Verizon (NYSE:VZ) has come to the defense of Samsung and took a legal stance against Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) request to ban the sale of some Samsung products in the U.S. [1] Apple then complained to the court about the timing of Verizon’s proposed brief in Samsung case. [2] Interestingly, T-Mobile then supported Verizon and submitted its brief in support of Samsung against Apple. [3]
In other news this week, Sprint (NYSE:S) is expected to launch its LTE service in early 2012, which would give it a network on par with Verizon’s. [4] Separately, a study revealed that more than one-third of U.S. Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android phones now support faster network technology, including LTE, WiMAX and HSPA+. [5]
Verizon
Verizon said that an injunction would hinder the development of its next generation high speed LTE 4G network, which is dependent on consumers being able to buy devices from vendors such as Samsung. Verizon’s actions are surprising and could potentially harm its relationship with Apple, with which it currently sells iPhone 4. The legal battle between Apple and Samsung that began in April this year has heated up. Recently Apple succeeded in blocking Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany. According to a few reports, Samsung could plan out an aggressive legal strategy to block sales of the soon to be announced Apple iPhone 5 when it eventually arrives in Korea.
See Samsung Might Seek Injunctions on the iPhone 5, Intensifying the Legal Feud
Sprint
The LTE roll out is part of Sprint’s broader Network Vision modernization plan, and the report suggests that Sprint has been field testing LTE equipment and that it’s unclear how many markets will get LTE service initially. Interestingly, the report said that Sprint plans to use G-Block spectrum it acquired from Nextel for the deployment as well as the spectrum currently being used by Sprint’s iDEN network. Sprint has previously said it plans to start shutting down iDEN service by 2013.
Faster technology adoption
The Localytics report suggested that the percentage of U.S. Android devices supporting the faster networks has rapidly increased from 23% in Q1 2011 to 37% in Q3 2011. The devices that are driving this growth have been the HTC Thunderbolt (Verizon), the HTC Evo 4G (Sprint), the Samsung Epic 4G (Sprint), and the Samsung Droid Charge (Verizon).
Understand How a Company’s Products Impact its Stock Price at Trefis
Notes:- Largest U.S. wireless carrier Verizon sides with Samsung against Apple, asks court to deny preliminary injunction, FOSS Patents, September 24th, 2011 [↩]
- Apple complains about timing of Verizon’s proposed amicus brief in Samsung case, FOSS Patents, September 27th, 2011 [↩]
- T-Mobile also files brief in support of Samsung against Apple, FOSS Patents, September 28th, 2011 [↩]
- Sprint to launch own 4G LTE network in early 2012, CNET News, September 27th, 2011 [↩]
- More Than 1 in 3 US Android Phones 4G-Enabled, Localytics, September 27th, 2011 [↩]
