August 09, 2010, 4:23 PM — The Boy Genius Report has apparently obtained Verizon's roadmap for deployment of its 4G LTE services, which are slated to cover 75% of the United States by April 2012.
According to one of BGR's "Verizon Wireless sources," it seems that Verizon will release its first LTE MiFi device in early 2011. The device, which will be manufactured by Novatel, will be able to connect up to 10 Wi-Fi users at the same time to Verizon's LTE network.
Samsung scores FCC approval for first LTE phone
4G technologies such as LTE and WiMAX represent the next stage in the evolution of wireless data technologies and generally deliver average download rates of 3Mbps or higher. In contrast, today's 3G networks typically deliver average download speeds about one-tenth of that rate. Verizon will be the first major U.S. carrier to offer LTE services, as it will have its LTE network up and running in as many as 30 major markets with many more to come in 2011.
By the end of 2013, Verizon plans to have its entire current 3G footprint covered by its 4G technology and to also expand its 4G services into areas that don't currently have 3G. The carrier will primarily be using the 22MHz chunk of spectrum it obtained during the 700MHz auction in 2008 to build out its LTE network nationwide.
In addition to news about Verizon's LTE plans, the BGR is also reporting that Verizon will be releasing many more devices in the near future based on Google's open source Android operating system. Among the rumored devices are the Motorola Droid Pro, a new smartphone that will have a 1.3GHz processor, and an Android-based tablet manufactured by Samsung. The BGR's report has no information on whether Verizon will get the Apple iPhone on its network next year, nor on whether Verizon will be able to support the Samsung device approved by the FCC last month that could be the first smartphone in the US to support LTE.
Read more about anti-malware in Network World's Anti-malware section.
