Google and Sprint Pair Up on WiMAX Services

Sprint has announced it'll be working with Google on a new mobile portal for WiMAX mobile Internet users - and maybe we'll see it sometime in 2008.

Mobile operator Sprint announced it is teaming with Internet giant Google to develop a new mobile Internt portal for customer using high-speed WiMAX Internet access. The new portal will provide search, communications, and social networking capabilities, including access to Google Apps (Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk), as well as location-based services, on-demand services (including music, video, and TV) and new mobile applications.

“Google and Sprint will optimize the Internet experience for the digital lifestyle,” said Barry West, Sprint’s president for 4G Mobile Broadband, in a release. “This collaboration brings what will be the best mobile Internet network together with the leading Internet search company. It allows us to capitalize on the powerful mobility and Internet trends, and create wireless services and applications that take advantage of each company’s history of product development innovation.”

If all this sounds very vague, there’s a reason: Sprint is still figuring out how it’s going to deploy high speed wireless WiMAX technology in its 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings, so it’s going to be a long time before consumers actually see any benefits of this partnership. Although WiMAX doesn’t offer the bandwidth of hardwired broadband connections, it should offer about five times the bandwidth of current wireless network technology, better enabling mobile Internet-based applications.

Right now, Sprint is planning to start WiMAX test service in Baltimore, Chicago, and the Washington DC area by the end of 2007; by April 2008, it hopes to have rolled out service to additional metropolitan areas, and by the end of 2008 have expanded coverage to potentially reach over 100 million people. Eventually, Sprint hopes WiMAX services will become practical for in-vehicle applications, like navigation, news, and (natch!) keep-the-kids-quiet entertainment.