Motorola is finally making good on their promise to deliver 4G LTE capability to existing Xoom customers. Starting today, Motorola and Verizon Wireless are sending out emails with instructions on upgrading the tablet to LTE and throwing in a free standard dock from Motorola while supplies last.
The Xoom went on sale February 24 and Motorola said the 4G LTE upgrade would be available “shortly after launching” but this promise has been met with multiple delays.
Unlike a simple software upgrade that can be done at home, users must mail their Xoom tablets to Motorola for the physical hardware addition. As such, Motorola suggest that users back up and remove any confidential, proprietary or personal information on the tablet before sending it in for servicing.
The upgrade is free of charge to current Xoom 3G owners and Motorola will even cover the shipping costs. Furthermore, customers won’t be required to upgrade their data plans when using LTE. Users can expect to have their Xoom back in about six business days.
The Xoom was the first of several Honeycomb tablets launched to compete with Apple's wildly successful iPad line. The device was a welcomed addition to the market but was met with mixed reviews. Despite better connectivity options and a more versatile operating system, Cupertino’s tablet still maintains a large share of the market.
Some expect Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet to be the next serious challenger to Apple’s iPad. The $199 7-inch tablet was announced yesterday with one analyst forecasting that Apple’s market share could fall to as low as 60 percent next year.
Those still eyeing the Xoom can pick up a 4G capable version starting October 13 online and in Verizon Wireless stores for $499.99 with a two year service agreement.
https://www.techspot.com/news/45680-motorola-xoom-4g-lte-upgrades-starting-today.html
