It appears that Sprint is feeling the pressure of the LTE vs WiMAX dilemma. The carrier's WiMAX 4G network has been operating for a few years already and has a line-up of excellent US 4G smartphones. However, the looming presence of LTE 4G and its increasing influence is forcing the carrier to decide whether it will build a Long Term Evolution network.

Still no Verizon Wireless LTE 4G coverage in your area? Well, you might not wait for long if your city is included in this list. Verizon Wireless announced a list of the intial 4G LTE cities for 2011 but we thought that it might be cool to share this info.

These cities will enjoy some cool upcoming Verizon Wireless smartphones with LTE 4G support including the Motorola DROID BIONIC and HTC Thunderdolt.

Check out the list of cities adfter the break.

The ITU (International Telecommunication Union), the authority that determines the definition of 4G, recently certified LTE-Advanced and 802.16m WiMAX 2 as the only technologies that meet the requirements for a fourth generation wireless network. However, it appears that the agency has changed its mind. Check out this statement:

"It is recognized that [4G], while undefined, may also be applied to the forerunners of these technologies, LTE and WiMax, and to other evolved 3G technologies providing a substantial level of improvement in performance and capabilities with respect to the initial third generation systems now deployed."

T-Mobile's decision to rebrand its HSPA+ network as 4G technology have triggered heated responses from is rivals. However, a closer lk reveals that the competitors in the US fourth generation wireless market are not actually offering 4G.

Sprint WiMAX, T-Mobile HSPA+, MetroPCS LTE and Verizon's upcoming LTE network may offer speeds that are faster than 3G but they are not technically 4G. The term appears that have evolved into a label that describe a network that offers speeds tha are higher than 3G.

Excited about Verizon Wireless' upcoming LTE 4G network? Well, here's a rumor that will fuel your LTE 4G hunger. The folks at Engadget have obtained information on a "LG high-end Android phone for Verizon" that might be headed for the carrier's newly introduced LTE 4G network.

Nokia and Motorola have previously worked together to cross-license 2G and 3G technologies. This time these major telecommunication companies have announced their plans to collaborate on cross-licensing their Long Term Evolution, LTE-Advanced and WiMax 4G technologies to one another.

The LTE Vs WiMAX rivalry in the US is expected to formally begin when LTE commercially rolls out in November. So far, it appears that LTE 4G is the favorite over WiMAX in the impending 4G clash. However, the WiMax 2 standard is up and ready to go and raise the competition to another level by the start of 2012.

It appears that Clear's upcoming LTE 4G trials have caused some alarm among Sprin'ts WiMAX subscribers. Matt Carter, president of 4G at Sprint Nextel, assured subscribers that Sprint is still focused on use of WiMax for 4G wireless networks.

Carter said, "Our position is that we are singularly focused around WiMax and there's no waivering on that view from us. Does the amount of wireless spectrum [Sprint has available] give us the opportunity in some time to to convert to LTE or run LTE alongside WiMax? Yes. We built the 4G network in a manner to give us that flexibility. But we don't want to confuse the market and our ecosystem of suppliers and customers. We are deploying WiMax."

Well, not a lot of people were surprised by this move. Clearwire has revealed that it will conduct Long Term Evolution technology trials this this Fall and through the Winter of 2011 in Phoenix, Ariz. Does this mean that LTE has finally triumphed over WiMAX? Well, no because the tests will focus on finding a way for LTE to co-exist with WiMax in the same market, on the same spectrum.

WiMAX 4G may have a slight lead over LTE at the US market but the case is very different in the world stage. WiMax 4G operators in the U.K. and The Netherlands are closing and US operators may be on the verge of shifting their allegiance over to LTE. Is the LTE vs WiMAX battle over?