Verizon and AT&T customers are reporting a major outage affecting international roaming access across the world. 

According to a post in the Verizon Reddit from overnight "There is a current outage for international roaming, seems like it's affecting T-Mobile and AT&T also." Multiple upvotes and comments to that effect seem to confirm that a multitude of Verizon customers are experiencing some kind of major outage, listing nations including Poland, Mexico, Colombia, and Croatia. Over on Verizon's Community networks, multiple users are reporting their overseas data isn't working in countries including the UK and Italy, as well as Prague, Morocco, and more. Likewise, one AT&T customer wrote: "I suddenly lost cellular service on my iphone.  I am abroad.  I have tried the chat but it says I need to verify my account and will send a text, which I do not receive given that I don't have cellular service."

As noted in the initial thread, this seems to be a cross-carrier issue. "Anyone else traveling outside of the US experiencing cellular data outage with AT&T," one X user posted. Yet another confirmed "Traveling abroad. Outage. No wireless cell service Anyone else having AT&T Verizon T-Mobile issues?" 

Downdetector's US website reveals a significant uptick in outage reports for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile in the last 24 hours, although users reporting issues with T-Mobile are more limited. 

Ongoing Verizon, AT&T outage

At least with regards to Verizon, it seems the company is aware of the issue. Multiple users report having spoken to the carrier about it, and as the initial report notes Verizon is aware, and doesn't seem to have a fix at hand. As this is an ongoing outage, we're still waiting for public confirmation from any of the carriers regarding the issue and what might be causing it. We've seen suggestions that multiple U.S. carriers being affected could indicate an issue with roaming telecommunications company Syniverse. 

We'll continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates when we get any. 

This story is updating, please keep refreshing the page...

It’s not often that you can grab yourself the holy trinity of portable Apple devices (the iPad, the Watch, the holy iPhone), but Verizon is currently looking to do just that. If you head over to the Verizon website now and add all three to your shopping cart, you’ll save an absolute bundle when you go to checkout.

That’s on all the iPhone colors as well, so you don’t need to worry about being restricted to just the Black or the White one — although you are a little more restricted when it comes to the Watch and the iPad.

The best Verizon deal, back again

• iPhone deals: Verizon | AT&T | Mint Mobile

If you’re looking for one of the best President’s Day Apple deals then you need look no further than this absolute monster. It’s super easy to get the saving, too — just head over to the iPhone 14 Plus product page and we’ll get started.

First, you’ll want to add the iPhone to the basket — choose your color, and then, to get the iPhone for free, choose the 128GB storage option. The next page is the data plan, and to get the deal, you’ll find a selection of the more expensive 5G plans on offer. Remember that you’ll be paying nothing for an iPhone, an iPad, and an Apple Watch, so the extra you’ll pay for the data will be more than mitigated by the rest of the deal.

Choose your plan, and then you can move on to the next step — iPad. The free iPad is the 9th gen iPad, or you can opt for $249 off one of the other iPad models. The remainder of those prices can be paid monthly. Once you’re on the iPad page, you can choose your color, and then the storage. Again, the free storage option is the 64GB option, or you can choose to pay a little more for the 256GB.

Then, you’ll need to choose the data plan for the iPad — both options will still get you the deal here. Finally, you can choose your Watch, the free option being the Apple Watch SE. If you want a more potent Watch, then you can opt to save money on one of the other options, but that only gives you $120 off. Choose your color, choose your size (the 44mm will cost you a grand 80 cents a month), and then choose your final data plan to the tune of $10 per month.

Et voila! You’ve got a free iPhone 14 Plus, a free iPad, and a free Watch for what is (let me just do some quick maths…) $1,508 worth of savings. Of course, there are bound to be more savings over the President’s Day weekend, but this is going to be one of the best that we see all year.

Apple’s Roadside Assistance via Satellite feature for iPhone now includes the Verizon Roadside Assistance program, the company has confirmed this week

Apple first added its satellite safety capability to the iPhone 14 with Emergency SOS, which lets users communicate with emergency services via satellites when they don't have cell service. In September, the company unveiled its brand new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, and added the aforementioned Roadside Assistance feature, which leverages the same satellites to connect you to a breakdown service should you need it. The first company Apple partnered with was AAA, and now Verizon Roadside Assistance customers can also get in on the act. Apple confirmed the change in a support document, first spotted by MacRumors. 

The Verizon Roadside Assistance subscription is $4.99 per line per month. According to Verizon’s website, it includes the following as part of the service: 

• Towing up to 10 miles in a coverage area
• Tire change
• Battery jump-start and car lockout service
• Fuel delivery
• With Apple's Roadside Assistance via satellite, also get assistance when you are in a non-coverage area.

AAA, on the other hand, offers a ‘Basic’ plan with fuel delivery, flat tire service, towing, and more for around $6-$7 a month, a ‘Plus’ plan with passport photos, and better versions of the basic services for around $10-$11 a month, and a ‘Premier’ plan with all of the above, plus home lockout service, a rental car with tow, and more for around $12-$14 a month. 

Better assistance — iMore’s take

For a service like this, one that is an emergency, iPhone users only ever benefit from more available options. For Apple to offer the best roadside assistance to its customers, it needs to let customers access it through their own unique plans and subscriptions, and adding Verizon as a partner is a great sign for the future of the service. 

Up until now, anyone who was already on a Verizon plan and lost all connection would have to wait to get it back or for a stranger to pass by and help. This is ineffective and loses out on one of the great features of the best iPhones. Hopefully, we’ll see more roadside assistance plans come to the service in the future. 

More from iMore

• Here's how your iPhone 14 & 15 can get you roadside assistance even when there's no cell service
• iPhone 15 can call AAA even when you're off the grid thanks to this new feature
• Verizon publishes strong report for Q4

An iPad, an iPhone, and an iPad are like the holy trinity of Apple products – and at the moment, you can bag all three for free at Verizon. There's an iPhone 13, iPad 9th generation, and an Apple Watch SE 2022 on offer here, and while you'll have to opt for one of the slightly more expensive Unlimited data plans, you'll save bundles in the device costs.

You'll even get $200 if you switch from another provider to spend in the Verizon store, as well as $70 off a pair of Beats headphones.

The bundle to end all bundles

• iPhone deals: Verizon | AT&T | Mint Mobile

The iPhone 13 and the iPad 9th Generation might not be the newest devices on the block, but they are super solid devices that remain excellent options if you want Apple hardware for less. The Apple Watch SE is the 2022 model, the latest to be released alongside the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra.

It's super easy to make use of the deal as well. Just head over to the iPhone 13 product page on the Verizon website, and hit 'add' on the deal box under 'ways to save'. Continue with the purchase process as normal, and choose your data plan. You'll have to choose one for each device, so bear that in mind as you construct your bundle. At the end of it all, you'll have a new iPhone, a new iPad, and a new Apple – and you'll only have to pay for the data. Don't forget to grab one of the best iPhone cases afterward to make sure that your new iPhone is protected.

The iPhone 13 may not be the newest iPhone on the block, but it's still a solid handset. It's also, currently, free at Verizon. No need for a down payment, no trading in an old, beat-up device, just a free iPhone 13. That's the 128GB version of the phone, so there'll be plenty of storage on board, and all the colors are in the deal too.

There are just a couple of things to remember about this deal – it is only for a new line, so you're going to have open a new one rather than upgrade an old line. You'll also have to select one of the 5G unlimited plans, which you must pay monthly. It's also exclusive to online customers, so you won't be able to stroll into a store and get the offer. This is an incredible deal on one of the best iPhones ever, so make sure you don't miss out. Head over to the Verizon website to get started.

Free iPhone 13

• iPhone deals: Verizon | AT&T | Mint Mobile

It's super easy to grab this deal. Head over to the iPhone 13 page on the Verizon website, and choose the color phone you like. The deal is preselected, so you won't have to worry about that. Hit 'continue', and the phone will be added to your basket. Choose your data plan, check to make sure everything is correct, and you're off to the races.

The iPhone 13 is still one of our favorite iPhones, and it stacks up well next to the new iPhone 14. It may not be quite as potent, but put the two handsets side by side and almost everyone would have a tricky time telling them apart. Make sure you protect your new iPhone with one of the best iPhone 13 cases and then stick one of the best iPhone 13 screen protectors on to seal the deal.

The iPhone 14 Plus is the bigger of the two flagship iPhones, with a 6.7-inch display. It's usually more expensive than the iPhone 14 as well, although at the moment you can grab one for only $5 a month from Verizon. You'll have to go for one of Verizon's slightly more expensive 5G unlimited plans, but even then the savings are worth the little extra - and you'll get bucketloads of data.

If you're looking for another iPhone model, we know where to find all the best iPhone 14 deals and iPhone 14 Pro deals. There are plenty of deals to be found out there, although they are mostly on contracts.

iPhone 14 Plus for less than an iPhone 14

• iPhone deals: Verizon | AT&T | Mint Mobile

The iPhone 14 Plus is, in essence, a bigger iPhone 14. Much like the iPhone 13 mini it (strangely) replaces, it's the same internals in a differently-sized handset. In this case, for those who want a bigger screen. This deal makes it the cheapest it's ever been if you haven't got an older iPhone to trade in. Previously, there have been trade-in discounts, but at the moment it seems those have finished.

The big bonus here is that you can add a free Apple Watch SE to the deal. You'll still have to pay for the data contract on the little watch, but the device is free. Similarly, if you add the $200 off an iPad (2021) into the mix, then you'll save on the iPad itself, but still, have to pay for the iPad data contract. So that's a phone, an Apple Watch, and an iPad for a great deal.

The best way to save money on a new iPhone 14 Pro is often to go with a contract deal, and this remains one of the best we've seen. If you trade in an old iPhone or another handset at Verizon, you'll get up to $1000 off a new iPhone 14 Pro. To make things even better, if you switch from a different provider, Verizon will even toss in $200 to be spent in its store. So you can grab a pair of earbuds or put it towards an Apple Watch.

There are other deals over at Verizon as well, including this incredible Verizon Christmas deal that gives you over $1900 worth of free stuff.

Save up to $1000 on an iPhone 14 Pro when you trade in at Verizon

• iPhone deals: Verizon | AT&T | Mint Mobile

The iPhone 14 Pro is the new iPhone to go for this year, with a beefier processor and the new Dynamic Island at the top of the screen. It's a gorgeous slab of metal and glass, with an almighty camera bump on the back.

A camera bump that needs a great deal of protection, so make sure you've got one of the best cases for the iPhone 14 Pro. Fancy one of the other iPhones? We know where to find all the best iPhone deals and sales.

There are plenty of ways to get a cheap iPhone, but one of the best ways is to grab one of Verizon's iPhone deals. There are deals all year round, but over the holiday season, you'll start to see the big guns come out. There were some smashing deals over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and there are sure to be some big ones in the run-up to Christmas. Look out for great offers on Apple Watches and other stocking stuffings as well, so there is a deal for everyone.

Important to note that these deals are for new customers only (sorry Verizon faithful!). You're going to need to open a new line to get the best prices here, and there are bonus deals if you're transferring your old details across from your current provider. There are deals here on everything from the newest iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max all the way to massive savings on the iPhone 13 and 12 models. Whatever happens, make sure you're getting a great deal over the holidays.

Verizon deals at a glance

• $200 Verizon credit when you switch
• Buy an iPhone and get $800 off another
• Bring your own phone and get up to $500 Verizon gift card
• Get up to $1000 off iPhone 14 Pro with trade-in
• Get $120 off an Apple Watch purchase with an iPhone
• Get an iPad for as low as $8 per month with a new line and iPhone purchase

iPhone contracts and plans

Directly below, you'll find the best deals on the latest iPhones, from the iPhone 14 Pro to the iPhone 14, that you can buy from Verizon. All of these plans are available for all the different handsets, but we've matched them up with their best fits.

iPhone deals and offers at Verizon

You can save a lot of money when you trade in an old phone at Verizon - in some cases, it might even get you your phone for free. Buy two phones and get one of them with money off as well - great if you're looking to stock a family with new phones.

Add-on deals

You can also get extras when you buy a phone from Verizon, with savings on iPads and smart watches. Note that you can't have multiple of these offers on one line - you'll have to choose one.

Verizon tablet deals

You can always buy an iPad up front, but this way you'll pay for it with a monthly contract so that you can pay for it at the same time as your data plan. An iPad paid like this will cost more in the long run, but save you money up front.

Verizon home deals

Verizon doesn't just offer mobile contracts and iPhones - you can also get your home internet through it too. You'll save money here by having both a phone contract as well as home contract, so for the cheapest prices we'd recommend getting both. It will depend on the coverage, but you can pop on over to the Verizon Home website to find out more.

Anyone looking to take the Verizon network for a spin can do so right now, with Verizon Test Drive giving them 100GB of 5G data via a free eSIM.

The Test Drive program will not only allow people to connect to the Verizon network for free but also give them access to the Ultra Wideband 5G network, the normal 5G network, and of course, the 4G network — the one most people will probably see — on which to splurge that 100GB.

A free lunch

Alongside those globs of data, Verizon says that people who use Test Drive will also get unlimited talk time and unlimited texts — for talking to your Android friends, of course.

Getting up and running is absurdly simple. First, you'll need an iPhone with eSIM support — that's the iPhone XS all the way to the iPhone 14 — and then you head to the Test Drive webpage and scan the QR code with your camera.

You won't need to go through a credit check, and there are no billing details to enter. So it is free, and it is easy. And people say eSIMs are bad!

There are, of course, caveats, as The Verge notes. For example, you can't have already been a Verizon customer in the last 12 months, and the phone you're using can't have already been on its network within the previous year.

Of course, if you're using an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro in the United States, it's eSIM or nothing for you. There's no denying how easy an eSIM makes trying new networks out. However, international travelers still have concerns about whether getting a local eSIM will be as easy as picking up a bit of plastic from the first store they come to.

This iPhone 14 Pro deal over at Verizon is an absolute steal, and excellent for families looking to get a couple of iPhones. You'll save over $800 at Verizon on the iPhone 14 Pro when you buy two phones, meaning you'll pay a whole bundle less than you would normally. This deal is only available with certain unlimited 5G plans, but you're unlikely to notice the extra on the monthly plan when you're paying so much less for the phone.

This deal comes in the run-up to Black Friday - and we're tracking all the early Black Friday Apple deals as they happen. We're also looking forward to all the Black Friday Verizon iPhone deals as well - this is the best time of the year to buy a new iPhone after all!

In order to make use of this deal, you're going to want to head over to the iPhone 14 Pro product page on the Verizon website, and find the offers section. There, select the second deal along, and continue with your purchase up to the basket screen. Here, you'll receive the option to add another device - pop another iPhone 14 Pro in the basket, select a 5G unlimited plan for both devices, and then rejoice in those savings in the final basket. Job done, and money saved.

Massive monthly savings on iPhone 14 Pro

• More iPhone 14 Pro deals: Verizon | AT&T | Mint | Visible

The iPhone 14 Pro is a fabulous device - a gorgeous slab of glass and metal, packed with all the latest goodies. It is, of course, also very expensive, so deals like this are super helpful when you want to buy one. We also know where to find the best iPhone 14 Pro deals elsewhere. You're going to want to protect your new phone too, so make sure to check out the best iPhone 14 Pro cases and best iPhone 14 Pro screen protectors as well.

So most of the iPhone 14 Pro Max deals are pretty expensive, right? The base 128GB version will set you back $1099 if you buy it outright, and it can cost an arm and a leg when you go for a contract. 

Thankfully, you needn't pay full price for an iPhone 14 Pro Max with Verizon - if you trade in your old phone, you could get $1000 towards the price of a new one. That won't pay completely for the phone but will leave you with only $100 to pay, which is broken up over the course of a 36-month contract - you'll pay $2.77 a month. This deal is only available to new Verizon customers.

It's really easy to grab the iPhone 14 Pro Max trade-in deal - It's pretty clearly signposted on the iPhone 14 Pro Max product page on Verizon's website. Under the 'add a new line' section of the page, you'll find all the deals available for the handset - you're going to want the first one. Click add, and then you'll be asked for your phone details. Pop those in, hit confirm, and then go on with the rest of the purchase process. You'll have to send your old phone in once you're all sorted, and then you'll get that big saving.

Save up to $1000 on an iPhone 14 Pro Max

If you decide to pounce on this epic saving, don't ruin it all by letting your new iPhone get damaged. Take a look at our guides to the best iPhone 14 Pro Max cases and iPhone 14 Pro Max screen protectors to keep the phone in great condition and maximize your trade-in next time around too.

Trying to find other prices on the iPhone 14 Pro Max? We know where the best iPhone 14 Pro Max deals are. Don't forget that Black Friday is on the horizon, too - here are the best Black Friday iPhone deals we think you can expect.

Fancy grabbing a new iPhone 14? If you trade in your old phone with Verizon, you could get up to $800 off one of Apple's latest iPhones. That full amount of $800 will pay completely for a 128GB iPhone, which, let's face it, is plenty of storage for pretty much everyone. You'll have to make sure your phone is in decent condition to get the full amount, but we've had lots of luck with even older devices getting the entire $800. You have to be a new customer, but this iPhone 14 deal is not one to be missed.

iPhone 14 for free with trade-in at Verizon

It's super easy to make use of Verizon's trade-in program. On Verizon's iPhone 14 product page, you'll want to scroll on down to the 'ways to save' section and then find the first offer. Hit add, put all your phone details in, and you'll get the amount that you should get for your phone. Keep in mind that this amount is an estimate - when Verizon takes a look at your phone, that amount may change depending on the condition of the device. You'll have to select one of the Unlimited plans as well, but with those, you'll get all the internet, calls, and texts you could ask for.

The iPhone 14 is Apple's latest flagship, arriving in some incredible colors and with a slightly improved battery. If you want to make sure you're getting the best price, then compare the best iPhone 14 deals. Fancy a different device? We know where to find all the best iPhone deals too.

Apple fans with a Verizon subscription just got something pretty ace - the option to add the Apple One subscription service to the contracts. Its something that's been available on other networks for a little while, such as UK network EE. It offers the full gamut of Apple services, including Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Music and iCloud saving a little along the way. It currently looks to be something that's replacing the Disney plus subscription that you could previously add.

All the bits for a little extra

Actually, it's more than a little extra. This is an expensive addition to your phone contract by the looks of things, with the plan costing around the same as the '5G Get More' plan. It'll cost around $100 a month, and you'll get a little less mobile hotspot data than the most expensive plan, along with that Apple One subscription. You will, however, receive unlimited 5G data, up to 50% off a watch, tablet or hotspot plan.

Of course, you'll have to pay for your phone on top of this plan, so this definitely isn't 'cheap'. It could save you a lot of money, however, especially given the extra cell service you're receiving. There's, according to Verizon, '$39.95/ month value' included, although it doesn't outright say how much you save - so we worked it out!

The coverage in the contract package is around the same level as that you'd get in the 5G Get More package, albeit with slightly less hotspot data. It slips in somewhere between the Get More and the Play More packages, in fact - so in essence, you'll get the Apple One subscription for about $5. That's not too shabby at all.

Of course, you may want to bear this in mind if you're looking to get an iPhone 14, and that little bit of extra savings on a watch might be good if you've got your eye on an Apple Watch Series 8.

What you need to know

• Verizon is increasing the price of its wireless plans as part of an "economic adjustment charge."
• Some plans are increasing by more than $2 per month.

Verizon is hiking the price of its wireless plans from June in what it calls an "economic adjustment charge," according to reports.

The move will see people spend more on the plans that they already have at a time when inflation continues to bite hard. The news also comes two weeks after competitor AT&T made a similar price alteration.

Bloomberg was the first to confirm that the price hike was taking place, with business customers set to pay $2.20 per month more than they are now. Notably, bills will see individual prices remain the same with a new charge being added.

While the change might not kick in until the middle of next month for some, Verizon began warning customers of the price change this week. And even though customers will be less than thrilled by the news, the same can't be said for Verizon shareholders — Bloomberg reports that the company's stock price increased by 1.2% at one point following the news — erasing a price decline that was previously seen.

Verizon is of course far from the only company increasing prices at a time when people are feeling the pinch throughout the United States. Verizon will remain one of the best iPhone carriers around regardless of the price increase, but it will still be a bitter pill to swallow for its customers.

What you need to know

• Verizon has announced HBO Max is joining its +play platform.
• People will be able to manage their HBO Max subscription alongside that of other services.
• Disney+, Netflix, Peloton, and others are already part of the Verizon +play platform.

Verizon has announced that HBO Max has joined its +play platform, allowing customers to manage their subscription alongside that of other streamers.

The +play platform is a new way for people to manage subscriptions across various companies including Disney+ and Netflix. Now. HBO Max has joined the party according to a new press release.

Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that people will be able to Get HBO Max for free as part of their Verizon plan — they'll simply now be able to manage their subscription alongside that of other companies. Verizon does offer free Apple Arcade and Apple Music depending on the plan that you have, however.

What you need to know

• Verizon is expanding its mid-band 5G coverage to 30 more cities.
• It also plans to expand its 5G coverage from 100 to 175 million people by the end of 2022.

Verizon is expanding its 5G technology to more cities next year.

In a press release, the company announced that it will be deploying 5G Ultra Wideband in at least thirty new markets in the United States inlcuding Atlanta, Baltimore, Washington DC, and Denver.

The company says that it plans to expand its coverage from 100 million people to 175 million people by the end of this year. Kyle Malady, EVP and President of Global Network and Technology, said that Verizon has been able to expand 5G coverage ahead of its original schedule because of "driving more efficiency and coverage from the C-band spectrum."

With the expansion, customers with the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and new iPhone SE will be able to access the new speeds. Just keep in mind that Verizon's Ultra Wideband 5G actually falls into the mid-band speeds rather than the highest mmWave speeds.

What you need to know

• Verizon is expanding its 5G Ultra Wideband to 100 million people this month.
• 1,700 cities will be covered by the super-fast 5G connections.
• New plans have also been announced.

Verizon says that it is bringing its 5G Ultra Wideband to 100 million people this month, with 1,700 cities set to get access to the super-fast cellular data connections. Verizon points out that by the time it'd done, it will have bathed almost one in three Americans in 5G Ultra Wideband goodness.

Announced via press release, the news means that more people will be able to enjoy download speeds of up to one gigabit per second as well as increased capacity for "data-heavy actions from multiple devices at one time." That means your family of iPhone 13 owners should still be able to stream whatever it wants even in a congested area.

Arguably the bigger news is a raft of new unlimited plans for phone, home, and business users. One in particular — Verizon says the offering is its "best plan ever — is well worth checking out.

For your phone: With our 5G Get More, 5G Play More and 5G Do More plans, you'll get speeds up to 10x faster than what you have now at the same price as today's plans, so you can download a movie in minutes or a song in seconds.5 You'll want to check out our best plan ever, the 5G Get More plan, which includes:

• Unlimited premium data
• One day of International Travel Pass per month
• 50 GB hotspot data - the most mobile hotspot data offered by any wireless provider
• Six entertainment subscriptions included at no additional cost
• The best part? You can also get 5G Home Internet for 50% off

That could well be one of the best iPhone plans out there especially if you're a heavy data user. You can learn more about the new plans on the Verizon website.

What you need to know

• Both AT&T and Verizon have agreed to delay the expansion of their 5G networks for two weeks.
• The FAA, among others, had requested that the carriers delay their work over flight safety concerns.
• Some worry that the use of the C-bend spectrum could cause problems with systems mid-flight.

Both AT&T and Verizon have agreed to delay the expansion of their 5G networks for two weeks at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration and airline companies. The expansion would have seen the 5G networks be upgraded with C-band spectrum on January 5, but that will now no longer happen.

According to Cnet, the delay comes after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also requested a delay amid concerns that use of C-band 5G connections could impact inflight navigation systems, with potentially dire consequences.

Carriers have already proposed that cell towers operate with lower power levels to ensure they don't impact flights, while towers near airports would also see their power levels reduced yet further. However, those concessions have yet to appease airlines and those in the aviation industry, hence this latest delay.

The delay reduces the risk of legal action but doesn't guarantee a positive outcome for all concerned. Carriers paid handsomely to use frequencies from 3.7 to 3.98GHz for their upgraded 5G connections and will no doubt want to make use of them sooner rather than later.

Apple's iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 both support 5G connectivity, of course, as do all Android flagship devices.

What you need to know

• Both T-Mobile and Verizon have canned rebate programs related to iPads.
• Customers were previously eligible for a $200 rebate.
• Both carriers have had problems with the offer and customers have struggled to get their money.

Carriers T-Mobile and Verizon have canned iPad rebate programs that were supposed to give people money back when they signed up for service. The programs have come in for criticism of late, with customers saying that it simply didn't work and that getting the money was problematic.

Both T-Mobile and Verizon have now canceled the iPad rebate programs, as first spied by MacRumors. Of course, based on previous reports, it's debatable as to whether the programs ever ran in the first place.

Far from the best iPad experience, the programs saw customers refused their rebate for various reasons with some finding that the carriers simply had no idea what the offer was, despite it being advertised on Apple's website. Given the poor publicity the deal has been garnering, it isn't immediately clear whether the carriers or Apple are behind the reason for its end.

The programs have been running since the launch of the refreshed iPad Pro last year. Apple no longer mentions the rebate programs on its own website.

Verizon Fios uses a fiber-optic connection to deliver massive speed improvements over cable. If that weren't enough of a reason to make the switch, if you sign up online, you'll save the $99 setup fee and Verizon will give you a free Nest Hub Max. This Black Friday Fios deal also comes with 12 months of Disney+ and AMC+ and whole-home Wi-Fi coverage.

If you've been paying attention to the best HomeKit Black Friday deals you'll have seen just how many devices we're adding to our homes that rely on fast internet connections. Verizon's Fios home internet service offers speeds up to 940Mbps down and 880Mbps. If you're using cable for your internet, you're not getting these kinds of upload speeds.

Switching internet providers can be a pain but if you rely on your connection, the extra speed alone will be worth the switch. Still, if you still need to be convinced, Verizon is offering new customers for Gigabit Fios a free Nest Home Max. If you don't want anything Google in your house, you can also choose a $200 Verizon gift card instead.

Verizon also includes 12 months of Disney+ and AMC+ with your new plan. Not only that, but whole-home Wi-Fi is included with the fastest package.

Upgrade to fiber with Fios and get over $300 in freebies for your trouble

Verizon Fios has three speed tiers. The slowest 200Mbps plan only comes with a $50 Verizon Gift card instead of the Nest Hub Max. Still, at $40 per month, it's a great value especially when you consider that your upload speeds match your download speeds. This means you can stream to Twitch or YouTube at 1080p 60 FPS or higher without dropping frames or losing quality. IF you want a bit more, the 400Mbps plan is plenty for most families and it comes with a $100 Verizon gift card.

The gigabit plan is optimal for large families or simply those who want to be sure they always have plenty of speed on deck whether they need to send or receive large files. Plus, the gigabit plan comes with 2TB of Verizon Cloud storage so you can back up your files at high speed.

If you're a Verizon Wireless customer, you can also save up to $20 per month on your plan.

Buying a new smartphone outright can leave quite a dent in your bank account balance, but many of the best iPhone deals at carriers can score you a new device for just a few dollars per month! Verizon is known for having some of the best deals on new phones out there, and with its latest offer on the iPhone 11, now's an excellent time to make the purchase.

While supplies last, Verizon is offering the iPhone 11 for free when you add a new line on an eligible Unlimited plan. Today's deal includes the 64GB device in every colorway including Black, White, Green, Red, and more. Alternatively, you can choose a 128GB or 256GB device for just $2.08 per month or $6.25 per month respectively. Verizon even offers a $150 discount on the Apple Watch when purchased alongside this device.

Of course, today's iPhone 11 deal is just one of many excellent offers Verizon has available right now. For instance, you can save up to $800 on select smartphones when trading in another device. Plus, those who are switching to Verizon from another carrier can earn up to $500 more in the process. Then again, those who bring a device they already own to use on Verizon's network can score $350 back with select Unlimited plans.

In our iPhone 11 review, the device scored a nearly perfect rating and even though it's since been outshined by the iPhone 12, there's still a lot to love about this phone as well. Take a look at our iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12 guide for an in-depth look at the differences between the two models.

What you need to know

• The Verizon Fios TV app is coming to Apple TV.
• The company is also launching a new Mix & Match service on Fios plans.

Verizon has today announced that its Fios TV app is coming to Apple TV as well as Amazon Fire TV, as the company launches a new Mix & Match feature for its Fios plans.

Starting from Thursday, Verizon is launching a new Mix & Match feature for Fios plans that will let customers sign up flexibly to parts of its Fios service:

The company has also announced that it is making its Fios TV app available on Apple TV as well as Amazon Fire TV, stating:

The new Fios TV app for Apple TV, as well as Mix & Match options for Fios, will be available from Thursday, July 22.

What you need to know

• Verizon is enabling RCS on all Android phones by shipping them with Android Messages.
• RCS is the replacement for SMS, but Apple is set to be the odd one out.

Verizon has today announced a move that will see all of its future Android phones ship with Android Messages, enabling RCS as default for everyone. RCS is the replacement for the outgoing SMS platform and enables features like encryption, better message support, and more. But Apple isn't in on the act.

Verizon's announcement means that the big three major US carriers now all support RCS as standard on Android phones, with T-Mobile and AT&T having already signed on.

This all of course leaves Apple as the only one still using SMS when iPhone users send messages to people with Android devices. Those sending messages to iPhone users will take advantage of iMessage and all the features that brings with it.

Whether Apple will support RCS via the Messages app in the future remains to be seen, but Google has already put the pressure on by reminding everyone that sending messages from iPhones to Android phones won't be as good of an experience as sending them between Android devices.

In an ideal world we'd all just use the same service and protocols, but with Apple clearly not keen to bring iMessage to Android, RCS is the best way forward in many regards.

What you need to know

• Verizon is offering up to a year of free Apple Arcade to new and existing customers.
• The length of your freebie depends on the plan you're on.

Verizon today announced that it is now offering up to a year of free Apple Arcade access depending on the plan you're paying for. The offer is available to both new and exisitng users.

Priced at $4.99 per month, the freebie would be worth as much as $60 which isn't to be sniffed at. However, it's also worth noting that Apple is offering a free three months of Apple Arcade to new users right now, too.

Verizon's offer is contigent based on which plan you're on, with the free Apple Arcade offer beginning officially on May 25.

Anyone saving big on a new Apple Arcade subscription could do far worse than spend that extra cash on one of the best game controllers for iPhone, as selected by the iMore team. Go on, it's time you gave yourself a treat, right?

Getting your hands on a new iPhone 12 Pro is even more affordable this month thanks to one of the latest deals now available at Verizon. Regularly priced at $1,000, the iPhone 12 Pro is one of the best new iPhone models in years though it's also one of the priciest. Right now Verizon is offering its customers the chance to pick one up for free when you buy another at regular price with monthly device payments and add a line on an Unlimited plan. That means you can grab two today for just $33.33 monthly.

New customers switching to Verizon can also pick up a $200 prepaid Mastercard when switching to Verizon and choosing an Unlimited plan, though you must port-in your current number to score this offer. Verizon will also throw in a free Stream TV for those who switch and port-in their number.

You can save an additional $800 on today's purchase when you trade-in an eligible device at Verizon. Even if your phone is old or damaged, as long as it's free of battery issues like swelling or leaking, you can trade it in for a discount on a new device.

Here at iMore, we were stunned at the iPhone 12 Pro's performance during our review of the device from late last year. Though it's not a huge upgrade over the standard iPhone 12, it's certainly a noticeable improvement upon older devices with its improved industrial design, 5G connectivity, and Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras that can capture truly gorgeous photographs. This version of Apple's iPhone is equipped with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display that has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and haptic touch. It even offers some water protection and is rated IP68.

Be sure to check out our full review of the iPhone 12 Pro for more information on how this device stands up to daily use and then head to Verizon to snag this offer before it comes to an end later this month,

With Mother's Day quickly approaching, retailers across the nation are beginning to offer a range of special deals to help you save on an excellent gift for mom. This year, Verizon is going above and beyond with big discounts on new smartphones, accessories, and more — and they're not solely available for new customers, either.

While a few of Verizon's latest deals require you to be a new customer, many are available for existing customers such as this offer for a free iPhone XR. Regularly priced at $500, this device can be yours for free just by adding a new line to your account.

Meanwhile, today's iPhone 12 mini deal at Verizon is one of the few that's only for new subscribers. If you switch to Verizon from another carrier and port-in the number you already have, you can score the iPhone 12 mini for free by activating a new line on an Unlimited plan.

Another deal at Verizon scores you the iPhone 12 Pro for free when you buy another at regular price and add a new line on an Unlimited plan. That's the perfect way to get both mom and yourself the latest device and stay connected without shelling out full cost for each of them. Alternatively, if you're only looking for a single device today, you can trade-in an eligible old or damaged phone and earn up to $800 towards the iPhone 12 Pro's purchase instead.

Though Verizon's iPhone deals for Mother's Day end there, that's not all Verizon has to offer for mom's special day. For instance, you'll save 10% on select items when using promo code MOTHERSDAY at checkout or $100 off select prepaid phones with promo code CELEBRATE. Other deals include $50 off the AirPods Pro and 25% off Case-Mate, Coach, and Kate Spade cases. Most of Verizon's deals for Mother's Day come to an end that same night, May 9, so be sure to shop soon if you don't want to miss the opportunity to save.

What you need to know

• Verizon is recalling 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack hotspots over a potential fire risk.
• The models MHS900L, MHS900LS, and MHS900LPP are affected.

Verizon is recalling 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack hotspots because they get too hot, potentially causing a fire if left to their own devices.

First spotted by MacRumors, Verizon and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are working together on the recall with the carrier saying that three particular models are affected.

While a recall is now in operation and free replacements are being offered, Verizon also notes that there have been two software updates pushed out that should help alleviate the problem.

Verizon also says that you should make sure your hotspot is adequately ventilated and that you aren't exposing it to high temperatures, too.

Anyone looking for more information can find it on the web or by calling 855-205-2627, Verizon says.

Of course, all of this could be avoided if you just picked up one of the best mobile hotspots available, instead. Another option is to use the Instant Hotspot feature on your iPhone instead.

What you need to know

• Verizon is launching what it claims to be a legitimate new offer on April Fools Day.
• New and existing customers can trade in a broken iPhone for a new one.

Verizon is launching a too-good-to-be-true offer on April Fools Day but, according to the company, it is not a joke at all.

In a press release, the company has announced that new and existing customers can trade in a cracked or water damaged phone and still get up to $1000 towards a new one.

The company says that most of its retail stores are now open and customers can redeem the offer at a physical location. Of course, retail locations are still following the proper COVID-19 protocols where required.

While plenty of companies tend to pull jokes on April Fools Day, this one from Verizon seems to be quite legitimate. If so, it's one of the best offers you'll find and a great way to upgrade your broken iPhone to a new iPhone 12.

If you're wondering what the best iPhone is for you, check out our list of the Best iPhone of 2021.

Get started with your trade-in at Verizon

When it comes to buying a new iPhone, carrier deals can be one of the smartest ways to make the purchase. Rather than shelling out a thousand dollars for your new device, buying through a carrier like Verizon Wireless allows you to make monthly payments and lessens the impact of the purchase on your bank acount — not to mention there are some stellar deals to be had if you're keeping an eye out.

Thanks to a weekend-long flash sale at Verizon, now's the time to buy if you've been wanting to get your hands on a new device. Among several new deals is an offer that can score you $1,000 off the iPhone 11 Pro when you buy another at regular price with monthly payments while adding a line on an Unlimited plan. Considering the iPhone 11 Pro costs $999.99 when purchased brand new, today's deal means you'll be scoring the second phone for free. This offer is available to new and current Verizon Wireless customers, though be sure to shop soon as the deal ends this Sunday night.

Today's deal is only available on the 64GB model of the iPhone 11 Pro. Then again, if you're about to be a new Verizon Wireless customer and switching from another carrier, there are several other free phone deals at Verizon to consider. One offer could score you the 64GB iPhone SE completely free — all you have to do is add a new line on an Unlimited plan. Select non-iOS devices are eligible for this offer as well.

Verizon has several excellent accessory deals available for a limited time too, including an offer that can lets you save $150 on the Beats Studio 3 Wireless Headphones and another that's taking 50% off power accessories and 25% off cases & screen protectors. Be sure to take a look at the rest of Verizon's latest deals when you get the chance and check out before Sunday night hits!

Verizon's latest sale on accessories is making it even more affordable to load up on new gadgets to improve your experience with your iPhone. Whether you're in need of a new protective phone case, or just a stylish one... if you need a Bluetooth speaker or a new wireless charger... maybe you're searching for on-ear headphones or true wireless earbuds? No matter the circumstance, Verizon has you covered.

Along with instant discounts on popular products like the Brydge Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Air and the Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones, Verizon is offering up to 40% off regular-priced accessories right now as well! You'll save 30% instantly when you add three regular-priced accessories to your cart, 35% on four accessories, or 40% on five or more!

One deal that ends later tonight is one that could save iPad Pro owners over $25 on a new Apple Pencil. The second generation Apple Pencil is on sale for only $103.99 right now, though you must add it to your cart to see the discount. Another excellent discount lets you save $250 on an Apple Watch when you buy another at regular price, with an additional $150 in savings when purchased alongside a new iPhone. You'll even score six months of Apple Fitness+ free with the purchase.

Verizon's store has an entire selection of wireless chargers, power banks, and other accessories you can buy on sale today. For instance, this Verizon Wireless Charging Pad is now 50% off dropping its price down to just $24.99, or you can snag a 2-pack at an additional $5 discount. Ever worried about your phone reaching 0% battery level while you're using it for navigation in the car? This Verzion Car Charger on sale for $10 will ensure your phone stays powered up for the ride — and it even has dual USB ports so you can charge two devices simultaneously.

Other accessory deals you can score today at Verizon include:

• Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones on sale for $199.99
• Brydge Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Air 10.5 and 10.5-inch iPad Pro now $70 off
• JBL Tune 120 In-Ear Headphones down to $60
• JBL Link 10 Voice-Activated Speaker discounted by $80
• 25% off select screen protectors and cases

What you need to know

• Verizon has launched the "5G Fleet Swap" program with Apple.
• Business customers can swap out their entire smartphone fleet for new iPhone 12 models.

In a press release, Verizon has announced a partnership with Apple called Verizon 5G Fleet Swap, a program that allows business customers to trade in their entire fleet of smartphones from any carrier and upgrade to any iPhone 12 model for "zero upfront cost, with zero to low cost per month."

Susan Prescott, Apple's Vice President of Markets, Apps and Services, says that the program will allow businesses to "build transformational mobile apps that take advantage of the powerful iPhone 12 lineup and 5G."

Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business, says that the program is "not just an investment for growth, it's what will set a business's future trajectory as technology continues to advance."

You can watch the full announcement featuring Apple's Susan Prescott in the video below.

What you need to know

• Today, Niantic announced its Planet-Scale AR Alliance.
• The alliance brings together mobile ecosystem leaders to further the development of and access to AR.
• Members at launch include: Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, EE, Globe, Orange, SK Telecom, SoftBank, and TELUS.

Today, Niantic, the company that brought you Ingress, Pokémon Go, Harry Potter Wizards Unite, and so much more, has announced that it is building a Planet-Scale AR Alliance that will bring together mobile ecosystem leaders with one common goal: to further the development of and access to new AR experiences. As the mobile landscape advances to 5G, more and more is becoming possible through the application of AR. As the leader in the development of new AR experiences, Niantic is bringing together companies such as Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, EE, Globe, Orange, SK Telecom, SoftBank, and TELUS. Although Niantic's work in AR has made countless features a reality, including reality blending and synchronous multiplayer, it seeks to accelerate the development and advancement of AR by working hand-in-hand with these mobile ecosystem leaders and more.

Niantic seeks to combine AR devlopment with all 5G has to offer, including ultra-reliable low latency, enhanced mobile broadband, network slicing, and edge computing, a goal all eight of its launch partners share. Further, Niantic invites device manufacturers, wireless carriers, and other mobile ecosystem companies to join in the Alliance. Having already grown and shaped the AR landscape, Niantic was already primed and ready to take full advantage of 5G capabilities, but this partnership is sure to speed things along.

Are you excited to see what comes from this Planet-Scale AR Alliance? Let us know in the comments below and we'll be the first to let you know when the latest news hits.

What you need to know

• Users are reporting mobile network outages across all U.S. carriers, primarily with calling.
• Issues spread throughout the U.S., starting around 2:30 p.m. ET.
• T-Mobile's network seems to be the primary culprit, creating knock-on effects to other carriers.

If you're unable to make calls or use mobile data on your phone in the U.S. right now, you aren't alone. User reports directly to us, and on popular reporting site Downdetector, show outages across the country on T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. Depending on the area of the country, customers are seeing issues ranging from intermittent data service and dropped phone calls all the way to completely failed networks with no connectivity.

The first widespread reports of outages started around 2:30 p.m. ET, and only took off from there. We heard from T-Mobile customers first, particularly those in the Eastern half of the country, who were having issues primarily with calls but in some cases also data. At least according to Downdetector reports, the issues ended up being far more widespread — both in areas of the country and number of users effected.

At 5:42 p.m., T-Mobile's customer support Twitter account responded, making it clear that the carrier is aware of a "routing issue" leading to call outages, and encouraging people to use internet-based calling services instead:

Interestingly, reports from T-Mobile customers have peaked and are slowly on the decline, while we're now seeing a smaller number of reports from customers on the other major carriers showing they're experiencing similar issues across the major population centers of the country. Still, it looks like T-Mobile's having the biggest network-wide issues, with far more customer complaints of network disconnects, dropped calls and intermittent data.

And of course with T-Mobile clearly having massive calling outages, anytime calls between T-Mobile and the other carriers are unable to complete, this can often create false-positive results for the person on the other end thinking it's their carrier's problem. That situation can likely be attributed to a good number of the reports of outages on Verizon and AT&T, which have the largest number of customers in the country.

If you're experiencing problems with calls or data on T-Mobile, you can follow some general troubleshooting steps and try to use Wi-Fi calling — but chances are with a network outage this large, you're just going to have to wait for the carrier to fix things on its end.

What you need to know

• Verizon is providing an additional 15GB of 4G LTE data to its customers.
• It will be automatically added to consumer and business shared data plans.
• The data will be accessible to customers this May.

Verizon has made an announcement today that it is bringing additional help to customers during the pandemic. In a press release, the company announced that it would be providing 15GB of 4G LTE data to its customers.

According to Verizon, it will automatically add the 15GB of additional data to consumer and small business shared data plans. Customers will not have to take any action in order to receive the additional data.

The extra 15GB can not only be used for counting towards data use on phones but is also able to be used by hotspots and jetpacks. The extra data will be available to customers between May 1st and May 31st.

Verizon has clarified that, for business customers, it is limiting the extra data to small businesses with 50 lines or less.

Verizon is also taking other measures to assist customers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. For example, the carrier is currently waiving overage charges and late fees for those financially affected by COVID-19.

Verizon has a stellar offer on Apple's iPhone 7 available right now that may just be the best deal to ever reach the device. For a limited time, you can pick one up for free when you add a new line to your account. This offer is valid for new and current Verizon subscribers and saves you $350 off the regular price of the phone. Verizon includes free two-day shipping with your order, or you can select in-store pickup where available.

Choose between Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, and Black 32GB models of the device while supplies last. The discount will be applied to your monthly bill over 24 months to cover the cost of the phone's monthly financing price of $15. You could also choose to pay the phone's full cost of $350 up-front and still receive the monthly bill credit over 24 months, which might be useful if you're trying to rack up credit card points by making a big purchase. Otherwise, it's easiest to go with the first option so your money stays in your pocket.

Originally released in 2017, the iPhone 7 is equipped with a 12MP rear camera and a 7MP front-facing camera, along with a 4.7-inch screen and an A10 processor. The iPhone 7 was also the first splash, water, and dust resistant iPhone with a rating of IP67. To learn more about this device before its purchase, check out our review of the phone from March 2017.

Make sure to find a case for your new iPhone while you're at it. Our guide to the best iPhone 7 cases in 2019 likely has a few that you'll be interested in using.

Note: A one-time activation fee will be charged to your account, though you'll save 50% on this fee by using Verizon's website rather than going in-store. That brings the fee's cost down to $20 which will be added to your next monthly bill.

Unlocking your phone from Verizon can give you the option to shop around for the best plans at any of the other carriers. Keep in mind, not all carriers will accept all unlocked phones, so, if you have a carrier in mind you want to switch to, it's probably best that you check with them to make sure your phone would be compatible with their network before you jump overboard.

When it comes to Verizon, there isn't too much information you need to know in order to unlock your iPhone.

• What requirements do I have to know?
• How do I request for my phone to be unlocked from Verizon?

What requirements do I have to know?

Unfortunately, Verizon has gone away from its older unlocking policy where the carrier unlocked all phones within 24 hours starting several months back. According to Verizon, they now require 60-days after phone is purchased before they unlock the device. To quote them directly:

That means that any iPhone that was bought with Verizon or any of its retailing partners such as Best Buy, Target, or Walmart will be locked. However, Verizon does not require the device to be fully paid off before requesting an unlock, which is great for those who are on an installment.

As for the other major carriers, including AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, the requirements vary. AT&T not only requires 60-days of active service, but for the phone to be paid off (including installments). Sprint requires 50-days, plus device paid off, while T-Mobile wants 40 days of active service with device paid off.

Surprisingly, this slightly makes Verizon the easiest carrier with the loosest restrictions when it comes to unlocking your phone.

How do I request for my phone to be unlocked from Verizon?

So, if you bought your phone outright; or, just wait the 60-days, you shouldn't have to request Verizon to unlock your iPhone — it should already be ready to roll onto another carrier's service. However, you don't have to take our word for it: contact Verizon customer support and inquire about unlocking your iPhone.

Now's the time to switch to Verizon Fios. The fiber optic internet service provider has a ton of crazy incentives to get new customers. I mean, just start with the basic plans. You can get a Gigabit internet connection for just $79.99 a month, and there are plans as inexpensive as $39.99 a month if you don't need so much. Not only that, but the $80 a month plan includes a 3-year price guarantee. So even if the plan's price goes up, you're locked in. In addition to that, Verizon won't charge a rental fee for the router for three years, you can get a $250 prepaid Visa gift card, and Verizon's plans come with a full year of Disney+ for free. The offer for the Visa and three years of free router rental ends Nov. 11.

Not sure if you want to add TV to your plan? Include Verizon's TV Test Drive when you sign up. It's a free service, too. It gives you 425 TV channels, Showtime, and Starz for 60 days. After that, you can create a customized TV plan based on the shows you watched and the channels you stuck with the most.

Disney+ is the new streaming service from Disney that plans to compete with the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, and other popular services. And compete it will. The content will include most of Disney's library including all the animated movies you know and love like The Lion King or Aladdin. It also includes Marvel movies like Captain Marvel and content from Pixar and National Geographic. Disney is also coming out with original works like The Mandalorian, a show set in the Star Wars universe. You'll get access to all of this for free for the first year.

We add new devices to our network all the time! New smart home devices like plugs and light bulbs, new gaming consoles, new smartphones, and more. We need more internet, and we need internet that doesn't compromise when it comes to downloads and uploads. I know I do. I'm serious when I say I use Fios and wouldn't switch to another ISP. The availability of fiber optics is always something I look at when I move somewhere new. Go with Verizon Fios so you don't have to worry about your internet speeds again.

Both Verizon and Sprint have deals right now where if you buy one of the iPhone X smartphones (including the XR, X, XS, or XS Max), you can get a second new iPhone XR for free. It's a great deal but each one varies slightly, which might help you choose which carrier to go with.

The Sprint deal requires either two new lines or one new and one upgraded line. You will sign up for an 18-month lease, and you will need approved credit. If you don't need two smartphones, Sprint has an ongoing deal we reported back in April where you can get just the iPhone XR on the Flex Lease for $15 a month instead of its regular $31.25 a month. Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to stack the two deals.

Verizon's sale actually includes a $750 promo credit that's applied to your account over a 24-month period. That means for this one it doesn't necessarily have to be an iPhone XR for your second phone. You'll just save as much as $750 even if you choose to go with the $1,100 XS Max. Just add the second phone to a new line of service on the Unlimited plan. Of course, this lease is six months longer than Sprint's, and Sprint has the iPhone Forever program that lets you upgrade to the newest iPhone anytime after 12 lease payments.

The iPhone XR is available at this price in several colors including Black, White, Yellow, Coral, Blue, and Apple's (Product)Red. Some of the colors are limited in stock at different storage capacities.

Check out our review of the iPhone XR where we gave it 4.5 stars out of 5 and said "It has almost everything you'd want in a flagship phone for 2018, minus the price tag that's typically coming with them these days." Our reviewer even used the phone for a month and wrote a followup afterward where he said "iPhone XR is legit a great product and it's going to be a great phone choice for a lot of people."

While the iPhone XR does have a great battery, it also supports wireless charging. Check out our roundup of the best accessories, and don't forget to protect your new phone with a great looking case.

We also took a look at the iPhone XS seven months after its release. Renee Ritchie said "...if you need it or would benefit from getting it now, absolutely get an iPhone XS — or XR if you don't care about the OLED display or dual camera system and want to save some cash — now and have zero regrets." The review adds the "iPhone X was all new. iPhone XS is just all better. Better camera, better battery, better Face ID, better performance, and a new gold option. More than just being a great user experience, 7-months later something else is clear as well: It's a phone you can rely on."

• See at Sprint
• See at Verizon

Today, wireless company Verizon quietly launched its latest foray into the world of telecommunication options. Dubbed Visible, the new service offers unlimited data, minutes, and messages on Verizon's 4G LTE network for just $40 a month. What's more, it's prepaid, so you're not beholden to any sort of annual contract.

Visible works via an app that you download to your iOS device (Android phones unfortunately aren't supported at the moment, but the company's website states that compatibility with non-iOS smartphones will be coming soon). You can choose your own number, or keep the number you've had so those you communicate with don't get confused. Once you've download the app and completed registration for the service, you'll be mailed a SIM card within a day or so unless you signed up right before the weekend. Pop it in, and voilà! You've got a working phone. You can make your payments in the app using Venmo and PayPal as well, so there are no physical prepaid cards or anything like that to mess with. If you already had an account with another provider, you don't have to worry about canceling it if you don't want to go through that, either — once your number is transferred to Visible, your account will be automatically cancelled for you.

If you decide to hop on the Visible train, here are some of the features you'll get:

• Full calling capabilities, including Voicemail, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call Hold, and 3-Way Calling
• The ability to be on a call and surf the web simultaneously
• Text messaging capabilities, including iMessage (because you'll also have data and the ability to connect to Wi-Fi)
• Unlimited data at speeds up to 5 Mbps
• No data slow-downs based on data usage
• The ability to sign up for autopay, so you never miss a payment
• The option to cancel your Visible account whenever you like
• Complete functionality within the Visible app — it's your hub, so everything you could ever need to do you can do there
• Chat access to Visible's Care Team if you're experiencing issues

While Visible sounds fantastic — especially for individuals who already have an unlocked phone but need to find a cost-effective provider or those who are switching from a family plan to paying their own cellphone bill for the first time — there are a few drawbacks. First off, Visible is currently only available for those who have been invited by others using the service as a part of its early access program, so if you don't know anyone who's already a part of the in-crowd, you won't be able to try it for yourself just yet. Secondly, Visible is only compatible with most unlocked iPhones, but not all of them — some iPhone SE and iPhone 7 models aren't supported. If you have an invite code but aren't sure if your phone will work with Visible, you can figure it out here by scrolling to the bottom and selecting "Check compatibility." Finally, as I mentioned above, Visible's data speeds max out at 5Mbps. This may not bother some people, but if you're a stickler who's into streaming super high-res videos, you may want to skip this service. At 5Mbps, video will typically stream at a resolution of 480p.

If you're interested in Visible, I'd recommend checking out the company's FAQ page for more detailed, granular information. Overall though, it seems like a great option for those who don't have a lot of cash but still want a fully-functional smartphone that they can use to call friends, browse social media, keep up with their group chat, and pretty much anything else they like.

Thoughts?

Would you consider trying Visible? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Living in a world populated by all-glass phones is a precarious business. Though screens are getting stronger, that doesn't mean that they're impervious to accidents. Thankfully, Verizon announced today that beginning tomorrow, you can enroll any Verizon phone you've purchased within the last 24 months in their Total Mobile Protection plan and get your broken screen fixed for only $29. Best of all, you can do it whichever way is easiest for you:

Total Mobile Protection doesn't stop at cheaper screen repair, though. It covers your phone in case of damage, loss or theft, and if any of those happen to you, you can get your replacement phone delivered next-day. In addition, you'll also get expert technical support when you need help with your phone as well as more claims (up to three per year) to help keep your phone in tip-top shape.

If you want to sign up for Verizon's new protection plan, you can do so on the Verizon website.

Thoughts? Questions?

If you're a Verizon customer, do you think you'll enroll in Total Mobile Protection? Share your opinions with us in the comments.

According to a new report, Verizon may be planning a crackdown of sorts on customers it deems to be using "an extraordinary amount of data" each month. Specifically, Droid Life reports that, according to its sources, unlimited data customers that Verizon flags as using too much data will have an opportunity to move to a different plan starting July 21.

From Droid Life:

According to the report, users who are alerted will have until August 31 to switch to a tiered plan, otherwise their line may be disconnected. If disconnected, the customer will have up to 50 days to reactivate with a new plan, the report says.

It remains unclear what Verizon would deem as "an extraordinary amount of data," but we should know more if and when the carrier moves forward with its plans.

Update: Droid Life has also now received a statement from Verizon regarding this move:

Verizon has announced that it will offer international roaming in Cuba. The first of the major US carriers to do so, Verizon is offering both voice and data roaming in its new package. It also comes as a part of the carrier's Pay-As-You-Go International Travel option.

The plan is fairly expensive. Voice calls in Cuba cost $2.99 per minute, while data costs $2.05 per megabyte. Standard international message rates apply. To take advantage of roaming in Cuba, add opt-in to the Pay-As-You-Go International plan before you travel. You will also need a world device, a phone capable of connecting to Cuba's cellular networks, in order to take advantage of this plan.

Verizon plans to start offering roaming in Cuba beginning next week.

Source: Verizon

Verizon is launching an mobile-focused video service later this year, and has already inked content deals with several content providers, including the NFL. The carrier will offer paid and ad-supported tiers, which is where AOL's advertising platform — which counts over 30,000 partners — comes in handy.

Following the closure of the deal, AOL will continue to operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon, with current CEO Tim Armstrong staying on-board to lead AOL's day-to-day operations. In a memo sent to staffers, Armstrong said:

Deal Creates Unique and Scaled Digital Media Platforms for Consumers, Advertisers and Partners

NEW YORK – Taking another significant step in building digital and video platforms to drive future growth, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) today announced the signing of an agreement to purchase AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) for $50 per share -- an estimated total value of approximately $4.4 billion. Verizon's acquisition further drives its LTE wireless video and OTT (over-the-top video) strategy. The agreement will also support and connect to Verizon's IoT (Internet of Things) platforms, creating a growth platform from wireless to IoT for consumers and businesses.

AOL is a leader in the digital content and advertising platforms space, and the combination of Verizon and AOL creates a scaled, mobile-first platform offering directly targeted at what eMarketer estimates is a nearly $600 billion global advertising industry. AOL's key assets include its subscription business; its premium portfolio of global content brands, including The Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Engadget, MAKERS and AOL.com, as well as its millennial-focused OTT, Emmy-nominated original video content; and its programmatic advertising platforms.

Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO, said: "Verizon's vision is to provide customers with a premium digital experience based on a global multiscreen network platform. This acquisition supports our strategy to provide a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers to deliver that premium customer experience."

He added, "AOL has once again become a digital trailblazer, and we are excited at the prospect of charting a new course together in the digitally connected world. At Verizon, we've been strategically investing in emerging technology, including Verizon Digital Media Services and OTT, that taps into the market shift to digital content and advertising. AOL's advertising model aligns with this approach, and the advertising platform provides a key tool for us to develop future revenue streams."

Tim Armstrong, AOL chairman and CEO, will continue to lead AOL operations after closing.

Armstrong said, "Verizon is a leader in mobile and OTT connected platforms, and the combination of Verizon and AOL creates a unique and scaled mobile and OTT media platform for creators, consumers and advertisers. The visions of Verizon and AOL are shared; the companies have existing successful partnerships, and we are excited to work with the team at Verizon to create the next generation of media through mobile and video."

The transaction will take the form of a tender offer followed by a merger, with AOL becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon upon completion.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions and is expected to close this summer.

Verizon expects to fund the transaction from cash on hand and commercial paper. The company also continues to expect to return to pre-Vodafone transaction credit ratings in the 2018-2019 timeframe.

Transaction advisers for Verizon were LionTree Advisors; Guggenheim Partners; and Weil, Gotshal & Manges. AOL advisers were Allen & Company LLC and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.

Forward-Looking Statements

In this communication we have made forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "hopes" or similar expressions. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following important factors, along with those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: adverse conditions in the U.S. and international economies; the effects of competition in the markets in which we operate; material changes in technology or technology substitution; disruption of our key suppliers' provisioning of products or services; changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, including any increase in restrictions on our ability to operate our networks; breaches of network or information technology security, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or acts of war or significant litigation and any resulting financial impact not covered by insurance; our high level of indebtedness; an adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations or adverse conditions in the credit markets affecting the cost, including interest rates, and/or availability of further financing; material adverse changes in labor matters, including labor negotiations, and any resulting financial and/or operational impact; significant increases in benefit plan costs or lower investment returns on plan assets; changes in tax laws or treaties, or in their interpretation; changes in accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the SEC, may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on earnings; and the inability to implement our business strategies.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

The tender offer for the outstanding shares of AOL Inc. ("AOL") has not yet commenced. This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of AOL, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that Verizon Communications Inc. ("Verizon") and its acquisition subsidiary will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") upon commencement of the tender offer. At the time the tender offer is commenced, Verizon and its acquisition subsidiary will file tender offer materials on Schedule TO, and AOL will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC with respect to the tender offer. The tender offer materials (including an Offer to Purchase, a related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents) and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement will contain important information. Holders of shares of AOL are urged to read these documents when they become available because they will contain important information that holders of AOL securities should consider before making any decision regarding tendering their securities. The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, will be made available to all holders of shares of AOL at no expense to them. The tender offer materials and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement will be made available for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional copies may be obtained for free at Verizon's website at www.verizon.com/about/investors or by contacting Verizon Investor Relations, Verizon Communications Inc., One Verizon Way, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

You've decided to get an iPhone 6 or an iPhone 6 Plus, and now it's time to figure out which carrier to go with. In the U.S., the major carriers are Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. All of them will carry the new phone, so how do you decide? We've gone over their plans and their coverage, and here are the details.

The Big Four: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint

Each of the big four carriers are the first out of the gate in the United States to offer the new iPhone models. And each are trying to sweeten the pot to get customers to jump at the new iPhones too. Some are giving billing credit incentives, some are offering generous trade-in allowances for working phones, and more.

Regardless of which carrier you choose, the 16 GB iPhone 6 will start at $199 on contract, with $299 on contract the base price for the larger iPhone 6 Plus. Add $100 to increase either phone from 16 GB to 64 GB, and another $100 for 128 GB.

Over the past year all four companies have changed the way they handle phone sales, all with an emphasis on helping you turn over your phone more quickly.

For Verizon, it's called Edge — buy an iPhone in 20 payments. After 30 days and once you've paid off 60 percent of the cost of the phone, you're eligible for an upgrade. Verizon is also giving a $200 credit if you buy a new iPhone 6 (not the 6 Plus) from them, assuming you're willing to trade in an iPhone 4 or newer and agree to a new two-year contract. They're billing this as a "free iPhone 6." Not quite, but a $200 trade-in gift card may be a strong incentive for some customers.

AT&T's program is called Next. It's 20 monthly payments as well, but you're not qualified to upgrade until the 12th installment. (There's a 24 month, 18th installment version available too). Once you upgrade, the cycle starts again. AT&T also incents customers to use Next by offering a $100 billing credit if you sign up. Like Verizon, AT&T's offering a trade-in credit for working phones, with a pretty generous allowance - you can get $200 for a working, unblemished iPhone 4.

Sprint's new program is called "iPhone for Life," and it's specifically geared towards customers interested in the new iPhone models. You can get the 6 or the 6 Plus for $20 per month. And after 24 months, you can trade in your old phone for a new one. It's essentially a leasing arrangement that makes you pay out $480 for the privilege of using the phone, then turning it in when you're eligible for a new one. You can get up to $300 in credit for an eligible iPhone trade-in.

T-Mobile breaks up the cost of the iPhone over 24 months, and your cost depends on your credit (with a 16 GB iPhone 6 starting at $27.08 a month). The company offers a trade-up upgrade called Jump that lets you upgrade as soon as you've paid off 50 percent of the balance of the phone. T-Mobile is also offering its customers a trade-in value guarantee: They'll meet or beat all the other major carriers' deals, and if you find a better deal within seven days, you'll get the difference back plus $50.

Pricing plans

It's enough to make your head spin. There are a lot of different plans available from each wireless company. What you'll pay depends on how many lines you're managing and how much bandwidth you're willing to pay for, but here's a quick breakdown. I'm going to focus on each company's shared plans for now, since so much consumer attention is focused on that right now. All the plans offer unlimited domestic talk and text.

Verizon's program is called "More Everything." A pool of data that can be shared on up to ten devices (smartphones, tablets and so on), personal hotspot support for your iPhone, and some other perks, like cloud storage, international messaging and more. Line access for each phone costs $40, with a fee for data on top of that which varies depending on how much bandwidth you're paying for. Verizon incents its customers to enroll in its Edge program by offering them $10 off per smartphone for the More Everything plan.

AT&T's variation is called Mobile Share. Just like Verizon, up to 10 devices can share a pooled data allotment. International messaging, and 50 GB of free cloud storage using AT&T's Locker service. Plan charges start at $20 per month for 300 MB of data, running up to $375 for 50 GB of data, with lots of stops in-between. Each smartphone costs $40 for line access, though you get a better price break than you do with Verizon if you're in AT&T's Next upgrade program: 6 GB or less data plans knock that line service fee down to $25 per month; 10 GB or more play only $15 per month for each smartphone line.

Sprint's new Family Share plan waives monthly access charges through 2015. Up to ten devices can be connected, with data plans available ranging from 1 GB per device to 6 GB per device. The company is also pushing a single-line unlimited data offer for iPhone customers for $50 per month.

T-Mobile's Simple Choice plan lets you scale savings based on how many lines you need. You can pick and choose data allotments for each line, with 2.5 GB to unlimited data available. T-Mobile also offers unlimited data and text in more than 120 countries, along with music streaming that doesn't count against your data cap, and a recently announced deal that gets you Visual Voicemail and texting capabilities on board airplanes equipped with GoGo Wi-Fi.

Who should get their iPhone 6 on Verizon?

Verizon remains the dominant player in the U.S. market, with the biggest 4G LTE network and the biggest footprint. After focusing on modernizing their network over the past few years and migrating to 4G LTE, They've spent a lot of 2014 building out capacity to improve network congestion in urban areas. However, you will pay for the privilege. Verizon isn't the most competitive on price, simply because they don't have to be.

One problem that Verizon has faced with the iPhone in the past is going away: simultaneous voice and data communication; namely, that iPhones on Verizon's network couldn't do it. That's changing thanks to two factors: Verizon will soon bringing online Voice over LTE (VoLTE), voice call technology that is encoded as data instead of a dedicated radio channel, and the iPhone 6 can do VoLTE. So users in the past who were worried about not being able to access the web while they were talking, or pull up map information and so on, won't need to worry going forward.

Who should get their Phone 6 on AT&T?

AT&T is second to Verizon in terms of customer base, but the company hasn't let that stop it from aggressively building out its 4G LTE network. AT&T boasts better reliability than the competition, with high scores from independent testers for call quality and Internet speed.

While VoLTE will level the voice/data playing field in the future, AT&T's use of the GSM networking standard makes simultaneous voice/data communication the way things have long worked on their network, so you don't need to worry about the switch getting flipped in the future — it works now, just as it always has.

Who should go with Sprint?

Sprint's been playing catchup as they build out capacity and speed on their 4G LTE network. They've tried to make up for it by offering some really good deals to sign up new customers, which makes them an attractive offer for bargain-hunting mobile users looking for the best possible deals.

There's a big glimmer of hope from the iPhone 6 - it's the first iPhone to support Sprint's "Spark" service, which offers faster data speeds on their network. It's something already available on some Android phones, but the iPhone 6 will be Apple's first phone to support Spark.

Who should go with T-Mobile?

shook up the mobile industry in the U.S. a year ago with their "Uncarrier" program. It seems like every month or two they're giving customers a new reason to come, whether it's eating Early Termination Fees (ETFs) for customers switching mid-contract, making music-streaming available without dinging your data allotment, free Visual Voicemail and texting on some Wi-Fi equipped airplanes, and more.

They're also aggressively building out their 4G LTE footprint and really have improved their network over the past year. They still have a long way to go before they'll catch up to AT&T, but their customer-friendly attitude and their simplified pricing plans make them an attractive choice for a growing number of mobile users.

Still undecided?

If you're not sure which carrier to go with, pop on over to our iPhone discussion forums and chat with the fine folks there, or drop a message here and hear what others have to say.

While there's plenty of arguments for and against carrier upgrade programs such as AT&T Next, T-Mobile JUMP and Verizon Edge it looks as though there's at least enough traction there to garner some attention from Apple. According to new information, Apple appears to be readying a significant upgrade to their retail sales plans by firing up a pilot program for customers to be able to purchase a new iPhone through such carrier upgrade programs.

The pilot program is said to be starting in late August, in time for it to be fully ready for the iPhone 6 launch as Tim Cook does not want to miss out on any possible sales for that device, and will skip over the current rules wherein any iPhone purchased at an Apple retail store must also come with a two-year contract or be purchased unlocked at full price.

Previously, Apple was noted be looking to boost iPhone sales through pre-paid and month-to-month phone plans in Apple Stores with the help of AT&T and T-Mobile, so to see them move into using the carrier upgrade programs as well to boost sales wouldn't be any stretch of the imagination. At this point though, it remains unconfirmed.

Source: 9to5Mac

Verizon has fired up a new, beefier branding for its 4G LTE smartphone service. Dubbed XLTE, it takes advantage of the AWS spectrum to double the bandwidth in high-traffic locations. And here's the list of cities that get it first.

Source: Verizon [pdf]

Verizon's XLTE is official and it is bringing double the bandwidth to dozens of cities across the United Sates. The enhanced-LTE service uses Verizon's AWS spectrum to double the speeds available more than two-dozen devices available on Big Red's network, including the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, iPhone 5s, Samsung ATIV SE, and BlackBerry Q10.

XLTE isn't a "5G", so much as an enhanced LTE, utilizing the AWS spectrum that Verizon has bought up over the years. Said Verizon CMO Ken Dixon:

Customers with XLTE-compatible devices won't have to do anything to make their phones compatible — the upgrade will be "invisible" to the customer, excepting the faster speeds and whatnot. The addition of AWS spectrum to Verizon's active network will also improve service for LTE devices that only can access the older 700MHz spectrum by freeing up capacity. Currently, 35% of the devices sold on Verizon are said to be compatible with XLTE service.

The speed of Verizon's LTE service has lagged behind competitors AT&T and T-Mobile as their network has filled with LTE-connected devices. The addition of XLTE should be a boon to most Verizon customers.

Check out this list of the XLTE launch cities, and let us know if you're seeing the improved speeds and service of XLTE!

Source: Verizon

Press release:

XLTE: America's Best Network Gets Even Better

Faster peak speeds, double the 4G LTE bandwidth in cities coast to coast only for Verizon Wireless customers.

Verizon Wireless today announced XLTE – the next step in ensuring the very best high-speed data experience available on any wireless network in the United States.

XLTE is Verizon's new way to show consumers that they will now have the benefits of even more capacity on the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network, all made possible by taking advantage of AWS spectrum.

"The industry and tech world recognize this is a big deal, and we want consumers to know, too," said Ken Dixon, chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless. "We continue to offer the very best network, bar none. Now, XLTE provides an even greater advantage to customers by doubling the 4G LTE bandwidth and providing faster peak speeds in cities coast to coast."

All customers automatically benefit where Verizon Wireless has deployed XLTE, part of the company's ongoing commitment to delivering the best experience in wireless. XLTE adds capacity in neighborhoods or areas where demand is high, especially during busy periods like rush hour, lunch times in crowded areas or during events when mobile data use is the highest.

What is XLTE and how does it work?

XLTE delivers faster peak data speeds and a minimum of double the bandwidth to 4G LTE customers in high traffic areas in markets nationwide where AWS spectrum has been activated.

While XLTE network enhancements are invisible to the customer, the mobile experience is not. XLTE Ready devices automatically access both 700 MHz spectrum and the AWS spectrum in XLTE cities. Customers with 4G LTE devices operating solely on the 700 MHz spectrum in XLTE markets also benefit from the extra capacity created by XLTE Ready device traffic moving to the AWS spectrum.

Nearly all of the devices Verizon Wireless sells, including the newest DROID devices, Samsung Galaxy S4, S5 and Note 3, and the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, are XLTE Ready when purchased. Today, more than 35 percent of all devices operating on the Verizon Wireless network can take direct advantage of the added capacity that AWS provides.

XLTE is yet another signal of Verizon Wireless' network leadership as the company continues to innovate on the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network and deliver a superior network experience for its customers.

With AT&T reporting its financial results this week the media is buzzing about comments they (and others) have made to the effect that smartphone subsidies may eventually come to an end. The theory being floated is that future mobile phone buyers will be aware of exactly how much how much their smartphone costs. This new financial awareness will somehow prompt fewer people to pony up for an expensive iPhone.

I find the whole thing laughable. It's a financial shenanigan that really has no effect on the consumer at all.

To explain my point of view I want to invent a scenario where Apple controls all phone sales through its own retail channels. Let's pretend carriers don't sell iPhones anymore, but they are happy to sell iPhone owners a monthly plan.

In this scenario the carriers would have to compete with each other on network quality, monthly service pricing and creative offers. What kind of creative offers? They would buy your loyalty in the form of discounts or cash back.

A carrier might offer you $400 cash back if you sign a two year contract. The carrier gets a guaranteed revenue stream and you get what amounts to a subsidy on the new phone you just bought. It isn't called a subsidy, but it's the same thing.

Another carrier might not offer cash back, but instead offer you a $15 monthly discount over two year period if you activate your phone on their network. If you're thinking that this sounds a lot like the carrier helping the customer finance his new phone, you'd be right.

Let's now turn back to the models carriers are using today. They do sell hardware. And the financing plans have become more complicated such as the AT&T "Next" plan that looks more like a hybrid rental / financing plan. There are only so many ways to skin this cat. A carrier can help you finance a phone by adding a monthly fee to your bill. This fee may be transparent to you, or it may be a built-in premium in return for a device subsidy. Other carriers may offer you a discount on your monthly plan if you bring your own phone, which is the same thing as subtracting the monthly premium the carrier has added to its rates to make up for the device subsidy.

The carriers can spin this any way they like, but I don't think anything has changed. At the end of the day customers are still going to want to use the best phones they can afford, and there will still be financing arrangements that help people spread out the monthly payments to make the phones seem affordable.

Speaking of expensive phones, the Wall Street Journal mentions that the Apple iPhone costs more than a low-end laptop computer. They say this as if to imply that a mobile phone is a lower class of product than a laptop. This is nonsense. Over the last 5 years we have witnessed mobile traffic on the web go from almost nothing to a very significant portion of the total. We are in a world where a large number of people spend more time on their phone than they do on a traditional PC. And the trend is only going to continue.

The more our phones dominate our electronic lives, the more we're going to justify paying high prices for them. Don't get me wrong. There will always be a market for budget phones, and the low-end is clearly growing. But just like any market for any product there is a spectrum of people with differing needs and budgets. The existence of a low-end market does not mean less people will buy expensive products. And the financial shenanigans around hardware prices and monthly rates are unlikely to alter who buys what device.

One day carriers may stop selling phones just as cable companies don't sell TVs. But until that day comes the world of data plans, phone subsidies, financing plans, discounts and rebates will all seem like a big confusing mess to most people.

I think the better journalists out there can help more by educating readers rather than publishing sensational headlines that only serve to obfuscate the truth.

Imagine a boss at a company with a really great salesperson who lands all the best, highest valued customers for the company. Now imagine that boss hates having to pay that salesperson their really high commission, even though it's the salesperson who's closing all those deals and ensuring all that money comes to the company. The boss can't afford to lose that salesperson but they're desperate to find anyway they can to cut that salesperson's commissions. Likewise, the salesperson knows their value and insists on being richly compensated for the deals they close. That's the relationship between the carriers and the iPhone, and between the price carriers pay Apple for the revenue the iPhone generates. It's also why the carriers hate Apple and the iPhone, and why when a new iPhone — like the iPhone 6 — is on the horizon, we get articles like this: "As Phone Subsidies Fade, Apple Could Be Hurt". The Wall Street Journal:

What's meant by "subsidies" in North America is "loan". The carriers front you the phone and then add an extra ~$20 a month to your plan to pay it back. That does hide the true cost of the iPhone — which historically starts at $650 for the base flagship model — but the carriers certainly aren't giving anyone anything for nothing. Some carriers have even double-dipped under more recent plans, keeping the ~$20 "loan repayment" in plans and adding an extra "installment charge" on top of it. Lovely people, they.

As to Apple charging more for their phones than low-end laptops, iPhones are computers, and better ones than low-end laptops. That's how premium products — from Apple, Samsung, or any vendor — are priced. It's how typically un-"subsidized" products like iPads and MacBooks are priced.

And the carriers, spin aside, have zero interest in lowering prices for us. They have complete interest in keeping more of our money for themselves. Witness everything from AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint over the last decade, and the more recent antics of T-Mobile.

• Best iPhone carrier plans (spring 2014)

All things considered, I find paying Apple more in line with my interests than carriers. They're the ones who manufacture phones to exceedingly hight quality levels, who refrain from festooning them with logos and clogging them up with crapware, who provide services like iMessage and FaceTime that work around often exorbitantly priced carrier cash-grabs. It's a glimpse at what a carrier-as-dumb-pipe world could truly be like.

Which, of course, the carriers know and why, of course, they hate Apple even more. Hence why these types of articles — and articles about Apple raising prices — pop up every time new phones, like the upcoming iPhone 6 start working their way towards distribution.

It's negotiation by media. It's theater. And it's absurd.

Or does anyone here really feel sorry for the carriers, and their having to pay Apple a premium for the premium profits the iPhone delivers them every month?

Note: There's an absolutely valid argument to be made that, in an "unsubsidized" market Apple won't sell as many $450-$850 phones as other vendors will sell budget under-$400 phones. Apple will either have to move into lower segments, as they did with iPod, or content themselves with less market share but more profit share, as they did with the Mac. But that's an argument for a different piece and a different day.

Note 2: It occurs to me I pay $750 on average for a new iPhone every year. (Contracts, until recently, were 3-years in Canada.) That sounds like a lot, but it works out to roughly $60 a month, or $2 a day, for a computer I use every day, all day, more than any other object. Yes, I could get a cheaper one, but cheapness isn't always the most important feature.

Verizon is finally going to give you a discount for off-contract phones. Starting April 17th, customers of Big Red are going to be able to bring their own off-contract devices onto shared MORE Everything plans at a discount. No longer will they have to pay a subsidy fee for a subsidy they're not using. Plans at or under 8GB will see a smartphone add-on reduction of $10 (bringing the fee to $30/month), while those with data allotments of 10GB or higher will see their fee sliced from $40 down to $25 per smartphone.

This move brings Verizon in line with the its competitors, who have for some time offered discounts for off-contract devices. Why pay a subsidy when you're not using it?

Verizon has been countering T-Mobile's recent announcements with their own tweaking of their plans. After T-Mobile announced that they were cutting cellular tablets to price-match their Wi-Fi versions and throwing in 1GB of data through the end of the year, Verizon countered with their own incentive, offering an extra 1GB of free data for the lifetime of a tablet on a MORE Everything plan. Just this morning,one they already own to a MORE Everything plan for either $30 or $15 depending on the data allowance they choose. When a customer brings his or her own smartphone, it must be compatible with the Verizon Wireless network.

These monthly access prices are also available to customers who choose Verizon Edge when purchasing or upgrading to a new smartphone. So, customers who choose a MORE Everything plan with 10 GB of data and four smartphones, either on Edge, moved from month-to-month contracts, or brought to the Verizon Wireless network, will pay $160 month for service and access.

To take advantage of this value, which is available for a limited time, customers can log in to My Verizon to add these devices and update their plans. They can also visit a store or call Verizon Wireless to make the change and to ensure they are on the right MORE Everything plan for their mobile lifestyle.

MORE Everything plans include unlimited talk and text, unlimited international messaging, 25 GB of cloud storage per line, and three months free of the International Long Distance Value Plan and FamilyBase service.

Verizon Wireless was the first wireless provider to introduce shareable data, and customers can have up to 10 devices on a MORE Everything plan. Currently, customers who want to activate a tablet and add it to a MORE Everything plan of 1 GB or higher will receive an additional 1 GB of shareable bonus data for as long as that tablet remains on the plan. Tablets can be added to the plan for $10 monthly access.