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AT&T reveals 4G handsets, LTE launch plans

LAS VEGAS--AT&T announced at its Developer's Summit at CES this morning that it will launch its 4G LTE network by the middle of this year. Details of initial markets, pricing, and exact rollout plans are still few at this point, but the carrier says the network will be complete by 2013.

The news, which comes in the middle of a flurry of 4G announcements here, finally puts AT&T on the road to a high-speed data network. Though rivals like Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and MetroPCS have operated commercially available 4G networks for several months, AT&… Read more

SkyCross antennas outfit devices for Verizon 4G

LAS VEGAS--Wireless antenna maker SkyCross announced today at CES a partnership with Verizon Wireless that brings wireless connectivity to certain devices running on the carrier's 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network.

SkyCross antennas are being used in tablets from Acer and Cisco, a home automation control system from Ionics, and other devices being demonstrated this week at Verizon Wireless's Innovation Center CES booth. Acer's tablet is using an LTE MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) antenna, the Cisco Cius tablet uses an iMAT (isolated mode antenna technology) LTE antenna, and the Ionics product is incorporating an iMAT antenna.

MIMO … Read more

Verizon to debut 4G Android smartphones

Verizon Wireless will use this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas as the coming out party for its 4G wireless network.

While many people have been crossing their fingers for news of a Verizon iPhone at CES, the big news from Verizon will likely be the company's announcement of several new 4G wireless products, including at least four handsets and a tablet PC, all using Google's Android operating system.

The carrier, which is the largest wireless operator in the U.S. in terms of subscribers, launched its highly anticipated 4G wireless network in December. But for … Read more

Verizon may call down HTC Thunderbolt at Jan. 6 event

When Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg take the stage January 6 for a CES keynote, it's expected that he'll show off a broad range of LTE products and services. Both the dual-core LG smarpthone and the Motorola Honeycomb tablet should make an appearance, and we also look for the 4G LTE-ready HTC Thunderbolt.

Previously known by other code names (Mecha and Droid Incredible HD), the Thunderbolt will be the third 4G "first" from the manufacturer, following the Evo 4G (Sprint's first 4G phone) and the G2 (T-Mobile's first 4G handset). The Thunderbolt moniker makes sense … Read more

The 411 on AT&T's 4G strategy (FAQ)

AT&T took another step toward filling out its 4G wireless broadband strategy with the announcement yesterday that it plans to spend $1.9 billion to buy wireless spectrum from chipmaker Qualcomm.

The new spectrum will be used to help build the carrier's next generation LTE network. This is the same technology that Verizon Wireless is using to build its 4G network.

In some ways, AT&T may seem a little late to the 4G wireless party. Competitors Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile USA have already been touting their fourth generation networks.

Verizon just launched its service earlier this month. … Read more

Verizon to demo LTE-capable devices at CES

Verizon Wireless confirmed via its Twitter account today that it will launch new Android devices with support for its growing 4G LTE network at CES 2011.

We don't know exactly which devices the carrier will showcase at its January 6 press event, but potential handsets include the Droid Incredible HD or a Verizon-branded LG Optimus 2X.

It's also possible that we could see a Motorola tablet that has been getting a lot of attention lately. Moto recently began teasing a new Honeycomb-based tablet for the conference, which ought to be the same unit demonstrated by Andy Rubin at … Read more

ITU blesses U.S. data networks as 4G

For most of this year, "4G" has became the latest war-of-words battleground for U.S. carriers. But even as Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless rushed to outboast each other with claims of operating the best high-speed data network, the International Telecommunication Union declined to officially acknowledge their respective technologies as 4G.

The carriers, of course, never acknowledged that tidbit--admittedly, "not quite 4G" doesn't sound as exciting--but two weeks ago the ITU decided to cut them some slack anyway. At its December 6 meeting in Geneva, the ITU, an international standards body that officially designates wireless … Read more

MetroPCS adds 4G LTE in New York, Boston

The fifth-largest U.S. carrier may never have had much in the way of 3G networks, but MetroPCS is continuing to close the gap by expanding its 4G LTE markets to major U.S. cities.

Today, New York, Boston, and Sacramento, Calif., join the roster. For now, that gives Samsung the edge among U.S. customers, since the Samsung Craft is currently MetroPCS' only 4G-enabled phone. Although not a smartphone, the Craft was also the first LTE-enabled phone.

MetroPCS' LTE service is also available in San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Service is also expected … Read more

Rumor: Apple to release Verizon 4G LTE iPhone after Christmas?

As holiday shopping days shrink, Verizon iPhone rumors are growing. The latest from MacDailyNews pegs the Verizon iPhone for a post-Christmas release on Verizon's sparsely available 4G LTE networks.

These details are from a MacDailyNews source that they "believe to be familiar with the matter":

Verizon managers are being trained to handle the iPhone and have functional units running on Verizon's 4G LTE networks. AT&T has worked out an agreement to postpone the announcement of Verizon's iPhone until "right after Christmas" in an effort to maximize its holiday sales. The Verizon … Read more