Verizon LTE: The Fine Line Between Truth and Deception

I bought a Thunderbolt back in April, so supposedly I'm "Grandfathered" in. Had I NOT been, and this was the reality - I would have NOT gotten Verizon. I would've went with Sprint.


Honestly, Sprint is the only major company that doesn't bullshit you with "Unlimited" claims, and then have an asterisk stating what amount they REALLY mean.

'I do not doubt that you can't stream Netflix movies over LTE'
I don't need no education :-)

"on a more serious note, commercials that promise users that they can stream Netflix movies via their cellular broadband connection."

I was unsure what to expect either. Fortunately, I can personally CONFIRM that the "4G LTE" feature did work for me under my configuration. Let me explain...

For the Portland, OR metro area there seems to be decent Verizon 4G coverage. Vancouver (north of it) is a little more spotty.

My phone is the Samsung Charge. Non-rooted (I have not modified it). I used an app called "Easy Tether" (the android market and amazon both sell it). I think there is a free "lite" version that does not configure fore IPSEC passthrough.

I did some googling/researching of cell towers in my area and did an indoor mounting of the phone against the wall that seems to give me 4G coverage. Ran a USB cable to a WinXP desktop PC running the EasyTether client (software NIC).

I shared that connection and made note of the DNS info. I set my broadband router behind it, static IP, treating the PC as a gateway and used the Verizon DNS info (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).

Connection gained...

I have a PS3 in my living room, connected via home network. Netflix running on it.
I logged into Netflix via PC and set the streaming options to the HD setting (their version of bandwidth throttling).

Started watching Netflix on my PS3. Using a 55" Visio LCD over HDMI cable.

For probably 90% of the watching, I saw no artifacts. Clear audio across my 5.1 system. I mostly could not tell the difference. Where the speed dropped (usually resulting in color banding) it felt like the same quality Comcast gives me.

To me... in my configuration... it works when the 4G labeling does.

Isn't 4G 100mbps? Is that what they deliver? No. Can they do it in labs? Yes. Does that mean they should be able to advertise it as that? No.

Where is the confusion? I don't understand this?


The 4G LTE is an internet connection, so of course it'll stream from Netflix - why wouldn't it? Why would you ever have any uncertainty of it NOT working?

Even if your connection likes to drop frequently, the buffer will make it a non-issue.

It was in the paragraph containing the text "You have those questionable claims of"... in reference to Verizon being able to stream Netflix content.

I never saw the TV ads. I just decided to see if I could get it to work... and found that it does.

Also, the 4G LTE provided by Verizon seems to be a NAT connection. I am finding my IP for the phone comes up as 10.x.x.x. They can choose to block service ports, protocols, etc, if they choose to.

There seems to be lack of support for IP protocol 47 (generic routing encapsulation or GRE) that disallows PPTP VPNs with their configuration, in which case your claim "The 4G LTE is an internet connection" is proven false, as GRE packets are blocked by the presence of a 10.x.x.x subnet they attach their phones to.
You cannot ping it's address outside that network.

On the other hand... I would not want a publicly reachable IP for my phone anyway.

he was talking about be able to stream while not going over the datacap. Holy crap man..

Also I feel bad for everyone who gets stuck with a limited data plan. I used 2GB in 3 days watching netflix...

Streaming Netflix on your cell phone is just dumb.

Well, to this date I use my Thunderbolt to download torrents - with no problems whatsoever.


Unless Verizon bars specific data (which you can still work around) I don't understand why you would ever question it not working.


No where in this article was the guy debating if using a mobile internet connection would be compatible - he meant the notion that they even SUGGEST 4G LTE being practical for streaming, when obviously the data caps make it a JOKE.


It's one of those crazy marketing tools and claims, that technically is possible, but not reasonable.

I'm very glad that Tom's hardware wrote this up.

I'm on the old unlimited plan and as soon as they drop it, I'll seriously consider other options. I think they're charging that much right now because they can. As soon as people start switching and they start losing profit (AKA, are affected in a way they care about), they'll change their tune.

That's how business works, it's NOT ethical, it's just business. As a consumer, we have the power to switch networks, which is what I'll do if/when I can get a better deal somewhere else.

Right now I'm paying $30 for unlimited data with great coverage and reliability; you've got to admit that's hard to beat. But when it makes sense for me to switch, I'll do it immediately; now if all consumers did this, how much do you think we could shape the market?

I currently have the Verizon unlimited plan, however if I were to get into the smartphone market now, with Verizon's tiered plans I wouldn't have gotten a smartphone at all. I would have gotten a normal phone, which is more reliable and has better sound quality and voice pick up than any smartphone I've encountered, and purchased a WiFi tablet to fill in the gap. The tiered data prices are outrageous now and will only be worse as people progressively use more data on a day to day basis.

Sprint has an unlimited EVERYTHING plan for $79.99, which isn't bad at all. They clearly market how they're the only guys with truly unlimited data, and not some fine print.

Seeing as they do this, I can assume they'll do it forever - rarely will people bash on others for not offering unlimited, then they themselves turning around and cave in.

I cracked up when i read the last statement. No offense but didn't AT&T promise this when the iPhone first launched? They throttled, then Veruizon, and now AT&T wants T-Mobile as Wolfgang already said (no kidding they are trying to blackmail the government though I have no clue how effective that will be). T-Mobile offers unlimited plans but throttles after a certain threshhold, guess where they got that idea from?

I use a USB modem for my home PC. I use Valve's Steam to download games. We called Verizon about our bill. The guy said we ran up a $1000 worth of data but they capped it at $180. He says he was willing to give me a $90 credit but I could be billed $1000 the next time it happened. He was going to investigate more and call me back. He never did. I called back and another rep said it was only $300 and capped at $180. This is highway robbery! The article's point is right on. What good does it do to buy a downloadable game at discount prices only to be charged 3 times as much for ISP?

Well I'm sorry that you laugh about dumb shit - truly I am.


There is a difference between marketing it, and then marketing it, while completely BASHING on the other companies.

Have you not seen this commercial? : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlkT7gRM0xo


Or even this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jphXLfKO2yg



Trust me, you can't just take those back and say "Hey, we know we bashed on the other guys, but now we're doing it".


Lastly, since Sprint is in VERY serious danger of being in last place, they know they cannot chance something like this. Having truly unlimited is an extremely strong selling point for Sprint. AT&T and T-mobile BOTH suck. Their only competition remaining is Verizon - which shot themselves in the foot, and practically committed suicide by enforcing data caps and INSANELY priced data plans.


Trust me, Sprint won't move on this one - It's literally their best selling point; maybe even their ONLY selling point.


So laugh at that.

Wow US is royally screwed on this one; "idiot"/feature phones ("dumb" phone is a term Tom's used to describe a cheap Android) that is inherently limited as having YouTube Mobile being unlimited data devices, at least I knew that is so and used as such with Rogers/Fido here in Canada. Even tiered plan on smartphones are much cheaper compare to US counterpart, just not that big of a diner's menu.

But I am using truly unlimited AWS carrier with tethering attached, I am paying way less than what Sprint is offering. FYI T-Mobile runs AWS as their 3G infrastructure; AT&T's desire to eat up T-Mobile is clear as day.

What i havent gotten about "smartphones" is why does it seem better to have a prepaid phone half the time?

Then with "smartphones", what are the issues within use of them?

Why is it that unlimited plans always change?

So, not even on the idea of unlimited usage, right? , You pay the $80 for 10gbs, right? , k....5 months down the road, how much of the previous months of data are you still going to be using or having?

You are almost paing for the idea of retianing the same data more used 5 months, and not having say newer data at a equal price or even cheaper sometimes for the fact of use. Then of data not known of use, is paid for, but you don't know it. Or remember more then anything. Small saving "grace" to say.

Then you are paying for what probably what isnt used, which is fine for awhile, until you try to actually use it, and it doesnt really work all that well. So what is paid for for not using is basically unusable for the use, not everyone probably has this problem of course. But once the say branch differences find there place, then "bam", all is same and whats left is the difference, "well, i got some service for the use i had...." , "well, i didnt get some service for the use of had.." .

Think it would be small amounts though to say the "problem" is easily resolved, but doesnt seem to be the issue at times, yes?

Then of it is still access, when you are driving down the road or say riding and using your phone, how likely is it that you are still using your cell network, and not just an open one?

Which would be fine of course, cause you get use out your phone, right, so what does it matter?

Wi-fi, i still think wi-fi is suppose to be different then wireless lan, but thats argueable alot of times. Wi-fi may not be as useable at times though due to it cause of the internet. Right?

So, again of it is what? That so far for use of anyone network is stuck having to actually use it for what they are. And mainly knowing of that.

If a phone you bought had a camera and you bought it for a camera and couldnt use it, then whats wrong? But of it to say a camera is the issue, is about useless yes?

But least on some ideas of things boughten, whats loked forward too is more there, yes? Without more then 2-5 minutes of use??

2G, EDGE, GPRS, 3G CDMA, HSPA+, WiMax, 4G LTE and any other wireless services SHOULD NOT be used as a home data connection (unless nothing else is available) and should not be used for torrenting.. These are the people that are going to ruin it for everyone... Oh hey, I get Verizon FiOS at my house but I choose to use a Verizon 4G LTE phone and tether instead for my home data connection and consume 50+ GB per month... Are you people stupid? Wireless is for MOBILITY! There is a reason we have WiFi at home and high-speed WIRED connections in our homes and businesses... Please stop jacking the prices up for everyone else.... If you're tethering your phone to your iPad or computer for 2-6GB per month while you're out and about, fine... Why? Because you're MOBILE.... When you have a high-speed wired connection, USE IT! If you have no other wired option but 4G LTE or CDMA or HSPA+ or whatever is available to you, go ahead an use it as your home connection but don't abuse it... Get satellite internet if you want to torrent or watch hundreds of hours of Netflix on it...

When theres nothing esle to do when using your phone and having it to say, and you are watching movies or even sending them with a camera/video phone. To probably even get an actually use from you'd probably be left with the fact of unlimited plans. As dude said kinda above, but still.

Is some sense probably could say it "dumb" but on ideas of interest of use, if its there and works and sold as is for it, then why not have the feature?

Limited is like, once a wekk, you actually have a use of the feature and no more and after a month what use of there is basically no more. This probably does seem "dumb". Rather for lack of storage on phone or content to use.

Probably little to disagree with alot of times, but on some thoughts though there is probably not as much said, that isnt "smart" though.

Probably another time a smartphone being called one, doesn't fit for it, yes??

I pay for it ill use it how i want. If you think my use is whats making prices go up your a freaking moron. its all greed they dont need to make the price go up they just want to.they already said 99% of people fall under the 2 gig cap so it changes absolutly nothing other then them charging more for less. get a clue dude.. dont tell people to not use what they pay for that makes you part of the problem. tell them to stop charging and capping needlessly. your reasoning is horrible and missguaded. stop listening to those idiots that fill your head full of bs.

I just got the Droid Charge due to the Fascinate being defective. I use the LTE "grandfathered" unlimited plan and Netflix is actually cool on a 4.3" device. Good for existing customers but for the new customers, you are SOL. LTE is fast, about 15Mbps/s Down 5Mbps/s Up. With a constant download at that speed you could reach the 2Gb barrier in under 2 Hours. It does not make any sense. I feel lucky I'm don't need to watch my data.

Seems you did not read all the article the next paragraph states...

[citation]Don't get me wrong, I do not doubt that you can't stream Netflix movies over LTE. The problem I have is the fact Verizon killed its unlimited plan and now offers the most expensive, limited data plans in this country. You can get 75MB per month for $10, 2GB for $30, 5GB for $50 and 10GB for $80. While I personally believe that limited data plans and, at the very least, limited data plans at this price level are counter-productive and are a threat to innovation of mobile services, a commercial that says you should stream Netflix over LTE while being strangled by such a plan is, in fact, deceptive.[/citation]

The whole focus of the article is yes it is possible to steam Netflix over LTE but the cost is so high as to make it totally pointless.

I'm sorry... what?? I didn't understand one thing that you just said...

Yeah, it is looking like Sprint, and all the pre-paid stuff, like Boost Mobile (Sprint's old Nextel rebranded) and MetroPCS (running on Sprint's network), are the only viable options for new subscribers.

If only they can get their WiMax network deployed (true 4g) to more places than just Baltimore, then they will be in a real position of strength...

Who are we gonna switch to that does not limit data. Eventually all the carriers will limit their data plans or charge these higher rates for unlimited data. You might save $3 or $4 a month from one company to the other. Which to me means my phone becomes a phone again and not an entertainment source.

Yeah K-zon.. I tried.. I really did but it's hard to follow you.. Are you using a translator? I have sprint and was thinking about switching to Verizon because 4g just opened up in my market(Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) on their network.. Come on sprint where's my 4g? But after looking at the data prices it's insane.. They just allow tethering and not charge on top of those prices.. Hell you'll get it back in overages anyway you greedy bastards.. It's the iphone effect.. Once you have the iphone you grow big balls and strut like your untouchable... Well eat Verizon Sprint has better plans and nicer Androids.. Trying getting a 4g gingerbread phone from VZ... What they don't exist? I may just grab and EVO 3D and move someplace I get better coverage..

Carriers understand that people are drawn to numbers, not capability. Their style of competition will be to simply state "We can do X mbps" or "oh yea? Well now we can so x^2 mbps!"

These are the groundrules they want to lay. They wont be able to keep hiking up the numbers digit by digit if they actually allow people to use these speeds, because they already know their infrastructure is incapable of handling it. So how best to give the illusion that you are actually upgrading your network? By gradually opening the gates at a trickle pace, but capping everyone's usage so they dont actually exploit it. This will give Verizon/ATT plenty of leverage to have network battles against each other for the next 10 or so years without having to do a thing.

Holy crap, I haven't been looking at the data plans for a while since I still have a year left on my contract with T-Mobile. Yeah, yeah, "t-mobile sucks" but they are excellent in the areas where I frequent. But $80 for just 10GB? Damn.... I just looked at my usage and it says I have used 11GB on this billing. All I did was stream music for a few hours a day while commuting. This makes me happy that I only pay $20 for unlimited data despite it being throttled at 5GB (which for some reason it hasn't happened to me yet)

I think the higher data prices are fair. True, they should maybe cost a little less/have higher caps, and I am always a fan of being able to pay for an unlimited option, but the reality is phone usage is changing. It used to be data was just an extra fee to tag on like texting, today data is practically the main purpose of the phone and it is what puts the load on the networks so charging accordingly makes sense. What they should do to compensate is drop the cost of talk plans and texting plans.