ZTE is making more inroads in the U.S.

The company announced Thursday its first product with Verizon Wireless–a $79.99 mobile broadband modem. The deal also marks ZTE’s second agreement with a top or “tier 1″ U.S. carrier. ZTE struck an alliance with Sprint Nextel ( S – news – people ) last fall by providing a modem that works with WiMax, the fourth-generation (4G) wireless technology that Sprint favors.

Verizon ( VZ – news – people ) is larger than Sprint, making the Verizon match-up more significant, particularly if ZTE can convince the wireless giant to commission more products. ZTE is angling to provide equipment and software that would smooth Verizon’s transition to the fast, 4G technology known as LTE. “Verizon is one of the most important [carrier] customers in the U.S.,” says George Sun, ZTE USA’s chief technology officer. Sun temporarily relocated his family from Texas to New Jersey–near Verizon’s headquarters–to oversee the ZTE modem launch.

Sun points to other signs of growth for ZTE USA. The company is opening several new sales and service offices in cities including Atlanta, Kansas City, San Francisco and Seattle. It is also planning a research and development space in San Jose, Calif.

It continues to work with established partners like No. 5 carrier MetroPCS, which will launch new ZTE phones this fall. A few other regional carriers will also begin carrying ZTE handsets later this year. (more…)