Sprint 4G Spreads: 48 Areas Now With WiMAX

We already know that Sprint are looking to 4G to salve their fortunes, and so news that the WiMAX network is spreading can only be a good thing for investors and for data-hungry users.  Fresh to feel the warm touch of 4G on their skin are Modesto and Stockton, California; Jacksonville, Florida, Wilmington, Delaware; and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

That now makes forty-eight metropolitan areas with WiMAX coverage – the full list is in the press release below – and Sprint reckon subscribers will see up to ten-times the performance of a regular 3G connection.

Now it's just a case of getting the supplies of handsets that use the 4G network to cater for demand; Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has already admitted that shortages of flagship devices such as the HTC EVO 4G have undermined the carrier's advantage over rivals.  In the meantime, HTC has announced plans to use Super LCD displays alongside AMOLED panels so as to alleviate the bottleneck.

Press Release:

Sprint Launches 4G Coverage in Delaware, Florida and Michigan and Extends 4G Coverage in California

Modesto, Calif., Stockton, Calif., Jacksonville, Fla., Wilmington, Del., and Grand Rapids, Mich., Launched Today

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Aug 02, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) –

Today, Sprint (NYSE:S) unveiled 4G service to populous areas of California, Delaware, Florida and Michigan. With today's launches of Modesto, Calif., Stockton, Calif., Jacksonville, Fla., Wilmington, Del., and Grand Rapids, Mich., Sprint boasts 48 metropolitan areas enabled with the new mobile broadband service, which allows for Internet traffic at super fast speeds. Unlike competitors, Sprint is the first national wireless carrier to actually launch wireless 4G technology in cities across the country. Wilmington, Jacksonville and Grand Rapids are the first cities in Delaware, Florida and Michigan to offer 4G service.

With 4G, Sprint customers experience fast mobile downloads, streaming video without the lag, and turbo-charged Web browsing. This new wireless technology boasts download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.1 Users can video chat with friends and family via the popular HTC EVO(TM) 4G, America's first 3G/4G wireless smartphone. And in the near future, Sprint customers will be able to purchase Samsung Epic(TM) 4G, the company's second 4G enabled smartphone.

With the Overdrive(TM) 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless, users can create a 4G hotspot on the road or at home. With the Sprint Free Guarantee, customers can try 4G for 30 days and if they are not satisfied, they can cancel service and have the opportunity to be fully reimbursed.2 Sprint also offers simplicity and savings vs. competitors with Everything Data plans, which include unlimited Web, texting and calling while on the Sprint network for one low price.

"Sprint customers are the first in the country to use 4G with either a smartphone like HTC EVO or one of Sprint's other 4G devices like the 3G/4G Overdrive Hotspot to wirelessly connect a laptop to the Internet," said Matt Carter, president of 4G, Sprint. "Later this year, Sprint will launch Boston, Miami, New York and Los Angeles, enabling millions more to harness this powerful new service."

As summer travel continues, people will find that 4G is available in many markets across the country: California – Merced, Modesto, Stockton and Visalia; Delaware – Wilmington; Florida – Jacksonville; Georgia – Atlanta and Milledgeville; Hawaii – Honolulu and Maui; Idaho – Boise; Illinois – Chicago; Maryland – Baltimore; Michigan – Grand Rapids; Missouri – Kansas City and St. Louis; New York – Rochester and Syracuse; Nevada – Las Vegas; North Carolina – Charlotte, Greensboro (along with High Point and Winston-Salem), Raleigh (along with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham); Oregon – Eugene, Portland and Salem; Pennsylvania – Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading and York; Texas – Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco and Wichita Falls; Utah – Salt Lake City; Virginia – Richmond; Washington – Bellingham, Seattle, Tri-Cities and Yakima. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

Sprint is delivering the power of 4G as the majority shareholder of Clearwire, the independent company that is building the WiMAX network.