Verizon Wireless Will Offer Its First 4G LTE Handset In Mid-2011

4G mobile networks are coming and in a few limited areas 4G is already here with Clearwire and Sprint. Those two firms are the only companies who bet on WiMax for 4G in the US. Other wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon are going to use LTE for their 4G network tech. Verizon has announced that it will have its first 4G handset on the market by the middle of 2011.

According to the Wall Street Journal that is about six months ahead of the schedule Verizon had previously announced. The first handsets will use two chips to allow the device to operate on 4G and 3G networks. One big issue that many looking forward to 4G may not have considered is the cost of data on the faster networks.

The WSJ figures that 4G networks may be the end of unlimited data plans in America. Networks are expected to move to metered data usage to help recover the costs associated with building and installing the new networks around the country. Many consumers will not be happy to move to metered pricing.