AT&T Launches Skyrocket for LTE; Vivid, too (NewsFactor)

Sunday, Nov. 6, will be the date of AT&T's leap into LTE smartphone coverage as the carrier launches two new 4G, dual-core Android smartphones, one of which is cleverly dubbed the Skyrocket.

That phone by Samsung, part of its Galaxy family of devices, as well as HTC's Vivid, will put the network AT&T launched in September to its biggest test, after weeks of long-term evolution coverage for mobile computer users.

But with its reputation for weak connectivity for Apple's iPhone, the company has a lot riding on smooth, high-speed data operation. The company must also strive to avoid the kind of problem that beset Verizon Wireless when it faced a large-scale outage of its LTE network just five months after it launched, and as it prepared to add more smartphones.

Coverage Is Key

AT&T has insisted its network is better because it is backed up by a faster 3G system, HSPA+, so that users who go in and out of an LTE coverage area won't face jarring differences in speed. The Skyrocket and Vivid are "the only smartphones able to utilize both LTE and HSPA+ 4G speeds, for a consistently fast connection in and out of LTE areas," said AT&T in marketing the devices. (When Verizon's network was down its HTC Thunderbolt used a slower 1XRTT connection.)

"The idea is that the LTE network will be more reliable, however coverage will be key as the hand-off from LTE to 3G coverage could impact data speeds," said analyst Kirk Parsons of J.D. Power and Associates. "Early indications from the Verizon LTE experience has been positive but AT&T's coverage is not as robust as Verizon is now. That will change over time."

Along with the new phones AT&T is rolling out five new LTE coverage areas Sunday: Boston; Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; and Athens, Ga. The network is already active in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. With two months left of the year, AT&T aims to reach 15 markets and 70 million Americans by the start of 2012.

The new devices highlight AT&T's growing commitment to phones running Google's Android operating system, growing worldwide in popularity, after losing its exclusive right to sell the iPhone earlier this year.

Plenty of Androids

"The two LTE-powered superphones will be our 20th and 21st Android devices in 2011, adding to an outstanding year of Android success," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "We've far exceeded our commitment to offer 12 new Android devices this year -- now including our first 4G LTE smartphones."

Both the Vivid and the Skyrocket (full name: Galaxy S II Skyrocket) have dual-core processors, with the latter slightly more powerful at 1.5 gigahertz compared with the former's 1.2 GHz. Both run Android 2.3.5, Gingerbread, and have 4.5-inch displays and 8-megapixel cameras. The Skyrocket also has a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

The Skyrocket carries a premium price tag of $249 with a two-year voice and data contract, while the Vivid is $50 cheaper.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20111031/bs_nf/80803

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