3G phones are so 2007, Verizon gets 4G
Verizon Wireless has finally announced their plans to begin development on 4G mobile broadband beginning in 2008. This will utilize LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology. LTE technology for 4G has been tested in Japan with speeds of around 1GB/s, however some early tests have achieved speeds of up to 5GB/s. While speeds like that rarely make it to the states, expect a healthy speed boost in browsing somewhere in the 100MB/s range from Big Red. Trial suppliers for the new 4G network include Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia-Siemens, and Nortel. Expect to start picking up compatible handsets in late 2009, though we certainly wouldn’t bet a BlackBerry 9000 on it.
WOW You guys were all over this one. Where did you get this AMAZING information from?
No mention of it being a GSM technology and they will begin killing off their CDMA?
My guess is they would run both technologies until they can completely phase out and convert everyone over. Still, we’re looking at a solid 2-3 years from now.
it is based on gsm but it can be run standalone/on same devices with cdma. their 40 billion dollar cdma network isn’t going to be “killed” off any time soon.
For those who said that EV-DO is much better than HSPA, take that: GSM and its associates are more global and proved to have better performance. No wonder this is about to be for Verizon, wise choice big red.
The biggest knock on HSDPA has always been penetration. We all know it’s fast. But, it doesn’t matter how fast something is if no one has access to it. AT&T talks a pretty huge game when it comes to their network. Unfortunately, they have yet to deliver.
The great thing about this announcement is that it’s coming from a company that has proven they will deliver to the masses, regardless of what technology is used. If Verizon says they’re going 4g, not only will they go 4g, they’ll actually put the network in place and get the devices in people’s hands, unlike the big splat.
@ Greg
LTE isn’t compatible with CDMA. Just an FYI. They won’t be able to run together on the same phone.
@ dogiefresh
HSDPA has nothing to do with LTE. The other GSM carriers will be using LTE as well.
Minor point of clarification: those numbers you cited are in Gb and Mb, not GB and MB
mmm lte mmm. wouldnt matter if we get all this goodness if our handsets suck balls.
It’s a good boost but are they gonna have a good OS and phones to go with it?
Truthfully their “standard” OS and all their phones suck BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t wait. Or is it can’t wait for the over usage fees or the cancellation of my data plan because I watch too many youtube videos.
Verizon 4G data plan>>> 70-100 month.
Now here is a pipe dream. I wish all carriers will drop there VOICE plans and roll it into their DATA plans. Because we all know that once this 4G network goes live all voice traffic will all be VoIP/SIP anyway, if it’s not all ready (sshh!!, but don’t let the consumer know that!)
They are opening the platform for everyone to compete with Google, so I’d hope there would be some sort of improvement on that end. But in order to take the full advantage of 4G, and most common consumer, would be the ourchase of a device like a blackberry, voyager, or even the treo if we had to use todays handsets. I’m sure by the time LTE is ready to be taken advantage of, they’ll have some decent options out there. Also keep in mind that they are now accepting phones from other services such as Sprint to be used on their network. I would only guess that they’d do the same when switching to LTE. AT&T and TMO will be running the same from my understanding.
Hmmm so lets see, Verizon on GSM and maybe taking the lead on 4G over say AT&T and TMO?
This should be very interesting in the years to come, But than we will have a battle between the two? Who will have the dominant network?
Will there be a merger amongst the two? Both GSM , this should prove to be very very INTERESTING
To run both CDMA and GSM costly but Verizon can afford it, although some of the Exec’s mite not bonus , but very very doable
This is so going to be interesting and piggy backing off of one an-others networks is even going to be better. Watch for price hikes
nick mildren is a poof
i am arn’t i