Sprint, SBC sign Wi-Fi roaming pact

Sprint Corp. and SBC Communications Inc. announced they have entered a reciprocal Wi-Fi roaming agreement. Through the partnerships, the carriers’ customers will be able to access each other’s public Wi-Fi networks using existing user IDs and passwords, and will be charged according to their current billing agreements. SBC’s FreedomLink Wi-Fi network includes more than 2,300 hot spots nationwide. Sprint-owned Wi-Fi hot spots include a handful of airports, convention centers and shopping centers. Through this and other roaming agreements, Sprint customers now have access to more than 2,600 hot spots. The company plans to make at least 10,000 hot spots available by the end of this year. SBC plans to make 20,000 hot spots available to FreedomLink customers by the end of 2006. Wireless carriers are embracing Wi-Fi service as a way to offer mobility to existing customers as well as to move heavy data traffic off their cellular networks. T-Mobile USA Inc., the strongest carrier player in the field, counts 4,765 hot-spot locations. Hybrid Wi-Fi-cellular devices are expected from Motorola Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co. and NEC Corp.