Sprint today opened its new WiMax wireless network to customers in Baltimore, offering Internet service for laptops for $30 per month.

Compared to cellular broadband technology, WiMax offers fast downloads and is cheap to deploy. Championed by Intel, Sprint's Xohm-branded service is betting on WiMax to give it a few years' head start before cellular broadband catches up.

Xohm provides download speeds of 2 to 4 Mbps, more than twice the current speeds of Sprint, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T.

To use the network, customers need a $60 laptop card an $80 home modem. In addition to the monthly plans, Sprint will offer a day pass for $10. No contracts are required.

The next cities to get Xohm will be Washington and Chicago.

"Wireless consumers will experience WiMax device and Xohm service innovation on multiple levels as the computer, Internet, telecom and consumer electronics industries converge to redefine wireless mobility," said Barry West, President of Sprint's Xohm business unit.

Sprint is spinning off Xohm into a joint venture with Clearwire, which already has a WiMax-like network in parts of the country. That deal is expected to close before the end of the year.

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