Sprint Nextel moved forward with plans to expand its WiMAX-based “4G” service to its prepaid portfolio announcing that subsidiaries Virgin Mobile USA and Boost Mobile would begin offering services across the Clearwire-provided network beginning May 31.
For Virgin Mobile USA, the halo device will be HTC’s Evo V 4G smartphone that will retail for $300. The device runs Google’s Android 4.0 operating system; sports a 4.3-inch touch screen; and includes a five-megapixel 3-D enabled rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera.
Rate plans will begin at $35 per month for smartphones that includes 300 voice minutes, unlimited messaging, 2.5 gigabytes of unimpeded 3G data speeds and unlimited WiMAX access. For $15 more per month consumers can add another 1 GB of full-speed 3G data transmission using the device as a mobile hot spot. Customer that exceed their allotted 3G bundle will see their speeds throttled.
Virgin Mobile USA will also offer the Sierra Wireless Overdrive Pro mobile hot spot and Franklin Wireless U600 wireless modem that are compatible with Sprint Nextel’s CDMA-based 3G network as well as the WiMAX offering. The Overdrive Pro is set to retail for $150, while the U600 will sell for $100.
Rate plans for the mobile broadband offering will begin at $35 per month for unlimited WiMAX data and 2 GB of 3G data. For an additional $20 per month consumers can increase 3G data throughput to 5 GB before having speeds throttled. Virgin Mobile USA currently offers unlimited 3G data access for its Broadband2Go offering up to 2.5 GB per month before speeds are curtailed for $50.
Boost Mobile will offer the HTC Evo Design 4G that will retail for $300. The device includes a 4-inch touch screen, 1.2 GHz processor and also run Android 4.0.
Boost’s pricing will follow its current model of $55 per month for unlimited voice calls, messaging and data usage. Customers will also see their rate plans pricing drop by $5 per month for every six, on-time payments, with a base rate of $40 per month. Boost also will offer a mobile hot spot feature for the device for an additional $10 per month.
Boost did note that later this year it will begin instituting data throttling for customers that exceed 2.5 GB of transmission per month via 3G connectivity with speeds reduced to 256 kilobits per second until their new monthly billing cycle. WiMAX data speeds will remain unhindered.
WiMAX coverage for the service is still somewhat limited to 120 million potential customers in 71 markets with little chance for further expansion. Clearwire has said it would continue to support the WiMAX service for the foreseeable future, though it was changing focus on future expenditures towards its LTE-based network. Sprint Nextel has said it would no longer roll out any new WiMAX-enabled devices as it to turns its focus to its LTE plans.
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