Verizon is now rolling out XLTE dramatically improving the networks speeds in many US cities. I happen to be in Flagstaff, AZ and today updated my air card to one capable of utilizing this new technology (1700 Mhz) and the difference is amazing. I did not try new speed test as they can be flaky and/or misleading but what I do know is that pages open MUCH faster with this service than my previous air card allowed.
I have just become and even bigger fan of the Verizon service.
I will be updating my phone and my wife's phone in the next couple of weeks to phones that will have the same access.