According to representatives it will launch in Latin America first with an uncertain US launch and distribution.

The jump from 1xrtt/EDGE to EVDO/HSPA changed how people worked and made mobile video and many business applications mainstream. Some will argue that the lower latency and theoretical higher speeds of LTE will drive user adoption but Im skeptical. LTE wont have that impact in part because metered data is changing how people use mobile broadband. EVDO Rev A and HSPA+ networks already can handle video and demanding applications as long as the network and in particular the cell has capacity. ATTs LTE network will certainly see capacity constraints sooner than later if Verizons experience is anything similar. For now The introduction of LTE simply allows people to burn their data allotments faster and isnt a radical shift in user experience like 3G was.

Carriers and handset vendors seem to think that this time around video chatting/calling will take off. Video certainly benefits from speed and latency but class of service and priority access would improve the video experience more than raw speed especially in congested cell sectors. More importantly video calling doesnt lend itself to mobility and current social norms. Imagine a video call in the bathroom, walking down a street, or while driving. These are all popular areas for voice and texting in part because of the location anonymity. The home or office are areas that lend themselves to video calling and are also the areas carriers will do everything they can to offload the data session WiFi or a femto solution negating the value of LTE.

Then there are the handset wars that have OEMs and carriers introducing new handsets almost weekly. The jockeying for mindshare has created a feature and hardware specification arms race between manufacturers. Whats lost in the dizzying arrays of processor cores, GHz, GB, megapixels, etc. is the impact on the user experience. Its worth noting that the user experience on the HTC Evo or MyTouch 4G, both of which have been on the market over a year, is similar to that of the latest Droid RAZR, Bionic, Nexus S, or Galaxy II. The exception comes from the gaming sector where the processor, sensors, and other hardware enhancements are creating powerful platforms for immersive gaming experiences. Hardcore gaming though is a niche, albeit important sector, compared to the larger consumer consumer market that is enthralled with Angry Birds, Facebook, and Twitter.

ATTs new LTE handsets from HTC, Samsung, and LG are impressive from a specification perspective but bring little that is new to the table. Customers are seeking and consuming the ecosystem and brand far more than technology for technologies sake. Nowhere was this more clear than in Verizons Q4 announcement of 2 million LTE devices (modems, hotspots, and smartphones) sold compared to 4 million iPhones. More importantly Verizons iPhones are EVDO Rev A, compared to ATTs HSPA, which one could argue would be all the more reason to make the jump to LTE if indeed speed sold for speeds sake.

Carriers certainly benefit from LTE both from a cost per megabyte to deliver the service, compared to 3G, as well as a marketing differentiator and ultimately voice over LTE. Until there are more creative pricing models that are application, class or priority of service, peak/off-peak, etc. the consumer draw remains weak unless they are upgrading handsets because of a contract renewal offer.

Maybe something amazing and magical will be introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week but Im not holing my breath. For now the reaction to new LTE markets is a resounding and anticlimactic so what.

The Tornado Potato food truck uses a Motorola Droid and Square to process credit card payments during First Friday on Abbot Kinney Blvd.