Regional carrier Cellcom, which operates in markets throughout Wisconsin and Michigan, today announced the launch of its first LTE-enabled smartphone. The HTC Desire 4G LTE will be available at all Cellcom retail locations today for $150, with a two-year contract.
Cellcom says its customers will have access to LTE service in over 370 cities across the United States, including Sheboygan, Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis.
The company promises additional cell sites in Northeast and Central Wisconsin will light up throughout 2012 as the company continues its 4G rollout.
“The addition of 4G LTE smartphones to our device line-up opens the door for consumers to get faster internet service when and where they need it,” said Pat Riordan, president and CEO of Cellcom, in a statement.
Cellcom says customers can expect download speeds averaging 5-12 mbps and upload speeds of 2-5 mbps, or about 10 times faster than 3G.
The news comes as Apple’s iPhone 5 launches today. Cellcom is one of many smaller carriers across the country to recently begin offering the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The carrier says it will offer the iPhone 5 but has not offered any specifics on availability.