Verizon to launch 80Mbps 4G data service in two U.S. cities this year

The race to 4G -- so-called fourth generation standards that will increase tenfold or more today's wireless data performance -- just got a whole lot more interesting.

Verizon, which has been gestating its LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network for what seems like years, says it is now ready to launch the network in the U.S. -- in two cities before the end of the yearand in up to 30 markets in 2010.

The company says early trials have shown LTE can provide a maximum speed of a blazing 80Mbps, roughly 25 times faster than what current 3G networks can offer. Who knows what the speed will be on a crowded network with real-world interference to deal with, but the early test figures are impressive nonetheless.

To roll out the service, Verizon will be using the 700MHz frequency band it purchased last year in the much-publicized auction of that old broadcast TV spectrum, which is said to be able to provide not just the fast performance Verizon is crowing about, but can cover more ground with fewer base stations. To blanket the same area, Verizon may only need a quarter of the number of towers it has for its current cellular network.

LTE will first find its way into laptops -- probably in a form factor much like current WWAN modems -- and then roll into cell phones and other devices eventually. One goal is to embed LTE into all manner of consumer electronics, which would let consumers avoid the need for a wired broadband connection at home, instead letting them connect wirelessly to the Internet and still achieve impressive performance.

Pricing has not been announced... and neither has the identity of the two cities.