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Yesterday saw the official launch of Sprint's first Xohm WiMAX-based network, in Baltimore, with the operator staging a big party for its "first hotspot as big as a city".

The claim of a headstart carries more weight in the US than it might elsewhere - although AT&T and Verizon Wireless are rapidly expanding their 3G+ networks (HSDPA and EV-DO Rev A respectively) these networks are not yet functioning at a true 'mobile broadband' level, unlike counterparts in countries like Japan. And AT&T unwittingly added fuel to Sprint's claims of stealing a march in '4G', by admitting earlier this week that it would be five years before it deployed LTE on a broad basis.

As for devices, despite reports that there would be only two gadgets for Xohm this year - a USB dongle and a laptop card - an impressive rollcall of products, due for this year or early 2009, was unveiled in Baltimore. These included 10 laptops with embedded WiMAX, from companies like Acer, Lenovo and Toshiba and Xohm chief Barry West said there would be at least 12 devices available before year end, with 20 currently going through the WiMAX Forum and Sprint certification processes.

West believes mobile video will be the key application driving uptake in the early phases, so we can expect to see video-optimized devices emerging in early 2009. Longer term, it hopes to work with Google and other partners on a full mobile internet experience that will surpass that available on 3G, at least in north America. However, to drive early volume, the economics of embedded WiMAX will be critical, as they were in Wi-Fi, attracting users along with the natural notebook upgrade cycle rather than requiring large numbers of users to invest in high value special devices - especially before dual-mode products for Sprint's CDMA network are available.

Sprint is using equipment from Samsung in Baltimore. It expects to finalize the merger of Xohm with Clearwire later this year, to form 'the new Clearwire', financially backed by Intel, Google and three major cablecos.

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