Verizon Wireless today announced plans to develop a 4G wireless network using LTE (Long Term Evolution), the 3GPP's 4G technology. Trials will begin in 2008.

CNET News' Tom Krazit notes that this is a major shift for Verizon. "Verizon Communications and Vodafone, joint owners of Verizon Wireless, plan to use the LTE (Long Term Evolution) standard backed by GSM industry players rather than the UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband) standard backed by Verizon's current partners," he writes.

"The selection of LTE provides Verizon and Vodafone - joint owners of U.S.-based Verizon Wireless - with a unique opportunity to adopt a common access platform with true global scale and compatibility with existing technologies of both companies," according to a company statement.

And the larger implications? "The move by the two major carriers will boost a technology little known outside of telecommunications standards bodies," notes Red Herring's Cassimir Medford. "It could also provide a fresh blow to rival wireless broadband technology WiMax, and the kill shot for municipal Wi-Fi, which is already stumbling."

As well as, of course, something of a death blow to CDMA.

More here from Wired ... more here from the WSJ ... more here from IntoMobile ... more here from Unstrung ... more here from Electronista ... more here from infoSync World ... and the press release is here.