4G wireless broadband is not widely available yet - Sprint offers WiMAX in four US markets, and Verizon won't be debuting their 4G technology, LTE, until next year - but competition between Sprint and Verizon is already heating up. After Verizon announced last week that they had successfully tested 4G LTE in Boston and Seattle and that they planned to offer the service in 30 markets by the end of 2010, Sprint responded by lowering the price of their 4G device and the monthly service. Sprint's U300 dual-mode USB modem (currently their only 4G-capable device) is now available on Sprint's website for free after a $50 mail-in rebate (with a 2-year contract, of course), and their unlimited 4G service is now just $69.99/month, down from the original rate of $79.99/month.
Sprint's 4G plan also includes 5GB of 3G service, so if you leave a 4G market, you can still connect to their 3G mobile broadband network, which is available in many more areas than 4G. Since Sprint's 3G-only plan is $59.99/month, their $69.99/month 3G/4G plan is quite reasonable for folks living in one of the few areas covered by Sprint 4G (Portland, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Las Vegas - but more will follow later this year and next).
Now that Sprint has dropped their 4G service rates, will you be more likely to sign up for service with them? Or is it still too pricey? Discuss this on the 4G Forums.
