Sprint 4G WiMAX Reaches Las Vegas, Portland And Atlanta

Sprint's gradual roll-out of 4G WiMAX across the US continues, with the latest three areas to receive a "hotspot the size of a city" being Las Vegas, Portland and Atlanta.  Of course, that might come as a surprise to residents of those three cities, who might have been using WiMAX under the Clearwire CLEAR banner for several months now.

In fact, Sprint are reselling the WiMAX network, and the three areas are simply the next to which it has extended its 4G promotion.  Those with an existing 3G/4G device can use the 4G network for $10 per 24hrs, or alternatively pick up a $69.99 consumer plan with unlimited 4G for a two year commitment.

Press Release:

Sprint 4G Blazes into Atlanta

Sprint Announces the Availability of a 4G "Hot Spot the Size of the City" in Atlanta

Sprint Continues Its 4G Leadership with Wireless Connectivity 3 to 5 Times Faster Than Today's 3G from Any Carrier

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 17, 2009– Life in Atlanta just got a lot more productive for those who want high-speed Internet at any place or time. Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced the launch of Sprint 4G mobile broadband throughout the Atlanta metro area. As a result, streaming video, fast file downloads and uploads and turbo charged web browsing are no longer just home, office or coffee shop benefits. Sprint 4G customers can enjoy a blazing fast mobile broadband experience across the city, whether they're working at a remote location, relaxing in the park, sitting at a favorite eatery or as a passenger on the freeway or public transportation – all for just a $10 per month premium over current Sprint 3G mobile data plans.

Atlanta is among the first cities to enjoy 4G wireless connections from Sprint, the first national carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology. Sprint 4G delivers peak downlink speeds of more than 10 Mbps and average downlink speeds of 3-6 Mbps – three to five times faster than the 3G service offered by any carrier today, based on average download speeds.

"Sprint 4G is emerging as a high-value asset for businesses of all sizes," said Carolyn Rehling, regional vice president, Sprint. "With our large head start in deploying 4G, Sprint will also take the lead in applying it to productivity-enhancing solutions for business. Sprint is prepared to leverage our 4G speeds and growing national coverage to help Atlanta area businesses and government agencies realize significant cost and marketing advantages for their operations."

Sprint 4G powered by WiMAX is expanding across the country

Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. In addition to Atlanta, Sprint also launched 4G service in Las Vegas and Portland today. Sprint also plans to deploy Sprint 4G service in these additional markets in 2009: Chicago, IL; Dallas, Ft. Worth, Philadelphia, PA; Austin, Texas; Abilene, Texas; Amarillo, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Bellingham, Wash.; Charlotte, N.C.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Greensboro, N.C.; Honolulu, HI; Killeen-Temple, Texas; Lubbock, Texas; Maui, Hawaii; Midland-Odessa, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; Salem, Ore.; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, WA: Waco, Texas; and Wichita Falls, Texas.

In 2010, Sprint expects to launch service in multiple markets, including Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

"Sprint continues to lead the wireless industry by harnessing the power of WiMAX," said Todd Rowley, vice president of Sprint 4G. "The availability of Sprint 4G in more places this year and our aggressive expansion of Sprint 4G service and products demonstrates our commitment to provide 4G capabilities and devices across the country for our customers. These capabilities enable significantly enhanced performance and productivity."

Sprint has several new 4G devices planned for 2009 and 2010, including a single-mode 4G data card, embedded laptops and a 4G phone. As they become available, Sprint 4G-enabled smart phones will have the promise of delivering the unique processing power, applications and network connectivity to connect your entire digital life on the internet.

Sprint makes the Internet a moving experience and offers a variety of value pricing options for residents and visitors.

At these speeds, Sprint 4G breathes new life into wireless internet. Customers can now instantly download the files they need to get work done on the run. Or they can browse the web just like at home from across the city, not just a few hotspots. Kids can laugh at an online video or movie trailer while travelling in the family car across the city. Avid online game players can enjoy an enhanced competitive experience with higher speeds and reduced latency. It's all a part of extending the web experience to meet each person's moment-to-moment needs by using 4G data cards and routers – and in the future – laptop solutions and mobile phones that deliver rich content, larger file transfers, streaming video and low-latency remote access.

Sprint customers in Atlanta can start enjoying 4G today with the 3G/4G USB Modem U300, the first device from any wireless carrier to offer access to both 3G and 4G – practically future-proofing wireless technology for its customers. Customers can experience 4G speeds in Atlanta, Baltimore, Las Vegas and Portland today and more cities later this year, and take advantage of America's most dependable 3G network* when outside of 4G coverage. For a special limited time 4G launch promotion, the device is currently free after a $50 mail-in rebate (excludes taxes) with a two year agreement. Sprint is currently offering new 4G/3G data plans for consumers at $69.99 monthly with unlimited 4G and 4G/3G data plans for businesses at $69.99 with unlimited 4G and unlimited 3G on the Sprint network** (excludes Sprint surcharges and taxes.)

For those who live and work outside of a Sprint 4G service area, but plan to travel to a 4G service area, Sprint offers a 3G-only plan at $59.99 per month (excludes Sprint surcharges and taxes) with the U300. Customers can then purchase a 4G day-pass when they visit any Sprint 4G service areas. The $10 day-pass enables Sprint 4G on their device for 24 hours.

Customers in Atlanta, Baltimore, Las Vegas and Portland can purchase the U300 and sign up for 4G/3G plans at Sprint retail stores, Best Buy stores and local retailers. Customers who are not yet in a current Sprint 4G service area can purchase the dual-mode U300, 3G plans and 4G day passes via Sprint telesales at 1-800-Sprint-1 or online at www.sprint.com/4G.

Sprint 4G will give business customers a competitive advantage

Sprint 4G is already enabling innovative applications for businesses in Baltimore, where the service has been available for nearly a year. For example, photo-journalists are using Sprint 4G to share breaking news photos in real time by using the Internet to instantly transfer high-resolution images directly from digital cameras to the newsroom. In addition to using 4G as a productivity tool, businesses are discovering that Sprint 4G is an effective, low-cost access alternative for Internet connectivity.

Sprint 4G applications such as these are only the beginning. Sprint's Business Markets Group (BMG) is combining Sprint's 4G and 3G capabilities with the company's leadership in wireless-wireline integration, push-to-talk and Global IP to offer a growing portfolio of unique solutions for such vital functions as customer relationship management, supply chain management, process improvement, sales force automation and field force automation.

Sprint is harnessing the power of 4G as the largest shareholder of Clearwire with a 51 percent stake in this independent company that is building the WiMAX network. Sprint is the only national wireless carrier to offer 4G services on the Clearwire WiMAX network.

ABOUT SPRINT NEXTEL

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving almost 49 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2009; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The company's customer-focused strategy has led to improved first call resolution and customer care satisfaction scores. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

* "Dependable" based on independent, third-party drive tests for 3G data connection success, session reliability and signal strength for the top 50 most populous markets from January 2008 to February 2009. Not all services available on 3G and coverage may default to separate network when 3G unavailable.

** THE UNLIMITED 3G/4G PLAN IS FOR CORPORATE LIABLE ACCOUNTS ONLY. Sprint reserves the right, at our sole discretion to deny, terminate, modify, disconnect or suspend service if corporate-liable customer exceeds the off-network roaming threshold (300MB/mo.) or engages in the following prohibited uses: server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, disproportionate Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections, peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing applications broadcast to multiple servers or recipients such that they could enable "bots" or similar routines, or for any other reason that, in our sole discretion harms our network.