Verizon Commits to 4G LTE on Virtually All Future Smartphones

A Verizon Wireless executive, speaking at the CES tradeshow, has revealed that just about all of his company's smartphones released in the future will be able to run on the carrier's 4G LTE network.

Keith Lampron, Verizon’s associate director of device marketing, said that all customers who receive 3G EV-DO coverage will be given 4G coverage by the end of 2013, when Verizon expects to complete its LTE infrastructure. 

Lampron continued by saying that 4G LTE availability will not only be for Android customers, but also for BlackBerry and Windows Phone users. This confirms that handsets from RIM, as well as ones running Microsoft's mobile operating system, will eventually be equipped with LTE.

Altthough this was not stated specifically in Lampron's CES speach, his comment implies that the next Apple iPhone will have LTE. This is a move that has been widely expected by industy watchers.

There is one exception for this news, however. Verizon’s push-to-talk network will only be available in 3G until further notice.

Verizon has been leading the LTE market for over a year. In that time, the carrier has released far more 4G handsets than its competitors. It currently covers 190 markets and 200 million people with LTE. 

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