Verizon to release Motorola smartphone for 4G

Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. wireless operator, will release a smartphone from Motorola Inc. for its new, high-speed wireless network next year.

The device will be one of the phones and tablet computers to run on the company's so-called fourth-generation network, Brenda Raney, a spokeswoman, said in an interview today. Verizon said in October it would introduce a half dozen 4G devices at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month.

Verizon started offering its 4G service, with average download speeds more than five-times faster than the company's 3G network, this month. The new technology will cover two-thirds of the U.S. within 18 months, and put Verizon ahead of its largest rival AT&T Inc., which will introduce its own 4G service next year. Sprint Nextel Corp. unveiled an HTC Corp. phone for its 4G service earlier this year.

Verizon Communications Inc., which co-owns the wireless company with Vodafone Group Plc, rose 20 cents to $34.94 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading at 4 p.m. The stock has gained 13 percent this year. Schaumburg, Illinois-based Motorola gained 12 cents to $9.

Jennifer Erickson, a spokeswoman for Motorola, said the company plans to introduce 4G devices in 2011, without specifying which wireless operators would carry them. The Wall Street Journal reported on the new device for Verizon today.