Report: Smartphones key to LTE adoption

There will be around 16 million LTE subscribers by year-end, according to a new forecast from ABI Research. The research firm said that there are currently 12 countries with LTE service and that the technology is gaining momentum. ABI also said that LTE service is being launched in both developed markets, such as the U.S. and Western Europe, but also in emerging markets such as Uzbekistan. A key to adoption, ABI said, will be the introduction of more LTE smartphones. In the U.S., Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ), and later in the year, AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T), are expected to make big pushes with LTE smartphones as they try and capitalize on the success Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) has found with its mobile WiMAX smartphones. Release