Verizon is rolling out several 4G smartphones and at least one tablet computer as it seeks to catch Sprint and its 70 4G markets.
Verizon Wireless will unveil several 4G smartphones and at least one tablet
computer based on Google's Android operating system at the 2011 Consumer
Electronics Show.
Verizon Wireless has made no secret that this CES will be its coming-out
party for 4G long-term evolution wireless technology, which provides data
speeds comparable to land-based cable modems and fiber-optic cables.
Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg is providing
the keynote address Jan. 6, which the company executives will follow at 1 p.m. PDT with a press event, inviting media
to "come see the next evolution of 4G LTE."
The
Wall Street Journal said Jan. 3 that's where Verizon will introduce Android 4G-powered
smartphones made by Samsung, Motorola, HTC and LG Electronics, and at least one
tablet computer.
The tablet is likely to be the Motorola tablet the phone maker has
teased about in a promo video. Little is known about
this device other than that it will feature the next-generation Honeycomb
Android OS.
A little more is known about at least two of the smartphones.
Droid Life
reported that the HTC
Thunderbolt will be the first 4G LTE device from Verizon Wireless. Verizon COO
John Stratton
confirmed to the
Journal that "Motorola will be right there" when it comes time
to roll out handsets based on the company's 4G network in 2011.
4G LTE is expected to boost consumer consumption of mobile applications such
as video and games on smartphones and tablet computers.
Speedy application performance with little to no latency means users will be
more likely to spend more time with the applications, consuming more data.
That's a big boon for handset makers, carriers and applications developers.
While CES attendees may be able to sample Verizon 4G prototype devices on
the show floor, the gadgets won't reach consumers hands until later in 2011.
Sprint has been selling 4G Android phones since the summer, launching the
popular HTC Evo 4G and Samsung Epic 4G
smartphone. Sprint's 4G network is now
available in more than 70 U.S.
markets.
Verizon will look to aggressively up the 4G ante at CES and beyond
throughout 2011.
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