Sprint Nextel looks to the future with 4G services

Posted Jun 28th 2006 10:38AM by Brian White
Filed under: Cellular, Hardware, Long Range, Business

Sprint Nextel, already leading the pack in terms of its mobile television and music download 3G-based offerings, is already looking towards the future with 4G services and data speeds. With the Nextel acquisition just now closed by Sprint, it has an inordinate amount of spectrum holdings in the 2.5GHz range in which to deploy, well, just about anything it wants.

In other words, Sprint Nextel is primed and positioned to leapfrog against the other larger U.S. mobile operators -- Verizon Wireless, Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile USA -- with spectrum efficiency, advanced data and entertainment services...and revenue streams. No wonder Sprint Nextel won't be participating in the upcoming advanced wireless services FCC auctions -- it already has spectrum, the means and the motive to move forward.

Reader Comments

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1. Has Sprint decided on a tech foundation for 4G? Rumors have OFDM in the mix, but Nextel ended its trial of the Flarion product here in Raleigh with little fanfare. I believe users here loved the service though.

Of couse Qualcomm owns Flarion now so that likely means CDMA-like pricing ($$$$) and with Intel's support for Wimax, that seems like a leading choice.

Posted at 6:54PM on Jun 28th 2006 by Jim

2. Hi Jim,

Rumor has it that Sprint Nextel is considering Flash OFDM and/or WiMAX to bolster its rollout of 4G-type services in the future. With Flarion owned by Qualcomm now, as you mentioned, and with Qualcomm and Sprint Nextel being buddy-buddy, I'm leaning in the OFDM direction myself, even if Intel didn't want to marry WiMAX. The Flarion trial may have ended with little fanfare, but it's my choice as Sprint Nextel's 4G infrastructure. Just a hunch.

Posted at 5:20PM on Jun 29th 2006 by Brian

3. That is a good question, as I'm not sure what the plans are for iDEN-based smartphone upgrades. That would be nice to have, what you suggest -- an upgrade to the i930.

Posted at 11:39AM on Jul 5th 2006 by Brian

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