Sony Xperia Ion hits FCC with AT&T LTE intact

[![Image][1] ][2]

The wait for the [Sony Xperia Ion][3] in the US has been a long one, but that [summer release][4] feels considerably closer now that the Android flagship has swung by the FCC. As we'd hope, the Ion is passing through in full AT&T regalia, carrying the 700MHz and 1,700MHz 4G LTE bands it needs to run on Big Blue -- albeit with a legacy Sony Ericsson label. Along with the expected 850MHz and 1,900MHz HSPA 3G frequencies, we're also seeing an odd instance of 1,700MHz 3G that would normally be reserved for T-Mobile. Given that there isn't matching 2,100MHz support, we're more inclined to see the 1,700MHz block as related to [AT&T spectrum refarming][5] or other, more practical purposes than as a ghost of [attempted mergers past][6]. An FCC approval still doesn't provide any direct clues as to the release date, although removing that one major hurdle gives AT&T the option of launching sooner in the summer rather than later.

[Sony Xperia Ion hits FCC with AT&T LTE intact][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][7] on Tue, 29 May 2012 17:10:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][8].

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[3]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/sony-xperia-ion-hands-on/
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