Sprint CEO Dan Hesse told a large CTIA audience this week that "LTE will be the larger of the two 4G standards," but noted that Sprint couldn't wait on LTE technology when it had "proven, tried and true" WiMax technology to run over Sprint's readily available spectrum.

Even with a minor share in the market, Sprint sees WiMax as vital to its future, and has even tied its compensation package to growth in 4G subscribers, Van Norman said.

"True, they are small financial rewards, just drinking money," Van Norman explained. "But our executives have committed to 4G." Sprint is offering WiMax to markets with 30 million people and expects to reach 120 million by year's end.

Hesse highlighted the value of a WiMax device to the medical profession, since it serves as a Wi-Fi hot spot to eight other devices, and could be used by a home visitation nurse who might collect data over Wi-Fi from various medical devices. "All kinds of medical devices could connect," he said.

One concern with the new HTC EVO 4G smartphone is how it will perform in wireless networks where WiMax is not available. Van Norman said that when WiMax is not there, the EVO will function over Sprint's EVDO 3G network.