By Alek Liskov
SC Web Admin
Those of us who happen to be Verizon Wireless customers and have recently purchased a new smartphone should have noticed a slight change in the notifications area as of late; the number 3 that sits next to “G” should have incremented to 4.
Verizon’s 4G network for the Stroudsburg region debuted around the end of September. Even though it may seem an incremental change, it is actually very exciting for those of us that are bandwidth-hungry. On average, 4G speeds are around 10 to 15 times faster than 3G. More impressively, Verizon’s wireless speeds are about two to three times faster than the average cable subscription in the region. There are two reasons as to why this is happening.
Cable companies in this region have a virtual monopoly when it comes to land subscriptions, which leads to a lack of innovation. While places such as South Korea and Japan have had nationwide fiber networks for a while, our country, primarily because of its vastness, is struggling to keep up. On the other hand, wireless companies, due to their tremendous success and profitability in the United States, have been able to invest heavily into building the next generation of wireless networks. Luckily for Verizon’s customers, their network finally made its way to the good old Poconos.
I have personally been a part of this technological transformation from the start because I had a compatible device. Smartphones compatible with the 4G networks have been available for almost two years. In other words, if you purchased a smartphone in the past year or so, it most likely is compatible.
For those who haven’t, there’s never been a better time to upgrade. Verizon Wireless has a great selection of smartphones both on the low and high end of the price spectrum. Verizon was very kind to send me a Motorola RAZR HD MAXX as a test unit so I can see for myself what the new crop of devices are capable of doing.
The device itself was a big step up from my personal Galaxy Nexus. With its Gorilla Glass coated front, Kevlar back and aluminum in the middle, it is a sandwich of premium look and feel. The stunning 4.7-inch display has rich colors and deep blacks. Even though it lacks the latest version of Android, it is still very snappy and responsive due to its fast processor. It comes preinstalled with some handy widgets from Motorola that are fully customizable, which helps you get the most out of the smartphone. But perhaps the most important features are the battery life and the 4G speeds.
Because the MAXX has a battery that is about twice bigger than the average, it never runs out of juice. Most heavyweight smartphone users can barely get through a day without recharging, however the MAXX just keeps on going. The additional battery life is a great advantage especially considering that 4G speeds are infamous for dead batteries.
For those who are not used to paying a lot of money for a device, there’s the RAZR M, MAXX’s little brother. Same design, speed and functionality in a smaller, more affordable, package.
There is a catch in all of this. Once you experience 4G, you never go back. The speeds are so tremendous and the connectivity is so good that it just enhances your lifestyle. Being connected is more important than ever before because we live in the world surrounded by “clouds.” Every company out there, Microsoft and Apple included, is pushing towards storing information online. Soon enough, “I lost my laptop” will be substituted with “I could not connect to the internet.” Therefore being connected becomes inherently important and having a fast connection is essential.
Just think about being able to pull out your phone and download large PDFs and files in seconds. And at the press of a button you could share the connection with your laptop, tablet or TV via tethering. In a world that is becoming increasingly mobile, it feels good to know that you are equipped with the best technology.