AT&T preps for future with LTE-compatible USB device

AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) is starting to seed the market with its first LTE and HSPA+-upgradeable devices, the AT&T USBConnect Adrenaline from LG and AT&T USBConnect Shockwave from Sierra Wireless. AT&T is in the process of upgrading its network to HSPA+ and plans to cover 250 million people with HSPA+ by year-end.  The company will deploy LTE in mid-2011.

The Adrenaline is AT&T's first LTE-upgradeable device. Customers will be able to upgrade to LTE once AT&T's network is available using a software upgrade through the AT&T Communication Manager or AT&T Global Network Client. The Adrenaline features an internal antenna, plug and play functionality and multiple OS support. It also has built-in GPS for enterprise applications. The Adrenaline costs $49.99 with a two-year contract, data plan and mail-in rebate.

The Shockwave, which is AT&T's first HSPA+-capable device, will be offered free with a two-year contract, data plan and mail-in-rebate.

In addition, the company also introduced the AT&T USBConnect 900 from Huawei, which works with DataConnect Pass prepaid data plans. The USBConnect 900 costs $79.99 without a contract.

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