ARM Community: How will you use the performance of Verizon’s new 4G LTE Network? - ARM Community

I’ve lived a reasonably happy life with my 3G network and the support I have for the three Smart Mobile Devices that I carry with me pretty much at all times. Ok so buffering is a drag when I am streaming music or video, and yeah pulling in that large presentation that my colleague just sent can cause some interruptions but basically I felt functional. That was until I visited the Verizon booth at CES 2011 to get an inside view on their recently launched 4G LTE network. To say that I (and my devices) felt a tad out of date is an understatement.



So how fast is Verizon’s new 4G LTE network?
Verizon launched their new 4G LTE network in early December. If you are lucky enough to live in one of their target cities then you will enjoy a 10X speed improvement over your typical 3G network. And if you were an early adopter of WiMax technology then sorry – Verizon’s LTE network will deliver about double the speed of a WiMax network.

So what does this mean for consumers and smart mobile devices? I had the great fun of checking that at the Verizon CES booth. First on entering the stand one is surrounded by content screaming on all types of mobile devices without bothersome interruptions and network problems. This is especially important if you were like me, trying to make use of my 3G devices in an overly crowded Las Vegas. In addition to the Motorola Xoom device that I featured in my second CES blog, they had tablets and smartphones galore with great new applications highlighting the strength of the network.

What do streaming HD video, location-based apps, and business continuity solutions have in common?
Easy, all are built to leverage the advanced data capabilities of Verizon’s new network.

Can you even imagine streaming HD video content on a 3G network? At the Verizon booth I was able to check out a new NVIDIA Tegra 2 based tablet (featuring dual Cortex-A9 cores) streaming high definition (720p) live TV across Verizon’s new network.

My next stop at the Verizon booth, new location based applications using VZ Navigator technology on an Android phone. Why does 4G matter here? Because we can now navigate in a 3D context – something that anyone visiting New York City would appreciate. I also loved that VZ Navigator has open APIs to enable rich mash-up services like Geo-coupons. Saving money and staying found – sounds good to me.

Finally although maybe not as flashy, unless you are a small business owner that finds business continuity and reliability to be pretty sexy – was the CradlePoint network support on Verizon LTE. This technology will keep your business up and running on the 4G network when your traditional wireline solution is down. It just takes one snow storm to see how useful this technology can be.

For a closer look, check out all three of these great applications in the video above!

On a global perspective, Verizon isn’t the only network operator moving forward with LTE technology. LTE networks are on their way to implementation everywhere you look. This month, Nigerian telecommunications company Globacom launched a 4G-LTE network in an effort to be proactive in providing the latest technologies to its users. China, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Malaysia and Europe are all in the trial phase of enabling LTE technology, investigating different providers to rollout their own LTE networks as well.

The power of LTE networks sure has my attention. Let us know how you will use these powerful new networks!

Kerry McGuire Balanza, Director of Strategic Marketing, ARM, Growing up in a tiny little technology town and then moving to Austin to work in the mobile industry has led to a lifetime of being a technology groupie. Fascinated by the changing technical industry and the impact of technology on society trends, she enjoys watching the industry evolve by working with the best of ARM’s partners.