Nashville Technology Council

Yesterday Verizon Wireless announced the launch of  their Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G wireless network. The 4G LTE mobile broadband roll out is a benefit for the mobile “road warrior” business user.  The 4G LTE will give  customers speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ current 3G network offering.  Data plans will start at $50 for monthly access.  Verizon Wireless expects to expand  4G LTE to reach its existing 3G coverage area by 2013.  Verizon Wireless anticipates consumer oriented handsets compatible with 4G to be available in mid 2011.

Nashville is included in the 38 metropolitan roll-out on Sunday, December 5th.  Customers can check out www.verzionwireless.com/4Glte to see if their address will be included in the initial coverage area.  Street level maps of coverage areas will be available online on Saturday.

You can find more information on this roll-out via Verizon Wireless’ official press release.

The Nashville Tech Story (9/10/2009)

For laptop or cell phone users, finding a power supply, to send that last email, complete that last call or finish that last couple of sentences in your presentation, can be very frustrating.  Try to imagine a world where your laptop or phone could function without the help of a battery or power cord.  The solution beginning to take shape is known as wireless electricity.  Eric Giler, CEO of WiTricity is predicting that many phones and laptops could be losing their power cords as soon as 2010.

What is the reason behind this bold prediction?  His company, WiTricity, has developed a way to convert power into a magnetic field and deliver that power to a laptop or a phone through a certain frequency.  The technology has already been successful, as they are currently able to power a light bulb without the use of a power cord, but moving wireless technology towards laptops and phones still has some kinks that need to be worked out.  The challenge they face is increasing the distance the magnetic field can stretch.  Currently, the distance is limited to a few feet.

The move to wireless electricity could mean good things for the environment and substantial cost savings for the consumer.  Companies currently produce over 40 billion disposable batteries per year and the need to buy and recycle batteries would become a thing of the past.  In addition, the cost to purchase, manufacture and recycle power cords would also become non-existent.

Giler also predicts that wireless electricity will eventually carry over to the automotive market as well.  With so many consumers looking to save on gas and oil prices, the demand for electric cars continues to grow.  The idea of pulling into a gas station to “power up” through a wireless power mat could make the electric car even more attractive to consumers.