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Upgradeable

Will any of current Android phones, such as the X, Incredible, Fascinate, 2 be firmware upgradeable to use the 4G Network or will new phones need to be purchased? Will 2.2 make any difference once it is released to the entire Droid family of smartphones?

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spacewolfragnar

i have called verizon on 2 seprent occasion. one time they said that an update would be push to select phones that could use the 4g LTE network. the second time i call i got told that when the 4g network comes online it would only be for aircards and that only phones that come out in q1 of 2011 would be able to use the 4g network. they said that the phones we have now would have to be rechiped which to me sounds crazy cause y would they turn on 4g and then limit it too aircards only till they release a new phone its make no since unless they want u too buy another $600 phone. so idk but this is wat i have been told.

crimedoggies

Chief21 wrote:
Will any of current Android phones, such as the X, Incredible, Fascinate, 2 be firmware upgradeable to use the 4G Network or will new phones need to be purchased? Will 2.2 make any difference once it is released to the entire Droid family of smartphones?

Current 3G devices are not forward compatible. The first wave of 4G devices will be mobile broadband cards for computers with the first wave of phones coming 1Q 2011.

stevelp

Doesn't make sensethat allof the droid phones and now the new samsung phones arn't upgradable to 4G. Has anyone actually spoken to a Verizon tech rep about this.

spacewolfragnar

if u read my post above i have called and talked to them and thats wat they said. also as an addo i called them again and the vzw rep said and i quote " we do not have that imformation at this time" . so im guessing that 3g will be 3g and when the 4g phones come out u will just have too buy a new phone if u cant upgrade.

sharp1

I just talked to customer service at HTC to ask if the Incredible would be compatible with the 4G rollout and they said NO : (, anyone else have have info to share?

hellopretty86

4G network will use Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology which is the global standard for 4G. Verizon Wireless and many other wireless companies worldwide have committed to rolling out LTE in the future. Verizon will begin offering 4G coverage in 25-30 markets and cover about 100 million people. U.S. coverage matching Verizon current 3G footprint is planned by the end of 2013.

Since LTE technology is the global standard, you will have access to a broader selection of 4G phones and applications over other companies’ 4G technology choices. Sprint's 4G network is based on WiMAX technology. In the future that limited global availability means WiMAX device selections are going to be limited as well. When Verizon Wireless launches their LTE, it will be significantly faster than service available on Sprint’s WiMAX.

Because LTE technology supports a lower spectrum (700 MHz), their in-building coverage will improve.

Dcraw

I hope what they say about their 4g speeds is more accurate then what they told us on our 3g. We use to get great 3g speeds back when they had a contract with sprint in the area to use their towers. Now that the deal is no longer our 3g speeds suck im getting about .30 mb/s download and .12 mbs/upload. its horrible. Also the signal strength is always changing sometimes 4 bars 3g signal and in hte same spot not moving drops down to 1 bar or no bars and then back up its horrible. but we have no options in the country there is no dsl no cable all we have is satalite and 3g and Satalite is worse yet. there are 3 verizon towers with in 5 miles of me and yet i cant get crap signal. My last effort is to get a Dual band cell signal booster. it has a repeater on it and is said to boost both the 3g signal strength and normal cell signal. I want my 1.5mbs download and 1.0 uploads again!!!

NeedForSpeed

As recently as last week, I was in the retail store replacing my wife's phone and asked about the X and 4G. The rep, who's been with VZW for over 10 years, said they would push a software update to the X for it to use LTE. I can't see VZW rolling out the LTE network only to have thousands of new Droid customers unable to use it.

iowagoro

Regarding DCraw experience with one an acceptable 3g signal and now not, have the same issue. Bought a booster a year ago because I was told "heavy leaf cover" would cause reception problems. Reception was ok for about a year and in the past few months I can't get a signal, calls get dropped, and calls cut in and out. With no explanation, I was refunded 1/2 of the original cost of the booster and told that I must live in an area where the towers don't provide full coverage.

Now I'm left to wait until my contract expires and more service. Any suggestions?

crimedoggies

NeedForSpeed wrote:
As recently as last week, I was in the retail store replacing my wife's phone and asked about the X and 4G. The rep, who's been with VZW for over 10 years, said they would push a software update to the X for it to use LTE. I can't see VZW rolling out the LTE network only to have thousands of new Droid customers unable to use it.

Pure and simple, the rep doesn't know what he is talking about. The X doesn't have the needed hardware to provide LTE. None of the current 3G devices are forward compatible with 4G. LTE (4G) technology is a GSM style based technology and requires the use of a SIM card which none of the current Droid devices support. Even the current global phones that do support GSM based SIM cards don't accept the proper card to provide LTE 4G service.

As much as I would like to believe my Incredible and my X will work with LTE, the simple truth of the matter is they won't.

MastaCoz

Yes, exactly, correct. People, listen. This isn't a software update that can automagically turn on 4G on your phones. This is a hardware update, which means what you currently have, will not work. It requires a special radio to pick up the LTE signals in the phones.

If a VZW person from a store says otherwise, he is lying.

If a rep on the line says otherwise, he/she is lying.

One thing is true, if a VZW and a rep says it will work for 4G network, it means that the 3G signal is being piggybacked on the new 4G signal. You will NOT get 4G speeds, but will continue to get 3G coverage with your current hardware.

Finally, just in case someone will ask, if Apple and their iPhone will work for LTE, the answer is no. If Jobs says it will, he is lying, just like he did with the antenna issue. Will the phone work in a 4G area, yes...but you will only get 3G speeds.

As of now, there are no 4G phones Currently available. Wait until early Q1 2011 to see the phones.

Thank you.

arielmyers1

Okay so quick question, if I am due for an upgrade within the next month, would it be smarter for me to just wait it out till the 4g phones come out? And this will be between Jan-March of 2011?

JAllaire6835

Thinking about what was just said about all these thousands of Droid customers buying phones and not being able to use the 4g network, it all makes perfect sense... You bought the Droid, now you get to buy a NEW 4g phone in order to get the new service, more sales, more $$$...

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