Verizon 4G Androids Expected at CES

Verizon Wireless is expected to show off its first Long Term Evolution (LTE) smart phones based on Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)'s Android operating system at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas later this week.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Android smart phones and a tablet computer are expected from High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) (Taiwan: 2498), LG Electronics Inc. (London: LGLD; Korea: 6657.KS) and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Korea: SEC), according to "a person familiar with the plans."

Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT), which splits into two separate companies tomorrow, is already known to be working on an LTE smart phone for Verizon. The vendor is looking to further build on its success with the Android OS in 2011. (See Motorola to Complete Separation on Jan. 4.)

Why this matters
Despite continued rampant speculation about a coming Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) 3G iPhone launch on Verizon, the carrier is presently focused on pushing its Android partnership with Google into its new 4G LTE network. Android devices now represent 80 percent of the smart phone sales at Verizon. Nonetheless, Verizon users will likely have to wait a little while longer to get LTE phones and tablets in their hands. Executives at Verizon have previously said that initial LTE smart phones will actually be available to buy in the first half of 2011.

For more
Read more about Android at Verizon and CES below:

• Catching CES Tablet Fever
  
• Moto Readying LTE Smartphone for Verizon
  
• Android Trounces RIM at Verizon
  
• Google Notebooks Come With Verizon 3G
  
• OS Watch: Samsung, King of Androids
  

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile