Sprint teams up with Google for Wimax services

Sprint teams up with Google for Wimax services

Sprint Nextel Corp. and Google Inc. said Thursday they are teaming up to create a mobile Internet portal that will offer web search and social networking on the mobile carrier's upcoming high-speed wireless network.

Sprint's (NYSE: S) forthcoming WiMax network will be combined with Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) emailing, chat, and other popular Internet applications.

WiMax provides wireless Internet speeds comparable to cable modems or digital subscriber lines (DSL), the same technology used to connect homes to the internet. The technology is similar to the wireless networks used in airports and coffees shops, but the WiMax network can blanket whole cities.

Sprint Nextel plans to test the WiMax service in Chicago, Baltimore and Washington by the end of this year, with a goal of being providing coverage that can potentially reach 100 million people by the end of 2008.

Last month the telecom company also announced it was partnering with Clearwire, a broadband technology company, as it moves to build its network across the nation.