AT&T 4G LTE arrives in eight new cities

AT&T has added eight new US cities to its 4G LTE network, just in time for the launch of the iPhone 5. Of course, the iPhone 5 isn't the only phone to feature LTE, and phones supporting LTE are hitting shelves faster than ever, so it seems that the imminent launch of the newest iDevice was just what AT&T needed to get it to flip the switch. Some of these cities, such as Birmingham, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee, had their 4G LTE coverage turned on yesterday, while the rest are getting it today.

These eight new cities will definitely give AT&T more of an edge heading into Friday's iPhone 5 launch, and sets the stage for what we can only imagine will be a long and drawn out battle with Verizon for 4G LTE domination. So without further ado, have a look at the 8 cities that, as of today, have AT&T 4G LTE coverage available:

• Honolulu, HI

• Seattle, WA

• Pittsburgh, PA

• Portland, OR

• Detroit, MI (metro)

• Birmingham, AL

• Memphis, TN

• Sacramento, CA

That certainly isn't a bad list – AT&T has added some major metropolitan markets to its 4G LTE coverage area with this latest expansion – but the carrier is still going to have to step its game up if it wants to pull customers away from Verizon. Verizon is still the reigning 4G LTE king, and with a lot of consumers on the lookout for a good handset with 4G LTE capabilities these days, there's a lot of money to be had by offering a solid coverage area. Consumer 4G LTE adoption is bound to take a major jump with Friday's launch of the iPhone 5, as many of those users will be turning on their shiny new device and joining a 4G LTE network for the first time.

So, it's easy to see why AT&T has rolled out 4G LTE in these cities. Consumer awareness of the benefits of 4G LTE may still leave something to be desired, but it won't be long before the vast majority of smartphone users want 4G LTE capabilities on their phones. AT&T has plans to roll out 4G LTE coverage in many more areas of the country moving forward, so here's hoping that the carrier can keep up with demand.

[via Android Community]