Sprint Unveils First 3 LTE Devices

LAS VEGAS -- 2012 International CES -- Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) is having a me-too Long Term Evolution (LTE) moment.

Just as AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) unveiled eight new LTE devices at its developer summit on Monday, Sprint announced its first three gadgets using the new technology. The one catch being that Sprint users won't be able to get a whiff of LTE until the middle of this year, and even then only largely in the heart of Texas.

The LTE devices include the dual-mode Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Korea: SEC) Nexus and LG Electronics Inc. (London: LGLD; Korea: 6657.KS) Viper and a "tri-network" (3G/WiMax/LTE) hotspot from Sierra Wireless Inc. (Nasdaq: SWIR; Toronto: SW).

The operator has said it will offer LTE in Atlanta, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston by the middle of the year. Six more -- as yet unnamed -- markets will follow. (See Sprint's First 10 LTE Markets Coming by Mid-Year for the latest AT&T and Sprint deployment plans.) Why this matters
Sprint is trying to remind people it is still in the game with LTE, as AT&T now has 26 markets up, while Verizon Wireless will soon be pushing 200 LTE towns and cities. Sprint continues to push its unlimited plans for 4G smartphones and says it will have 15 LTE devices out in total in 2012.

See more
Sprint has, like, LTE plans, bro:

• New Year, New 4G: At a Glance
• Sprint to Launch LTE by Mid-2012
• Sprint Plans LTE-Advanced Launch in 2013
• Sprint Promises LTE Devices in Early 2012
• Sprint Keeps Clearwire (& Unlimited) Alive

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile