Altair: 4G Modem Coming This November
Mobile manufacturer Altair Semiconductor says it will release its first 4G / LTE data modem this November.
The company predicts that 4G cell phones will start appearing in the marketplace in late 2010, with “millions of units” in use by 2010.
4G Modems from ZTE
Chinese mobile vendor ZTE has unveiled two new 4G modems at the ITU Telecom World in Geneva.
Both the modems – the AL620 and AL600 – support mobile broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps download and up to 50 Mbps upload when used on a 4G phone network.
When no 4G coverage is available the modems can fall back on normal 3G / HSPA+ speeds or even EDGE and GPRS. Both modems follow the standard USB dongle design and have an optional MicroSD slot.
Nokia’s 4G Modem
Nokia has launched its first ever 4G / LTE modem. The Nokia Internet Modem RD-3 can support 4G data calls as well as the current 3G / HSPA and 2G / EDGE mobile internet connections.
Sounds like a beautiful piece of mobile internet kit. Just one problem – you can’t buy this Nokia 4G modem.
For now at least, the RD-3 is only available to mobile phone carriers and network suppliers to test LTE services before public launches. Nokia have yet to say whether the modem will be made available to the phone buying public later.
Samsung Develops 4G Phone Modem
Samsung has announced it has developed a Long Term Evolution (LTE) / 4G modem. The modem, currently called the Kalmia, can support a download speed of 100 Mbps and an upload speed of 50 Mbps.
That’s fast enough to download a full HD movie in the background in one minute while you’re Twittering, Facebooking or checking your ‘mails.
Samsung says it’s currently working with developers preparing to launch a 4G phone network due to launch in 2010 – widely thought to be Verizon.
First 4G USB Modem from LG
Now that 4G cell phone networks are just starting to come on stream, we’re going to start seeing more and more 4G products hitting the market.
LG Electronics is first out of the gate with a 4G USB modem. The new modem can provide data transfers of up to 100 Mbps over a mobile network.
In other words, waaay faster than any current 3G modem.
No word yet on when LG will start selling the USB modem – watch this space.
Hat tip: Unwired View
