Zacks.com submits: Sprint Nextel ( S - Analyst Report ) officially launched its 4G wireless broadband services Monday, In line with expectations, in the markets of Atlanta, Las Vegas and Portland. This represents a significant expansion initiative by the third-largest US wireless carrier. The company’s 4G service is being offered under the “Sprint 4G” brand and leverages the WiMax (a mobile broadband technology) network operated by Clearwire Corp. (CLWR - Snapshot Report ).

Qwest Communications International Inc. said Tuesday it has begun sending notices to its Qwest Wireless customers notifying them they have 60 days to switch to another wireless provider. Until last year, Denver-based Qwest (NYSE: Q) sold wireless phone plans under the Qwest Wireless brand using Sprint network access, which Qwest bought wholesale. But Qwest announced in May 2008 that it had reached a five-year agreement to sell Verizon Wireless services and handsets under the Verizon brand.

If you live in the US and have found 3G speeds aren’t cutting it for wireless data, the only game in town has been Sprint/Clearwire, which now offers WiMAX service in over 40 cities in the US. But just about everyone else in the cellular business is backing the alternative 4G wireless protocol, Long Term Evolution (LTE), meaning that the fight for next-generation supremacy will come down to Clearwire’s first mover advantage vs. LTE’s extensive adoption.

Sprint’s gradual roll-out of 4G WiMAX across the US continues, with the latest three areas to receive a “hotspot the size of a city” being Las Vegas , Portland and Atlanta .  Of course, that might come as a surprise to residents of those three cities, who might have been using WiMAX under the Clearwire CLEAR banner for several months now. In fact, Sprint are reselling the WiMAX network, and the three areas are simply the next to which it has extended its 4G promotion.

Sprint today announced the launch of Sprint 4G mobile broadband throughout the Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Portland metro areas. As a result, streaming video, fast file downloads and uploads and turbo charged web browsing are no longer just home, office or coffee shop benefits. Sprint 4G customers can enjoy a blazing fast mobile broadband experience across the city, whether they’re working at a remote location, relaxing in the park, sitting at a favorite eatery or as a passenger on the freeway or

A Brilliant Name for ObamaCare’s Insurance Cooperatives - rightohio.com 08/17/2009 Fannie Med Dirty Secret No. 1 - baptistbrethren.com 08/17/2009 “Dirty secret No. 1 in Obamacare is about the government’s coming into homes and usurping parental rights over child care and development. It’s outlined in sections 440 and 1904 of the House bill (Page 838), under the heading ‘home visitation programs for families with young children and families expecting children.’ The programs (provided via grants to states) would educate parents on child behavior and parenting skills.

August 17th, 2009 | by John Timmer If you live in the US and have found 3G speeds aren’t cutting it for wireless data, the only game in town has been Sprint/Clearwire, which now offers WiMAX service in over 40 cities in the US. But just about everyone else in the cellular business is backing the alternative 4G wireless protocol, Long Term Evolution (LTE), meaning that the fight for next-generation supremacy will come down to Clearwire’s first mover advantage vs. LTE’s extensive adoption.

A few weeks ago Sprint announced that their new 4G wireless broadband service would be made available in Las Vegas , Portland and Atlanta this month. Sprint today announced that their 4G network has launched in — you guessed it — Las Vegas , Portland and Atlanta . According to Sprint, customer plans for the new service cost $69.99 monthly for access to both the Sprint 3G and 4G network. The plan costs $10 more than their 3G plan alone, but the 4G access comes with no caps (3G users face a 5GB monthly usage cap).

Here’s story about a potential application of WiMax† outside consumer mobile wireless by San Diego Gas & Electric, as reported by earth2tech : SDG&E’s Director of Network & Communications Services, Jeff Nichols told us today that SDG&E has filed an application for $30 million in smart grid stimulus funds from the DOE for a $60 million smart grid wireless project called GridComm that will span the entire 4,100 square miles of its footprint.

Verizon LTE 4G Network Set to Turbocharge Mobile Devices (PC World) - thecellphonefactory.com 08/17/2009 PC World - Verizon tested out its LTE (Long Term Evolution) network this week in Boston and Seattle. LTE is a major step forward in the march toward entirely IP-based mobile communications and full 4G wireless. Once 4G speeds are generally available in major markets across the country it will transform expectations of what a mobile device is capable of and continue to blur the line between communications, entertainment, and productivity.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, then you know that wireless phone companies have had little to no time for VoIP-based applications, especially those that cut into their precious voice and SMS revenues. A few years back, T-Mobile decided to play nasty with mobile VoIP startup Truphone in the UK, and since then similar such incidents have taken place as well. But two recent statements by carriers from different parts of the world are making me wonder if the mobile phone companies are softening their stance on mobile VoIP.