The Telecom Digest
Sunday, 21 Aug 2022
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Message-ID: <tdpjqe$1perg$1@dont-email.me>
Date: 20 Aug 2022 05:18:35 +0200
From: "Marco Moock" <mo01@remove-this.posteo.de>
Subject: Re: Verizon want to give me a free phone, or maybe not
Am Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:15:57 +0000
schrieb Bill Horne <malaQRMssimilation@gmail.com>:
> A few weeks ago, Someone commented that some phones are labelled "4G"
> but only have "4G" data capabilities, and only "3G" voice capabil-
> ities. My wife's phone, IIRC, is an LG 930 AT - what Verizon calls an
> "LG Spectrum 2" in the lists of devices I own that are going to stop
> working at the end of this year, right after the elections in the U.S.
That is a really old device: Android(tm) 2.3 OS is out of support for
years. It also didn't receive any security updates for years. It
should be also impossible to install any recent apps or browse the
web.
Many people already threw away such a device, so the amount of affected
customers is very low.
Additionally, it would be interesting how they find out that a device
is incompatible: I know 2 ways: By the device model number By the
technology it uses to connect (3G, 4G...). Have you checked which
protocol it uses? If it already uses 4G for data transmissions, it
should sill work.
> As for "network externders" stopping, well, that's kind of weird: you
> see, I own a network extender, which is a tiny cell site sitting on my
> shelf next to my Internet cable modem and my router, and it converts
> whatever kind of cell signal my wife's phone puts out into IP packets
> that are routed to Verizon over the Internet connection that I pay
> for, so it seems really odd to me that the network extender would stop
> working at the same time Verizon's cell towers stop offering "3G"
> service. After all, the network extender is still working, at least
> within a few feet of my home, and my wife's phone could stil use it if
> both were left alone. I assume is has something to do with generating
> more income for Verizon.
I don't know which protocol they use to bring the data into their
network, but there exist many IP tunneling protocols. Additionally,
such connections are sometimes encrypted, think about how many
algorithms and ciphers exist here. If the device doesn't receive any
software updates, it might be impossible to connect to their server
in future. Verizon won't care about this, they said it is discontinued.
Often it is necessary to cut off old things, because operating the
infrastructure becomes more complex. I can understand why they do
that, and it it also about money.
Be happy that it still works, but I don't recommend relying on that, it
might break in future.
Message-ID: <20220820151429.GA128204@telecomdigest.us> Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2022 15:14:29 +0000 From: Bill Horne <malassimQRMilation@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Verizon wants to give me a free phone, or maybe not On Sat, Aug 20, 2022 at 05:18:35AM +0200, Marco Moock wrote: > Am Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:15:57 +0000 > schrieb Bill Horne <malaQRMssimilation@gmail.com>: > > > A few weeks ago, Someone commented that some phones are labelled "4G" > > but only have "4G" data capabilities, and only "3G" voice capabil- > > ities. My wife's phone, IIRC, is an LG 930 AT - what Verizon calls an > > "LG Spectrum 2" in the lists of devices I own that are going to stop > > working at the end of this year, right after the elections in the U.S. > > That is a really old device: Android(tm) 2.3 OS is out of support for > years. It also didn't receive any security updates for years. It > should be also impossible to install any recent apps or browse the > web. If all my wife wants to do is use it to make phone calls, why would I care? > Many people already threw away such a device, so the amount of affected > customers is very low. My wife hasn't thrown her device away. Although I didn't buy it myself - it was a gift from one of my relaties - I think that if it says "4G LTE" on it, it should continue to work until the "4G LTE" network is turned off. > Additionally, it would be interesting how they find out that a device > is incompatible: I know 2 ways: By the device model number By the > technology it uses to connect (3G, 4G...). Have you checked which > protocol it uses? If it already uses 4G for data transmissions, it > should sill work. Verizon says that only "non-Volte" 4G phones will work. I assume that my wife's phone doesn't meet that requirement, and can't be adapted for it. I'd be delighted to find out I'm wrong. >> As for "network externders" stopping, well, that's kind of weird: you >> see, I own a network extender, which is a tiny cell site sitting on my >> shelf next to my Internet cable modem and my router, and it converts >> whatever kind of cell signal my wife's phone puts out into IP packets >> that are routed to Verizon over the Internet connection that I pay >> for, so it seems really odd to me that the network extender would stop >> working at the same time Verizon's cell towers stop offering "3G" >> service. After all, the network extender is still working, at least >> within a few feet of my home, and my wife's phone could stil use it if >> both were left alone. I assume is has something to do with generating >> more income for Verizon. > > I don't know which protocol they use to bring the data into their > network, but there exist many IP tunneling protocols. Additionally, > such connections are sometimes encrypted, think about how many > algorithms and ciphers exist here. If the device doesn't receive any > software updates, it might be impossible to connect to their server > in future. Verizon won't care about this, they said it is discontinued. Verizon won't care that I'm out the ~$270 the network extender cost me, either. > Often it is necessary to cut off old things, because operating the > infrastructure becomes more complex. I can understand why they do > that, and it it also about money. There used to be Gamewell fire alarm boxes on most street corners in the U.S. They were reliable, easy to use, and didn't require much maintenance. They were replaced so that everyone had to have a telephone and be able to call the 911 centers where a new group of civil servants sat at consoles that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, an expenditure which the politicians said would save lives and make everybody safer and increase efficiency, since callers could say what was wrong and therefore could be sent "only the resource that is needed." The fire departments were able to lay off their alarm operators and Morse Code operators (Each Gamewell box has a Morse Code key and sounder in it), and therefore justify spending millions of dollars on new and improved and more sexy radio systems that increased the profits of the companies which made massive campaign contributions to the politicians in the first place. The actuaries at the companies which underwrite home insurance were less impressed with the change: they raised the insurance rates of the areas that removed the Gamewell boxes, since the 911 system couldn't deal with immigrants whom did not have enough proficiency in English to describe the precise needs of a victim who was being robbed of air by a heart attack, as opposed to one whom had been robbed of money by a thief. The 911 dispatchers were told they would be taught Spanish to "cure" the problem, but not Kurdish or Urdu or Hebrew, so volunteer ambulance companies sprang up to address the needs of various ethnic groups - but they were not, for the most part, allowed to have 911 calls routed to their sites instead of to the 911 Public Safety Access Points where the "professional" operators had to guess at the languages they were hearing and try to add a linguist to the call to figure out precisely which resource was needed. > Be happy that it still works, but I don't recommend relying on that, it > might break in future. The last time it broke, I was able to get a used replacement on Ebay for about $35. Of course that's not good for the profits of the companies which sell the new and improved and more sexy sooper-dooper Wiz-Bang 10006se9x replacement models, but I was happy to have a basic phone that could be used without paying a thousand dollars extra. I think our public servants too often confuse the word "newer" with the word "better." I'll leave it to the readers to think about the reasons why. Bill -- (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) Message-ID: <20220820131226.GA127889@telecomdigest.us> Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:12:26 +0000 From: Bill Horne <malQRMassimilation@gmail.com> Subject: This is the year you need to buy a new phone - here's why Your old phone will miss out on networks old and new and that means you lose out, too By Chethan Rao Phones are one of the most personal things we own in the digital age, containing all the essential information we need while also letting us stay in touch with our friends and family. They're also a commodity and while smartphone manufacturers would like for customers to upgrade their devices every year, or even semi-annually, there are plenty of us out there who'd like to keep our phones for years at a time. While this is generally good practice, there are some looming downsides to keeping a phone you bought a few years ago past 2022. Yes, we're telling you to upgrade your phone and we've got reasons why. https://www.androidpolice.com/you-need-to-buy-a-new-phone/ Message-ID: <20220820133424.GA127989@telecomdigest.us> Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:34:24 +0000 From: Bill Horne <malQRMassimilation@gmail.com> Subject: CO: Teller County, Woodland Park officials working with Verizon to improve service during network transition By Pat Hill - Aug 16, 2022 With the interruption of cell service for Verizon wireless customers in the Woodland Park area, officials in Teller County and Woodland Park are seeking answers. The problem has been identified by Verizon as the transition between the company's updating the network from 3G to 5G. In the meantime, 3G users are receiving intermittent reception, especially on weekends. https://tinyurl.com/fydh8cnj Message-ID: <20220820134454.GA128127@telecomdigest.us> Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:44:54 +0000 From: Bill Horne <malQRMassimilation@gmail.com> Subject: 2G and 3G Switch Off Market The 2G and 3G Switch Off Market report identifies various key manufacturers of the market. It helps the reader understand the strategies and collaborations that players are focusing on combat competition in the market. The comprehensive report provides a significant microscopic look at the market. the global 2G and 3G Switch Off Market revenue of manufacturers, the global price of manufacturers, and production by manufacturers during the forecast period. ... About 2G and 3G Switch Off Market: The global 2G and 3G Switch Off market size was valued at USD 160179.47 million in 2021 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.12% during the forecast period, reaching USD 216139.39 million by 2027. https://tinyurl.com/yc4eef4b
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