Verizon&39's 4G VL600 USB modem is truly a speed demon, but you don't want to enjoy it too much due to the limited data plans.

I reviewed the LG VL600 4G LTE USB modem awhile ago and conclude that apart from the limited and expensive data plans Verizon offers with it, it makes a great solution for mobile Internet access.

It seems to have just gotten better. Verizon announced today a firmware upgrade for the device that the company calls a "software update." This is not to be confused with the VZAccess Manager, which is used to start the connection.

According to Verizon, the firmware update to the VL600 modem offers the following improvements:

Successful reconnection to the network after the SIM card's activation or reset.

The time and size of LTE Data usage sessions are now accurately recorded in the VZAccess Manager Session Log.

VZAccess Manager now displays current network connection correctly.

Unfortunately, there's no word on whether the company will lower its monthly fee of $80 and/or increase its data cap to more than 10GB (or unlimited). For now, the Clear 4G+ modem, which comes with a $55/month unlimited 4G data plan, is still clearly a better deal for those who don't travel outside of the state frequently.

The new firmware, version VL600ZV4, and its update tool can be downloaded for free here. The upgrade process is fairly easy and straightforward but the detailed instructions can also be found here (PDF).