Verizon Wireless Wants Developers For LTE 4G NetworkVerizon Wireless Wants Developers For LTE 4G Network

Moving aggressively to attract developers to work on devices for its LTE network, Verizon Wireless released the first set of its technical specifications for the 4G network Friday and reported that it will host a developers conference for LTE on May 13.

Verizon Wireless, which is jointly owned by majority investor Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group, is in the vanguard of U.S. mobile wireless service providers working to deliver the 4G service. Just days ago, Verizon announced that it's establishing its Verizon Wireless LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., dedicated to the 4G technology.

The mobile phone service provider said developers will design their products and services for use on the 700-MHz spectrum the company won in last year's spectrum auction by the FCC.

"Hardware is the starting point, and Verizon Wireless is encouraging developers to get excited about designing innovative products and services the future requires," Tony Lewis, Verizon Wireless' VP of open development, said in a statement. "We want to publish details to the development community as soon as possible to get us started. [In] broadly sharing how LTE standards for access and transport will translate into our specifications today, we can provide a framework for all developers who want to begin their work immediately."

The May 13 Web conference is designed so developers can discuss details on LTE specifications as well as to answer questions and gather feedback, Verizon Wireless said. Attendees will be able to ask questions of its officials about the emerging 4G technology. The goal of the conference, a company spokesman said, is to encourage transparency, clarity, and ease in designing LTE devices. The specifications are currently available for download.

"The LTE device specifications will be a road map for developers who choose to develop devices for submission to the LTE certifications process," a company spokesman said. The firm's LTE network is planned to be able to interconnect together a broad range of electronics devices and machines.

Infrastructure providers Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson are already preparing to establish a test lab at the Massachusetts facility, which can be utilized to test gear created for the Verizon network.

Verizon Wireless has said it will begin rolling out the high-speed technology later this year, with commercial launch of LTE slated to take place next year.

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