Verizon Wireless announces 4G LTE availabilty in nineteen new cities

Verizon Wireless announced today that they are expanding their LTE 4G network to an additional nineteen cities. Beginning this Thursday, June 16, 2011, Verizon's 4G network will be activated in the following cities:

• Fresno, California
• Sacramento, California
• Hartford, Connecticutt
• Boise, Idaho
• Fort Wayne, Indianna
• Indianapolis, Indianna
• Flint, Michigan
• Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Lansing, Michigan
• Dayton, Ohio
• Erie, Pennsylvania
• State College, Pennsylvania
• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina
• Sioux Fall, South Dakota
• Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah
• Spokane, Washington
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The existing LTE networks in San Francisco and Detroit, will also be expanded this Thursday.  David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless issued the following statement on Tuesday June 14. "On Thursday when we light up 19 additional 4G LTE markets, we will offer consumers and businesses in 74 metropolitan areas the most advanced 4G wireless network on the planet while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast. We are aggressively expanding our 4G LTE network: by the end of 2013 we plan to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to our entire 3G coverage area."

If you happen to find yourself outside of a 4G area with your LTE device, you will still be connected to Verizon Wireless's 3G network. Your device will just run a lot slower. If you currently reside in one of Verizon's 4G activated areas, and are wondering if the difference between 3G and 4G is really worth the investment, have a look at the 3G and 4G speed tests we did in and around the Baltimore area in March. The company offers a number of 4G devices in the form of smartphones, tablets, and mobile modems, including the HTC Thunderbolt, Motorola Xoom, and Pantech VML 290. You can purchase any of Verizon's 4G devices at a number of brick and mortar retailers, as well as a number of on-line sites.