Verizon and AT&T both testing an LTE enabled Nokia Lumia 800 model

According to CNET, besides the Nokia Lumia 900 heading to the States next year, an LTE enabled Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone model is being tested for Verizon and AT&T. Verizon has said that 4G support was important for Big Red to offer Windows Phone models to its customers.

Verizon is well ahead of AT&T as far as the build out of their respective LTE networks are concerned, but the latter carrier has been able to offer its HSPA+ pipeline as a 4G alternative to LTE. The phone being tested will get 4G speeds from LTE technology that will be part of the Windows Phone Tango update which Nokia models will receive. And even though Verizon and AT&T are testing the model, there is no guarantee that either carrier will add the handset to its lineup.

Nokia has been trying to re-enter the U.S. smartphone market after some problems launching the Nokia X7 as a subsidized model on AT&T back in 2009. Nokia was concerned that the carrier would not support the marketing of the Symbian^3 powered device and the phone ended up being offered unlocked. As we reported, the Finnish based manufacturer is expected to announce on Wednesday that the Nokia Lumia 710 will be offered via T-Mobile.

AT&T is allegedly more interested in the Nokia Lumia 800 than Verizon is with plans on introducing the phone at the 2012 CES show next month. Verizon is somewhat more skeptical about working with Nokia again since the latter left the world of CDMA handsets to concentrate on GSM models. Still, neither carrier would probably consider the Lumia 800 a flagship model since it already has been out in Europe since October.

source: CNET