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Friday, 11 January 2008 |
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Sprint soft launches WiMAX and announces service, device and ad partners…
Despite earlier media speculation that Sprint could abandon the technology behind its ambitious US$3bn-plus mobile broadband plans following the departure of its ceo some months ago (click), and the termination of a network sharing deal with Clearwire (click), Sprint is pressing ahead with the Xohm WiMAX service. A soft launch of Xohm (pronounced ‘Zoam’) is underway with company employees in Chicago, Baltimore and
Washington,
DC, in preparation for commercial WiMAX service launch beginning later this year in select
US
cities. Sprint has also announced new Xohm mobile Internet business agreements involving web portal services and WiMAX network access devices, and named an advertising agency of record to help launch the brand in
North America
.
“Sprint is delivering on its Open Internet vision with exciting and differentiated WiMAX services,” claims Barry West, president of Sprint's Xohm business unit. “The new service agreements and device commitments will help Xohm subscribers access, enjoy, store and secure personal digital and user-generated content while experiencing new device innovation.”
The new partnerships involve: Amdocs which has a multi-year agreement for software and services in support of the launch and operations; SwapDrive which is providing a hosted storage solution; eTelecare Global Solutions which is providing voice and e-support customer care services; and McAfee Inc which will implement online security products for PCs used on the WiMAX network.
Sprint also listed OQO, ASUSTek and Zyxel Inc in partnership with chip supplier Sequans as new vendors that had committed to the production of WiMAX CPE and devices. Soho Square, a WPP company, has been named advertising agency of record to help launch the Xohm brand in
North America
.
Meantime, there are reports that Clearwire could be prepping
Atlanta
for the launch of the company’s 51st
US
mobile WiMAX market, and there’s now speculation that the Sprint/Clearwire network partnership could be resurrected.
John Williamson |
