Sprint WiMax Phone Rumors Abound, Carrier Stays Mum

17.03.2010
One thing's for certain: will introduce a fourth-generation (4G) wireless phone at some point this year. When exactly? The wireless carrier isn't saying, despite ongoing rumors that the official launch will happen next week at the trade show in Las Vegas.

The today reported that Sprint CEO Dan Hesse will debut the new 4G phone, an HTC-built handset reportedly called the "Supersonic," during a CTIA presentation next Tuesday.

Sprint's reaction: No comment. "Everyone's been speculating on that one. We have said publicly that we will have a 4G phone out this year, but we have not made any other official statements," Sprint spokeswoman Michelle Leff Mermelstein told PC World.

4G: The Time Is Now

It's logical that Sprint, the third-place U.S. wireless carrier that despite ongoing efforts to improve its service and coverage, would launch a 4G phone as soon as possible.

The company's 4G is run by Sprint's wireless broadband partner . Sprint has a head start over competing U.S. wireless providers, including AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Those carriers have yet to launch their 4G networks, which use a competing technology called .