@CTIA: VZW app store on deck

LAS VEGAS – Verizon Wireless customers using some of Research in Motion Ltd.’s Blackberry devices are set for an application store explosion as the carrier said its set to unveil its Vcast storefront on March 29 on RIM’s Storm and other select devices. During a press briefing at the CTIA Wireless 2010 event, Verizon Wireless said its storefront will join RIM’s own App World in providing customers with those devices access to even more applications.
The carrier noted that in contrast to other storefronts, the Vcast-branded outlet would provide customers and app providers with a built-in billing solution that will allow purchases to be tacked onto a customer’s current monthly cellphone bill. This was sort of a dig at RIM’s App World, which requires customers to bill purchases through a PayPal account.
Verizon Wireless also reiterated some recent announced details on its LTE network deployment plans, including reported network speeds on its trial networks of around 5 to 12 megabits per second on the downlink with peak speed bursts in excess of 40 Mbps. The carrier also said its initial device and service plans for LTE would be for data-centric devices.
The carrier did to provide any additional details on market launch plans, but did note that its current trial networks in Boston and Seattle would be moving to consumer trials this summer. Verizon Wireless has said it plans to cover more than 100 million pops inn 25 to 30 markets with LTE services by the end of year and for nationwide coverage by the end of 2013.
In support of those roll-out plans, Verizon Wireless did announce a number of backhaul agreements with regional fiber providers that will allow the carrier to extend high-capacity support to its cell sites. Verizon Wireless CTO Tony Melone said the carrier wanted to have 100 megabit capacity to its sites in support of the LTE network.
Rivals Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA Inc. used the CTIA event to highlight new markets they plan to cover with their WiMAX and HSPA+ plans respectively, with Sprint Nextel looking to cover 120 million pops by year end with its WiMAX-based 4G service and T-Mobile USA looking to cover 185 million pops with HSPA+. AT&T Mobility is planning on LTE roll outs beginning in 2011.