AT&T on Thursday announced that it has activated its 4G LTE network in 11 new markets. The new markets include: the New York City metro area, Austin, Chapel Hill, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose. AT&T’s LTE network has also been active for some time in Athens, Atlanta, Baltimore,Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. The carrier’s 4G LTE network is now live in 26 markets in the United States and said it is still on track to complete its 4G LTE rollout by the end of next year. AT&T’s full press release follows after the break.

AT&T Rolls Out 4G LTE to Customers in 11 More Markets
AT&T 4G LTE Now Available in 26 Markets Including NYC Metro, San Francisco, Los Angeles
AT&T’s Blazing Fast 4G Speeds, Device Lineup, Apps Will Make for Best Customer Mobile Broadband Experience

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – AT&T* customers are now enjoying blazing fast 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) speeds in 11 more markets, including New York City metro area, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This addition makes AT&T 4G LTE available in a total of 26 markets to 74 million consumers. John Stankey, President and Chief Executive Officer—AT&T Business Solutions, provided an update at Citi’s 22nd Annual Global Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference in San Francisco.

New markets where AT&T 4G LTE is now available are: New York City metro area, Austin, Chapel Hill,Los Angeles, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose.

The expansion adds to 15 AT&T 4G LTE markets launched in 2011: Athens, Ga.; Atlanta; Baltimore;Boston; Charlotte; Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City; Las Vegas;Oklahoma City; San Antonio; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Washington, D.C.

“We’re building a 4G LTE network that’s blazing fast, and we offer dual layers of 4G technologies to provide customers with a more consistent speed experience,” said Stankey. “Our network, together with our unsurpassed 4G device portfolio and innovative applications, will give our customers an industry-leading mobile broadband experience.”

AT&T is the only U.S. carrier providing 4G using both HSPA+ and LTE technologies. HSPA+, when combined with enhanced backhaul, provides customers with access to 4G speeds — meaning AT&T customers get a faster and more consistent 4G experience on their compatible devices, even when outside of a 4G LTE area. Customers of other carriers that have transitioned to 4G LTE without further speed upgrades to their existing networks are likely to see a jarring drop-off in speeds when they move out of LTE coverage.

Another benefit of AT&T’s network strategy is that only AT&T’s network lets your iPhone 4S download three times faster.

AT&T’s mobile broadband service currently covers 284 million people and more than 90 percent of the population, including the top 100 U.S. markets.

AT&T expects its 4G LTE deployment to be largely complete by the end of 2013.

AT&T customers can choose from a growing lineup of 4G LTE-compatible devices, including HTC Vivid, Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket, and LG Nitro HD smartphones and HTC Jetstream and Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 tablets.

Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

3X claim based on national average iPhone 4S data speeds on AT&T’s network vs. other U.S. networks.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

 

Verizon Wireless announced Wednesday that it will activate its 4G LTE network in 11 new markets on Thursday, December 15th. The carrier will also expand its coverage in 7 existing LTE markets. Verizon’s 4G LTE network will blanket a total of more than 200 million people in 190 U.S. markets following Thursday’s roll-out. The new markets include: Dover, Del.; Lafayette, Ind.; Fitchburg/Leominster, Mass.; Duluth, The Rochester Area and St. Cloud, Minn.; Manchester/Nashua, N.H.; Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Findlay/Tiffin and Youngstown/Warren, Ohio; and Indiana, Pa. Verizon will also expand its existing LTE networks in San Diego and San Francisco, Ca.; Washington, D.C.; Savannah, Ga.; Chicagoland, Ill.; and Baltimore and Hagerstown, Md. “Introducing the 4G LTE network has been the fastest rollout of any next-generation network in our history,” Verizon Wireless CTO David Small said. “In one year and 10 days, we have brought 4G LTE to more than 200 million people. That’s more than twice as fast as our 3G network rollout.” Verizon’s full press release follows after the break. 

VERIZON INTRODUCES 4G LTE FASTER THAN ANY NEW NETWORK TECHNOLOGY IN THE COMPANY’S HISTORY, NOW COVERING MORE THAN 200 MILLION PEOPLE

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless, owner of the nation’s fastest 4G network, is turning on 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) in 11 new markets and making expansions in seven markets on Dec. 15, bringing blazingly fast speeds to more than 200 million people in 190 markets across the United States.  The company offers a broad array of 4G LTE-enabled devices, including notebooks and netbooks; hotspots and modems; and smartphones and tablets, such as the two new DROID XYBOARD tablets by Motorola, to connect to the largest 4G LTE network in the nation.

On Thursday, Dec. 15, the company will turn on its 4G LTE network in Dover, Del.; Lafayette, Ind.; Fitchburg/Leominster, Mass.; Duluth, The Rochester Area and St. Cloud, Minn.; Manchester/Nashua, N.H.; Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Findlay/Tiffin and Youngstown/Warren, Ohio; and Indiana, Pa.  The company is also making expansions on Dec. 15 in San Diego and San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; Savannah, Ga.; Chicagoland, Ill.; and Baltimore and Hagerstown, Md.

“Introducing the 4G LTE network has been the fastest rollout of any next-generation network in our history.  In one year and 10 days, we have brought 4G LTE to more than 200 million people.  That’s more than twice as fast as our 3G network rollout,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless.

4G LTE Speed and Coverage

In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.  When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.  Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable high-speed data network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas who purchase 4G LTE devices today to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their area, or when they travel to an area already covered by 4G LTE.

4G LTE Markets

On Dec. 15, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will be available to more than 200 million Americans in 190 markets, including:

·         Birmingham, Ala.

·         Decatur, Ala.

·         Huntsville, Ala.

·         Mobile, Ala.

·         Montgomery, Ala.

·         Phoenix, Ariz.

·         Tucson, Ariz.

·         Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, Ark.

·         Fort Smith, Ark.

·         Jonesboro/Paragould, Ark.

·         Little Rock, Ark.

·         Bakersfield, Calif.

·         Fresno, Calif.

·         Los Angeles, Calif.

·         Modesto, Calif.

·         Oakland, Calif.

·         Sacramento, Calif.

·         Salinas/Monterey/Seaside, Calif.

·         San Diego, Calif.

·         San Francisco, Calif.

·         San Jose, Calif.

·         San Luis Obispo, Calif.

·         Santa Barbara, Calif.

·         Stockton, Calif.

·         Colorado Springs, Colo.

·         Denver, Colo.

·         Fort Collins, Colo.

·         Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.

·         Hartford, Conn.

·         Dover, Del.

·         Washington, D.C.

·         Daytona, Fla.

·         Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

·         Ft. Myers, Fla.

·         Gainesville, Fla.

·         Jacksonville, Fla.

·         Lakeland, Fla.

·         Miami, Fla.

·         Orlando, Fla.

·         Pensacola, Fla.

·         Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla.

·         Tallahassee, Fla.

·         Tampa, Fla.

·         West Palm Beach, Fla.

·         Athens, Ga.

·         Atlanta, Ga.

·         Augusta, Ga.

·         Savannah, Ga.

·         Hilo, Hawaii

·         Honolulu, Hawaii

·         Kahului/Wailuku, Hawaii

·         Lahaina, Hawaii

·         Boise, Idaho

·         Bloomington, Ill.

·         Carbondale, Ill.

·         Champaign/Urbana, Ill.

·         Chicago, Ill.

·         Rockford, Ill.

·         Springfield, Ill.

·         The Quad Cities, Ill./Iowa

·         Bloomington/Bedford, Ind.

·         Elkhart, Ind.

·         Evansville, Ind.

·         Fort Wayne, Ind.

·         Indianapolis, Ind.

·         Lafayette, Ind.

·         South Bend/Mishawaka, Ind.

·         Terre Haute, Ind.

·         West Lafayette, Ind.

·         Cedar Rapids, Iowa

·         Des Moines, Iowa

·         Iowa City, Iowa

·         Sioux City, Iowa

·         Wichita, Kan.

·         Lexington, Ky.

·         Louisville, Ky.

·         Baton Rouge, La.

·         Hammond, La.

·         New Orleans, La.

·         Shreveport, La.

·         Baltimore, Md.

·         Frederick, Md.

·         Hagerstown, Md.

·         Boston, Mass.

·         Fitchburg/Leominster, Mass.

·         Springfield, Mass.

·         Worcester, Mass.

·         Detroit, Mich.

·         Flint, Mich.

·         Grand Rapids, Mich.

·         Kalamazoo, Mich.

·         Lansing, Mich.

·         Saginaw, Mich.

·         Duluth, Minn.

·         Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.

·         The Rochester Area, Minn.

·         St. Cloud, Minn.

·         Starkville, Miss.

·         Tupelo, Miss.

·         Kansas City, Mo.

·         Springfield/Branson, Mo.

·         St. Louis, Mo.

·         Lincoln, Neb.

·         Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb.

·         Las Vegas, Nev.

·         Reno, Nev.

·         Manchester/Nashua, N.H.

·         Albuquerque, N.M.

·         Las Cruces, N.M.

·         Santa Fe, N.M.

·         Albany, N.Y.

·         Buffalo, N.Y.

·         Ithaca, N.Y.

·         New York, N.Y.

·         Orange County, N.Y.

·         Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

·         Rochester, N.Y.

·         Syracuse, N.Y.

·         Asheville, N.C.

·         Charlotte, N.C.

·         Fayetteville/Lumberton, N.C.

·         Greensboro/Winston Salem/High Point, N.C.

·         Raleigh/Durham, N.C.

·         Wilmington, N.C.

·         Fargo, N.D.

·         Akron, Ohio

·         Canton, Ohio

·         Cincinnati, Ohio

·         Cleveland, Ohio

·         Columbus, Ohio

·         Dayton, Ohio

·         Findlay/Tiffin, Ohio

·         Lima, Ohio

·         Mansfield, Ohio

·         Toledo, Ohio

·         Youngstown/Warren, Ohio

·         Bartlesville, Okla.

·         Oklahoma City, Okla.

·         Tulsa, Okla.

·         Portland, Ore.

·         Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, Pa.

·         Altoona, Pa.

·         Erie, Pa.

·         Harrisburg, Pa.

·         Indiana, Pa.

·         Johnstown, Pa.

·         Philadelphia, Pa.

·         Pittsburgh, Pa.

·         State College, Pa.

·         Wilkes Barre/Scranton, Pa.

·         Greater Providence, R.I.

·         Charleston, S.C.

·         Columbia, S.C.

·         Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.

·         Hilton Head, S.C.

·         Rapid City, S.D.

·         Sioux Falls, S.D.

·         Chattanooga, Tenn.

·         Clarksville, Tenn./Hopkinsville, Ky.

·         Cleveland, Tenn.

·         Dyersburg/Union City, Tenn.

·         Jackson, Tenn.

·         Knoxville, Tenn.

·         Martin, Tenn.

·         Memphis, Tenn.

·         Nashville, Tenn.

·         Austin, Texas

·         Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas

·         Bryan/College Station, Texas

·         Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas

·         El Paso, Texas

·         Houston, Texas

·         San Antonio, Texas

·         Temple/Killeen, Texas

·         Wichita Falls, Texas

·         Provo, Utah

·         Salt Lake City, Utah

·         Greater Hampton Roads, Va.

·         Richmond, Va.

·         Roanoke, Va.

·         The Tri-Cities, Tenn./Va.

·         Olympia, Wash.

·         Seattle, Wash.

·         Spokane, Wash.

·         Tacoma, Wash.

·         Charleston, W.Va.

·         Appleton/Oshkosh, Wis.

·         Green Bay, Wis.

·         Madison, Wis.

·         Milwaukee, Wis.

 

Verizon Wireless announced on Thursday that it has activated its 4G LTE network in 22 new markets. The service is now live in Birmingham, Alabama; Modesto and Stockton, California; Fort Myers, Florida; South Bend, Mishawaka, Granger, Elkhart and Goshen, Indiana; Sioux City, Iowa; Hagerstown, Maryland; Tupelo, Mississippi; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; Asheville, North Carolina; Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Jackson and Martin, Tennessee; Greater Hampton Roads and Richmond, Virginia and Green Bay, Wisconsin. In addition, Verizon is expanding the existing 4G LTE footprints in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Erie, Pennsylvania, and the carrier will launch 4G in additional markets on November 17th. Verizon offers 13 4G LTE devices and most recently announced the Motorola DROID RAZR. It will also soon offer the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich phone.

AT&T just reported a solid third quarter that saw its total subscriber count pass 100 million for the first time. Of course that milestone will be crushed if the carrier’s $39 billion T-Mobile USA acquisition is approved, but for the time being it represents a solid strategy that is clearly working. A huge part of that strategy moving from 2011 into 2012 is rolling out 4G LTE service across 15 cities, the first five of which went live last month: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. AT&T has yet to reveal the remainder of the 15 markets it intends to blanket with its next-generation 4G service this year, but BGR has uncovered two previously unannounced cities named within the carrier’s presentation for its upcoming earnings call. According to AT&T’s slide deck, both Boston and Washington DC will see the carrier’s 4G LTE service go live this year and judging by some of the speeds we’ve seen so far, residents should certainly be looking forward to it.

Verizon Wireless announced on Monday that it will light-up 4G LTE service in 22 new cities this month and another 13 on November 17th. On that date, it will officially offer 4G LTE service in a total of 178 markets. On October 20th, service will be active in Birmingham, Alabama; Modesto and Stockton, California; Fort Myers, Florida; Bloomington, Elkhart, Evansville, South Bend and Terre Haute, Indiana; Sioux City, Iowa; Hagerstown, Maryland; Tupelo, Mississippi; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; Asheville, North Carolina; Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Jackson and Martin, Tennessee; Greater Hampton Roads and Richmond, Virginia and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Verizon will also expand the existing footprints in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Erie, Pennsylvania cities on the same day. On November 17th, Verizon Wireless will deploy 4G LTE in Little Rock, Arkansas; Savannah, Georgia; Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, Iowa; Lexington, Kentucky; Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri; Lincoln, Nebraska; Orange County, New York; Greater Providence; Rapid City, South Dakota; Roanoke, Virginia; and Appleton, Wisconsin. It will also expand the exiting footprints in in Louisville, Kentucky; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Nashville, Tennessee, on November 17th. Read on for the full press release.

AMERICA’S FASTEST AND MOST RELIABLE 4G NETWORK EXPANDS TO MORE THAN 175 MARKETS ON NOV. 17

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and SAN DIEGO – Verizon Wireless announced today at CTIA Enterprise and Applications™ 2011 that its 4G LTE network will be available in 178 markets by Nov. 17.  The leader in mobile broadband will turn on its 4G LTE network in 22 new cities and expand the network in four cities on Oct. 20, and will turn on the 4G LTE network in 13 cities and expand in five cities on Nov. 17, making the largest 4G LTE network in the county even bigger.

Consumers and businesses in these cities will be able to access the blazingly fast speeds of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network with any of Verizon Wireless’ 13 4G LTE-enabled devices, including the new Pantech Breakout™ and DROID BIONIC™ by Motorola smartphones, and the 4G LTE-enabled Motorola XOOM™.

“When we launched our 4G LTE network just 43 weeks ago, we had an ambitious growth plan because we understood the impact 4G LTE could have on people’s lives,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless.  “Americans in 178 cities from coast to coast will have access to the nation’s most reliable 4G network before Thanksgiving, allowing them to harness the speed and power of the network not only where they live but also where they travel.”

On Thursday, Oct. 20, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will be available in Birmingham, Ala.; Modesto and Stockton, Calif.; Fort Myers, Fla.; Bloomington, Elkhart, Evansville, South Bend and Terre Haute, Ind.; Sioux City, Iowa; Hagerstown, Md.; Tupelo, Miss.; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Asheville, N.C.; Bartlesville, Okla.; Jackson and Martin, Tenn.; Greater Hampton Roads and Richmond, Va.; and Green Bay, Wis. Verizon Wireless is also expanding its 4G LTE network in Los Angeles and San Diego, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; and Erie, Pa. the same day.

On Thursday, Nov. 17, the company will turn on its 4G LTE network in Little Rock, Ark.; Savannah, Ga.; Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, Iowa; Lexington, Ky.; Kansas City and Springfield, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Orange County, N.Y.; Greater Providence; Rapid City, S.D.; Roanoke, Va.; and Appleton, Wis.  The company is also making major 4G LTE expansions on Nov. 17 in Louisville, Ky.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Nashville, Tenn.

4G LTE Speed and Coverage

In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.  When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.  Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas who purchase 4G LTE devices today to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their city.

Reliability: In and Beyond Major Cities

As the company with the most reliable 4G wireless network in the county and the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy 4G LTE technology, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G LTE network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized.  Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.  The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G LTE, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Over the past year, Verizon Wireless has also worked to bring its 4G LTE network beyond major cities with its LTE in Rural America program.  The company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G LTE network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum.  Already, 12 rural organizations have announced their participation in the LTE in Rural America program and have leased spectrum covering, in total, more than 2.6 million people in rural communities and nearly 82,000 square miles.  These companies include: Appalachian Wireless, Bluegrass Cellular, Carolina West/Clear Stream, Cellcom, Chariton Valley, Convergence Technologies, Cross Telephone, Custer Telephone Cooperative, Pioneer Cellular, S and R Communications, Strata Networks and Thumb Cellular.

4G LTE Markets

Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will be available in 178 cities on Nov. 17, including:
·         Birmingham, Ala.*
·         Decatur, Ala.
·         Huntsville, Ala.
·         Mobile, Ala.
·         Montgomery, Ala.
·         Phoenix, Ariz.
·         Tucson, Ariz.
·         Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, Ark.
·         Fort Smith, Ark.
·         Jonesboro-Paragould, Ark.
·         Little Rock, Ark.**
·         Bakersfield, Calif.
·         Fresno, Calif.
·         Los Angeles, Calif.
·         Modesto, Calif.*
·         Oakland, Calif.
·         Sacramento, Calif.
·         Salinas/Monterey/Seaside, Calif.
·         San Diego, Calif.
·         San Francisco, Calif.
·         San Jose, Calif.
·         San Luis Obispo, Calif.
·         Santa Barbara, Calif.
·         Stockton, Calif.*
·         Colorado Springs, Colo.
·         Denver, Colo.
·         Fort Collins, Colo.
·         Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.
·         Hartford, Conn.
·         Washington, D.C.
·         Daytona Beach, Fla.
·         Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
·         Ft. Myers, Fla.*
·         Gainesville, Fla.
·         Jacksonville, Fla.
·         Lakeland, Fla.
·         Miami, Fla.
·         Orlando, Fla.
·         Pensacola, Fla.
·         Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla.
·         Tallahassee, Fla.
·         Tampa, Fla.
·         West Palm Beach, Fla.
·         Athens, Ga.
·         Atlanta, Ga.
·         Augusta, Ga.
·         Savannah, Ga.*
·         Hilo, Hawaii
·         Honolulu, Hawaii
·         Kahului/Wailuku, Hawaii
·         Lahaina, Hawaii
·         Boise, Idaho
·         Bloomington, Ill.
·         Carbondale, Ill.
·         Champaign/Urbana, Ill.
·         Chicago, Ill.
·         Rockford, Ill.
·         Springfield, Ill.
·         The Quad Cities, Ill./Iowa
·         Bloomington/Bedford, Ind.*
·         Elkhart, Ind.*
·         Evansville, Ind.*
·         Fort Wayne, Ind.
·         Indianapolis, Ind.
·         South Bend/Mishawaka, Ind.*
·         Terre Haute, Ind.*
·         West Lafayette, Ind.
·         Cedar Rapids, Iowa**
·         Des Moines, Iowa**
·         Iowa City, Iowa
·         Sioux City, Iowa*
·         Wichita, Kan.
·         Lexington, Ky.**
·         Louisville, Ky.
·         Baton Rouge, La.
·         Hammond, La.
·         New Orleans, La.
·         Shreveport, La.
·         Baltimore, Md.
·         Frederick, Md.
·         Hagerstown, Md.*
·         Boston, Mass.
·         Springfield, Mass.
·         Worcester, Mass.
·         Detroit, Mich.
·         Flint, Mich.
·         Grand Rapids, Mich.
·         Kalamazoo, Mich.
·         Lansing, Mich.
·         Saginaw, Mich.
·         Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
·         Tupelo, Miss.*
·         Kansas City, Mo.**
·         Springfield, Mo.**
·         St. Louis, Mo.
·         Lincoln, Neb.**
·         Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb.
·         Las Vegas, Nev.
·         Reno, Nev.
·         Albuquerque, N.M.*
·         Las Cruces, N.M.
·         Santa Fe, N.M.*
·         Albany, N.Y.
·         Buffalo, N.Y.*
·         Ithaca, N.Y.
·         New York, N.Y.
·         Orange County, N.Y.**
·         Rochester, N.Y.
·         Syracuse, N.Y.
·         Asheville, N.C.*
·         Charlotte, N.C.
·         Fayetteville/Lumberton, N.C.
·         Greensboro/Winston Salem/High Point, N.C.
·         Raleigh/Durham, N.C.
·         Wilmington, N.C.
·         Fargo, N.D.
·         Akron, Ohio
·         Canton, Ohio
·         Cincinnati, Ohio
·         Cleveland, Ohio
·         Columbus, Ohio
·         Dayton, Ohio
·         Lima, Ohio
·         Mansfield, Ohio
·         Toledo, Ohio
·         Bartlesville, Okla.*
·         Oklahoma City, Okla.
·         Tulsa, Okla.
·         Portland, Ore.
·         Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, Pa.
·         Altoona, Pa.
·         Erie, Pa.
·         Harrisburg, Pa.
·         Johnstown, Pa.
·         Philadelphia, Pa.
·         Pittsburgh, Pa.
·         Wilkes Barre/Scranton, Pa.
·         State College, Pa.
·         Greater Providence**
·         Charleston, S.C.
·         Columbia, S.C.
·         Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.
·         Hilton Head, S.C.
·         Rapid City, S.D.**
·         Sioux Falls, S.D.
·         Chattanooga, Tenn.
·         Clarksville, Tenn./Hopkinsville, Ky.
·         Cleveland, Tenn.
·         Dyersburg/Union City, Tenn.
·         Jackson, Tenn.*
·         Knoxville, Tenn.
·         Martin, Tenn.
·         Memphis, Tenn.
·         Nashville, Tenn.
·         Austin, Texas
·         Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas
·         Bryan/College Station, Texas
·         Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas
·         El Paso, Texas
·         Houston, Texas
·         San Antonio, Texas
·         Temple/Killeen, Texas
·         Wichita Falls, Texas
·         Provo, Utah
·         Salt Lake City, Utah
·         Greater Hampton Roads, Va.*
·         Richmond, Va.*
·         Roanoke, Va.**
·         The Tri-Cities, Tenn./Va.
·         Olympia, Wash.
·         Seattle, Wash.
·         Spokane, Wash.
·         Tacoma, Wash.
·         Charleston, W.Va.
·         Appleton, Wis.**
·         Green Bay, Wis.*
·         Madison, Wis.
·         Milwaukee, Wis.

*Indicates a market that will be live on Oct. 20, 2011
**Indicates a market that will be live on Nov. 17, 2011

Verizon Wireless announced on Wednesday that it will activate its 4G LTE network in 26 new markets on Thursday, September 15th. The new areas include Kalamazoo and Saginaw, Michigan; Fargo, North Dakota; Moorhead Minnesota; Canton, Lima and Mansfield, Ohio; Reno, Nevada; Iowa City, Iowa; Fort Smith and Jonesboro, Arkansas; Daytona, Florida; Shreveport, Louisiana; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Dyersburg, Tennessee; the Tri-Cities in Tennessee and Virginia; Austin, Beaumont/Port Arthur, Wichita Falls and El Paso, Texas; San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, California; Bloomington/Normal, Champaign/Urbana, Rockford, Springfield and Quad Cities, Illinois. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network now covers more than 160 million U.S. residents in 143 markets, and the carrier hopes to cover 185 million Americans by the end of this year. Read on for a press release of Verizon’s expansion in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota.

VERIZON WIRELESS LAUNCHES 4G LTE IN 26 NEW MARKETS AND MAKES MAJOR EXPANSIONS IN 3 CITIES ON SEPTEMBER 15

With the Introduction of the new DROID BIONIC^™ by Motorola, Verizon Wireless Offers 11 Cutting-edge 4G LTE Devices

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless is turning on the world’s most advanced wireless network in 26 additional cities and expanding its network in San Francisco, Indianapolis and Cleveland/Akron on Thursday, Sept. 15, bringing the blazingly fast speed of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) to a total of 143 markets across the United States.  Consumers and businesses can choose from 11 4G LTE-enabled devices to connect to the fastest 4G LTE network in the country, including the new DROID BIONIC^™ by Motorola which is the first Verizon Wireless smartphone to combine 4G LTE with the power of dual-core 1 GHz processors, 1 GB of RAM and a stunning 4.3-inch qHD display.

Starting Thursday, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will be available in Fort Smith and Jonesboro, Ark.; San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, Calif.; Daytona, Fla.; Bloomington, Champaign/Urbana, Rockford and Springfield, Ill.; the Quad Cities, Ill./Iowa; Iowa City, Iowa; Shreveport, La.; Kalamazoo and Saginaw, Mich.; Reno, Nev.; Las Cruces, N.M.; Fargo, N.D.; Canton, Lima and Mansfield, Ohio; Dyersburg, Tenn.; the Tri-Cities, Tenn./Va.; and Austin, Beaumont/Port Arthur, Wichita Falls and El Paso, Texas.  The company is also making major 4G LTE expansions on Thursday in San Francisco, Indianapolis and Cleveland/Akron.

“We’ve followed an aggressive roll out plan for our 4G LTE network, and consumers and businesses can connect today to the fastest 4G LTE network in the country with nearly a dozen devices,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless.  “Speed matters, and it matters when you’re in your hometown as well as when you’re on the road.  That’s why it’s important that you can connect over 4G LTE in 143 markets, from New York to San Francisco, and from Miami to Las Vegas.”

4G LTE Devices, Speed and Coverage

Consumers can choose from 11 devices to access the blazingly fast speeds of the 4G LTE network, including:

·        Smartphones: DROID BIONIC by Motorola, Revolution^™ by LG, DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt^™ by HTC

·        Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab^™ 10.1 with 4G LTE

·        Notebooks and Netbooks: HP^® Pavilion dm1-3010nr Entertainment PC and Compaq^™ Mini CQ10-688nr with built-in 4G LTE

·        Hotspots: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi^™ 4510L and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot SCH-LC11

·        Modems: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE USB Modem 551L and Pantech UML290 USB modem

In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.  Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas today who purchase 4G LTE devices to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas.

Reliability: In and Beyond Major Cities

As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy 4G LTE technology, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G LTE network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized.  Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.  The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G LTE, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Verizon Wireless’ vision also includes bringing its 4G LTE network beyond major cities.  The company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G LTE network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum.  Already, 11 rural companies have announced their participation in the LTE in Rural America program and have leased spectrum covering, in total, more than 2.1 million people in rural communities and nearly 62,000 square miles.  These companies include: Bluegrass Cellular, Carolina West/Clear Stream, Cellcom, Chariton Valley, Convergence Technologies, Cross Telephone, Custer Telephone Cooperative, Pioneer Cellular, S&R Communications, Strata Networks and Thumb Cellular.

4G LTE Markets as of Sept. 15, 2011

While Verizon Wireless’ 3G network covers more than 290 million Americans, the company’s 4G LTE network covers more than 160 million Americans and will be available in 143 cities on Thursday, including:

·        Decatur, Ala.

·        Huntsville, Ala.

·        Mobile, Ala.

·        Montgomery, Ala.

·        Phoenix, Ariz.

·        Tucson, Ariz.

·        Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, Ark.

·        Fort Smith, Ark.

·        Jonesboro, Ark.

·        Bakersfield, Calif.

·        Fresno, Calif.

·        Los Angeles, Calif.

·        Oakland, Calif.

·        Sacramento, Calif.

·        Salinas/Monterey/Seaside, Calif.

·        San Diego, Calif.

·        San Francisco, Calif.

·        San Jose, Calif.

·        San Luis Obispo, Calif.

·        Santa Barbara, Calif.

·        Colorado Springs, Colo.

·        Denver, Colo.

·        Fort Collins, Colo.

·        Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.

·        Hartford, Conn.

·        Washington, D.C.

·        Daytona, Fla.

·        Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

·        Gainesville, Fla.

·        Jacksonville, Fla.

·        Lakeland, Fla.

·        Miami, Fla.

·        Orlando, Fla.

·        Pensacola, Fla.

·        Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla.

·        Tallahassee, Fla.

·        Tampa, Fla.

·        West Palm Beach, Fla.

·        Athens, Ga.

·        Atlanta, Ga.

·        Augusta, Ga.

·        Hilo, Hawaii

·        Honolulu, Hawaii

·        Kahului/Wailuku, Hawaii

·        Lahaina, Hawaii

·        Boise, Idaho

·        Bloomington, Ill.

·        Carbondale, Ill.

·        Champaign/Urbana, Ill.

·        Chicago, Ill.

·        Rockford, Ill.

·        Springfield, Ill.

·        Fort Wayne, Ind.

·        Indianapolis, Ind.

·        West Lafayette, Ind.

·        The Quad Cities, Ill./Iowa

·        Iowa City, Iowa

·        Wichita, Kan.

·        Louisville, Ky.

·        Baton Rouge, La.

·        Hammond, La.

·        New Orleans, La.

·        Shreveport, La.

·        Baltimore, Md.

·        Frederick, Md.

·        Boston, Mass.

·        Springfield, Mass.

·        Worcester, Mass.

·        Detroit, Mich.

·        Flint, Mich.

·        Grand Rapids, Mich.

·        Kalamazoo, Mich.

·        Lansing, Mich.

·        Saginaw, Mich.

·        Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.

·        St. Louis, Mo.

·        Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb.

·        Las Vegas, Nev.

·        Reno, Nev.

·        Las Cruces, N.M.

·        Albany, N.Y.

·        Ithaca, N.Y.

·        New York, N.Y.

·        Rochester, N.Y.

·        Syracuse, N.Y.

·        Charlotte, N.C.

·        Fayetteville/Lumberton, N.C.

·        Greensboro/Winston Salem/High Point, N.C.

·        Raleigh/Durham, N.C.

·        Wilmington, N.C.

·        Fargo, N.D.

·        Akron, Ohio

·        Canton, Ohio

·        Cincinnati, Ohio

·        Cleveland, Ohio

·        Columbus, Ohio

·        Dayton, Ohio

·        Lima, Ohio

·        Mansfield, Ohio

·        Toledo, Ohio

·        Oklahoma City, Okla.

·        Tulsa, Okla.

·        Portland, Ore.

·        Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, Pa.

·        Altoona, Pa.

·        Erie, Pa.

·        Harrisburg, Pa.

·        Johnstown, Pa.

·        Philadelphia, Pa.

·        Pittsburgh, Pa.

·        Wilkes Barre/Scranton, Pa.

·        State College, Pa.

·        Charleston, S.C.

·        Columbia, S.C.

·        Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.

·        Hilton Head, S.C.

·        Sioux Falls, S.D.

·        Chattanooga, Tenn.

·        Clarksville, Tenn./Hopkinsville, Ky.

·        Cleveland, Tenn.

·        Dyersburg, Tenn.

·        The Tri-Cities, Tenn./Va.

·        Knoxville, Tenn.

·        Memphis, Tenn.

·        Nashville, Tenn.

·        Austin, Texas

·        Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas

·        Bryan/College Station, Texas

·        Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

·        El Paso, Texas

·        Houston, Texas

·        San Antonio, Texas

·        Temple/Killeen, Texas

·        Wichita Falls, Texas

·        Provo, Utah

·        Salt Lake City, Utah

·        Olympia, Wash.

·        Seattle, Wash.

·        Spokane, Wash.

·        Tacoma, Wash.

·        Charleston, W.Va.

·        Madison, Wis.

·        Milwaukee, Wis.

Visit www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.

Verizon Wireless announced on Monday that it will activate its 4G LTE network in several new markets on September 15th. The new markets include Iowa City, Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa; Fargo, North Dakota; Moorhead, Minnesota; Lima, Cleveland, Canton, Mansfield and the Akron-Canton airport in Ohio; Rockford, Moline, Rock Island, Bloomington/Normal, Champaign/Urbana and Springfield, Illinois; San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara, California; Reno, Nevada; Shreveport, Louisiana; Austin, Wichita Falls and El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, New Mexico and Saginaw and Kalamazoo Michigan. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network is currently available to more than half of the U.S. population and the carrier says it is on track to cover more than 185 million Americans by the end of this year. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE coverage will be equal to that of its 3G network by the end of 2013. Read on for a press release detailing Verizon’s Illinois roll-out.

Verizon Wireless Brings Its 4G LTE Network To Central Illinois On September 15

SCHAUMBURG, IL — Verizon Wireless announced today that the company is launching the world’s first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in Bloomington/Normal, Champaign/Urbana and Springfield, Ill., on Sept. 15. Already, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network is available in 117 cities across the United States, covering more than 160 million Americans or half the U.S. population. With the new market launches, residents with 4G LTE devices in these areas will be able to take advantage of speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network. Verizon 4G LTE smartphones are twice as fast as any AT&T smartphone.

“We are proud to help lead customers across the Bloomington/Normal, Champaign/Urbana and Springfield areas into the 4G LTE wireless broadband world, helping residents, small businesses and local government connect faster and more fully with each other and those outside our community,” said T.J. Fox, president-Illinois/Wisconsin, Verizon Wireless. “Our 4G LTE network is revolutionizing the way people communicate, and we know this connectivity will be a key communications and technology enabler for many years to come.”

Residents of Bloomington/Normal, Champaign/Urbana and Springfield can choose from an array of devices on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network including:

• Smartphones: Revolution™ by LG, DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt™ by HTC
• Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 with 4G LTE
• Notebooks and Netbooks: HP® Pavilion dm1-3010nr Entertainment PC and Compaq™ Mini CQ10-688nr with built-in
• 4G LTE Hotspots: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi™ 4510L and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot SCH-LC11 Modems: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE USB Modem 551L and Pantech UML290 USB Modem

Details on all of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE devices can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE.

In real-world, fully loaded network environments, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. Verizon Wireless introduced its 4G LTE network on Dec. 5, 2010, covering more than 110 million Americans, and in just eight months expanded to cover more than half the U.S. population. The company plans to continue rapidly expanding its 4G LTE network and is on course to cover more than 185 million Americans by the end of 2011 and its entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013.

As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy a large-scale 4G LTE network, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G LTE network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized, and in less than eight months since launch, has won numerous technology and consumer choice awards. Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year. The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G LTE, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.

Additional communities within the Bloomington/Normal area and surrounding suburbs to be covered by the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network include:

• Barnes
• Bloomington
• Bloomington Heights
• Hendrix
• Normal

Additional communities within the Champaign/Urbana area and surrounding suburbs to be covered by the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network include:

• Augerville
• Bondville
• Champaign
• Deers
• Lake of the Woods
• Leverett
• Mayview
• Mira
• Philo
• Rising
• Sadorus
• Savoy
• Sloan Station
• Tolono
• Urbana
• Wilbur Heights

Additional communities within the Springfield area and surrounding suburbs to be covered by the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network include:

• Chatham
• Clear Lake
• Devereux Heights
• Piper Glen
• Riddle Hill
• Sherman
• Springfield

Woodside

AT&T senior vice president of mobility and consumer markets Pete Ritcher took the stage during the Oppenheimer Technology and Communications Conference on Wednesday, where he confirmed that AT&T will launch its first 4G LTE smartphone by the end of this year. Ritcher reaffirmed AT&T’s intention to deploy its LTE network in 15 markets covering 70 million people by the end of 2011, and it hopes to continue its roll-out on a market-by-market basis, Fierce Wireless reported. AT&T will initially only offer laptop cards alongside the new LTE network, and AT&T is expected to launch 4G LTE in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio this summer. “We are the only carrier with LTE and HSPA+,” Ritcher said. “When you don’t have LTE you will fall back to faster speeds than our competitors,” he added, noting that Verizon’s 4G customers fall back to the slower EV-DO network when LTE is not available.

Read

Speaking during a D9 press event in California on Thursday, AT&T Mobility’s CEO Ralph de la Vega said it will take AT&T between 2 and 3 years to bring its LTE network coverage up to a par with Verizon Wireless’ 4G offering. AT&T has already announced that it plans to deploy its 4G LTE network to five cities this summer, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. However, Verizon’s network is already available in 55 markets, it plans to deploy in 23 more this month, and the carrier has promised full 4G LTE coverage across its current 3G network by the end of 2013. According to CNN, Ralph de la Vega said AT&T “can’t say when” its 4G network will match Verizon’s but said “in the next two to three years they will probably be indistinguishable.” The carrier also reaffirmed that if its proposed acquisition of T-Mobile is approved, customers should see a large improvement the in overall quality and reliability of AT&T’s service.

UPDATE: AT&T spokesperson Seth Bloom provided BGR with the following comments via email:

We noted that your post about LTE today didn’t note Ralph’s point that AT&T has a solid, modern technology with HSPA+, so we didn’t need to move as fast as Verizon with LTE.  A bit more context for our network path can be found here… of course it includes LTE starting this summer with 5 cities (and additional 10 or more by the end of the year):

• As AT&T builds out its LTE footprint, customers outside the LTE area will still have access to HSPA+, meaning consistently fast mobile broadband speeds.
• AT&T’s HSPA+ network with expanded backhaul provides a great 4G experience with speeds up to four times faster than our already fast mobile broadband speeds. Also, more than 80 percent of the U.S. population is currently covered by AT&T’s HSPA+ radio network.
• AT&T didn’t jump straight to LTE so that its customers would have a consistently fast mobile broadband experience. Customers of competitors who haven’t made the same upgrades as AT&T has will find that they’ll have fast speeds in LTE areas, but will see a steep drop-off in speeds when they leave LTE coverage zones. Plus, if they’re using voice and data simultaneously, one of those connections will drop off. AT&T’s customers will have a more consistent speed experience as they move between LTE and  HSPA+ coverage areas.

Read

AT&T confirmed on Wednesday that it will deploy its 4G LTE network in five markets this summer, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. The carrier did not specify additional markets slated to be rolled out in 2011, but it did say 10 additional markets will be deployed this year and 70 million Americans will be covered by the end of 2011. By contrast, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network is currently available in 55 markets and it expects to deploy in 23 more markets next month. AT&T said it expects its network to offer LTE data speeds on a par with its competitors. Hit the break for AT&T’s full press release.

AT&T’s 4G Evolution

Dallas, Texas, May 25, 2011

By John Donovan, AT&T Chief Technology Officer

AT&T has delivered five mobile broadband speed upgrades in recent years, including our HSPA+ deployment last year. And average nationwide speeds on the AT&T network have increased – more than 40 percent over the past two years alone.

The next network evolution will arrive this summer with the addition of LTE in five markets – Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Antonio. We plan to add another 10 or more markets in the second half of the year, and cover 70 million Americans with LTE by year-end. We also have plans to add 20 4G devices to our robust device portfolio this year, with some of those being LTE capable.

We’re positioning to deliver a great mobile broadband experience in the near term with HSPA+ and a growing LTE footprint.

We’ve invested $75 billion in our wireless and wired networks over the last four years – more capital invested in the U.S. than any company in any industry. And we plan to invest $19 billion in our wireless and wireline networks and other capital projects this year. The investments we’ve made to evolve our mobile broadband network in recent years, plus what we have planned for the future, put our customers in position to benefit fully from a host of coming mobile broadband innovations.

Verizon announced on Monday that it will activate its blazing fast 4G LTE network in 23 new markets on June 16th. The service will soon be available in Hartford, Connecticut; Harrisburg, State College, and Erie, Pennsylvania; Dayton and Springfield, Ohio; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina; Sacramento and Fresno, California; Spokane, Washington; Boise, Idaho; Salt Lake City, Utah; Flint, Grand Rapids, and Lansing, Michigan; Indianapolis and Forth Wayne, Indiana; and Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Verizon also said that it will expand its existing 4G footprint in Detroit and the San Francisco Bay area, and that it remains on course to fill out its entire 3G footprint with 4G data connectivity by the end of 2013. So far we’ve reviewed two 4G-capable phones from Verizon — the HTC ThunderBolt and the Samsung DROID Charge — and the carrier’s LTE network has blown us away on both devices.

Verizon Wireless on Thursday confirmed that its 4G LTE network is now available in Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Connecticut; Gainesville Pensacola and Tallahassee Florida; Fayetteville-Lumberton, North Carolina; and Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen, Texas. The nation’s largest wireless carrier also said that it’s expanding the 4G footprint that is already available in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, and Philadelphia, to cover more customers. Verizon’s chief technical officer, David Small, said that Verizon’s 4G LTE network is now available in 55 metropolitan areas and that the carrier plans to expand its 4G LTE footprint to match its entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013. Hit the jump for the full press release.

VERIZON WIRELESS LAUNCHES NINE NEW 4G LTE MARKETS TODAY AND EXPANDS 4G LTE NETWORK IN FIVE MAJOR CITIES

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless is turning on the world’s most advanced wireless network in nine additional metropolitan areas today, as well as expanding the 4G LTE network in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans and Philadelphia.  The wireless leader announced today the 4G LTE network is now available in Mobile and Montgomery Ala.; Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.; Gainesville, Pensacola and Tallahassee, Fla.; Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.; and Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen, Texas.

David Small, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless, noted, “We’re now offering consumers and businesses in 55 metropolitan areas the most advanced 4G wireless network on the planet, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast.  We plan to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to our entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013.”

Consumers can choose from several devices to access the blazingly fast speeds of the 4G LTE network, including the newly-launched DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt™ by HTC smartphones, MiFi® 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot.  Laptop users can enjoy speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network with three USB modems from Novatel, Pantech and LG.  In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

When customers travel outside of a 4G coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.  Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable network in the country, allowing customers with laptops and smartphones to download and use cool apps, from mobile social networking platforms to GPS-enabled maps.  Customers can also can rapidly browse the Web to keep up with news, sports, stock quotes, Hollywood gossip and more, work on-the-go with fast file sharing and stream must-see video and customized radio stations.  Customers in 3G coverage areas today who purchase 4G devices will be able to take advantage of 4G speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas.

As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy game-changing 4G LTE technology, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized.  Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.  The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Verizon Wireless’ vision also includes bringing its 4G LTE network beyond major cities.  The company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum.  Already, 10 rural companies have signed on to leverage Verizon Wireless’ scale for infrastructure while keeping their customers on the cutting edge of technology, including Bluegrass Cellular, Cross Telephone, Pioneer Cellular, Cellcom, Thumb Cellular, Strata Networks, S&R Communications, Carolina West / Clear Stream, Custer Telephone Cooperative and Convergence Technologies.

While Verizon Wireless’ 3G network covers more than 290 million Americans, the company’s 4G LTE network is already available in 55 metropolitan areas, including:

·         Mobile Ala.
·         Montgomery Ala.
·         Phoenix, Ariz.
·         Los Angeles, Calif.
·         Oakland, Calif.
·         San Diego, Calif.
·         San Francisco, Calif.
·         San Jose, Calif.
·         Denver, Colo.
·         Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.
·         Washington, D.C.
·         Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
·         Gainesville, Fla.
·         Jacksonville, Fla.
·         Miami, Fla.
·         Orlando, Fla.
·         Pensacola, Fla.
·         Tallahassee, Fla.
·         Tampa, Fla.
·         West Palm Beach, Fla.
·         Athens, Ga.
·         Atlanta, Ga.
·         Chicago, Ill.
·         West Lafayette, Ind.
·         New Orleans, La.
·         Baltimore, Md.
·         Boston, Mass.
·         Detroit, Mich.
·         Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
·         St. Louis, Mo.
·         Las Vegas, Nev.
·         New York, N.Y.
·         Rochester, N.Y.
·         Charlotte, N.C.
·         Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.
·         Wilmington, N.C.
·         Akron, Ohio
·         Cincinnati, Ohio
·         Cleveland, Ohio
·         Columbus, Ohio
·         Oklahoma City, Okla.
·         Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, Pa.
·         Philadelphia, Pa.
·         Pittsburgh, Pa.
·         Columbia, S.C.
·         Hilton Head, S.C.
·         Clarksville, Tenn./Hopkinsville, Ky.
·         Cleveland, Tenn.
·         Nashville, Tenn.
·         Bryan-College Station, Texas
·         Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
·         Houston, Texas
·         San Antonio, Texas
·         Temple-Killeen, Texas
·         Seattle, Wash.

Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, with many being fostered at the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and the Application Innovation Center, slated to open in San Francisco later this year.

Regional wireless provider U.S. Cellular has officially thrown its hat into the 4G ring. “U.S. Cellular, in conjunction with its partnership with King Street Wireless, announced today that it will deliver high-speed 4G LTE services and 4G-enabled devices to more than 25 percent of its customers across two dozen markets in time for the holiday season,” declares the company’s press release. U.S. Cellular plans to have LTE-enabled devices in market “during the first phase of its 4G LTE rollout” with additional devices populating the carrier’s lineup in 2012. Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wisconsin; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, North Carolina will be among the first markets to be covered by the new, high-speed network. The full press release is after the break.

U.S. CELLULAR TO LAUNCH 4G LTE SERVICE AND DEVICES IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

CHICAGO (May 6, 2011) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM), in conjunction with its partnership with King Street Wireless, announced today that it will deliver high-speed 4G LTE services and 4G-enabled devices to more than 25 percent of its customers across two dozen markets in time for the holiday season. U.S. Cellular customers with 4G LTE devices and service will experience significantly faster data speeds when browsing the web, accessing e-mail, playing games and viewing and streaming videos.

The initial rollout of 4G LTE service for U.S. Cellular, which has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier, is planned for selected cities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma. These include some of U.S. Cellular’s leading markets such as Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wis.; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, N.C.

“With 4G LTE, our customers will have faster connections to the people, information and entertainment that enhance their lives and help them stay organized,” said Mary N. Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular. “In addition to our line-up of cutting-edge devices, customers who switch to U.S. Cellular get unique benefits like faster phone upgrades without continuously signing contracts, and join the happiest customers in wireless.”

U.S. Cellular plans to introduce a portfolio of 4G-enabled devices during the first phase of its 4G LTE deployment and will continue to expand its offering through 2012. The rollout builds on the 3G data services that U.S. Cellular customers already enjoy on the carrier’s high-quality nationwide network. More details on the next phases of the company’s 4G LTE deployment will be announced at a later date.

Verizon Wireless on Tuesday announced the addition of 59 new markets that will be covered by the carrier’s 4G LTE service in 2011. These new regions are in addition to the 88 markets Verizon Wireless already announced, bringing the total number of projected markets that will receive LTE coverage from Verizon this year to 147. “Aggressively expanding this powerful network beyond major metro areas reflects the reality that the 4G LTE ecosystem is growing quickly, ” Verizon Wireless CTO David Small said in a statement. “Our commitment to reach deep into medium-sized cities and smaller communities by the end of 2011 means the power of 4G LTE can be harnessed and provide advanced services to law enforcement, healthcare workers, educators, and other professionals, as well as to individual consumers, sooner than many thought possible.” Verizon Wireless launched its first 4G LTE-enabled smartphone, the HTC ThunderBolt, last week, and the carrier currently offers a variety of LTE modems. Hit the break for the full press release.

VERIZON WIRELESS BRINGS 4G LTE TO MORE THAN 145 MARKETS BY THE END OF 2011

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Today, Verizon Wireless unveiled an additional 59 markets that will benefit from the world’s first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network by the end of this year.  These newly named areas, added to the 39 initial markets launched in December 2010 and 49 markets announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, mean that consumers and businesses in at least 147 U.S. cities will have access to the fastest, most advanced 4G mobile network in America.

David Small, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless, said, “Aggressively expanding this powerful network beyond major metro areas reflects the reality that the 4G LTE ecosystem is growing quickly.  Our commitment to reach deep into medium-sized cities and smaller communities by the end of 2011 means the power of 4G LTE can be harnessed and provide advanced services to law enforcement, healthcare workers, educators, and other professionals, as well as to individual consumers, sooner than many thought possible.  So whether you spend time in New York and San Francisco, or Harrisburg, Penn., Saginaw/Bay City, Mich., Huntsville, Ala. and Las Cruces, New Mexico, you can connect to the most advanced 4G network in the country.”

The HTC ThunderBolt™, launched Thursday, March 17, is the first in a suite of consumer-oriented smartphones, tablets, hotspots and notebooks that will run on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network by the middle of this year.  The new consumer devices join two USB modems from Pantech and LG which have been providing laptop users with speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network.  In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

Verizon Wireless is building its 4G LTE network with the same commitment to performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized.  Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.  The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Verizon Wireless is also working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum.  Already, six rural companies have signed on to leverage Verizon Wireless’ scale for infrastructure while keeping their customers on the cutting edge of technology.

Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, including the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and an LTE Applications Center, slated to open in San Francisco this fall.

Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network already reaches 110 million people, more than one-third of all Americans, and is available today in the following metropolitan areas:

·                Phoenix, Ariz.

·                Los Angeles, Calif.

·                Oakland, Calif.

·                San Diego, Calif.

·                San Francisco, Calif.

·                San Jose, Calif.

·                Denver, Colo.

·                Washington, D.C.

·                Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

·                Jacksonville, Fla.

·                Miami, Fla.

·                Orlando, Fla.

·                Tampa, Fla.

·                West Palm Beach, Fla.

·                Athens, Ga.

·                Atlanta, Ga.

·                Chicago, Ill.

·                West Lafayette, Ind.

·                New Orleans, La.

·                Baltimore, Md.

·                Boston, Mass.

·                Detroit, Mich.

·                Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.

·                St. Louis, Mo.

·                Las Vegas, Nev.

·                New York, N.Y.

·                Rochester, N.Y.

·                Charlotte, N.C.

·                Akron, Ohio

·                Cincinnati, Ohio

·                Cleveland, Ohio

·                Columbus, Ohio

·                Oklahoma City, Okla.

·                Philadelphia, Pa.

·                Pittsburgh, Pa.

·                Nashville, Tenn.

·                Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

·                Houston, Texas

·                San Antonio, Texas

·                Seattle/Tacoma, Wash.

Additional areas to be covered by Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network in 2011 include:

·                Decatur, Ala.

·                Huntsville, Ala.*

·                Mobile, Ala.*

·                Montgomery, Ala.*

·                Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.

·                Fort Smith, Ark.

·                Little Rock, Ark.*

·                Tucson, Ariz.

·                Bakersfield, Calif.

·                Fresno, Calif.

·                Modesto, Calif.

·                Sacramento, Calif.

·                Salinas-Monterey, Calif.

·                San Luis Obispo, Calif.

·                Santa Barbara, Calif.

·                Stockton, Calif.

·                Colorado Springs, Colo.*

·                Fort Collins, Colo.

·                Fairfield, Conn.

·                Hartford, Conn.

·                New Haven, Conn.

·                Daytona Beach, Fla.

·                Fort Myers, Fla.

·                Gainesville, Fla.*

·                Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.*

·                Pensacola, Fla.*

·                Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.*

·                Tallahassee, Fla.*

·                Augusta, Ga.*

·                Hilo, Hawaii

·                Honolulu, Hawaii*

·                Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii*

·                Lahaina, Hawaii*

·                Davenport, Iowa

·                Iowa City, Iowa

·                Boise-Nampa, Idaho*

·                Bloomington/Normal, Ill.

·                Carbondale, Ill.*

·                Champaign, Ill.

·                Rockford, Ill.

·                Springfield, Ill.

·                Fort Wayne, Ind.

·                Indianapolis, Ind.

·                Lafayette, Ind.

·                Wichita, Kan.*

·                Louisville, Ky.

·                Baton Rouge, La.*

·                Hammond, La.*

·                Springfield, Mass.

·                Worcester, Mass.

·                Hagerstown, Md.

·                Flint, Mich.*

·                Grand Rapids, Mich.

·                Lansing, Mich.

·                Saginaw-Bay City, Mich.

·                Starkville, Miss.

·                Asheville-Henderson, N.C.

·                Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.*

·                Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, N.C.*

·                Raleigh-Durham, N.C.*

·                Wilmington, N.C.*

·                Fargo, N.D.

·                Omaha, Neb.

·                Albuquerque, N.M.

·                Las Cruces, N.M.

·                Santa Fe, N.M.

·                Reno, Nev.

·                Albany, N.Y.

·                Ithaca, N.Y.

·                Syracuse, N.Y.

·                Dayton-Springfield, Ohio*

·                Lima, Ohio

·                Toledo, Ohio

·                Tulsa, Okla.*

·                Portland, Ore.

·                Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa.

·                Erie, Pa.*

·                Harrisburg, Pa.

·                Johnstown, Pa.

·                Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Pa.

·                State College, Pa.*

·                Charleston, S.C.*

·                Columbia, S.C.*

·                Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.*

·                Hilton Head, S.C.*

·                Sioux Falls, S.D.*

·                Chattanooga, Tenn.*

·                Clarksville, Tenn.*

·                Cleveland, Tenn.*

·                Dyersburg-Union City, Tenn.

·                Jackson, Tenn.

·                Kingsport-Johnson City, Tenn.-Bristol, Va.*

·                Knoxville, Tenn.*

·                Memphis, Tenn.*

·                Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas*

·                Bryan-College Station, Texas*

·                El Paso, Texas

·                Temple-Killeen, Texas

·                Provo-Orem, Utah*

·                Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah*

·                Olympia, Wash.*

·                Centralia, Wash.*

·                Spokane, Wash.

·                Charleston, W.Va.*

·                Madison, Wis.*

·                Milwaukee, Wis.*

* Indicates a metro area previously announced in 2011

Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.

In a short press release today, Nokia announced that its business-centric E7 handset would begin arriving in stores in “select markets” starting this week. The full-QWERTY, horizontal slide and tilt device boasts a 4-inch ClearBlack display, peta-band WCDMA radio, quad-band GSM radio, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, 16 GB of internal storage, an 8 megapixel camera with 720p video recording and dual-LED flash, HDMI connector, and 1200 mAh battery. The device, which was officially announced back in September of this year, should retail for around €495. Hit the jump for the full press release.

All-in-one business smartphone, the Nokia E7, arrives in stores

Espoo, Finland – The highly anticipated Nokia E7 will begin arriving in stores in select markets this week, with broader availability building up quickly in several markets.

With its tilting 4 inch ClearBlack display, full qwerty keyboard and a fast access to a wide variety of apps directly on the homescreen, the Nokia E7 is the key to having a successful day in or out of the office. Importantly, the device supports business applications from leading enterprise technology partners including Microsoft and IBM.

Key features of the Nokia E7
– Easy access to private and business email
- Create, edit and share office documents and view PDF files with Adobe Reader
- Fast, secure intranet access with the built-in VPN
- High-resolution photos and HD video with the 8 megapixel camera and dual LED flash
- HDMI connectivity to project files, videos and images onto large screens
- 16 gigabytes of on-board flash memory
- USB-On-The-Go, enabling easy file sharing by connecting a USB stick to the smartphone

For business users, Nokia E7 provides direct, secure and real-time access to email, calendar, contacts, tasks and the corporate directory through Microsoft Exchange servers, as well as Office Communicator Mobile, developed by Microsoft for Nokia smartphones, which brings presence and corporate instant messaging.

Additionally, a wide range of entertainment and social services available on the Nokia E7 make it the perfect off-duty companion, and the Ovi Store offers a wealth of apps such as Bloomberg, Angry Birds and Sports Tracker.

The new arrival offers drive or walk navigation in 80 countries. The latest commercial version of Ovi Maps, available immediately via Ovi Store or Ovi Suite, adds visibility to subways, trams and trains, real-time traffic, safety alerts, visibility to parking and petrol stations, speed limit warnings, and improved search and location sharing capabilities.