14 DAY TRIAL // Clearwire, Comcast and Sprint have announced recently that they plan on launching 4G services on a series of new markets in the US, including Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle, and that the rollout is expected to be performed before the end of the ongoing year. According to the three companies, each one of them will start selling the 4G services under its own brand.
All three plan on launching commercial 4G services in Philadelphia in the following weeks, and they have announced that official launch events and retail store openings will follow shortly. Clearwire, Comcast and Sprint also plan on launching the services in Chicago starting with November, while the Seattle/Tacoma area will receive them in December.
There are a wide range of benefits the 4G services are set to deliver to users, including great speeds when it comes to accessing the Internet, downloading files, streaming videos, and more. In addition, there are already a variety of devices that support the WiMAX standard that the 4G network their services come with is based upon, including USB modems, Intel embedded WiMAX laptops and netbooks, as well as other wireless devices.
Clearwire’s 4G service will come to these markets as CLEAR. It will be available for purchase online via the company's website, while retail store and dealer openings are expected to come in the following weeks. Comcast’s 4G service comes branded as Comcast High-Speed 2go, and is part of a Fast Pack that brings together fast in-home wired Internet and fast wireless Internet. Sprint’s 4G service will be sold as Sprint 4G, and is available at Sprint retail stores, Best Buy stores and local retailers in 4G service areas.
More than 25 markets around the country are expected to see 4G services available by the end of 2009, including Atlanta and Milledgeville, GA; Baltimore; Boise; Chicago; Las Vegas; Philadelphia; Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro, NC; Honolulu and Maui, HI; Seattle and Bellingham, Wash; Portland and Salem, Ore; and Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Abilene, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Waco and Wichita Falls, Texas.