Sprint, Clearwire in WiMax deal

Almost a year after Sprint Nextel Corp. announced it would develop a mobile broadband network using WiMax technology, the wireless provider said it was teaming up with competing provider Clearwire Corp. to help build it.

WiMax provides wireless Internet speeds comparable to DSL or cable modems. Similar to the Wi-Fi technology used in airports and coffee shops, WiMax can provide coverage to much larger areas.

Reston, Va.-based Sprint Nextel and Kirkland, Wash.-based Clearwire said they planned to begin rolling out the service in Chicago, Washington and Baltimore by the end of the year and have it available to 100 million people by the end of 2008.