Verizon’s 3G CDMA network will shut down on December 31, 2022, but the operator has revealed that it is distributing free phones to users who have remained on the old connection standard.
These new phones (opens in new tab) they work on the current 4G LTE network and are nothing fancy, just basic flip phones. There are three phones available: the Orbic Journey V (opens in new tab) (retail value $99.99), the TCL FLIP Pro (opens in new tab) (retail value $79.99), and the Nokia Flip 2720V (opens in new tab) (retail value $79.99). With phones this basic, don’t expect too much from them. Although the Nokia phone has Google Assistant and YouTube apps, this is at least something.
Unfortunately, 3G resisters can’t choose their phones on offer. A representative for Verizon confirmed that the device they will receive will be chosen by the company. He also said to keep an eye out for any notifications from Verizon about 4G phones. No word on how long it will take for new devices to ship.
Verizon noted that the old 3G cellular service contract will carry over to the new phone at no extra cost. There is also the option to decline the phone. All you have to do is call customer service and say you don’t want this.
Once people get their new 4G phone, there will be a bit of setup they will have to do to make it work. The old 3G phone must be turned off before activating the new phone. If your 4G device is not activated within 30 days, Verizon will do it for you automatically. The company recommends that people back up their contacts to the Verizon Cloud so they can download them to their new phone. You can find one instruction set (opens in new tab) on their website on how to do this. Verizon also recommends taking your old phone to a Verizon store so it can be recycled.
Some people may be hesitant to make the leap because they have accessibility features enabled on their old phones. If this is the case, Verizon recommends contacting your carrier to find a better solution for your needs.
out with the old
Verizon was originally going to shut down its 3G network in 2019, but it kept delaying. according to company Vice President Mike Haberman (opens in new tab)the company wanted to give people enough time to change and “minimize disruption.”
Why are they shutting down their network, it’s for better support the fastest connections and develop new ones. The way it works is that a cellular connection needs to share space with other connections on the network. But in turn, this holds back the potential of 4G and 5G speeds. With 3G shutting down, they can invest more resources to improve other standards. In addition, Verizon can repurpose the technology and put it into the development of a 6G network.
Verizon follows T-Mobile, which recently shut down its old 3G network (opens in new tab), and AT&T, which did the same in February. T-Mobile and AT&T also gave away free phones, although the former was more generous as it included offers for a 5G device.
It’s entirely possible that one day we’ll see the same thing happen with the 4G network, but that probably won’t happen anytime soon. For those shopping for a new phone, recently published a list of best deals for july 2022.