NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Update regarding Verizon Wi-Fi and hotspot limitations
Update regarding Verizon Wi-Fi and hotspot limitations - - - Updating my recent note, based on a new communication from a Verizon party "in the know" on this issue. Not too surprisingly for a newly announced product, much of the information on this score from Verizon has not been entirely consistent. I'm now told that Verizon considers all hotspot operations to be tied to the CDMA data link. Not unreasonable -- there isn't typically a need to be using the phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot if your device (e.g. laptop) already has integral Wi-Fi capabilities and some other Wi-Fi access point is already available. Given this constraint, the basic CDMA "no simultaneous voice and data" limitation can alone explain the suspension of all phone-based hotspot activity (and any other data activity with the phone) during voice calls. I'm told that basic Wi-Fi functions (e.g. Web browsing via the phone's Wi-Fi connection using a browser on the phone), should still be possible during a voice call (though I was also told this was not guaranteed at this point). Also, I was unable to get confirmation either way regarding the persistent rumors that Verizon is close to deploying a CDMA workaround to the simultaneous voice/data limitation, nor whether or not the initial generation of Verizon iPhones would be capable of taking advantage of that functionality, if and when it is deployed in the Verizon network. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com) http://www.vortex.com/lauren Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 Co-Founder, PFIR (People For Internet Responsibility): http://www.pfir.org Founder, NNSquad (Network Neutrality Squad): http://www.nnsquad.org Founder, GCTIP (Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance): http://www.gctip.org Founder, PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein Google Buzz: http://bit.ly/lauren-buzz