New Programs, Products To Follow Sprint's Next-Gen Network Launch

Sprint PCS

The Overland Park-based carrier said it will offer the new PCS Vision network, which is expected provide average data-transfer speeds of 50 Kbps to 70 Kbps and improved voice capabilities, to about 98 percent of its coverage area.

Jason Guesman, director of business marketing at Sprint PCS, said the only areas not covered are small rural locations maintained by some of Sprint affiliates.

Although Sprint is the last of the big wireless carriers to launch a next-generation wireless network, it is providing more coverage area than any of its competitors, analysts said.

Research firm ARS reports that Sprint's new CDMA2000 1x network offers an average of 38 percent more coverage than competitors Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile/VoiceStream.

The carrier will be offering at least four phones, as well as a Treo Smart Phone from Handspring and a wireless modem by next week. Within the month, Sprint expects to release a Pocket PC Phone Edition PDA from Toshiba and two additional modems, a Sprint spokeswoman said.

Samsung executives at the launch event also confirmed the company is working on a smart phone using the Palm operating system, which will be available in the fall. The phone, model 1330, will be slightly smaller than the existing 1300 device and will sport a bright-color screen.

Pricing for the faster data services will be tiered for a variety of uses. Phone users can add up to 2 Mbytes of data per month for an additional monthly fee of $10. Smart phone users will get 8 Mbytes of data for an additional $10 per month or 12 Mbytes of data for an additional $20 per month.

Business customers using wireless modems can chose from four plans: 20 Mbytes for $39.99, 40 Mbytes for $59.99, 70 Mbytes for $79.99 and 120 Mbytes for $119.99. Sprint is providing a three-month free introductory offer with these plans.

In addition, Sprint is offering a promotional $99 unlimited wireless plan with $40 off for the first three months, Guesman said. Sprint currently has not set a time limit for the promotional offer, he said. The pricing tops competitor Verizon Wireless' unlimited use plan of $99 per month with one month free.

Sprint also is expected to unveil a wireless application download service within the next few months, solution providers said.

Retrieval Dynamics is working on applications that can be downloaded off of Sprint's network by business users as well as customized and installed at corporate locations for enterprise customers, said David Rippetoe, director of business development at the Sarasota, Fla.-based mobile and wireless solution provider.

One such program, called Go Figure, allows sales people to create a quotation on a mobile phone. "The quotation can then be sent to any e-mail address or fax number," he said.

Sprint is currently testing the application and may offer it to customers via download, much like Verizon Wireless offers BREW applications over its Express Network. Also like Verizon's plan, Sprint is expected to give 80 percent of the revenue from customer downloads to Retrieval Dynamics, Rippetoe said.

Sprint executives also confirmed the company has scheduled a developers conference for Aug. 25 in Las Vegas. Guesman said the conference will focus on training for Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME), Pocket PC and .Net applications to be used on the Sprint PCS Vision network.

Also at the launch, Sprint said it plans to offer a hosted middleware solution that will provide wireless e-mail to corporate customers with little or no integration requirements. The solution initially will be sold by Sprint's direct-sales force, but the carrier will consider opening the solution to its indirect partners, Guesman said.

In addition, Sprint said it added new members to its Business Solution Partner Program, including Accenture, Ingram Micro and PwC Consulting.