Sprint Launches Faster Mobile Broadband
Network in Cleveland
Other topics: WiMAX Company Award,
OFDMA 16e Mobile WiMAX Services
Sprint
March 28, 2007
Cleveland, OH - Users of the nation’s largest mobile broadband network
now have the power of significantly faster upload speeds that are on par
with some DSL services.
Beginning today, Sprint customers throughout the Cleveland area join the
more than 140 million people in 5,400 communities who can enjoy access
to the upgraded Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, which provides users
faster data speeds and the ability to ultimately use richer applications
and services such as high-speed video telephony, music-on-demand, video
messaging and large file uploads. |
The industry’s largest
mobile broadband network allows customers in Cleveland to experience
significantly faster average upload speeds of 350-500 Kbps (compared
with 50-70 Kbps on current EV-DO networks) and average download speeds
of 600 Kbps-1.4 Mbps (from 400-700 Kbps). Sprint’s upgraded mobile
broadband network was awarded the coveted PC Magazine Editors’ Choice
Award selected by a panel of PC Magazine editors, and leading industry
experts.
“Sprint customers in Cleveland can now take advantage of the largest
mobile broadband network to send and receive information at speeds that
rival some DSL offerings without being tied to a desk,” said Kevin
Gleason, Sprint area vice president of sales. “This leading technology
gives our customers the powerful combination of mobility and speed so
they can manage their business and personal lives while on the go.”
Upgraded EV-DO Revision A coverage will be available throughout most of
the Greater Cleveland area including:
- Downtown Cleveland and most of the surrounding suburbs
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
- Most of Northeast Ohio including Youngstown, Warren, Sandusky, Akron
and Mansfield
- Currently, Sprint provides the faster mobile broadband services
throughout Ohio including in and around --Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo
and many areas in between. The upgrade to the faster technology is part
of Sprint’s ongoing investment in its wireless and wireline networks
nationwide.
Last year, Sprint spent more than $42 million in Cleveland
and $7 billion nationally to improve its networks.
The Sprint Mobile Broadband Network is the nation’s largest mobile
broadband network, reaching more than 209 million people nationwide in
more than 10,700 communities as well as 1029 airports. Sprint will
continue to upgrade its mobile broadband network to the faster EV-DO
Revision A technology for the rest of 2007 which will further drive
Sprint’s wireless data leadership as customers will be able to use the
upgraded network to utilize applications such as all IP video telephony,
high-performance push-to-talk (walkie-talkie service), multi-user video
conferencing, real-time gaming and video streaming as they become
available.
Device Portfolio And GPS Leadership
Sprint also has the industry leading portfolio of Revision A-capable
devices including the Merlin EX720 by Novatel Wireless (Nasdaq:NVTL),
Sprint’s first EV-DO Revision A capable ExpressCard, the Novatel
Wireless U720 USB device and three PCMCIA Type II Mobile Broadband
cards. Other devices embedded with Sprint’s EV-DO Revision A technology
include laptops like Sony’s VAIO VGN-TXN10 Series and rugged,
stand-alone connectivity devices like Airlink’s PinPoint X and Raven X.
All of the Sprint EV-DO Revision A-capable devices will also work on the
mobile broadband network in areas where the EV-DO Revision A upgrade is
not yet available.
Sprint customers with the Novatel Wireless U720 and Novatel EX720 now
have the power to use the first Location Based Services (LBS) capability
on a Revision A connection card through an enhanced version of the
Sprint Connection Manager software. Users of these cards will be able to
perform location based searches to find a nearby restaurant, gas
station, bank and other points of interest without having to input their
current location. This basic Sprint location and search usage is
included as part of Sprint’s flexible data and unlimited data connection
card plans. Current users can obtain the software by checking for
updates using their Sprint Connection Manager, or it can be downloaded
from www.sprint.com/downloads.
Greater Value for Customers
Customers signing a two-year Sprint subscriber agreement may be eligible
to receive unlimited data usage for $59.99 per month (no separate voice
plan required). Other individual service plans for all mobile broadband
devices currently range from $39.99 per month for 40 MB to $79.99 per
month for unlimited data usage with a one year subscriber agreement.
Rates apply to all Power Vision users and do not change in areas that
have been upgraded to EV-DO Revision A.
Additional information on the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, including
coverage maps showing current and future coverage, Mobile Broadband
service plans, and the latest access devices, can be found at http://powervision.sprint.com/mobilebroadband/.
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 robust wireless networks serving 53.1 million customers at the end
of 2006; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and
international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and
global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit
www.sprint.com. |
