “Now we’re setting our sights on #1 – in customer choice and customers’ hearts – and we’ll get there by doing ONLY what the Un-carrier can do: offering customers the most advanced 5G network AND the best value while continuing to make big moves that fix customer pain points and disrupt this industry. I’m excited about what’s to come in this new T-Mobile era – we’re just getting started!”

    This is a major milestone for a company that, just a few years ago, was the fourth largest carrier in the US.

  • T-Mobile Hits Major Milestone: First Nationwide Standalone 5G Network

    T-Mobile Hits Major Milestone: First Nationwide Standalone 5G Network

    After teasing a major network announcement Monday, T-Mobile has announced a world first: a standalone nationwide 5G network.

    The first 5G implementations have been built on non-standalone technology. That means the backbone of the network is based on 4G LTE tech. The benefit is that compatible devices can connect to LTE or 5G simultaneously. This provides faster performance than traditional 4G networks, especially when it comes to data speeds. A true standalone 5G network, where all components are based on 5G tech, offers opportunities that can’t be achieved with a non-standalone network.

    The potential of standalone 5G makes T-Mobile’s milestone all that much more significant.

    “In the near-term, SA allows T-Mobile to unleash its entire 600 MHz footprint for 5G. With non-standalone network architecture (NSA), 600 MHz 5G is combined with mid-band LTE to access the core network, but without SA the 5G signal only goes as far as mid-band LTE,” says the company blog. “With today’s launch, 600 MHz 5G can go beyond the mid-band signal, covering hundreds of square miles from a single tower and going deeper into buildings than before. Thanks to T-Mobile’s ongoing 5G build, and by flipping the switch on SA, the Un-carrier has immediately increased its 5G footprint by 30 percent — now covering 1.3 million square miles in more than 7,500 cities and towns across the country.”

    According to T-Mobile, it’s 5G network is now two times larger than AT&T’s and 10,000 times bigger than Verizon’s.

  • Verizon the First US Wireless Company to Offer International 5G

    Verizon the First US Wireless Company to Offer International 5G

    Verizon has become the first US wireless carrier to strike an international 5G roaming deal.

    All three US carriers are racing to deploy 5G networks, and are eager to tout their milestones and advantages. T-Mobile has the widest 5G coverage, while Verizon’s 5G network has the fastest speeds. Verizon can now add another feather to its cap, being the first US wireless company to offer 5G international roaming—albeit in a single country.

    The company has inked a deal to offer 5G roaming service in South Korea. Verizon conducted tests using a dual frequency device that can access the company’s mmWave service in the US and Korea’s 3.5 GHz mid-band spectrum when roaming. Speeds in Korea averaged 252 Mbps down and 119 Mbps up. Despite the rather humble beginnings, Verizon promises more countries will soon be included in its international roaming agreements.

    “We are in the early phases of global roaming partnerships with other countries and will continue to look for strategic partnerships with international providers who, like Verizon, are leading the 5G evolution. This roaming service with South Korea will serve as a model as we engage with 5G providers in other countries to provide our customers who travel globally with more options,” said Kyle Malady, Chief Technology Officer.

  • T-Mobile and Sprint Officially Unified Under T-Mobile Brand

    T-Mobile and Sprint Officially Unified Under T-Mobile Brand

    Four months after completing a merger years in the making, T-Mobile has officially shut down the Sprint brand.

    T-Mobile and Sprint pursued a merger for several years before finally coming to an agreement and receiving FCC and DOJ approval. Despite federal backing, a coalition of states filed a lawsuit to block the merger. After a judge ruled in T-Mobile’s favor, the merger moved forward with T-Mobile quickly integrating Sprint’s spectrum into its own network.

    Now the company has officially retired the Sprint brand, unifying the two under the T-Mobile brand.

    ”Our team has been working night and day to combine our storefronts – and this is SO much more than just rebranding thousands of Sprint locations with a fresh coat of magenta paint,” writes CEO Mike Sievert. “This is about giving customers even MORE access to our expanded retail footprint, (one of the largest in the United States) and making it even easier and more convenient for them to safely drop in, chat with a Mobile Expert, make upgrades, get the latest deals, and reap the benefits from all that new T-Mobile has to offer! It was no small feat and is a testament to incredible teamwork all around the country. Today truly marks the beginning of a new era for T-Mobile, and for our customers.”

    Sievert also took the opportunity to tout the company’s 5G plans, especially in comparison to the competition.

    ”It all starts with our people and of course our integration work – with major milestones like this one marking our way – and then it really comes to life with our 5G network that will surpass anything that anyone (yes, including Verizon) will deliver to the market for years! (Spoiler alert: we have another important network milestone coming up really soon… because Neville and his team are truly firing on all cylinders to bring 5G to even more people in more places, so stay tuned!). Trust me, we are going to bring new and better connectivity options to everything from major metros and urban cities to small towns and rural America!”

    It remains to be seen what the network milestone is that Sievert is referring to. Given the amount of spectrum T-Mobile acquired with the merger, it’s a safe bet it’s probably something big.

  • U.S. Cellular Turns to Nokia For mmWave 5G Equipment

    U.S. Cellular Turns to Nokia For mmWave 5G Equipment

    U.S. Cellular is working with Nokia to acquire the equipment needed for its 5G rollout.

    U.S. Cellular is the fourth largest wireless carrier in the US. Unlike T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T, however, U.S. Cellular is a regional carrier. It currently operates in 23 states. Despite its regional status, the company is working to deploy mmWave 5G in its markets.

    mmWave is the fastest variety of 5G available, with speeds measured in gigabits. As such, it promises to be a revolutionary upgrade, upending what is normally possible with a cellular connection.

    U.S. Cellular is working with Nokia on its multi-year 5G deployment, with commercial availability beginning in 2021.

    “U.S. Cellular and Nokia are taking bold steps forward together in the realm of 5G modernization and connectivity,” said Mike Irizarry, CTO, U.S. Cellular. “With 5G mmWave technology from Nokia, we can provide our customers with the leading-edge capabilities of high performance, ultra-low latency 5G. By readying our network with these key foundational network elements, we can offer an even wider range of communications services that enhance our customers’ wireless experience.”

  • Ericsson Delivers First US Manufactured 5G Basestation to Verizon

    Ericsson Delivers First US Manufactured 5G Basestation to Verizon

    Verizon is the first company to receive Ericsson’s US manufactured, 5G commercial basestation.

    5G promises to be one of the most transformative networking upgrades in history. The fastest variety of 5G, mmWave, delivers speeds measured in gigabits rather than megabits. In addition, 5G latency is usually in the single digits. As a result, 5G holds potential to be a viable replacement for traditional types of internet access, such as DSL, cable or fiber.

    Despite the benefits of mmWave 5G, it has notoriously short range and even worse building penetration. In order to provide coverage, carriers must place basestations every couple of hundred meters, making basestations a high-demand component for 5G rollouts.

    Ericsson has been working to meet demand, including ramping up a smart factory in Texas to manufacture the equipment.

    “Ericsson’s smart factory is a cornerstone of our collaboration as we work together to bring 5G to our consumer, enterprise and public safety customers,” said Kyle Malady, Chief Technology Officer of Verizon. “Together these types of innovation will accelerate our 5G deployments, as we expand our 5G leadership in technology and continue to rapidly build the ecosystem with our partners.”

    “As the most advanced platform for innovation, 5G will enable a transformation across enterprises – as we’re now experiencing in our own smart factories,” said Fredrik Jejdling, Ericsson Executive Vice President and Head of Networks. “Automation and remote operations have become more important, and we’re working with our customers to make them available for the benefit of industries. From producing the first 5G base stations at our 5G USA Smart Factory earlier this year, we’ve made our first commercial delivery to Verizon. That’s just the beginning.”

    The US has been working to bring more high-tech manufacturing in-country in an effort to better insulate the tech industry from the kind of setbacks it suffered as a result of the pandemic. Ericsson’s announcement is another significant step in that direction.

  • Verizon CEO: We Are Building A Transformative 5G

    Verizon CEO: We Are Building A Transformative 5G

    “What’s important is that we are building a transformative 5G,” says Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg. “It will have the ultra-wideband that nobody else has with the highest speeds in the world on 5G. Then we are going to have 5G nationwide in the second half. We are also going to have the best 4G network. Our customers are going to feel how transformative our 5G is. It is not an incremental improvement from our 4G, it is transformative.”

    Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon, discusses their planned nationwide launch of their “transformative” Verizon 5G in the second half of 2020:

    We Are Building A Transformative 5G

    I’m really excited because we have so many launches coming in the second half of 2020. We are on-plan or ahead of all the things we have committed to. What’s important is that we are building a transformative 5G. It will have the ultra-wideband that nobody else has with the highest speeds in the world on 5G. Then we are going to have 5G nationwide in the second half. We are also going to have the best 4G network. Our customers are going to get a great opportunity here. 

    We will also have a high penetration with IoS (Apple) and the Verizon customer base. Of course, it is going to be more important even when Apple comes out with a 5G phone. We have a great network all the way to the ultra-wideband to 5G nationwide on top of having the best 4G network. Our customers are going to feel how transformative our 5G is. It is not an incremental improvement from our 4G, it is transformative. 

    Everyone Wants To Beat Us But We Will Not Let Them

    We are well-positioned in terms of the competitive landscape. We have worked on our network for three years now to put us in the best position for 5G now. We also have worked on our mix and match that are customers have asked for. In this quarter, we had a record uptake on our premium unlimited. Our customers are moving up the ladder to be part of our services. 

    Ronan Dunne, who runs the Verizon Consumer Group has a really good plan on how we are going to compete. This is nothing new for us. We have been leading this market for a long time and of course, everyone wants to beat us. We will not let them beat us. We will just execute on the plans we have.

    Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg: We Are Building A Transformative 5G
  • FCC Opens Auction for Mid-Band 5G Spectrum

    FCC Opens Auction for Mid-Band 5G Spectrum

    The FCC has started its auction for 3.5 GHz mid-band spectrum for 5G.

    Many experts consider mid-band spectrum to be the sweet spot for 5G, offering the best compromise between speed and building penetration. Many international carriers have focused primarily on mid-band spectrum as they have rolled out their own 5G networks.

    In the US, however, carriers’ efforts have largely focused on the low and high-band (mmWave) varieties. All three carriers have deployed some mmWave offerings in cities, but mmWave requires repeaters and base stations every couple hundred meters and has very poor penetration. These factors mean it will likely never be used as a nationwide option.

    As a result, T-Mobile and AT&T have both rolled out low-band networks to provide nationwide 5G coverage. Low-band, while offering excellent range and penetration, is only marginally faster than 4G. Verizon, on the other hand, does not have enough low-band spectrum to roll out a dedicated, nationwide 5G network and will have to rely on switching technology to allow 4G and 5G to be served from the same towers, using the same spectrum.

    T-Mobile currently is the only one of the three carriers that has a wealth of mid-band spectrum, thanks to its Sprint acquisition. T-Mobile’s spectrum is in the 2.5 GHz range, and should offer speeds in the 600 – 700Mbps range.

    The FCC is auctioning spectrum in the 3.55 to 3.65 GHz range, which should offer slightly higher speeds than T-Mobile’s mid-band, although slightly less range and penetration as well.

    “5G is critical to America’s global economic and technological leadership, and the start of the 3.5 GHz auction today is a key milestone in our work advancing this national priority,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

    It’s a safe bet this will be one of the most important spectrum auctions in recent years, with Verizon and AT&T eager to flesh out their 5G networks. It remains to be seen if T-Mobile will purchase some of the spectrum, or if they are content with the mid-band they already have.

  • T-Mobile Soon Will Require VoLTE Phones

    T-Mobile Soon Will Require VoLTE Phones

    T-Mobile will soon require all phones on its network to support 4G Voice over LTE (VoLTE) in an effort to free up spectrum.

    Some US carriers still support older protocols, such as 3G, despite how ubiquitous 4G has become. Supporting those older protocols, however, ties up valuable spectrum that can be used to enhance 4G coverage, as well as help with 5G rollouts.

    In an effort to free up some of that spectrum, T-Mobile plans on requiring all new phones activated on its network to support VoLTE by August 4. A document Android Police obtained also indicates that older devices will no longer work on the magenta carrier by January 2021.

    While T-Mobile did not confirm the dates listed in the document, they did give the following statement to Android Police:

    ”We’re making great progress building a truly transformative nationwide 5G network. As part of that, we will be phasing out some older technologies over time to free up even more capacity for LTE and 5G. In preparation for that and to give customers the best experience, those activating new lines at T-Mobile will need a VoLTE capable device, which is all we’ve offered for years now and represents the overwhelming majority of devices on the network.”

    Verizon and AT&T are both taking similar measures to retire their older networks. In the race to 5G, spectrum is the most valuable commodity, and retiring older technologies will help the carriers and their customers move forward.

  • AT&T Joins T-Mobile In Offering Nationwide 5G

    AT&T Joins T-Mobile In Offering Nationwide 5G

    AT&T became the second of the nationwide carriers to offer nationwide 5G, joining T-Mobile.

    AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have been rolling out 5G across the nation. T-Mobile was the first to roll out nationwide 5G, using their 600 MHz, low-band spectrum. Low-band 5G offers marginally faster speeds than 4G, but excellent range and building penetration. Verizon has been focusing on high-band mmWave 5G. This variety is the fastest, but is only suitable for cities and densely populated areas because of its short range and poor penetration.

    While T-Mobile and AT&T are also rolling out mmWave in cities, both companies have been focusing on low-band 5G deployments, covering far more of the population.

    “Just as our lives have shifted in the past few months, so has our expectation of wireless technology,” said Jeff McElfresh, CEO of AT&T Communications. “With AT&T 5G reaching nationwide, our network is beginning the journey to transform connectivity as we know it by setting a new bar of breathtaking experiences and improved efficiency. Businesses, developers and consumers are already tapping into 5G’s potential and we’re thrilled for customers across the U.S. to experience it for themselves. It’s an exciting time in technology.”

    AT&T’s announcement will only increase pressure on Verizon, the one company that doesn’t have enough low-band spectrum to roll out a standalone, nationwide 5G network. Instead, Verizon is planning to use dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) to share the same spectrum between 4G and 5G. In the meantime, a recent report by OpenSignal showed that Verizon’s 5G network is only available 0.4% of the time.

    AT&T’s announcement is good news for its customers, and will help ensure the carrier can meet demand as 5G gains widespread adoption.

  • T-Mobile Marks End of Sprint Brand With Competitive Pricing

    T-Mobile Marks End of Sprint Brand With Competitive Pricing

    T-Mobile has unveiled a competitive, four-line plan to help mark the retirement of the Sprint brand.

    Following its acquisition of the number four carrier, T-Mobile has wasted no time integrating Sprint. Its first steps were to use Sprint’s mid-band spectrum to roll out 5G in various markets, before shutting down Sprint’s standalone 5G network altogether.

    T-Mobile had previously announced it would be unifying the two brands and phasing Sprint out on August 2. As part of the process, the magenta carrier has announced a competitive plan that offers four lines for only $25 each.

    “Starting this Friday and available only for a limited time this summer, get four lines of unlimited data for just $25 each/month or get four 5G phones included for just $5 more each/month, and all with 5G access included. Yep, that’s just $25 a line plus tax with AutoPay for your family of four — or small business — to tap into the first and ONLY nationwide 5G network.”

    The company was quick to point out that Verizon’s most competitive comparable plan will cost roughly $1,000 more per year. The timing of the announcement is likely designed to keep Sprint customers from looking elsewhere.

    One of the concerns regulators had with T-Mobile and Sprint’s merger was the possibility of T-Mobile raising prices once the deal was completed. If this latest deal is any indication, however, it appears T-Mobile is making good on its promise to use its newfound scale to be more competitive than ever.

  • BBB Checks Verizon On Misleading 5G Claims

    BBB Checks Verizon On Misleading 5G Claims

    The BBB’s National Advertising Division (NAD) has called Verizon out for ads that make misleading claims about its 5G coverage and speed.

    Verizon has been rolling out its 5G network, focusing specifically on the high-band mmWave variety. mmWave has the fastest speeds, measured in gigabits. Unfortunately, it also has the worst range and penetration, requiring base stations or repeaters every couple hundred meters. As a result, mmWave is only suitable for heavily populated areas.

    Despite these limitations, Verizon’s commercials might lead a person to believe its network is far more widely available than it really is. Not only is it only available in select cities, but Verizon’s 5G is only available in certain parts of those select cities. That hasn’t stopped Verizon from saying “people from midtown Manhattan to downtown Denver can experience what your 5G can deliver.”

    Similarly, Verizon’s advertising makes it seems as though the fastest speeds are available everywhere its 5G network is accessible. Ultimately, the NAD found that Verizon’s message was unclear and could cause consumers to draw the wrong conclusions.

    “NAD noted that to the extent Verizon wishes to promote the current availability and performance of its 5G network to consumers across the nation – including people who live in cities and towns across the country that may not receive Verizon 5G coverage for months, if not years – Verizon should ensure that its advertising clearly and conspicuously communicates to consumers the relevant, material limitations of its current network.”

    Verizon said that, while it doesn’t agree with the NAD’s recommendation, it will abide by it and adjust its advertising accordingly.

  • T-Mobile Takes On Robocalls, Unveils Scam Shield

    T-Mobile Takes On Robocalls, Unveils Scam Shield

    T-Mobile has unveiled Scam Shield as part of its latest Un-carrier Move, taking on robocalls and scams.

    YouMail, one of the leading robocall blockers, estimates there were some 3.3 billion robocalls made in the US in June 2020, averaging 10 calls per person. Recent legislation has made an effort to address the problem, with the FCC and the Supreme Court both weighing in on the matter.

    T-Mobile’s new Scam Shield aims to go even further, offering an array of tools to help protect users. These include Scam ID and Blocking where scam calls are flagged, and the user is given the option to block them permanently. Enhanced Caller ID will tell the user if the number is verified and from a person or business. T-Mobile is also giving customers a free second number they can use to keep their main number more private, as well as a free number change for individuals whose numbers are overrun. The company is also offering free monitoring and alerts from McAfee for 12 months.

    Significantly, this is the first major Un-carrier announcement since T-Mobile and Sprint’s merger, and this one is aimed at all of the company’s customers.

    “Now that Sprint is a part of T-Mobile, we can take on even bigger problems, so today, we’re taking on one of the biggest pain points in wireless — scams and unwanted robocalls,” said Mike Sievert, CEO at T-Mobile. “Scam Shield has never been more needed than it is right now. Scammers see COVID-19 as an opportunity to take advantage of Americans at their most vulnerable. When we saw that happening, we knew we had to take bold, swift action. With Scam Shield, T-Mobile customers get fewer scam calls, period … and it’s all because of our advanced network.”

    Not surprisingly, T-Mobile used the opportunity to call out its competitors, some of whom charge for similar features.

    “As an industry, we have to be better. Today, Verizon and AT&T are profiting off consumer fears. They’re charging to protect you from the very scams and robocalls their network brings you. It’s wrong, and it’s got to stop,” added Sievert. “We can be better, and at T-Mobile, we will continue righting the wrongs of this industry. Today, I’m challenging the Carriers to get off their assets, stop profiting from fear and do the right thing, because everyone needs and deserves protection now, more than ever.”

    Like many of the company’s previous Un-carrier moves, this one is sure to be a hit with customers and continue to put pressure on Verizon and AT&T.

  • Verizon Hits the Ground Running With Zoom Competitor BlueJeans

    Verizon Hits the Ground Running With Zoom Competitor BlueJeans

    Verizon has announced a slew of new features for BlueJeans, its videoconferencing Zoom competitor.

    Verizon announced a deal to purchase BlueJeans in April, as the coronavirus pandemic was gaining momentum. Zoom had established itself as the go-to option for remote work and education, as well as for individuals to stay in touch with friends and family. Verizon saw an opportunity to snap up one of Zoom’s competitors in the hopes of combining BlueJeans with the company’s Verizon Business offerings.

    Verizon has now announced some major new features for BlueJeans, as well as significant partner integrations. The platform now integrates with Salesforce, using hands-free lead tracking to capture attendee data. BlueJeans can also use Splash to help streamline event promotions, as well as follow-ups. Similarly, BlueJeans can use TicketSocket for event monetization.

    Even more significant, BlueJeans has increased the size limit of virtual events, supporting up to 150 presenters and 50,000 attendees. The platform previously only supported 15,000 attendees. In addition, BlueJeans will support seamless integration with YouTube Live. While the platform already supported Facebook Live, adding YouTube Live will greatly increase the potential reach of a live event. Similarly, better support for Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) in BlueJeans Events will make it easier to stream to additional social media platforms.

    “When COVID hit, the video industry was ready,” said David Maldow, Founder, Let’s Do Video. “Changes in culture and technology were already driving organizations to embrace live streaming prior to the pandemic, but now that traditionally in-person events are being forced to go virtual, we’re really seeing the benefits of platforms like BlueJeans Events. With these latest updates, BlueJeans continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible when it comes to hosting large-scale, interactive experiences online that exceed audience expectations while providing moderators peace of mind.”

    It seems Verizon is moving full-speed-ahead with BlueJeans, and this will make hosting events post-pandemic a little easier.

  • Verizon Chooses Google Cloud Contact Center AI

    Verizon Chooses Google Cloud Contact Center AI

    Google Cloud has scored a major win as Verizon has chosen its Contact Center AI to help power its customer service experience.

    Google has developed a reputation as being one of the most AI and machine learning-friendly cloud solutions. This latest deal lends credence to that, as Verizon is looking to use Google’s conversational language AI to help speed up wait times and improve customer service.

    Verizon plans to deploy the technology to assist both customers and live agents. For customers, the conversational AI will help them get to the right agent faster, without having to go through menu prompts. They’ll be able to simply speak or type their request and the AI will route them to the agent or department that can best assist. For the live agents, the AI will contribute by retrieving documentation and other materials that can help the agent better assist the customer.

    “Verizon’s commitment to innovation extends to all aspects of the customer experience,” said Shankar Arumugavelu, global CIO & SVP, Verizon. “These customer service enhancements, powered by the Verizon collaboration with Google Cloud, offer a faster and more personalized digital experience for our customers while empowering our customer support agents to provide a higher level of service.”

    “We’re proud to work with Verizon to help enable its digital transformation strategy,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. “By helping Verizon reimagine the customer experience through our AI and ML expertise, we can create an experience that not only delights consumers, but also helps differentiate Verizon in the market.”

    This is a big win for Verizon’s customers and Google Cloud, and will help Google further its reputation in the AI field.

  • T-Mobile Winning 5G Coverage War—By a Wide Margin

    T-Mobile Winning 5G Coverage War—By a Wide Margin

    Ookla has released a report on the status of 5G in the US, and it shows T-Mobile leading by a wide margin when it comes to coverage.

    According to the report, and similar to a report by Opensignal, Verizon had the fastest 5G speeds, coming in at roughly 10 times the speed of the next carrier. In terms of coverage, however, T-Mobile enjoys an equally impressive lead.

    Ookla looked at two different ways of calculating how many 5G sites each carrier had. The first looked at the Ookla 5G Map, as of July 8, and found there were 5,165 commercial 5G deployments. T-Mobile accounted for 5,008, AT&T 355 and Verizon a mere 39.

    In the second method, Ookla looked at cities where multiple devices running the company’s Speedtest app identified the presence of 5G. Using that method, T-Mobile led with 6,199 deployments, AT&T had 1,571 and Verizon a mere 196. As Ookla points out, some of those deployments may not be commercially available.

    T-Mobile recently shut down Sprint’s 5G to repurpose the spectrum for its own network. It appears buying Sprint and gaining the additional spectrum is already paying off, giving T-Mobile a commanding lead in the 5G race.