Upgraded Network Will Provide Users with the Power of Significantly Faster Upload Speeds and a More Robust Experience Than Other Mobile Data Networks
Sprint announced that it has upgraded the Sprint Power Vision Network(SM), the nation's largest wireless broadband network covering more than 170 million people, with the faster EV-DO Revision A technology in the Seattle market. With the upgraded mobile broadband network, customers in Seattle will ultimately be able to utilize richer applications and services such as high-speed video telephony, music on demand, video messaging and large file uploads.
Seattle is among the first 21 markets where Sprint will roll out EV-DO Revision A this year with coverage expected to reach more than 40 million people. Sprint Power Vision users in these markets should experience significantly faster average upload speeds of 300-400 kbps (compared with 50-70 kbps of current EV-DO networks). Average download speeds should also increase to 450 to 800 kbps from 400 to 700 kbps.
"The Northwest is an important market for Sprint. With this upgrade, our customers here can use the largest and fastest mobile broadband network to send and receive information and data at DSL-like speeds, but with the added power to do it on the go," said Kirk Dawson, Sprint area vice president, Pacific Northwest. "Mobile consumers can download video or music or access the Internet, and business customers can download files, upload documents and retrieve and send email without being tied to their desks."
The upgraded EV-DO Revision A coverage in the Seattle market will initially be concentrated at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle's downtown business district and parts of downtown Tacoma and Olympia where wireless data demand is highest, and will expand from there to include Sprint's entire market footprint.
Currently, Sprint provides mobile broadband services in and around Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Mount Vernon and Olympia. The upgrade is part of Sprint's $7 billion investment in its wireless and wire line networks nationwide this year including more than $16 million through the third quarter of 2006 in Washington.
Overall, Sprint plans to reach more than 200 million people in the U.S. with mobile broadband data services (including both EV-DO Revisions 0 and A) in 220 major metropolitan areas across the country with its Power Vision network by the end of 2006. By 3Q 2007, Sprint's Power Vision network is expected to be completely upgraded to the faster EV-DO Revision A.
The upgrade to EV-DO Revision A is expected to further drive Sprint's wireless data leadership as customers will be able to use the upgraded network to utilize applications such as all IP video telephony, high-performance push-to-talk (walkie-talkie service), multi-user video conferencing, real-time gaming and video streaming as they become available.
Sprint Mobile Broadband Devices and Plans
As Sprint continues to launch EV-DO Revision A service in markets across the country, it is also expanding its portfolio of devices compatible with the enhanced technology. These devices include the Sprint Mobile Broadband USB Modem by Novatel Wireless Ovation U720 that plugs into the USB port of any compatible laptop and is expected to be available before the end of the year. In addition, Sprint offers the Pantech PX-500, Sierra Wireless Aircard(R)595 and the Novatel Wireless S720 which all operate with Type II PCMCIA slots and the Linksys Wireless G-Router for Mobile Broadband. All of these devices will also work on the Sprint Power Vision Network where the EV-DO Revision A upgrade is not yet available.
Customers signing a two-year Sprint subscriber agreement may be eligible to receive unlimited data usage for $59.99 per month (no separate voice plan required). Other individual service plans for all mobile broadband devices currently range from $39.99 per month for 40 MB to $79.99 per month for unlimited data usage with a one year subscriber agreement. Rates apply to all Power Vision users and do not change in areas that have been upgraded to EV-DO Revision A.
Additional information on Sprint's Mobile Broadband network, including coverage maps showing current and future coverage, Mobile Broadband service plans, and the latest access devices, can be found at http://powervision.sprint.com/mobilebroadband/.
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