LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the next major step in mobile radio communications, and it will be introduced in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 8. The aim of this 3GPP project is to improve the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile phone standard or migrate from other standards such as 1XEVDO. Researchers and development engineers worldwide – representing more than 60 operators, vendors and research institutes – are participating in the joint LTE radio access standardization effort. While 3GPP Release 8 has yet to be ratified as a standard, much of the standard will be oriented around upgrading UMTS towards a 4G mobile communications technology and an all-IP flat architecture system.

For More Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Term_Evolution