DROID X 4G
kevind90
Newbie

WILL THE DROID X BE ABLE TO HAVE 4G COVERGE?

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Re: DROID X 4G
f38urry
Newbie

Extremely unlikely.  Only new LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology otherwise known as 4G (Fourth Generation) phone hardware will work.  The first few 4G phones won't even be announced until early 2011.

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Re: DROID X 4G
djtonic
Contributor - Level 2

Agreed....Actually not possible. 

 

The hardware specs used in the X are very transparent and there is no LTE 4G radio.  I have read posts where people insist the X has 4G hidden inside.  That would be a very very poor business decision to not advertise this.  By the time Verizons LTE network is ready in 2011 the DX will be antiquated (in cell phone terms). 

 

So, to not advertise the X as a "4G future-proof" phone right now to boost sales today would be really **bleep** (lack of a better word).

 

Dj.

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Re: DROID X 4G
djtonic
Contributor - Level 2

as far as the "bleep" goes in my previous reply...I guess there is no context filter here....the word i used was "st.upid"

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Re: DROID X 4G
crb79
Specialist - Level 2

I've stated several times that the Droid X does have the technology to handle 4G.  However one must understand that 3G is capable of speeds up to 21mbps theoretically if the FCC allowed.  Currently, 3G EVDO Rev A can handle speeds over 3mbps which is faster than Sprint's 4G service.   All reports I have read state that EVDO Rev A phones are software upgradeable to EVDO Rev B, which even faster than Rev A and actually what most carriers intend to use as their 4G.   4G is just a catch phrase, which is why Verizon is choosing the LTE designation instead of 4G.  True LTE phones will be Global phones.  

 

So will the Droid X be LTE?  No, it's not a global phone so it cannot fall into this category.  Is the Droid X, and other EVDO Rev A phones capable of faster speeds equivalent to 4G?  Yes.

 

 


djtonic wrote:

So, to not advertise the X as a "4G future-proof" phone right now to boost sales today would be really **bleep** (lack of a better word).


 

Actually, it wouldn't be wise marketing.  As it stands the Droid X smashes all the current competition.  Verizon doesn't have any of its LTE coverage running yet so advertising it would bring more backlash than the 2.2 update fiasco.

 

Also, it gives their LTE phones another selling point.  It's just smart marketing and business.  Why not keep a few tricks up their sleeves.  As it stands they can't keep the Droid X in stock for the first 4 months of release, so why would they need to hype the sells of it any more.    It's like having a fountain of Youth, and bragging that the water from it will make you live for ever, as well as hydrate your body 50% faster than regular water.  People are going to buy it regardless.

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Re: DROID X 4G
f38urry
Newbie

BOTB,

 

I may be off base here, but it is my understanding that the Droid X operates on CDMA cellular 850 MHz and 1,900 MHz frequency bands.  I.e., the hardware radio(s) built into the device cannot operate on any other frequencies.

 

Verizon's Long Term Evolution (LTE) fourth generation (4G) system will absolutely operate on the (newly licensed from the Federal government) 700 MHz frequency band.

 

How can a device built to send/receive radio signals on one specific band function on a non-compatible frequency?

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Re: DROID X 4G EDIT!
djtonic
Contributor - Level 2

CRB... I disagree completely with you.  It's a matter of hardware compatibility here, not hardware capability! 

 

This is a really du.mb analogy but I'll say it anyway; My egg and cheese bagel sandwich I am eating is capable of tasting like a cheeseburger - if it was a cheeseburger or had a hamburger patty inside.

 

When LTE rolls out the X will hardly be marketed, it if is at all.  

 

Dj.

 

EDIT: After re-reading CRB's post again I feel there are 2 different answers going on here.  CRB..you aren't saying the X is going to run on "LTE" right?  I think the topic got a little off the original question on your reply but I didn't interpret that at the time of reading it.

 

 

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Re: DROID X 4G EDIT!
crb79
Specialist - Level 2

 


djtonic wrote:

CRB... I disagree completely with you.  It's a matter of hardware compatibility here, not hardware capability! 

 

This is a really du.mb analogy but I'll say it anyway; My egg and cheese bagel sandwich I am eating is capable of tasting like a cheeseburger - if it was a cheeseburger or had a hamburger patty inside.

 

When LTE rolls out the X will hardly be marketed, it if is at all.  

 

Dj.

 

EDIT: After re-reading CRB's post again I feel there are 2 different answers going on here.  CRB..you aren't saying the X is going to run on "LTE" right?  I think the topic got a little off the original question on your reply but I didn't interpret that at the time of reading it.

 

 


 

Dj, the Droid X is not capable of LTE.  Verizon has planed for their LTE phones to be a line-up of global capable phones.  The terminology of LTE and 4G get mixed up pretty often, but they are 2 entirely different things.  

 

Sellers aren't going to talk up the backwards compatibility between EVDO Rev B and EVDO Rev A devices because they are always trying to sell new equipment.  With all CDMA carriers that I have read about, EVDO Rev B is their answer to 4G.  

 

So a better analogy would be me telling you that I can make scrambled eggs from the same batch of raw eggs that you made boiled eggs out of.

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Re: DROID X 4G EDIT!
dirkbonn
Specialist - Level 1

Verizon to launch LTE in 38 cities and 60+ airports by the end of 2010.

 

http://www.unwiredview.com/2010/10/06/verizon-will-launch-lte-in-38-cities-and-60-airports-by-the-en...

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Re: DROID X 4G
August03
Contributor - Level 3

At this time we don't have any information on which devices would be using 4G. We will post it this information once it comes available.

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