Long term evolution technology (LTE) took a small but important step forward this week as Motorola completed the first over-the-air data testing sessions in 700 MHz spectrum, an achievement that Motorola said keeps the 4G technology on schedule to arrive in the second half of 2009.

"This testing milestone is proof," Tom Gruba, senior director, marketing, wireless broadband, Motorola told InternetNews.com. Motorola expects to deliver a commercial LTE device for early deployment next year. Next up are device testing trials with carriers and additional field testing, said Motorola.

The news comes as carriers and mobile device makers compete to provide faster and most reliable network speeds for increasing demand of mobile data services. The wireless carrier with the fastest, cheapest and most robust network will pull in more customers, sell more mobile computing devices and reap financial rewards from more innovative mobile applications and services, according to experts.

For players like Motorola, 4G technologies open up new product revenue streams as they hope to sell various types of mobile devices to carrier users for accessing enhanced networks.

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