Verizon Trots Out Its LTE Litter

Verizon aims to populate its nascent 4G LTE wireless network with nearly a dozen new devices over the next six months, the company revealed Thursday at its press event at the Consumer Electronics show. It showed off four smartphones, two tablets, two small notebook computers and two mobile hotspots.

Verizon's stable of new 4G LTE devices

The company already offers a USB modem that allows any laptop to connect to the Internet over Verizon's 4G network. LTE users can expect mobile download speeds of five to 12 megabits per second and upload speeds of two to five Mbps, based on Verizon's claims.

The company also discussed a partnership with rural carriers that it hopes will bring its wireless services to users in less-populated areas of the U.S.

It's been just over a month since Verizon's 4G network went live, and presently it covers 38 cities and one-third of the U.S. population, according to CTO Tony Malone. In 2011, Verizon hopes to add 140 more markets.

In addition to outlining its plans to move its LTE services into more cities, Verizon discussed its intention to begin sharing access to its network with rural carriers.

"If you live in rural America, this is going to be a very big initiative for you," said Dan Mead, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless.

Verizon's first partner in the project is Bluegrass Cellular. Two additional agreements have also been finalized recently, and Verizon says many more are on the way.

The proliferation of faster networks from Verizon and other carriers could pave the way for the development of more sophisticated mobile apps.

Skype, for example, will promote the use of its mobile video chat application by deeply integrating the app into Verizon's 4G phones, allowing users to contact others who have similarly enabled phones and conduct video chat sessions over the cellular data network.

Also, Electronics Arts' mobile division announced plans to launch a mobile version of the game "Rock Band," which allows multiple users to play together via the 4G wireless network. The game requires players to execute precisely timed, rhythmic tasks in unison and so would require network lag be kept to a minimum in order to work properly.

A total of 10 new 4G LTE devices took the Verizon stage. Some are nearly complete; others don't yet have names. However, all will be released by the end of the second quarter.

"Look for all of these devices to come to market in the first half of the year, with some coming as early as March," Verizon Wireless CMO Marni Walden told the audience.

In smartphones, Verizon displayed the Droid Bionic, which phonemaker Motorola (NYSE: MOT) also featured at its CES press event Wednesday; the Thunderbolt, an HTC phone running Android 2.2; the Revolution, LG's first 4G handset; and an as-yet unnamed Samsung phone.

Though the Thunderbolt is HTC's first LTE phone, it's not the first time HTC has launched a 4G handset. Its Evo smartphone runs on Sprint's (NYSE: S) 4G network, though that system does not use LTE technology.

Thunderbolt will feature Android 2.2, though Verizon wouldn't say whether it would be upgradeable to Android 2.3, aka "Gingerbread," when the OS is more readily available.

Though the Samsung phone has yet to earn a proper name, Verizon said the device will be upgradable to Gingerbread. The device features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display.

An as-yet unnamed Samsung LTE phone.

As Verizon and other networks build out their 4G infrastructures, device vendors are building the wireless technology into gadgets other than smartphones.

Tablets, for example, were twice featured in Verizon's new product lineup. The Motorola Xoom, which also debuted Wednesday, will have the ability to connect to Verizon's new 4G network.

A version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, a product that originally debuted late last year, will also make its way to Verizon LTE.

HP (NYSE: HPQ) put forth two small notebook computers with Verizon LTE abilities: the HP Pavilion dm1-3010nr and the Compaq CQ10-688nr.

In addition, 4G mobile hotspots allow any device with WiFi capabilities to hop onto a 4G cellular data network. The pocket-sized devices connect to a 4G network, then provide a short-range WiFi signal that can be used by multiple gadgets in the immediate area. At its press event, Verizon launched two such hotspots: the MiFi 4510L Intelligent Mobile Hotspot and the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot, both of which support up to five WiFi devices and can connect via either 4G or 3G services.

As implemented by Verizon and other networks, 4G speeds may come at a premium price. Users who want on board may have to spend more on their monthly smartphone bills. Verizon representatives said they weren't prepared to share plan pricing information Thursday, though Walden pointed out Verizon's prices for present users of the company's 4G USB modems: US$50 per month for a total of 5 GB or $80 per month for 10 GB.

Company officials were also asked whether a flood of new users could overwhelm its LTE 4G network, resulting in degraded performance.

"We fully expect five to 12 [Mbps download speeds] as we fully load the network," Malone replied.