Sprint Nextel today announced the next markets in its 4G rollout, which coincide with the ones network provider Clearwire already announced.
Sprint said it will be rolling out Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle in 2009, essentially following the path that Clearwire outlined earlier this month.
Sprint merged its WiMAX wireless service with Clearwire’s broadband unit, combining Sprint’s formerly Xohm-branded wireless service with Clearwire’s network. In these new rollouts, Clearwire sells WiMAX mobile broadband to Sprint, which is the majority owner of Clearwire.
Sprint launched mobile WiMAX in Baltimore last fall under the Xohm brand; in January, Clearwire launched the Portland, Ore., market under the Clear brand. Both companies are expected to compete under separate brands in the markets where they launch.
In addition to the ongoing market rollouts of 4G service across the country, Sprint plans to offer new 4G devices for 2009 and 2010, including a single-mode 4G data card, embedded laptops, a small-office/home-office broadband modem and a tri-mode phone.