Verizon 4G network launches in 38 US metropolitans at the end of the year

Recall those Verizon claims yesterday, and the carrier’s previous dismissal of anticipated move to carry iPhone on its network, saying this wouldn’t happen until it launches its 4G LTE network? Well, good news rouind the water fountain — Verizon will launch its 4G LTE network in 38 major metropolitan cities by the end of the year.

Which pretty much explains it.

Lowell McAdam, president and chief operating officer of Verizon, detailed the company’s major network launch in 38 major metropolitan areas, covering more than 110 million Americans, by the end of the year. In addition, the company is launching 4G LTE in more than 60 commercial airports coast to coast – both the airports within the launch areas plus airports in other key cities.

Details from the press release (which makes no mention of the iPhone, but it all makes sense, right? Right?)

McAdam said, “We are driven by the vision to provide ubiquitous wireless broadband connectivity and mobility to rural and urban Americans alike. With our initial 4G LTE launch, we will immediately reach more than one-third of all Americans where they live, right from the start. And, we will quickly introduce 4G LTE throughout the Verizon coverage area.”

Verizon Wireless expects 4G LTE average data rates to be 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

Metropolitan areas for the initial launch, which include:

* Large sections of the Northeast Corridor, including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. as well as Rochester, New York
* Throughout Miami and south Florida, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and New Orleans as well as Charlotte, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee
* Chicagoland, St. Louis, the Twin Cities, Pittsburgh and major cities in Ohio
* Major population centers in California as well as Seattle, Phoenix, Denver and Las Vegas.

Looks like Android may have a new battle on its hands as all those non-AT&T wannabe iPhone users can now look forward to their chance. We wonder if this will be part of Verizon’s CES keynote speech in early January?