CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.-Sprint Corp. wireless affiliate Ubiquitel Inc. said it has launched CDMA2000 1x EV-DO services in its Boise, Idaho, and Reno, Nev., markets as part of Sprint’s roll out of high-speed wireless data services announced last week.
“We’re thrilled to be the first wireless operator in Boise and Reno to launch our new wireless high-speed data service and expect to continue to leverage Sprint PCS Vision as an industry leading data product,” said Donald Harris, chairman and chief executive officer of Ubiquitel. “We have all witnessed how broadband has completely altered the way we use the Internet, and now we’ll see it maximize the way we use wireless technology.”
Ubiquitel noted its EV-DO service covers approximately 1 million residents, and that it plans to expand the service to half of its coverage area by the end of next year. The affiliate is licensed to cover 10.8 million potential customers in parts of California, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Ubiquitel said it will follow Sprint’s EV-DO pricing model, which provides either a tiered per-megabyte offering beginning at $40 per month for 40 MB of data transmission, or an unlimited access plan for $80 per month. Ubiquitel will initially offer EV-DO-capable PC cards from Sierra Wireless and Novatel Wireless, with plans to launch EV-DO-enabled personal digital assistants and handsets by the end of the year.
Ubiquitel initiated an early EV-DO trial with Sprint in its Boise market in late 2002 using Lucent Technologies Inc. infrastructure and Sierra Wireless PC Cards. The trial was announced only months after Sprint rolled out its 1x-based Vision services.
Sprint said it plans to offer EV-DO services in parts of 34 markets by the end of the month and plans to expand the offering to more than 60 markets by early next year.
