We'd heard talk long, long ago of Verizon hooking up with VMware for a virtual workspace on its smartphones, and we can at last say that it's more than just chatter. Starting today, Verizon's business customers can buy VMware's Horizon Mobile for their Android devices. The solution gives corporate phones a common desktop with encrypted apps, data and policies that can't be touched from the device's regular environment. While this puts the Verizon-VMware partnership in competition with the likes of BlackBerry Secure Work Space and Samsung Knox, it won't be a perfect match for those services: the two companies are asking $125 per person for Horizon Mobile, and the initial device support is oddly limited to the LG Intuition and Motorola Droid RAZR M (neither is pictured here). Nonetheless, the deal might be a good fit for companies that would rather tie their phones to a single carrier than any one hardware manufacturer.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google, Verizon, LG

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Source: VMware

Now out of beta, Redbox Instant is slowly increasing the number of devices it supports and has now announced its launch on LG's Smart TV platform (TVs only, not Blu-ray players, for now). The hybrid disc / video on-demand / subscription streaming movie service has continued to push updates to its apps on Android and iOS since their debut, and has been posting promotions of its "disc + digital" approach. Its digital catalog is still more limited than competition like Netflix or Amazon Prime, but the disc aspect is an interesting hook, allowing users to pick up a brand new flick at the kiosk and stream catalog fare, all under one package. If you're in the beta then let us know how things are progressing in the comments, and if you're not then you can get a free month trial at the link below.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG

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Via: Redbox Instant (Twitter)

Source: Redbox Instant

Tempted to just send a quick SMS saying you're on the road to grab the milk? Don't -- or your recipient could receive a much more dire message, says a consortium of carriers including AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile. Along with more than 200 other organizations including the DOT, NHTSA and NTSB, the carriers have joined AT&T's "It Can Wait" campaign, which began in March 2010. The message will feature prominently at carrier stores, Best Buy, Goodyear and RadioShack locations, while insurer USAA is bringing the texting-while-driving simulator we saw earlier (in the video after the break) to more locations. In addition, HTC, Pantech and Samsung will preload AT&T's DriveMode app (on select devices from the carrier) which impedes the practice, and you'll soon notice ads warning against it across social media and Clear Channel broadcasters. In case none of that drives the point home, remember that piloting a two-ton vehicle with any distractions is a ridiculously bad idea -- let alone one that takes your eyes completely off the road.

Filed under: Cellphones, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile

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We've gotten word of a new BlackBerry smartphone today, and we now also have some news about familiar one. Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have all confirmed that they'll soon be carrying the BlackBerry Q10, although some are being more specific with details than others. Verizon is saying that it will be available sometime in June (it has an exclusive on the white version), while Sprint will only go as far as to say "late summer," with neither offering a price. T-Mobile will also be rolling out the phone sometime in June, and has confirmed that it will cost $99.99 down with its new plan structure, or $579.99 if you want to buy it outright. All this follows business registation for the device, which began last month. We've yet to hear anything more from AT&T, but it has already committed to the device and will presumably be launching it in roughly the same timeframe as well.

Update: T-Mobile has reached out to let us know that while general T-Mobile customers have to wait until June, business customers can order the Q10 today, with delivery typically expected within a week.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, Blackberry, T-Mobile

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Source: Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile

When Nokia launched the Verizon-friendly Lumia 928 with some imaging improvements, it looked as if GSM users would have to wait for the company's next flagship to catch up. If those people couldn't wait for the mythical "proper" PureView Lumia, then they can grab the Lumia 925 to keep 'em going in the meantime. The company has taken the 920, put it on a diet, swapped out the polycarbonate for aluminium and tweaked the camera, while still retaining everything that made the handset our reader's choice for 2012. If you're having trouble telling the difference, however, then head past the break for our handy comparison table.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Nokia

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You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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The Lumia 928 isn't the first of Nokia's Windows Phone 8 handsets to hit Verizon -- that distinction goes to the 822 -- but for all intents and purposes, it's the first true flagship Lumia to bear Big Red's branding. From the jump, you'll note that Nokia's bent somewhat to Verizon's heavy hand, customizing the 928 in a way that shucks the smooth polycarbonate unibody of the 920 for something more hard-edged and angular, yet still plastic. So, what's so new about this Lumia? Apart from its Xenon flash, nothing at all really. It bears the same 4.5-inch, 1,280 x 768 PureMotion HD+ display (now, OLED), 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor with 1GB RAM, 2,000 mAh battery, integrated wireless charging, NFC and 1.2-megapixel front-facing / 8.7-megapixel rear camera setup as the Lumia 920. Naturally, the 928's made to run on Verizon's network, so you'll find support for LTE / CDMA, but there are also radios for HSPA+ making it "global ready." We'll have a review for this deviant Lumia coming shortly, but in the meantime follow along for our first impressions.

Gallery: Nokia Lumia 928 for Verizon hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Nokia, Verizon

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Disappoined that Verizon wasn't going to offer its variant of the Galaxy S 4 until May 30th? You're in for an unexpected treat: Big Red has just moved up the launch by a full week, to May 23rd. The $200 contract price remains the same, but we won't complain much when Samsung's quad-core flagship should now arrive ahead of the long weekend. It looks like those supply issues weren't quite so bad as some thought.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Verizon

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Source: Verizon

If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought hints of changes to the Droid RAZR lineup, a peek at Sense with Android 4.2 and the arrival of the Lumia 520 to Canada. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of May 6th, 2013.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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If you've heard enough of Nokia's near future plans for its Lumia range, sorry -- there's more. While the company's official event isn't until next Tuesday in London, that hasn't stopped it from announcing the Lumia 928 on Verizon. Again. Nokia's latest installment supplants the Lumia 822 and HTC's 8X for the US carrier, matching the camera specifications (Carl Zeiss f/2.0 lens, 8.7-megapixel sensor) we saw in the Lumia 920 and pairing it all with a potent xenon flash. There's also high-amp mics and a 4.5-inch OLED (1,280 x 768) display protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass. Inside, you'll find a capable 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 2,000mAH battery and 32GB of storage for all those low-blur photos. As for the phone itself, compared to the bright (admittedly chunky) looks of its predecessor, we're looking at a toned-down refresh, in black and white options, with a more squared design aiming to complement those Windows Phone Live Tiles.

Contactless charging and NFC are both built in, as are all those extra Nokia software additions, including Here maps and Nokia Music. It'll launch in the US on May 16th, priced at $99.99 with a mail-in rebate, while you'll also pick up $25 of credit for Windows Phone apps and games if you decide to sign up. Nokia's got an officially sanctioned hands-on after the break -- expect to see our opinions on it next week.

Gallery: Nokia Lumia 928 for Verizon press shots

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia

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Source: Nokia Conversations, Verizon

So, print is the new digital. At least when it comes to Verizon's imminent -- and now surely fully acknowledged -- Lumia 928. The billboard spotted over the weekend enthused about the camera, but told us little else. This magazine spread spotted in Vanity Fair, however has a few more details. As hinted at, we can expect PureView goodness (though we're guessing a-la 920, rather than the 808), plus a Carl Zeiss lens and Nokia's proprietary OIS. As for the rest of the phone, well, that's still largely under wraps, we'll just have to wait until the next print run -- or not.

Update: The Nokia link in the advert is now live, at least enough to show an official image.

[Thanks Eric]

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia

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Source: Nokia

It's not uncommon for an as yet announced phone to pop up on Twitter, or via an insider leak. But a physical billboard? That takes some doing. If this image -- spotted out in the wild -- is to be believed, Nokia's Lumia 928 is as real as the day is long. The Verizon handset shown certainly fits the images we've already seen, and the low-light boast will stoke the coals of any Xenon or PureView rumors for sure. However, this spot is hardly Times Square, so until we see something a little more concrete, Lumia fans on Big Red will have to keep the faith with that 822.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia

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Source: My Nokia Blog

Alongside a bump up to Android 4.1.2, Verizon's Galaxy Note II update (which is apparently rolling out now) adds plenty of improvements and features. As well as fixing several bugs with its calendar and email apps, the refresh adds Multi Window support to some key players, including Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Kindle and Google Maps -- a feature that was there from the start on the global model. There's also a new notification panel editing menu within settings and Samsung's Smart Switch app to speed up migrating content from your old device to another, although whether you'd need that when you're updating your own Note II is a good question.

Another bullet-point caught our attention too. Tucked away at the end of the change log issued by Verizon is, would you believe it, the removal of one of its preloaded apps. Shopping app Zappos gets dropped during the update.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Verizon

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Source: Verizon

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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The Electronic Frontier Foundation has released its annual "Who Has Your Back?" report, ranking 18 companies by how well they protect user information from government eyes. Twitter and Sonic.net get high scores from the EFF, as they meet all six of the organization's privacy guidelines, which include requiring a warrant for sharing content and telling users about government data requests. On the other end of the spectrum are MySpace and Verizon, both of which score zero out of six stars. Meanwhile, Apple and AT&T get one gold star each, and Google, Dropbox and LinkedIn are tied for second place. You'll find the complete breakdown in the EFF 's comprehensive infographic (partially displayed above), and the full report is available via the source link.

Filed under: Internet, Apple, Google, Verizon, Facebook

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Via: Electronista

Source: EFF

Over six months ago, a joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon called Isis launched a trial of its nascent mobile payment service in Austin and Salt Lake City. Not only was its debut already delayed, we also haven't heard more than a peep from the company since. CEO Michael Abbott, who is the keynote speaker at ETA 2013 in New Orleans, has opened the discourse but still isn't giving many specific details on the future. When we asked him about his company's expansion plans, Abbott simply told us that "when [we're] ready, we'll start putting it out in different places and see where to go from there." In essence, he views progress in the mobile payments field as a constant evolution, which often involves taking smaller steps to accomplish a greater purpose. You can find the full quote below the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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Smartphone owners have no shortage of cloud-based safety nets, whether it's Google's services, iCloud or any number of file sync providers. Few of these come from the carrier, however, and Verizon is gambling that its now-deploying Verizon Cloud service will serve as a crutch for anyone replacing a phone on its network. The currently Android- and web-only release offers daily backups of the usual media libraries as well as call logs, contacts and messages. While that isn't special in itself, Verizon is also promising cross-platform safeguards: both an iOS app (available "soon") and future OS support should let customers fetch some of their data if they switch platforms. Just don't count on Verizon Cloud as an alternative to established rivals unless you're both loyal to Verizon and willing to spend. Users get a thin 500MB of space for free, and meaningful storage ranges from $3 per month for 25GB through to $10 for 125GB. Should there be little danger of leaving Big Red, though, Verizon's service and a matching Android app update are available today.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Mobile, Verizon

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Via: Verizon

Source: Verizon Cloud, Google Play

If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, a familiar smartphone leaked that's said to join the prepaid ranks at Verizon Wireless, AT&T swung back against the DOJ, and Rogers issued its quarterly earnings. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of April 22nd, 2013.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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Kyocera does a good line in rugged (and often unconventional) smartphones, although this pair of leaked handsets, apparently headed to Verizon (left) and US Cellular (right), both appear to cut a more typical profile. As is often the way with serial leak artist @evleaks, there's no full spec sheet to hand, although the US Cellular-bound XTRM appears to been given some bumper protection around the corners and will likely match that hardy name. Verizon will get the LTE-capable Elite, although we'll have to wait for either the carriers -- or Kyocera itself -- to let us in on all the other details.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Via: Phone Arena

Source: @evleaks (Twitter)

Wireless access in New York City's subway system has so far been limited, at best: two GSM carriers, one WiFi provider and six stations does not a full network make. Coverage is getting much wider, however, as Transit Wireless just flicked on access in 30 extra stations. While cellular service with this batch is still limited to AT&T and T-Mobile for now, it reaches a much wider swath of Manhattan that includes Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Natural History. Those on CDMA carriers also won't be left hanging for long -- both Sprint and Verizon have nearly finished making deals to join the project, with Sprint aiming for service later this year. Although the deployment still leaves big holes in carrier support and geographic reach, it's a big leap for travelers with an urge to stay online while underground.

[Image credit: Retromoderns, Flickr]

Update: Verizon now tells us that it's also aiming for service by the end of the year.

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Wireless, Networking, Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile

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Via: The Verge

Source: Governor Cuomo

Word that Verizon would like to buy out Vodafone's 45 percent share of Verizon Wireless is hardly new, but Reuters reports it may finally be financially ready to take that step. According to unnamed sources, it's hired bank and legal advisers to prepare the bid, raising $50 billion in bank financing plus $50 billion in its own shares. Friendly discussions are said to start "soon," but if Vodafone is not interested it could take its bid public. It's probably no coincidence that the news is leaking just before Verizon's board meets to discuss a buyout before its regular shareholders meeting, but there are some potential complications. One holdup has been a potential hefty tax bill, but the Verizon CFO has been quoted saying he thinks that can be avoided, giving it more flexibility based on the cash generated by the wireless business.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Verizon

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Source: Reuters

Stepping into a carrier's store can be like a visit to the candy shop for the gadget junkie, but once playtime is over and it's time to choose just one, the decision can get a bit overwhelming. You'll find Android phones that range in size from tiny to massive, Windows Phone handsets that cover the rainbow in colors and, of course, the ubiquitous iPhone, which has a price point to suit every need. There's also the latest BlackBerry, which melds a familiar name with a brand-new operating system.

Naturally, it's no easy task to sort through the wide number of options on the market today, and it's even more difficult to find the best of the best. That's where Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide comes in handy. Here, you'll find a very exclusive list of the smartphones that we confidently use and achingly desire. Regardless of your financial situation or platform preference, you're bound to find a stellar choice that's a great fit for your needs. So read on as we round up the very best smartphones of the season.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Google, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile

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You've already read our review and you're still convinced you need Samsung's latest Galaxy S smartphone as soon as humanly possible, eh? Well if you're on Verizon (or you'd like to be), the Galaxy S 4 goes up for pre-order starting tomorrow according to a tweet from Verizon's Twitter account. Of course, when you'll get it is another question altogether -- last we heard was "sometime in May," so take that as you will. May is pretty soon, right? In any case, you won't immediately be able to purchase the GS 4 anywhere: Sprint is reporting delays until some unknown date, while T-Mo-'s version isn't arriving until April 29. Meanwhile, AT&T is still planning for an April 25th launch for pre-order customers, and in-store on April 27th.

Update: Verizon PR rep Ken Muche has also confirmed on Twitter that the phone will launch on May 30th and go for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate on the usual two-year contract.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Mobile, Samsung, Verizon

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Source: Twitter - @VZWnews

As part of our tour through Verizon's Waltham, Mass.-based Innovation Center this week, we were able to see a brief demo of the Thinx 4G LTE video monitor -- a product that was briefly teased at CES, but we've heard precious little about since. Essentially, this is a rather sophisticated 1080p video monitor, designed for small businesses that would prefer that their monitors do more than just capture reels of archived footage. Thinx's solution throws in an admin panel and a smartphone app; users can install the camera and then define hot zones for the sensor to keep tabs on. If and when a specific event occurs (e.g. 50 individuals cross a virtual line), owners can be alerted via SMS -- and, of course, they can then view only the footage pertaining to said event with merely a click.

Those apps (available for iOS and Android) will allow owners to look in live at any time, with recorded video automatically stored on the included 4GB SD card, a personal NAS or a cloud storage facility like Dropbox. Better still, the control panel supports multiple cameras for those trying to cast eyes over an entire office complex, and there's room for a 12V battery that'll keep it humming along "for a few hours" should the power cut out. Tom Thomasson, vice president of marketing at Thinx, told us that the product is slated to go on sale in the US during the third quarter of this year, and it's one of "over 30" new products that Verizon will help launch during the 2013 / 2014 time frame.

Filed under: Cameras, Wireless, Mobile, Verizon

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Source: Thinx

2011 sure doesn't feel like that long ago, but it's evidently long enough for Verizon to realize that demand for innovation is booming in Silicon Valley. Not quite two years after the company cracked open the doors to its San Francisco-based Innovation Center, it's already looking to expand. During a briefing today at its other Innovation Center -- the one located just outside of Boston -- we were told that plans are underway to expand the SF facility. Presently, the Waltham, Mass. center is the vaster of the two, and it's Verizon's goal to stretch the California edition to (roughly) match the original location.

We were also told that the company has looked at a variety of other cities where potential Innovation Centers could be planted, and while "three to four" undisclosed metropolises are in play, the company wants to nail the execution of its first two before hastily expanding into new locales. According to Praveen Atreya, director of Verizon's Innovation Program, there's just too much involved in the incubation and launch process to not devote the proper amount of manpower to it. In other words, there's more to launching a product than just design and manufacturing; a lot of TLC goes on in order to make something have a successful shelf life.

Filed under: Cellphones, Networking, Mobile, Verizon

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