Verizon Wireless data outages have a bad sense of timing

Among the Android audience, Verizon has been something of a punching bag over their mishandling of the Galaxy Nexus launch. Now reports are coming in form all over the US that the wireless carrier’s data is down, centering in the Midwest. The outage is affecting 4G LTE and 3G services. There is no word on when it might be repaired, though Verizon assures its customers that a fix is incoming.

It’s a pretty lousy time for Verizon to have a major outage. Not 24 hours ago, Consumer Reports lauded Verizon as Americans’ choice for the most reliable carrier, notably placing its biggest competitor AT&T at the very bottom of the short list. Now instead of capitalizing on some free publicity from a trusted source, they’re playing damage control and scrambling to get service back to millions of unhappy customers.
Verizon’s wireless data isn’t out of service everywhere – this very story is being written from the secret Android Community bunker miles beneath North Texas, using a Verizon 3G connection that seems to be intact. While assurances that people are working on the problem are good, no communication as to the time for a fix isn’t. And given Verizon’s reputation as one of the most expensive options for wireless service, they’d best get all their ducks in a row sooner rather than later.

Read more »

Rumor With a Capital R: Galaxy Nexus on Verizon Delayed?

I have a feeling a ton of you won’t like this one. Apparently Droid-Life has heard it from multiple independent sources within a short time frame that the Galaxy Nexus has been delayed. We also received one light report of this earlier this morning but decided not to report on it.

Although Verizon never gave a release date to look forward to, all sources and signs pretty much pointed to this Friday, December 9th. I know it’s hard to grasp that they may have delayed this phone even further than they should have considering how soon the rest of the world got it.
We’re not sure what might have triggered them to delay the device if this rumor is indeed true. At this point we’re not sure what to believe anymore. My advice? Don’t get too happy over ANY positive rumors – stick to official press releases with official information and no one will get hurt (emotionally or physically).
[Update]: And apparently the equipment manager page that said 12/9 yesterday is now saying “launch date is coming soon.” Oh well.

Read more »

Verizon Galaxy Nexus to retail for $299 on contract

We know pretty much everything about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus except its official price and release date on Verizon and well, today it looks like we can cancel one off the list (hint: it’s not the release date). According to the Wall Street Journal’s trusted sources, the upcoming Android Ice Cream Sandwich flagship device will be sold for $299 with a 2-year contract. This corroborates with previously leaked price of the phone, which makes sense considering that it is a top-of-the-line Android phone with 4G LTE, a 720p Super AMOLED display, Ice Cream Sandwich (currently the only phone being sold with it) and 32GB of internal storage. Now all we need is an official release date. What do you think of the Galaxy Nexus’ price? Will you be picking it up for $299 with a 2-year contract?

Read more »

Verizon: We Aren’t Blocking Google Wallet, it’s a Security thing

Verizon has issued a statement to lend some clarity to the recent Google Wallet drama that has many soon-to-be owners of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus all worked up. In Verizon’s own words, “[the carrier] does not block applications.” The reasoning for Google Wallet’s absence from the Galaxy Nexus is the security concerns that arise from the “new, secure and proprietary hardware element” that would be necessary for Google Wallet to be implemented. Here is the full statement. Take from it what you will:

“Statement from Jeffrey Nelson, spokesperson for Verizon:
Recent reports that Verizon is blocking Google Wallet on our devices are false. Verizon does not block applications.
Google Wallet is different from other widely-available m-commerce services. Google Wallet does not simply access the operating system and basic hardware of our phones like thousands of other applications. Instead, in order to work as architected by Google, Google Wallet needs to be integrated into a new, secure and proprietary hardware element in our phones.
We are continuing our commercial discussions with Google on this issue.”

[via Verizon | Thanks to all who sent this in!]

Read more »

Verizon’s Motorola DROID XYBOARD gets official in 10.1 and 8.2 flavors

Yup, that’s the real name, folks, and there ain’t no going back now.Verizon announced the long-leaked Motorola DROID XYBOARD tablets in a press release today, with the expected 10.1 and 8.2 inch models ready to go sometime in December. The larger model starts at $529.99 for the 16GB version, then goes up to $629.99 and $729.99 for the 32GB and 64GB editions. The smaller XYBOARD 8.2 (no “Media Edition” branding here) will go for $429.99 and $529.99, in 16GB and 32GB versions. All prices are with a two-year contract.

As far as specs go, both tablets are solid, though not as eye-popping as the original XOOM when it was released earlier this year. The screens are “high-definition” (almost certainly 1280 x 800) IPS LCD panels, running on top of 1.2Ghz dual-core processors and 1GB of RAM each. Exact dimensions aren’t available, but Verizon assures us that the tablets are “lighter than a paperback book and thinner than a AAA battery.” A 5-megapixel camera adorns the back with a front-facing shooter thrown in for good measure. Both with have access to Verizon’s LTE network.
Both tablets will launch with Android 3.2 Honeycomb, though you can expect an Ice Cream Sandwich update sometime in the future. The standard Motorola and Verizon apps are included, and customers can add LTE WiFi hotspot functionality for an additional fee. THe exact release date is not available just yet, but a promotion will allow you to take $100 off a DROID XYBOARD when you purchase a DROID RAZR, plus $50 of free accessories.

Read more »

Leaked Verizon Email and PDF Confirms Verizon Galaxy Nexus December 9th Launch

Leaks have been coming out of the woodwork these past few days and it seems the boys over at RootzWiki have managed to secure a leaked email and PDF confirming the much rumored December 9th launch date for the Galaxy Nexus This pretty much coincides with what we’ve been hearing from our sources (although we’ve gotten more than a few emails stating December 15th is the new Dec 9th).

Judging by the wording of the email and PDF this almost seems like a rush job. Stores will apparently be getting their shipments on December 6th, just three days before the big launch with demo units already hitting some stores complete with Ice Cream Sandwich packaging (image below: courtesy of Droid-Life). My question is will the Galaxy Nexus even receive a well deserved big launch, or will it just happen to pop up into stores without an ad spot or major announcement from Verizon? Only a few more days until we find out…

[AndroidForums via RootzWiki

Read more »

Motorola DROID XYBOARD tablets have GSM support — disabled by Verizon

Those new Motorola Xoom 2 tablets headed for Verizon Wireless that have been officially been named the DROID Xyboard apparently have a dirty little secret. These new slates recently cleared the FCC with 4G LTE on board but new details have now confirmed they also have full GSM capabilities too.

Reports from Wireless Goodness have confirmed that the new Motorola Xyboard tablets have not only 4G LTE radios inside, but they also are rocking GSM/WCDMA support. Both the 10.1 and 8.2″ slates have full GSM support that has been disabled by firmware and Verizon Wireless. Having the DROID branding these will be exclusively for Verizon but now we have reason to believe they might eventually land on other carriers such as T-Mobile or AT&T.

This also brings up the possibility of it being turned on with a firmware update or release, not to mention those awesome hackers and developers at XDA could possibly get these things running too. The image above clearly states they have been disabled by firmware, and are SIM locked and will not support any US carriers. This could also just be the same hardware for international and European models, and we could possibly see users import the new slates from outside the US for use on T-Mobile or AT&T. Either way this is an interesting find and we expect to hear more on these tablets any day now as Verizon has clearly stated they will be released in December.

Read more »

Verizon Celebrates One Year of 4G LTE, Name Drops the Galaxy Nexus and Motorola Xyboard

Verizon has issued a press release to remind people that this is the one year anniversary of their 4G LTE network. It was this month last year (Dec. 15th, to be exact) that Verizon began their rollout that they promised would reach everyone on their current 3G coverage network by the end of 2013.
Their progress? When Verizon lights up new markets on the official one year anniversary on December 15th they will have brought LTE to 190 different markets covering 200 million people.

Considering how long it’s taking other carriers to roll their 4G LTE networks or other 4G networks out we’d say that’s a hard standard to top. Only Sprint has made public ambitious plans to cover their entire network by the end of 2013 despite starting much later (they will begin mid-2012).
But today is about Verizon and their fast-growing LTE network and their commitment to bring faster data speeds to all Americans. Oh, and Verizon name-dropped a couple of existing and upcoming devices in their press release, including the Galaxy Nexus and the Motorola Xyboard. Don’t put too much weight on them being mentioned in this particular press release, though. Read on for full details.

Happy 1st Anniversary, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE!

12/05/2011
Alabama, Arkansas, California . . . West Virginia, Wisconsin . . . and all over. On Dec. 15, more than 200 million Americans will be able to experience the blazingly fast speed and reliability of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.

And today, on Dec. 5, Verizon Wireless is celebrating because it’s the one-year anniversary of the company’s initial deployment of 4G LTE. Launched in 38 major markets, plus a 39th - West Lafayette, Indiana - the home of Purdue University, which was incredibly anxious to begin developing uses for 4G LTE on campus.

Network Reach
Those initial 39 markets weren’t all small, of course. They were places like metro New York City, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Chicagoland and Atlanta. And on that first day, we covered more than 110 million people with 4G LTE: a very strong showing.

This is what leadership is about. Some of our competitors in the marketplace talk about 4G LTE a lot. What they’re planning, when they might have services in lots of cities, when they might get an abundance of 4G LTE smartphones and other devices so users can actually, well, use the network.

On Dec. 15, Verizon Wireless will be in 190 markets, covering more than 200 million people, with numerous different devices. Which means you have a great selection of smartphones, tablets, mobile hotspots and USB modems to access the network.

Verizon Wireless builds and maintains the best wireless networks in the world. That’s why Popular Science and PCWorld have both recently acknowledged the company’s 4G LTE network as one of the great technological developments of 2011.

Hats off to the Verizon Wireless network engineers who are building 4G LTE from the ground up. Cheers to the major network infrastructure partners at Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and Cisco.

It’s time to blow out the candle and know that "Year 2" will be twice as bright.

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Facts

• 200 million Americans covered with 4G LTE (as of Dec. 15)
• 190 Markets covered (as of Dec. 15)
• 16 Devices currently available, including eight smartphones
• Two hot new Xyboard DROID tablets from Motorola coming out this month
• One anxiously awaited GALAXY Nexus smartphone running Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, from Samsung, coming soon

4G LTE Devices

• Smartphones: HTC Rezound™, DROID RAZR™ by Motorola, Samsung Stratosphere™, Pantech Breakout™, DROID BIONIC™ by Motorola, Revolution™ by LG, DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt™ by HTC
• Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 with 4G LTE and Motorola XOOM™
• Notebooks and Netbooks: HP® Pavilion dm1-3010nr Entertainment PC and Compaq™ Mini CQ10-688nr with built-in 4G LTE
• Hotspots: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi™ 4510L and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot SCH-LC11
• Modems: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE USB Modem 551L and Pantech UML290 USB modem

Read more »

Verizon Galaxy Nexus phones arriving in stores, rumors still suggest December 9th

Here we go guys, Verizon is finally starting to maybe get ready to make some noise with the Galaxy Nexus. For all those awaiting its arrival the time may finally be coming. We are now seeing actual hardware devices and retail packaging for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus arriving in Verizon Wireless retail stores thanks to a tip from XDA Developers. Hopefully I can convince the pretty blonde at my local Verizon store to sell me one early — I’ll be taking flowers with me later today for good measure.

What we see here is that famous NEXUS symbol and the Verizon 4G LTE enabled Samsung Galaxy Nexus finally arriving actually in stores. This is a very good sign and I’m still holding strong with my promise for an occupy Verizon if they don’t announce it by the end of today. According to our latest sources Verizon is still aiming for December 9th as the official release date. Meaning there’s a good chance they’ll announce the device today and it will be available by the end of the week. This is still just a rumor along with the many we’ve previously seen so take it as you will.
There are a few more retail packaging photos in the gallery below and plenty of information at the XDA thread linked to above. With Samsung showing off the Verizon edition this weekend in NYC and the latest update to Android 4.1 I’d say things are finally ready for the green light. Don’t get too excited because we should all remember the DROID Bionic delays — just saying.
Stay tuned as we have a feeling an official announcement and some pre-order information could be showing up any day now. Who’s getting excited?

Read more »

Galaxy Nexus from Verizon shown off at Samsung Experience store in NYC

This weekend it seems a few lucky New Yorkers were able to enjoy some hands-on time with the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus from Verizon Wireless. The Samsung Experience Store in NYC had four of these LTE powered smartphones running Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich on display for fans and buyers alike to experience first hand.

Reports are coming in from all over regarding this extra special experience. We are calling it special because this device has yet to be announced with an official release date, but seeing it in the open like this you can only wonder. This is most likely a solid confirmation that Verizon is all set and should be announcing this device any day now. The Verizon model was recently updated to Android 4.1 fixing a few bugs and getting ready for prime-time although models on display in NYC had not yet received said update.
With all the leaked videos and update information linked to above, as well as a few pictures showing Verizon’s preloaded apps earlier this week this device is just begging to be released into the wild so everyone can enjoy. It should be coming any time now so hold your horses guys. Apparently models on display in NYC while being branded with Verizon “4G LTE” actually had no SIM cards and the back covers glued down so passerby’s were unable to test 4G LTE speeds or truly experience the phones although WiFi was available. We’ve already seen pictures showing Verizon’s model being slightly thicker and darker but these latest images from the booth in NYC truly show how minor the changes actually are.
Since not everyone is lucky enough to live near NYC to enjoy the photos or device I’ll go ahead and link you to our GSM Galaxy Nexus hands-on in case you’ve missed it. The hands-on video is also below for your viewing pleasure while we all sit back and twiddle our thumbs and wait for Verizon to break their Gnex silence. I have a feeling Monday will be a good day for all who’ve been waiting for the Nexus on Verizon.

Read more »

Verizon buys 122 wireless spectrum licenses from Comcast, Time Warner Cable for $3.6 Billion

US mobile operator Verizon today announced it is to boost its wireless coverage across the U.S with the $3.6 billion purchase of 122 advanced wireless services licenses from cable giant Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.
Whilst the U.S Government is set to open its wireless spectrum to mobile operators, Verizon isn’t taking any chances and has moved to secure more bandwidth for its 4G LTE services so that it can continue to serve its expanding network of customers and offer reliable and fast data downloads.
As part of the deal, Comcast will receive $2.3 billion from the sale, with Time Warner Cable receiving $1.1 billion – both of which own around 95% of the company SpectrumCo. Bright House Networks, which owns 5.3% of the company, will receive $189 million.
Following approval of the deal, each of the companies will enter several agreements to sell each other’s products and services:

Through these agreements, the cable companies, on the one hand, and Verizon Wireless, on the other, will become agents to sell one another’s products and, over time, the cable companies will have the option of selling Verizon Wireless’ service on a wholesale basis. Additionally, the cable companies and Verizon Wireless have formed an innovation technology joint venture for the development of technology to better integrate wireline and wireless products and services.

Read more »

Verizon Galaxy Nexus 4G LTE SpeedTest Caught On Camera [Video]

Okay, don’t hate me for another Galaxy Nexus post but I wanted to get one more in for the night. Our Verizon tipster has once again uploaded another video for us to drool over — this time demonstrating the speed of the Galaxy Nexus’s 4G LTE connectivity. If you like Speedtests as much as I do then have a look at the video where speeds in this user’s area peak at about 8Mbps indoors, with only 2 bars of coverage. Can’t touch that Verizon 4G, yo.

Read more »

Verizon Galaxy Nexus Receives Final Android 4.1.0 Update – Ready For Primetime

Verizon has just finished pushing out the latest (and most likely final) update for the Galaxy Nexus bringing up the firmware to version 4.1.0. The radio (baseband) version seems to be the main reason for the update which should, in theory, improve performance of the device. Also included was the addition of a new screen saver for Gnex which could be the “Dreams” feature we told you about yesterday. This newest OTA signals we’re nearing the end of Verizon’s vigorous testing for the device so let’s hope this is the final piece needed to appease them. We’ll let you know when we have more information but for now, rest assured knowing we’re close… real close, folks.
[AndroidForums via MyDroidWorld]

Read more »

Galaxy Nexus arrives in Germany and on Vodafone UK, Verizon twiddles its thumbs

Good news, folks: there’s one more place you can get the Galaxy Nexus that isn’t America. Engadget reports that retailers across Germany have jumped the gun and started selling the Galaxy Nexus early. Availability is still a little shaky – it looks like some outlets are offering the unlocked GSM version and some aren’t, though Media Mart is reportedly a reliable place to find it.

Prices vary from €529- €629 (about $713-$847), but it’s not clear if that’s simply retailer variation or a different price for the 16GB and 32GB models. None of the local carriers in Germany are offering subsidized versions, but if you live in the UK you’ve got an embarrassment of riches in that area. Vodafone is now offering the Galaxy Nexus on contract, being the fourth carrier to do so, behind O2, Orange and T-Mobile. In the UK you can now purchase the phone from all major carriers or “unlocked”.
Meanwhile in Google’s home country, Android fans continue to stew over Verizon’s total lack of communication concerning the first Ice Cream Sandwich phone. Though leaks and rumors are rampant (lately December 8th and 11th is favored) there’s still been no official word on a release or even a pre-order. Livid customers are beginning to flood Verizon with Twitter and Facebook messages, demanding a release and expressing their frustration every time the company sends out a marketing message. Observe:

If you’re sick of waiting, have about eight hundred dollars and want to use AT&T or T-Mobile, you could always order an import model from Expansys. Because at this point, Verizon clearly does not want your business.

Read more »

Verizon Galaxy Nexus leaks again, bloatware is easily disabled

Well folks, it appears the Galaxy Nexus over on Verizon has leaked again today and we now have a few more pictures for everyone to enjoy. Thanks to one of our friendly Android Community readers we now have a few shots of the Verizon bloatware (only a few apps) and proof that they can easily be disabled right on the device just like any app in Ice Cream Sandwich. Below are the photos showing the Verizon Galaxy Nexus including data usage, and the bloatware actually disabled.

The Verizon 4G LTE Galaxy Nexus was also leaked in a few pictures and videos yesterday. Tie that in with the pictures coming out today and the new Visual Voicemail app specifically for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus I’d say this phone is coming soon — although your guess is still as good as mine.
Verizon has made a few changes to the data usage monitoring present in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and you can see that in the leaked images below as well. I know the Gnex being a Google experience device many weren’t happy to see that Verizon was still loading up some VZW bloatware applications, even though it was only a few. It is nice to see that those few items can be easily disabled right from the application manager and will disappear from your app tray. For those worried about bloatware it seems no root will be required to keep this beautiful Google device completely stock as Google intended.
Latest rumors are pointing to a December 11th release. We can only wait and hope right?

Read more »

Play it again, Sam: Best Buy may release Galaxy Nexus on December 11th

Raise your hand if you’re tired of waiting for Verizon to release the Galaxy Nexus. One, two… we may be here for a while. An internal Best Buy screenshot has made its way to Engadget, showing the big box retailer with a possible December 11th release for the much-anticipated Google phone. This contradicts earlier rumors of a December 8th launch, but then, those rumors contradict all the other rumors that have been flying around.

As the source notes, this may simply be a slightly delayed release for Best Buy – it’s not unusual for second-party resellers to get a late start on new products. Then again, discrepancies over some of the listed specifications cast doubt on the validity of the leaked information… not that Best Buy is any stranger to error. The continuing wait for the Galaxy Nexus, and especially Verizon’s total silence on the upcoming release, has many US customers and potential converts seeing red.
But there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Google was the first to finally show off the LTE model that will be gracing Verizon’s airwaves, and at least one person has an apparently completed retail model for spy shots. “Confirmed” pre-orders on Tuesday, November 29th turned out to be completely and utterly bogus – again, a big thank you to Richi Jennings and Computer World for claiming a second-hand conversation with a customer support rep as a reliable source. The continued lack of communication is starting to make eager customers – not to mention self-referential tech bloggers – incredibly frustrated.

Read more »

Verizon rolls out DROID CHARGE Gingerbread OTA update

If you bought a Samsung DROID CHARGE when it launched back in May, you’ve been waiting for this for a long, long time. After numerous leaks, Verizon is finally sending out its Gingerbread update to eager DROID CHARGE owners. As always, you can wait for the over-the-air rollout to come to your area or initiate it manually in the Settings menu.

Verizon has a boilerplate for their software updates, and in addition to Gingerbread the CHARGE will get a download manager, the new UI color scheme that was seen in the leaked version, and options for encrypting both the phone and storage card. The calendar app has been updated with some user interface enhancements, and selecting, copying and pasting text should be considerably easier. Perhaps most importantly, Verizon’s WiFi Hotspot app now uses an encrypted password. Other speed and stability tweaks have been added here and there.
As usual with these updates, we like to provide a little perspective. It’s been more than eleven months since Android 2.3 Gingerbread became available to carriers, manufacturers and everyone else, and six months since the CHARGE launched with outdated software. On the plus side, the phone is only $199 on contract now. Don’t expect an Ice Cream Sandwich update any time soon, if at all.

Read more »

Verizon pits DROID 4 against DROID RAZR, ends in stalemate

“Sieve” doesn’t really describe the DROID 4 leaks at this point. In amongst a smattering of press images for the as-yet-unconfirmed phone (as if we needed it at this point) came a direct comparison of the DROID 4 and DROID RAZR, courtesy of Droid-Life. It reinforces a lot of the specs that we’ve already seen, like a 4-inch screen and an LTE connection, but gives us a little more insight into the nitty-gritty details.

In a one-sheet labelled “evolve or dissolve”, the company pits the DROID 2 GLOBAL, DROID 3 and DROID 4 against the RAZR, withe the 4th revision obviously coming out on top. Some highlighted differences include the qHD screen, which on the DROID 4 definitely is not a Super AMOLED, probably settling for a standard TFT LCD panel. The 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 MP camera, HDMI camera and Motorola-customized Gingerbread remain. The principle differences noted include a tiny bump up to a 1785 mAh battery and a “laser cut edge-lighted keyboard” that illuminates the space around the individual keys.
Dimensions aren’t mentioned, but from previous leaks we’re pretty sure that it comes in at 12.7mm – still pretty slim for a QWERTY device. Also notably absent from the comparison is the replaceable battery, but it’s likely that Motorola and Verizon don’t want to highlight the RAZR’s non-removable power source. The current scuttlebutt places the release at December 8th, possibly alongside another long-awaited phone.

Read more »

Mysterious Verizon Holiday Ad Appears Across The Web, Shows Galaxy Nexus For $199.99

Nobody is really sure what it means at the moment, but we definitely know the ad showing the Verizon Galaxy Nexus for $199.99 is real. As in, It's not fake since it's showing up on Android sites across the web (we've spotted it here at AP, at Phandroid, and DroidForums to name a few). These ads are run by NetShelter, which is a premium advertising network that deals directly with carriers and manufacturers and does not mess around - we know them all too well.
Clicking Learn More goes to this page that doesn't list the Galaxy Nexus, so either someone pressed the Launch button a bit too early or the ad was scheduled ahead of time and someone forgot to postpone it due to all the recent delays. One thing stands out, however - $199.99 is about $100 cheaper than we thought the Nexus would go for. Of course, it may be a holiday promotion, but hey - we'll take it.

Note the tag "cmp=BAC-OM-111129-HOLIDAYSAMSUNG" in the Learn More url, which seems to point at a mysterious 11/29 date. Could it be the date the sale will go online? In that case, we're definitely seeing it prematurely. That and the fact that it also lists the Droid Charge and the Stratosphere at $99.99, while right now the very same page you get by clicking Learn More shows the Charge at $199.99 and the Stratosphere at $149.99. Hmm...

 

Here are the relevant parts of the ad: [1] [2] - check them out for yourself while they're still working.
So, does anyone else have any other theories? Spill the beans in the comments.

Read more »

Spiffy red DROID Incredible 2 is free for Black Friday, plus other deals

Nothing says “holidays” like a maniacally staring robot eye. Maybe that’s just me. In any case, the DROID Incredible 2 is getting tarted up in ruby red, and Verizon customers can pick one up for free with some very specific Black Friday deals. The Incredible 2 and other phones are going on-sale starting on November 24th.

Here’s the skinny as far as online deals go. On November 24th, 25th and 28th, you can order a DROID Incredible 2 from Verizon’s website free, gratis and for nada, assuming you’re eligible for an upgrade or a new contract. On the same days you can get an LG Revolution for $49.99 or a Motorola XOOM for $199.99, again, on-contract. (Nice – probably clearing out some stock to make room for those XYBOARDS.) If you’d prefer to go into a retail store on Black Friday, the 25th, you can pick up the same deal on an Incredible or Revolution, but you’ll have to deal with a $50 mail-in rebate.
Other deals are valid online or in stores between November 24th and 28th. You can get a DROID 3 or the original Samsung Galaxy Tab for $149.99, or the Xperia PLAY for free, all minus a $50 mail-in rebate. Not the greatest of deals, especially on the day of consumer madness that is Black Friday, but if you’re looking for any of these models in particular it could be worth it. Keep in mind that Verizon’s double data deal for smartphones and tablets is still going on.
[via AndroidGuys]

Read more »