Verizon Wireless Prepping LTE Tablets, Smartphones For CES

Verizon Wireless has not made it a secret that CES 2011 is going to be big for Big Red. The company's social media team has been dropping hints all month that LTE is going to be the main thrust of its CES announcements. It's no surprise, then, that one of Verizon Wireless' official Twitter accounts "announced" that Android-based LTE products are on the way.

The tweet read "Jan. 6 at #CES: #Android and LTE - could it be like peanut butter and chocolate? YUM!" It doesn't take a genius to figure out what Verizon is getting at. Verizon has scheduled a press conference on January 6, at Noon (PST), where it will kick off its LTE showcase.

Corroborating statements have come to me via a component supplier for Verizon Wireless that give more validity to the tweet. SkyCross, a company that makes LTE antennas, said that its products will be on display at the Verizon Wireless booth at CES. SkyCross' antennas will be used in both smartphones and tablets for Verizon Wireless, according to an email sent to me by a company representative.

Last, we have the Motorola video from earlier this week, which strongly implies that the company will debut an Android tablet at CES, as well. A tablet will be somewhat hampered if it lacks an internet connection. What better device to stick an LTE modem in than a tablet?

Motorola has also published a countdown timer on its web site. The timer has some text that says "Are you ready to skip a generation." LTE is being referred to by Verizon Wireless as 4G. Also, the time is the same shade of red used by Verizon Wireless in its advertising. The countdown timer is set to expire at 1PM (Pacific) on January 5, when it has scheduled a press conference during CES.

The way things are shaping up, the Consumer Electronics Show should be an exciting week for tech.