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Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G 4G smartwatch at&t verizon US preorder
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Samsung Launching 3G / 4G Version Of Gear S2 Classic In US

February 25, 2016

smartwatch preorder Samsung Launching 3G 4G Version Gear S2 Classic US Verizon AT&T

This week both AT&T and Verizon have begun take preorders for a 3G/4G version of the Samsung Gear S2 Classic (lacking LTE, it is compatible with AT&T’s HSPA+ “4G” network). Up until now, if you wanted the Gear S2 with wireless capability the only option was the very smartwatch-looking original variant of the wearable. The Classic version, by contrast, takes its aesthetic cues from traditional wrist wear. The wireless version of the device will launch on March 11th. For the pleasure of purchasing the AT&T version, you will need to make 20 monthly payments of $17.50. This equates to $350, which is exactly the list price for the non-3G version of the smartwatch. AT&T users also be able to make use of the carrier’s NumberSync technology that allows you to receive calls to your main phone number on other devices. Unfortunately you still need a wireless plan on the watch for NumberSync to work. On the Verizon side, you can either purchase the 3G Gear S2 for $400 or sign a 2 year contract and pay $350. While the cost of the smartwatch isn’t significantly higher (if at all) than the non-3G version, the additional monthly wireless costs will add up quickly!  

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by Doug Parker
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Samsung Pay Verizon Support Enable Update
Retail

Verizon Releases Update To Enable Samsung Pay

October 20, 2015

Samsung Pay Verizon Support Enable Update

When Samsung Pay launched in the US at the end of September, Verizon was the lone major carrier to not support the mobile payment system. At the time Verizon was very quiet, only stating that they were still evaluating the service. Typically this type of canned response can be inferred to mean “Don’t hold your breath.” It was therefore a surprise when a few weeks later, the carrier took to Twitter to announce that it had evaluated Samsung Pay and had decided to enable it on compatible devices. Unfortunately there was no timeframe given for the update. But just over a week after the announcement Verizon has begun rolling out a software update to enable Samsung Pay. If you are on Big Red and have a Galaxy Note 5 or a phone that is part of the Galaxy S6 family of devices, there is a mobile payment enabling update waiting for you! Samsung Pay users now just need more banks to support the service.

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by Doug Parker
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Retail

Verizon Will Soon Support Samsung Pay

October 7, 2015

Samsung Pay Verizon Support Launch

Verizon has announce that it will soon support Samsung Pay. The carrier made the understated announcement about supporting the service via Twitter, stating that it would enable it through a future software update to compatible devices. Verizon was the only major carrier in the US not supporting the Samsung Pay when it launched late last month. At the time, Verizon stated it was in the “process of evaluating” the service and would provide an update if there was any change…clearly there has now been a change! Verizon did not set any timeframe for the launch, only disclosing that it would be available through a “future update.” If you are a Verizon user with a Galaxy Note 5 or a device in the Galaxy S6 family, we are guessing the update will hit sooner rather than later.

We continue to question Samsung releasing their own mobile payment system, separate from Google’s Android Pay. It feels like an unnecessary level of complexity and bloat when there is a nearly identical solution already baked into the Android operating system. The primary differentiator between the two services is Samsung’s use of MTS technology (which allows the phone to transmit card info to magnetic swipe payment terminals). Unfortunately we don’t think that MTS alone will cause users to switch to Samsung and with chip-and-pin and chip-and-signature becoming standards globally, the magnetic swipe’s days are numbered.

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by Doug Parker
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Verizon Blocks Samsung Pay
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Not All Carriers Ready To Support Samsung Pay

August 24, 2015

Verizon Blocks Samsung Pay

With the official launch of Samsung’s mobile payment service just over a month away, not all US carriers are onboard. Samsung has revealed that Verizon, the country’s largest wireless provider, has yet to announce support for Samsung Pay. For Verizon’s part, all the company will say is that they are “in the process of evaluating” the service. Yes, there is still ample time for Verizon to join hands with Samsung (and the other US wireless carriers) in offering the mobile payment method, but given Verizon’s pledge to support Android Pay immediately after it was announced, I am skeptical. Verizon has a history of blocking proprietary features that only a few handsets would benefit from; the company blocked Google Wallet for years. It will be interesting to see if Samsung might be pushed to support Android Pay (in the US at least) if Verizon doesn’t allow the handset maker’s proprietary payment system.

The news of Verizon blocking a service to users on its network may make you wonder how that is possible. Anytime there is a software update to a mobile device, the carrier needs to test and approve it before it launches. Whether an Android or iOS device,  

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by Doug Parker
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