Verizon Sets Its Own Record, Activates 9.8 Million Smartphones In Q4

Verizon revealed earlier today in an SEC filing that it activated 9.8 million smartphones during its fourth-quarter. Says the carrier, these activations were comprised of a "higher mix" of iPhones, likely due to the iPhone 5. These numbers are from the company's Q4 estimates; it is slated to reveal its financial report on January 22.

The SEC filing details little else, so we'll have to wait until the 22nd for more information. This coincides with AT&T's recent Q4 estimates, which show a record number of smartphone sales totaling over 10 million. This is a fairly substantial jump from its record in Q4 2011, when it sold 9.4 million smartphones, demonstrating the carrier's steady upwards progress.

Earlier today, Verizon confirmed that it will be offering handsets running RIM's new BlackBerry 10 platform. The line of BB 10 smartphones will be displayed at an event on January 30, with two handsets making an appearance. The carrier's CEO said at CES, according to Reuters, "We're hopeful it is going to be a good device. We'll carry it."

We also recently learned that Verizon will launch 29 new LTE markets this year for a total of 470. The company made big strides last year, surpassing its year-end goal of 400 LTE markets by October for a total of 417 markets. The carrier plans to offer LTE across its entire 3G network by this summer.

[via Forbes]