Sprint announces the availability of a 4G “hot spot the size of the city” in Bellingham.
Sprint continues its 4G leadership with turbo-charged wireless connectivity, faster than today’s 3G from any carrier.
BELLINGHAM, Wash.-- Life in Bellingham 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 Bellingham 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, between classes on campus, relaxing in the park by the river, 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.
Bellingham 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 downlink speeds which are up to 10 times faster1 than 3G.
“Sprint 4G represents an enormous leap in connectivity speed, with valuable benefits for a variety of applications.” said Kevin Kunkel, regional vice president, Sprint. “Sprint has a significant head start in deploying 4G, and we’re prepared to leverage our 4G speeds and growing national coverage to help businesses, government agencies and educational institutions increase their capabilities, enhance productivity and reduce costs.”
Sprint 4G powered by WiMAX is expanding across the country
Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. In addition to Bellingham, Sprint also launched 4G service in Boise, Idaho today, following launches earlier this month in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Portland. Sprint also plans to deploy Sprint 4G service in these additional markets in 2009: Chicago, Ill.; Dallas, Ft. Worth, Texas; Philadelphia, Penn.; Austin, Texas; Abilene, Texas; Amarillo, Texas; .Charlotte, N.C.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Greensboro, N.C.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Killeen-Temple, Texas; Lubbock, Texas; Maui, Hawaii; Midland-Odessa, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; Salem, Ore.; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Wash.; 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 re-draw the communications landscape as we harness the power of 4G in markets across America,” said Todd Rowley, vice president of Sprint 4G. “Our aggressive expansion of Sprint 4G will include new devices and capabilities that create increased performance and productivity for business and government, while also enhancing personal lifestyles.”
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.
With peak downlink speeds of more than 10 Mbps, 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 Bellingham 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 Bellingham, Boise, Baltimore, Las Vegas and Portland today and more cities later this year, and take advantage of America’s most dependable 3G network2 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 network3 (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 Bellingham, Boise, 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.
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