This week Verizon expanded home internet availability to several new rural areas inside the United States. Added to the mix were broadband Internet service with Verizon's 4G LTE network in TN/VA/KY, Springfield, MO, and Savannah, GA. This expanded system works with what Verizon describes as "easy self-setup" and unlimited data.
Google Stadia, the cloud-based game streaming service, requires a fast network to support the type of low-latency gameplay subscribers expect. This makes gaming over cellular networks questionable at best, but times are changing and mobile broadband speeds are quickly evolving. In its latest update, Google says that Stadia players can now stream their game over 4G and 5G networks, but only if they enable the experimental feature.
Internal communications at T-Mobile USA revealed this week show how customers will require VoLTE tech in their phone in the near future. T-Mobile USA is evolving to the newest in new mobile network and cell connectivity, and the oldest still-active tech is about to be retired. This information was revealed not long after AT&T sent out notification to some customers about a similar update and requirement for new phones.
This week AT&T started sending out emails about how users will need a new smartphone if they want to continue "receiving service." AT&T's message does not suggest that users will lose service instantly - but they DO suggest that some users will NEED to upgrade to a new phone if they plan on continuing to get phone calls by the time the countdown is done.
If foldable phones look and sound like luxuries few people would be able to get their hands on it's because that's exactly what they are. The combination of their price and fragility pretty much ensures that these will never be commonplace, at least in the foreseeable future. Samsung, which helped spur the foldable phone market in the first place, was expected to also push more affordable foldable phones as well. Unfortunately, now it seems that won't be the case this year as plans for what was believed to be the Galaxy Fold Lite 4G is reportedly being put on hold.
Both the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro are out in stores now, and between the two we've got a few important questions that need answering. Potential new users will decide between a pair of devices that are both high quality, and both cost hundreds of dollars. So what's the difference? And does it make more sense to just get last year's model instead, for a significantly lower price?
![Honestly the “free” iPhone 7 is still pretty great [UPDATE]](https://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/lit352353-1280x720.jpg)
If you're going in to a carrier like Verizon right now, looking for the least expensive way to have a smartphone for email and phone calls, they've got a few "free" choices. You'll end up signing up for a $50 (or thereabouts) per month plan, at minimum, for the service with the carrier, and you'll get a phone that'd normally cost a few hundred dollars outright. In late February, 2020, I opted to get the iPhone 7 because it's been a while since I owned an iPhone, and I figured it'd be a reliable piece of hardware.
The Huawei P40 Lite was announced by Huawei today in a countdown webpage for their main event: The Huawei P40 Pro. The Huawei P40 Lite will be released with a 6.4-inch 2310 x 1080 pixel LCD display with a circular punch hole for its front-facing 16MP, f/2.0 aperture camera. The Huawei P40 Lite includes a set of four cameras on its back: 48MP, 8MP, 2MP, and another 2MP. Each of these cameras will have a different and specific use - the 48MP sensor is the primary camera unit.
Today Verizon released a set of pre-order promotions for the Samsung Galaxy S20 collection. This includes the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G as well as the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, but NOT the non-plus, non-ultra Galaxy S20, because Verizon will not be selling a device like that - not until Q2.* Pre-orders for the Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra with Verizon start on Friday, February 21, at 12:01am ET.
Today we're using the Galaxy S20 as a key example in explaining 5G in the USA. We'll be exploring the two main varieties of what's considered 5G mobile data as well as the coverage you can get with carriers in the USA today - and in the near future. This article acts as guide for the most major roll-out of 5G data in the USA, here in the year 2020.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 5G release situation is a mess, of that you can be sure. It happened largely because of the strange way in which 5G is launching, with more than one sort of "5G" being legitimately tagged with the name, and Samsung switching the way it markets its hero phones, and different phones having different mobile data access... It's not a simple situation. So Verizon decided they won't launch their Samsung Galaxy S20 at the same time as everyone else.
Today reports linked the next-gen lowest-cost iPhone to a February production schedule for 2020. Per those familiar with Apple's plans, this phone could be released as early as March of 2020. This would put the device's release schedule well ahead of that of the higher-cost more AAA hero phone collection from Apple that generally appears in September.