James Delahunty
21 Feb 2010 4:23
Sprint has announced that new 4G-compatible handsets will be available in the U.S. in the first half of 2010. The handsets will be dual-mode phones capable of using Sprint's 3G network in the U.S., while also using its 4G network when it becomes available. There is no information yet on who will be manufacturing the 4G-capable handsets for Sprint.
The operator, along with Clearwire, offers the only commercially available 4G network in the United States. It backed WiMAX for its technology, which is faster to marker than Long-Term Evolution (LTE). Sprint and Clearwire offer WiMAX in a number of large cities in the country, and continue to roll-out the network in more cities. AT&T and Verizon have opted to use LTE for their 4G networks.
Currently, the only use for Sprint's network is USB modems for Internet connectivity. The operator has said in the past that handset devices would become available, but none have materialized so far. Now, Forbes reports that handsets capable of using the 4G network will become available for subscribers in the first half of 2010.
With Spring losing market share and subscribers to Verizon and AT&T, it had bet big on new 4G handsets to help it gain on its rivals.