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Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem

Sprint announced today the first 3G/4G dual-mode device, which operates on both the Sprint 3G and 4G networks. It will be available in retail stores Dec. 21.

The Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem U300 works with Sprint’s mobile EVDO 3G network, while also harnessing the turbocharged speeds of WiMAX on the new Sprint 4G network (and presumably on their shared Clearwire network).

Sprint launched 4G in Baltimore in September and plans to launch in other markets across the country throughout 2009.

“This first-of-its-kind device allows our customers to take the Internet with them essentially wherever they go by gaining enhanced speed and capability in 4G markets and the nationwide coverage of our 3G network across the rest of the country,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO.

The Sprint 3G/4G USB modem will access mobile multimedia applications at average downlink speeds of 2-4 Mbps within Baltimore Sprint 4G service areas.

Where Sprint 4G service has yet to launch (virtually everywhere in the world except Baltimore), the dual-mode device will operate on Sprint’s 3G Network at average downlink speeds of 600 Kbps - 1.4 Mbps.

XOHM’s WiMAX USB modem is based on Beceem’s high performance BCS200 chipset. Sequans chips are inside the MAX-206m2 desktop modem/router manufactured by ZyXEL.

The USB Modem, manufactured by Franklin Wireless, is priced at $149.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement, after a $50 mail-in-rebate. Beginning Dec. 21, customers can purchase the USB data card via the Sprint direct business sales force, at most Baltimore-area Sprint stores and at select Baltimore-area retailers.

Starting in January, the device will also be available in Baltimore-area Best Buy stores. With the Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem, customers living in and traveling to Baltimore will be able to work even faster while on-the-go. For $79.99 - a $20 premium over most cellular broadband plans - customers will have simple-to-use access to the best possible mobile broadband connection: 3G or 4G. The Sprint Connection Manager recognizes and connects to the fastest connection available.

Clearwire uses Motorola’s first USB adaptor, the Wave 2 compliant USBw 100 (pdf), which employs multiple antenna technology, using Beceem chips as does Motorola’s CPEi 150 residential modem.

Sprint, the nation’s third-largest wireless carrier, merged its WiMax assets last month with Kirkland, Wash.-based Clearwire. The new company, called “Clear” offers the service today in Portland through kiosks in area malls, such as the Lloyd Center. Modems and laptops with embedded WiMAX chips will also be available in stores such as Best Buy.

Sprint/Clear says it has cheaper and faster architecture than cellular, but their main advantage is spectrum. “Clearwire’s average spectrum position will be over 120MHz per market,” explains Ben Wolff, Clearwire CEO. Cellular’s combined assets of 700Mhz, 800MHz, 1.9GHz, and AWS aren’t even close. By the end of 2009, Sprint expects WiMax to be available to about 60 million people.

Market success may come through the back door with apps on mobile internet devices (reviews).

Worldwide smartphone sales totaled 32.2 million units in the second quarter of 2008, a 15.7 per cent increase from the second quarter of 2007, according to market researcher Gartner. Smartphones are currently about 15 percent of the entire mobile phone market, but are predicted to grow to 40 to 50 percent within the next five years. Informa forecasts subscriptions to UMTS/HSPA will number nearly half a billion worldwide by the end of 2009, and will pass the one billion mark in 2012.

Mobile Data Traffic by Application is expected to shift to video and internet access. Platforms like Android and Symbian Foundation could make cloud applications truly magical.