Dallas – AT&T
announced Aug. 21 nationwide availability of its first two 4G LTE data devices
and an LTE data plan price of $50 for 5GB of data.
The two Sierra
Wireless-made data devices, a USB modem and a mobile Wi-Fi hot spot, will be
available that day not only in AT&T-owned stores and the carrier’s website
but also through the carrier’s indirect channels, a spokesperson told TWICE.
The LTE data plan
is the same contract plan available for the carrier’s 3G and 4G HSPA+ data
devices. Data overages will cost $10/GB. Prepaid options available with select
3G and 4G from AT&T are not available with the LTE devices.
Although the new
devices will be available nationwide, 4G LTE service will go online only in
five markets sometime this summer, then expand to at least 15 markets with a
population of 70 million by the end of 2011. Outside of those LTE markets, the
data devices will default to 4G HSPA+ mode.
The first five LTE
markets to go online will be Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
AT&T said it would soon announce a date on which LTE service will be
available there.
AT&T’s two LTE
devices, previously announced, are the AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G USB
modem, which will retail for $49.99 with two-year contract (and after $50
mail-in-rebate when purchased through AT&T’s stores and web site), and the
AT&T Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G, which connects up to five Wi-Fi devices to
AT&T’s cellular network. It will be available for $69.99 with two-year
contract after a $50 mail-in rebate if purchased from AT&T. An activation
fee of up to $36 is also required.
Both devices
feature 4G LTE at 700MHz, 4G HSPA+ speeds in the carrier’s U.S. 850/1,900MHz
HSPA+ markets with enhanced backhaul, and HSPA+ operation in international
2.1GHz markets. Both also offer expandable memory slot that supports MicroSD
cards up to 32GB.
Current owners of
the LTE-upgradeable AT&T USBConnect Adrenaline USB modem can visit
beginning Aug.
26 to download the upgrade. The Adrenaline, however, isn’t capable of 4G speeds
on AT&T’s HSPA+ network.
