Sprint Launches Wireless Broadband

Sprint on Thursday announced that it had begun its national rollout of high-speed EV-DO data service, with the hopes of reaching 60 cities by early next year. Sprint follows the Verizon Wireless EV-DO rollout that began last year in major metropolitan areas and now covers 30 cities.

Sprint's EV-DO service will initially be available in airports and business districts across 34 markets. Service will expand to cover 14 full metropolitan areas during the third quarter, then to 40 before the end of the year.

Finally, during early 2006 the initial rollout will complete, reaching 200 markets in approximately 60 metropolitan areas. Sprint claims its wireless broadband will be available to 115 million people.

Business pricing plans for the service will begin at $40 USD per month for 40MB, with a price cap of $90 USD for those who need to use the service more often. An unlimited plan will be made available for $80 USD. Consumer pricing plans will start at $40 USD per month.

To use the service, customers must purchase a wireless connection card for their laptop, either the AirCard 580 by Sierra Wireless or the Merlin S620 by Novatel Wireless. When the use is outside of an EV-DO service area, the cards will also work on the older 1xRTT network.

The cards will have a retail price of $249.99 USD before any savings.

"The EV-DO service launch increases the ways Sprint customers can connect when mobile and augments a unique remote access service portfolio consisting of the nationwide PCS 1xRTT network and more than 19,000 Wi-Fi access points in prime locations," Len Lauer, president and COO of Sprint said in prepared remarks.

Wireless data customers already represent 10 percent of Sprint's quarterly revenue, and the company hopes that the new services will continue that growth. Sprint recently announced a $3 billion investment which included costs related to the EV-DO upgrade to its network.