AT&T to Sell First LTE Phones From Samsung, HTC

Started by certforumz, October 31, 2011, 01:03:22 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

certforumz

AT&T, the second-largest U.S. mobile carrier, plans to start selling its first handsets using a faster standard called long-term evolution on Nov. 6, a bid to catch up with larger rival Verizon Wireless.

AT&T?s first LTE phones, both running Google Inc.?s Android software, will be the $200 Vivid from HTC Corp. and the $250 Galaxy S II Skyrocket from Samsung Electronics Co., according to a statement from the carrier today. To get those prices, customers need to sign up for two-year service agreements.

The Dallas-based carrier said it is expanding its LTE service to Boston, Washington, Baltimore, and Athens, Georgia, after starting it in five markets last month. AT&T plans to offer LTE in 15 cities by year-end. Verizon started selling its first LTE handset, the HTC Thunderbolt, in March and offers LTE in about 165 metropolitan areas.

AT&T ?is going to be rolling out markets fairly rapidly now, so they?ll come on line rather quickly,? said Chris King, a Stifel Nicolaus &Co. analyst in Baltimore. He rates AT&T ?buy.?

AT&T and Verizon Wireless, co-owned by Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group Plc, are boosting network speeds and offering devices with more capabilities to lure higher-spending customers. Both the Vivid and the Skyrocket have 4.5-inch (11.4-centimeter) screens, accommodating users who are increasingly browsing the Web and watching video on their handsets.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-31/at-t-to-begin-selling-first-lte-smartphones-from-samsung-htc-on-nov-6.html