Google adds Redbox Instant by Verizon app to Google TV

Jordan Kahn

We haven’t been getting a lot of updates on the Google TV front lately, but today Google made an announcement on its blog that the Redbox Instant by Verizon movie streaming subscription service is coming to Google TV.

The app delivers the full Redbox Instant by Verizon experience right to your living room. This includes access to your subscription disc and streaming package, and ability to purchase and rent the latest new releases from the Redbox Instant store.

On top of streaming, purchases and rentals, the Redbox app for Google TV will also allow users to reserve a disc for local pickup.

The service will initially be rolling out to select devices including: the 47G2 and 55G2 Google TV-enabled Smart TVs from LG, NETGEAR’s NeoTV Prime with Google TV, the Sony Internet Player NSZ-GS7, and the Vizio Co-Star.

The Redbox Instant by Verizon app for Google TV is available on Google Play now. Google TV users can sign up for the service now through the app on their device or on the web here.  Read more

Verizon confirms HTC One coming later this summer

Jordan Kahn

htc-one

Verizon has officially confirmed that the HTC One will finally be available to customers on its 4G LTE network starting later this summer. The initial announcement comes from Verizon’s Twitter account and didn’t provide any other information on pricing or exact availability. We’re thinking Verizon will be releasing a full press release shortly and we’ll update with details when it does.

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Verizon says Galaxy S4 will be first to run on new AWS enhanced LTE network

Jordan Kahn

GalaxyS4-launch-09

Bloomberg reports that Verizon’s vice president of network support Mike Haberman confirmed the Galaxy S4 will be the first device to access the carrier’s new AWS spectrum rolling out to major cities such as New York in the coming months.

While Verizon has plans to roll out more devices that can access the higher speeds of its AWS enhanced LTE network, the Galaxy S4 is the first device with a software update planned to activate support for the AWS frequencies:

Verizon is using the AWS airwaves to help increase the capacity of its long-term evolution, or LTE, network. While Verizon will be adding more devices that can use the higher speeds, the Galaxy S4 is the only such phone currently on sale.

Google Play, Verizon launch could boost Samsung Galaxy S4 sales past already high expectations

Zac Hall

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung has proven almost effortlessly that the 5-inch smartphone has its place in the hands of the masses as it is on track to selling 10 million handsets in its first month, The Korea Times reports.

The company has plenty of room for sales to exponentially grow upward, possibly past their own already high expectations, as the smartphone that has taken the Android world by storm has yet to actually launch on Verizon in the States.

Verizon seems readily positioned to launch the Galaxy S4 as it announced earlier this week that it plans to sell the Samsung smartphone a week sooner than expected.

Samsung’s co-CEO Shin John-Kyun says the company expects the Galaxy S4 to be the fastest selling smartphone in the company’s history.

“We are confident that we will pass more than 10 million sales of the S4 next week. It is selling much faster than the previous model S3,” Samsung Electronics co-CEO Shin Jong-Kyun told reporters at an industry forum in Seoul, Thursday.

We got our hands on the Galaxy S4 last month for a review and gave it flying colors. Read more

Verizon recycling the original Lucid as the LG Optimus Exceed for prepaid

9to5 Staff

LG_Optimus_Exceed

There’s a good reason I mistakenly referred to the upcoming LG Optimus Exceed as the Lucid Exceed in a recent tweet: the handset really is little more than a prepaid version of the original LG Lucid, whose sequel is now going for free on contract as part of a Mother’s Day promotion at Verizon. Along with the Optimus Zone (a.k.a. last year’s Optimus L3), Optimus Exceed will hit Big Red as a prepaid-only option, even carrying nearly the same model number (VS840PP) as its forebear. Even though the Lucid is currently retired, it still holds some value as an off-contract device, so expect to shell out not more than $100 for the aging handset.

Want a Verizon Galaxy S4? You’ll need to wait until May

Seth Weintraub

Spint and T-Mobile showed their hand earlier this week. Verizon’s isn’t looking good but they do have more LTE than everyone else combined so good things come to those who wait.