Verizon says 4G-only phones may be here by 2013

During a recent conference in Texas, Verizon CTO Tony Melone talked about his company’s LTE network and its plans for the technology in the future. Melone explained that Verizon plans to include voice over LTE (VoLTE) capability in at least some of its phones by later in 2012 and that by the time 2013 rolls around, we could begin seeing that all phones are 4G-only. If that idea scares you, Melone also explained that Verizon wouldn’t be pushing people off its 3G network. However, Melone also said that Verizon will be covering its 3G network with LTE “and then some,” meaning that folks in the area of the country without 3G, including rural areas, will be getting 4G.

Verizon is being very aggressive about rolling out its LTE network and getting 4G-only phones out on the market, although it’s disappointing that we won’t be seeing 4G-only phones for at least another year. Are you excited?

Via PhoneUplink (my blog)