Unfiltered

As Sprint (NYSE:S) prepares to expand its 4G footprint beyond Baltimore, it is tweaking its product portfolio to take advantage of the enhanced speeds of Clearwire’s WiMax network. It has begun selling dual-mode WiMax-EV-DO versions of Novatel’s MiFi personal hotspot and the business-targeted CradlePoint wireless broadband router, both of which redistribute capacity from mobile broadband connections to multiple WiFi devices.

While the number of customers that can take advantage of those 4G speeds is still tiny, it’s growing rapidly. Sprint will extend its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) relationship with Clearwire (NASDAQ:CLWR) to three new markets (Atlanta, Las Vegas and Portland, OR) this month and–now that its back-end integration problems with Clearwire are solved–closely follow Clearwire’s remaining major market launches the rest of the year. Clearwire earlier this week turned up two smaller markets in the Northwest and plans to launch service in eight small-and mid-sized markets in Texas next month. Sprint, however, didn’t reveal whether it would move to offer 4G service in those regions immediately or if it would stick to the major cities.

Sprint customers will have to pay a bit more those speeds. While Sprint’s 3G broadband plans are $60 a month for 5 GB of capacity, the 3G/4G plans start at $80.  That additional $20 bucks, though, buys unlimited 4G use on top of the standard 5 GB of 3G capacity. Oddly, Clearwire is offering what amounts to the exact same plan at the exact same price. Just as Sprint is an MVNO on Clearwire’s 4G network, Clearwire has become a virtual operator on Sprint’s 3G network. If they’re both offering the same plans over the same networks, are they really complementing one another or just competing for the same customer with the same infrastructure?

filed under 3G/4G, All Stories, Broadband/FTTX, Business Services, Mobile Apps, Residential Services, WiMAX, Wireless You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.