Thursday, 2 October 2008

Sprint Finally Unleashes Xohm WiMax Services

Sprint Nextel, the third-largest US mobile network operator, has launched its next-generation 4G wireless broadband service based on WiMax technology in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sprint’s WiMAX service, known as XOHM, allows computers to access the Internet wirelessly at faster speeds and with a wider reach than Wi-Fi technology.

Sprint, which has been working to stem customer losses from its existing services, said consumers in Baltimore would be able to try out the service for USD 10 a day or pay USD 25 a month for home access or USD 30 a month for mobile service.

"Wireless consumers will experience WiMAX device and XOHM service innovation on multiple levels as the computer, Internet, telecom and consumer electronics industries converge to redefine wireless mobility," said Barry West, president of Sprint's XOHM business unit.

Sprint, the nation’s third-largest wireless carrier by subscribers, plans to merge its Xohm WiMax unit with that of Clearwire in a USD 14.5 billion deal expected to close in the fourth quarter. The venture will be branded as Clearwire and is backed by Mountain View-based Google Inc, Intel and cable company investors.