Sprint Customers in Baltimore 1st For WiMax

Sprint has just released a Press Release providing us some details of its XOHM WiMax launch which are essentially its branded version of a 4G network. According to the release it will enable users with portable devices such as laptops and phones to access location based information that will enrich their experience.

The content for these location based services come from at least 9 different sources which Sprint names and outlines. We’ve copied them below:

– uLocate Communications Inc. of Boston, Mass. the primary
partner in building XOHM’s location enabled mobile experience,
is providing its WHERE(TM) platform and leading friend finding
application Buddy Beacon(R) to connect XOHM customers with
their favorite people, places and things. Through WHERE, XOHM
users will have access to local information including
restaurant reviews, news, events, weather and much more.
Select launch partners on the WHERE platform include Yelp,
Eventful, Topix, NAVTEQ and Accuweather.

– Yelp Inc. of San Francisco, Calif., the leading Web site for
local business reviews, provides relevant user reviews and
ratings for anything local, from restaurants to doctors and
more. The reviews can be searched and sorted by category or
shown in a map view, with access to Yelp.com for details on
any of the three million local reviews.

– Eventful Inc. of San Diego, Calif., will provide users with
listings of local events displayed in a map view. Customers
can select sub-categories of interest, search for events and
click through to Eventful.com to get more event information
and purchase tickets.

– Topix LLC of Palo Alto, Calif., will provide local news based
on current location as a summary, with an option to read full
stories and others at its site.

– NAVTEQ of Chicago, Ill., will offer XOHM customers NAVTEQ
Traffic(TM) real-time local traffic and commuter updates with
links to the Traffic.com(R) Web site for additional detailed
construction, incident and drive time information.

– AccuWeather of State College, Penna., will provide three-day
forecasts based on users’ current locations. An easy link to
AccuWeather.com mobile Web site gives more forecast details,
radar/satellite images, and more.

– Google Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., will contribute
industry-leading Local Search capability along with additional
features and functionality from Google Maps.

– Openwave Systems Inc. of Redwood City, Calif. will provide the
location platform that enables XOHM partners to use location
to provide valuable services.

– Autodesk Inc. of San Rafael, Calif., will provide a
standards-based interface and geospatial services, such as
addresses, ZIP code and city/state information, to enhance
location within the XOHM network.

It appears that XOHM has a lot of the basics covered and this could be the start of big things if they can somehow parlay this into momentum. Hey Sprint… We’re IN BALTIMORE… HOOK IT UP!

[Via Sprint PR]

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