during the summer of 2011. AT&T also announced that it would be launching around 20 different "4G devices" this year, although many of those devices will actually run on its 3G HSPA+ wireless network. Much like rival carrier T-Mobile, AT&T refers to both the LTE and HSPA+ wireless standards as "4G" technologies even though HSPA+ is most widely considered a faster and more reliable version of the 3G GSM-based HSPA standard. Separately, 10 LTE devices it would be selling in the first half of 2011. This followed in December, 2010.

The Apple iPad assault ramped up at the in Las Vegas in January as Acer, Dell, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, NEC and others introduced Windows or Android . RIM showed off its tablet, Google previewed its tablet-optimized and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talked up his , including ARM support for Windows.