[ahearn]

I'm also in the Atlanta area (Woodstock) and have had the problem off and on since I got my phone in early November. I've even walked into the local Verizon store and looked at other phones, all showing 3G but mine showing 1X.

It almost seems to me that it's inversely related to the strength of the phone signal. When I'm in a very strong phone signal area, the data mode usually drops to 3G. Going to a weaker phone area (less than 4 bars), I get 3G, no problem. At my home, I'm only about 300 yards from a large cell tower -- but 1X data mode.

I hope it's true that a new update is coming January 15.