14 DAY TRIAL // Nokia’s first 4G LTE-capable Lumia smartphone is already undergoing carrier testing in the United States, although the Windows Phone operating system does not come with support for the connectivity option as of yet.
Both AT&T and Verizon, the two wireless carriers which have already deployed LTE networks in the US, are currently testing the device to see if it fits their needs, CNet reports.
Operators in the United States have been struggling to deploy LTE networks around the country to gain 4G supremacy, and it would make sense for Nokia to want to tap into that area with its Windows Phones for the region.
The company already said a while ago that it planned to bring to shelves in the US handsets that have been specifically tailored for the market, and putting LTE connectivity inside them would be an option.
The news comes as a confirmation of previous rumors that the Finnish giant was preparing the launch of a high-end Windows Phone on AT&T’s network, and that it was also packing LTE capabilities inside it.
Nokia does not benefit from a strong presence on the US market, but the company seems determined to change that, and new Lumia phones might prove just the solution for this.
Of course, nothing was officially announced on the matter, and it might take a while before any involved party makes a formal unveiling, but it appears that things are indeed lining up on the expected direction.
According to some of the latest rumors, the move could be made as soon as the first quarter of the next year. CES or MWC could be the events for an official announcement to land.
We should also note that AT&T and Verizon are not the only wireless carriers in the US set to launch Windows Phones from Nokia. T-Mobile is also expected to make a similar move, by bringing the Nokia Lumia 710 to its shelves.