Sprint expands WiMAX markets, devices

Sprint Nextel continues to build the WiMAX ecosystem. The company yesterday announced that it added three more device makers to its portfolio of suppliers and increased the number of markets it will launch in 2008.

Specifically, Sprint announced Samsung, a long-standing handset partner, will make a single-mode WiMAX device as well as a dual-mode WiMAX/1xEV-DO modem. Chinese equipment maker ZTE will make single-mode 802.16e devices and USB cards, and ZyXel will make WiMAX modem products.

Sprint added 12 new cities to its 2008 launch schedule, including Boston, Denver, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Kansas City; Seattle and more. The company said that it expects to have 100 million covered POPS with its WiMAX network by the end of 2008.

In other news, the company yesterday announced that it was branding its cable MSO joint venture, Pivot. The company is working closely with its cable partners to align their strategies. The top three priorities for the JV is to offer a single bill, let consumers stay connected to their applications and offer an affordable solution by bundling wireless with the cable MSO product portfolio. -Sue