HP, Google Launch Chromebook with LTE

Altair Semiconductor announced on Wednesday that its FourGee-3100/6202 chipset was selected to connect the new 11.6-inch HP Chromebook to the Verizon 4G LTE network. This new version of HP's popular Chromebook (if you ignore the early power adapter problem) is available at Best Buy now for $329 after a $50 rebate provided when activating with Verizon Wireless.

As with the previous Wi-Fi version, HP's Chromebook features an 11.6-inch IPS display with a 60 percent color gamut, a brightness of 300 nit, and 176 degree viewing angles. The device is powered by a dual-core Samsung Exynos 5250 SoC, aka the Exynos 5 Dual clocked at 1.7 GHz, along with 2 GB of DDR3L RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, and a three-cell lithium-ion polymer battery promising up to six hours of active use.

The Chromebook also provides Wireless N and Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in VGA webcam, a Chrome keyboard, a "fine-tuned" clickable touchpad, a headphone/microphone jack, "digitally tuned" speakers with sound directed through the keyboard, and two USB 2.0 ports. Also included is a microUSB port for charging the Chromebook, and video output via Analogix's SlimPort HDMI tech.

"We are extremely proud to have been selected by Google and HP to power the world's first low-cost LTE Chromebook," said Eran Eshed, Co-Founder and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Altair. "Our solution equips the Chromebook with a dependable and incredibly fast Internet connection.  By focusing on 100% LTE and eliminating costly 3G components, we were able to help our partners lower the cost of this critical LTE connectivity feature."

For more information about the new 4G LTE capable Chromebook, head over to Best Buy here and Google Play here.