We can now confirm the Cingular handset launch lineup for their UMTS consumer launch. The Nokia N80 and 6282 will be complimented with the LG CU230 and Samsung ZX10. This will deliver four UMTS handsets covering mid-to-high end ranges by the end of the year.
Sources are also reporting that some models will lack UMTS 850. This gives credence to rumors that Cingular may be planning to deploy mostly UMTS on 1900 MHz spectrum, using influxes from network integration with the AT&T Wireless GSM network. This would make the GSM network more dependent on GSM 850, however, would empower Cingular to support a broader range of UMTS phones without having to have UMTS tri-band support from hardware vendors for years to come. These devices would fall back to GSM in an area where only UMTS 850 and not UMTS 1900 is available.
