Sprint Adds 4G Wireless Markets

Continuing its nationwide expansion, Sprint Nextel has added 4G service in seven more locations: Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y.; Merced and Visalia, Calif.; Eugene, Ore.; and Tri-Cities and Yakima, Wash., the carrier announced Monday. The 4G launches are the first for New York and California, and bring the total number of markets to have the fourth generation of cellular wireless service to 43.

Sprint, the only U.S. carrier with a 4G network, said it is planning to add more locations by the end of 2010, including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, the San Francisco Bay area, Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, covering 120 million people. At the end of Q1 2010, Sprint Nextel, the nation's third-largest carrier, reported having more than 48 million customers.

The 4G service enables users to have fast, wireless internet connectivity for mobile downloads, streaming video, and web browsing. With Sprint's HTC EVO 4G, users can also conduct video chats on the 3G/4G wireless smartphone. However, Sprint is reporting shortages of the HTC EVO 4G, the first 4G smartphone.

Sprint is offering a trial of 4G for 30 days and customers can cancel their service if they are not satisfied and get fully reimbursed, the carrier said.

"We are hearing a lot of positive feedback from our 4G customers who are using HTC EVO and mobile broadband connectivity," said Matt Carter, Sprint's president of 4G, in a statement. "People are hungry for faster wireless speeds, 3G/4G smartphones, and unlimited data plans -- and Sprint offers all of these. With Sprint 4G, we are entering a new world of wireless possibilities."

Sprint is the majority shareholder in Clearwire, a provider of wireless broadband for businesses and consumers, which is building the WiMax networks.

In addition to the seven markets announced Monday, 4G service is already available in: Atlanta and Milledgeville, Ga.; Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii; Boise, Idaho; Chicago; Baltimore; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; Las Vegas; Charlotte, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, and Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; Portland and Salem, Ore.; Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading, and York, Pa.; Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, and Wichita Falls, Texas; Salt Lake City; Richmond, Va.; Washington, D.C.; and Bellingham and Seattle, Wash.