Tag: FiOS

Verizon Gives Extra 15GB High-Speed Data to Customers

Verizon has announced several measures to assist individuals impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, including providing customers an additional 15GB of data.

Depending on the type of plan a customer has, the data will be added to their plan in different ways. Postpaid customers with unlimited data will see the 15GB 4G LTE added to their hotspot data. For prepaid customers, and postpaid customers with finite data plans, the 15GB will be added to their standard data. Jetpack plans will also see the 15GB added to their standard data.

According to Verizon, the data will be added to plans from March 25 to April 30. The data will be added automatically and not require any action on the part of customers.

“We understand the hardships that many of our customers are facing, and we’re doing our part to ensure they have broadband internet connectivity during this unprecedented time,” said Ronan Dunne, CEO Verizon Consumer Group. “With so many Americans working and learning remotely from home, having access to reliable and affordable internet is more important than ever before.

“While more than half of our wireless customer base is on an unlimited data plan, including all of our Fios and DSL broadband internet customers, we recognize there are many who may need additional connectivity during these trying times,” Ronan added. “We’re here for you and we’ll make sure you have what you need to stay connected.”

March 23, 2020
Verizon Doubles FiOS Speeds to 300 Mbps

Verizon today announced that next month it will double the speeds for its FiOS broadband service. The company will be introducing a 300 Mbps connection as its highest-tier option. As Ars Technica points out, this is faster than most single-band routers. A tier with 75 Mbps access will also be introduced.

Verizon said the new speed tiers, which will be offered in both stand-alone and bundled plans, were designed to address the growing prominence of bandwidth-intensive applications. The company states the new speeds will be able to support customers who watch more streaming video on multiple devices throughout their households.

“The ways we used the Internet and watched TV over the past 10 to 15 years have dramatically shifted,” said Bob Mudge, president of Verizon’s consumer and mass market business. “With the emergence of smartphones, smart TVs, Blu-ray players, tablets and gaming consoles that also serve as over-the-top devices, consumers need more bandwidth to receive the highest-quality experience.”

Verizon claims their lower-tier plans are fine for households of one or two people who use the internet for basic services such as email and web browsing. The highest-tier plans are for households of five or more internet users who stream HD movies, download or upload videos, and play multiplayer video games. The company claims FiOS, which is an all-fiber optic network, offers better reliability than cable-company provided broadband.

“Our top FiOS speed will be twice as fast as anything America has ever seen,” said Mike Ritter, chief marketing officer for Verizon’s consumer and mass market business unit. “High-speed Internet no longer is just for techies, as more than half of our residential consumers already use at least a 20 Mbps Internet connection. Streaming online video on an all-fiber-optic connection providing faster speeds is better and more reliable during peak Internet usage hours.”

These amazingly high speeds might seem too good to be true, and for most Americans they are. Verizon FiOS service is available in only a handful of larger cities across the U.S. For customers lucky enough to have access to FiOS, though, their broadband options just got a whole lot faster.

May 30, 2012
Verizon to Raise FiOS Rates

It was recently reported that Verizon will be ending tiered data plans, and to further upset its customer base, it will likewise be raising it’s FiOS bundled internet access, telephone and television service rates. Verizon CFO Fran Shammo states, “Look, we believe that it is a superior product in the marketplace.” Verizon spent $23 billion expanding its FiOS network, and has likewise been expanding its 4G LTE network.

As for the wireless data plans, customers who had already been paying for the $30 a month unlimited plans were able to maintain this contract, though now Verizon plans to migrate all of the older, ‘grandfathered’ data plans to its new 4G LTE network within the year. Shammo states, “Everyone will be on data share,” and old customers will have to buy into the provider’s new tiered plans. No word on how much this will cost.

Essentially, Verizon is trying to offset the costs of the expansion of its infrastructure. Shammo adds, “We have to do a better job in discipline of price increases and I think that you’ll see us do some price increases here over the next two quarters to offset the content increase and that will also contribute more profitability to the bottom line.” Shammo also banks on good Consumer Reports of FiOS, adding, “I think you’re seeing a little bit of pullback on those promotional-type items and the aggressiveness that we have in the marketplace. And look, I mean given the Consumer Reports article and the Consumer Index article, I think we can be less aggressive. Word-of-mouth is the best advertising we can get.”

No word on how much the increase in FiOS rates will be.

May 21, 2012
Verizon’s Push Pays Off Big Time!

Today Verizon Wireless announced that they have added 1.5 million new customers over the last quarter and that smartphones are on the rise big time! Last quart only 39% of users were on smartphones, now over 44% of their total wireless subscribers are using them. This is no doubt due to the great incentives Verizon sponsors in order to attract new users. Smart phones are selling like mad and the trend is expected to continue.

In fact, the company is experiencing their biggest sales growth in three years. To keep the momentum rolling they have turned to the iPhone. Rumors have been confirmed that Verizon will begin to offer the sought after Apple phone in early February. Analysts expect Verizon to sell roughly 13 million iPhones this year. The iPhone will be a welcome addition for Verizon’s already popular smartphone line, which feature Google’s Android operating system.

But the wireless segment is not the only area that experienced growth in this last quarter. Their wireline industry also grew by adding more than 200,000 new FiOS internet user’s and almost 200,000 new FiOS video connection customers.

While it isn’t clear how the iPhone will impact the bottom line at Verizon, it appears they are heading in the right direction again this year.

January 24, 2012
iPad Gets Verizon FiOS Mobile App

Verizon announced today that it is extending its free FiOS mobile app to the iPad. With this, FiOS customers with iPads can remotely control their DVRs, and use the iPad as a TV remote control.

"Verizon is pushing the boundaries of TV with innovative technology that continues to spur the industry’s evolution," said Eric Bruno, vice president of product management for Verizon. "We’re giving customers more control over their TV entertainment whenever and wherever they want it. Extending our FiOS Mobile app to customers using iPads gives more subscribers more ways to conveniently manage their FiOS TV services."

The app will automatically personalize options based on the tablet connected to the set-top box, with customized favorites and other preferences. Verizon says it has virtually the same functionality as the standard FiOS TV remote.

"Customers can change channels; manage parental controls; and pause, rewind and fast forward or record a TV show," the company explains. "Subscribers can also click on the video-on-demand (VOD) button and browse and search on-demand titles; or click on the FiOS TV button and jump to live TV when watching recorded programs."

The feature is available on over 40 mobile devices including Android, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

Verizon says more features will come to the app soon.

December 21, 2010