The number of LTE handsets is set to soar over the next few years, reaching 154 million in 2015, according to a prediction by research firm In-Stat. The firm also predicted that as LTE network deployments expand so will the number of users, and by 2015 there will be around 290 million LTE subscriptions worldwide across all manner of devices, from handsets through tablets, USB modems and likely appliances as well. Interestingly, the report also paints a picture for the growth of legacy cellular technologies around the world. According to In-Stat, North American CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. A subscribers will peak in 2012, when CDMA carriers Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) will be accelerating its LTE deployment and Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) will start its LTE deployment. Release