Verizon to get Android devices, LTE in 210 markets by 2012
by Chris Ziegler, posted May 28th 2009 of engadget
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It wasn't just Verizon's announcement that it'll carry the Pre that had people talking this morning -- the company's CEO Lowell McAdam also chimed in that it'll be carrying Android devices, a confirmation that finally brings all four US nationals within striking distance of offering Google's wares. Though specifics weren't mentioned -- we don't know what manufacturers, devices, or time frames are involved here -- Motorola was namedropped as becoming a "major player" in the latter half of 2009, something we've already seen hints of in T-Mobile's leaked roadmap. Verizon's a key member of the LiMo Foundation, and while that group doesn't necessarily compete head to head with Android, it'll be fascinating to see how the carrier positions all these products in the lineup.
In the same talk, McAdam mentioned that Verizon's LTE rollout will progress to 210 markets by 2012, up from just a handful in 2010. For all practical purposes, 210 markets lets them start to call the LTE network a "nationwide" one, though we don't yet know where those 210 markets will be (180 could be suburbs of LA, for all we can tell).