A 4G smartphone that can expand into a “dockable laptop” and the rollout of AT&T Wireless’ 4G LTE network. Those two developments at the Consumer Electronics Show, which opens this week in Las Vegas, are among the latest in a wave of announcements that will roll out over the next few days as wireless enters its next generation.
The smartphone is Motorola’s Atrix 4 from AT&T. It’s being billed as the most powerful such device ever, with dual-core one-gigahertz processors, 16GB of internal storage, and expandability up to 48GB with a microSD card. It runs Android 2.2 Froyo, features Motorola’s MOTOBLUR user interface, and, most interestingly, can be docked so a user can attach a screen, a full-sized keyboard, and ports for a make-your-own laptop.
HSPA+, Long Term Evolution
Another interesting aspect is that, even though AT&T is rolling out its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network this year, the carrier is calling the new Motorola device 4G — although it actually is built for the current HSPA+ technology. Some industry observers do not consider HSPA+ to be “true” 4G, but others have a wait-and-see attitude about how fast the transmission will be.
Rival network T-Mobile has taken to calling its HSPA+ network 4G, to some consternation by the other major carriers, and now AT&T has adopted the same approach. The company said it can do so because its expanded infrastructure will allow higher speeds.
T-Mobile has been one of those attacking AT&T for the quality and speed of its service, including ads that show an actor representing AT&T’s exclusive-in-the-U.S. iPhone 4 carrying an older actor — representing AT&T’s slower network — on his back. Both AT&T and T-Mobile currently use the same technology.
On Wednesday, AT&T offered more details about its upcoming LTE rollout. It said 20 4G devices will be released this year with…