Sprint announced it is working with Google to develop a new mobile Internet portal using WiMax wireless technology to offer Web search and social networking. The collaboration between Sprint and Google will help spur new mobility and location-assisted services as Sprint untethers Internet access for consumers, businesses and government customers.

Sprint network bandwidth, location detection and presence capabilities will be matched with Google's popular communications suite - Google Apps - that combines Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Talk services. Customers will be able to experience a new form of interactive communications, high-speed Internet browsing, local and location-centric services, and multimedia services including music, video, TV and on-demand products.

Sprint will provide open standard APIs (application programming interfaces) to Sprint's go-to-market partners and the Internet developer community to create customized products for browsable devices, facilitating the delivery of personalized and interactive services to consumer, business, public safety and government customers. These services will be available in a variety of WiMax embedded devices, including connection cards, stand-alone modems, laptop computers and consumer electronic devices such as personal media players, mobile Internet devices, gaming devices and phones. Eventually, the WiMax service will be available in vehicles for navigation information, news and entertainment.

Sprint aims to use the emerging WiMax technology to better compete with rival wireless and wired broadband networks. It plans to test the WiMax service in Chicago, Baltimore and Washington by the end of this year, with a goal of attaining coverage for 100 million people by the end of 2008.

These efforts are expected to allow Sprint customers to experience a nationwide mobile broadband network that is designed to offer faster speeds, lower cost, greater convenience and enhanced multimedia quality. The Sprint WiMax mobile broadband network will use the company's extensive 2.5GHz spectrum holdings.