Xoom owners can visit Verizon's Website for complete instructions and to begin the 4G LTE upgrade process.
Network
carrier Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility announced that the Motorola Xoom
4G LTE upgrade will be available for existing Xoom tablet customers beginning
Sept. 29. The companies also noted the Xoom 4G LTE will be available in Verizon
Wireless Communications stores and online beginning Oct. 13 for $499.99 with a
new two-year contract.
Xoom
owners can visit the Verizon Wireless Website for complete instructions and to
begin the 4G LTE upgrade process. Customers who signed up for email alerts will
receive an email notification with instructions, and customers should expect to
get their updated Xoom with 4G LTE back in about six business days. The 4G LTE
upgrade is free of charge, and customers do not have to change their current
data plan when upgrading to 4G LTE. Verizon said customers are encouraged to
back up any personal information prior to shipping.
The
faster speeds and connections are designed to enhance the Xoom's user
experience, allowing customers to download songs in seconds and movies in
minutes. Verizon said customers should expect average download speeds of 5M to
12M bps and upload speeds of 2M to 5M bps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage
areas. When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, the Xoom
automatically connects to the Verizon Wireless 3G network, enabling customers
to stay connected from coast to coast.
The
tablet features a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display and 32GB of built-in storage
(actual formatted capacity is less), with a microSD card slot supporting an additional
32GB. The device runs Google's Android 3.2 "Honeycomb" operating
system, which supports Google Mobile Services including Gmail, YouTube, Google
Talk, Search, Maps, Movies, Books and the Android Market for downloading
applications.
Other
features include a dual-core 1GHz processor; Adobe Flash 10 for enabling the
delivery of rich Flash-based Web content, including videos, casual games and
applications; a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video chats over 4G LTE, 3G
and WiFi; and a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash.
Xoom
customers will have the option to choose one of the following mobile broadband
data plans: $30 monthly access for 2GB monthly allowance, $50 monthly access
for 5GB monthly allowance, and $80 monthly access for 10GB monthly allowance.
Verizon
also recently announced an expansion of its 4G LTE network, turning on the
network in 26 additional cities and expanding its network to San Francisco,
Indianapolis and Cleveland/Akron, bringing the company's 4G LTE network to a
total of 143 markets across the United States. In addition, the company is
working with rural communications companies to build and operate a 4G LTE
network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company
and Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE equipment and 700MHz spectrum.
Nathan Eddy is Associate Editor, Midmarket, at eWEEK.com. Before joining eWEEK.com, Nate was a writer with ChannelWeb and he served as an editor at FierceMarkets. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
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