Sprint enhances data speed for select phones

By Gabrielle Kalika

July 22, 2008

Sprint to run

Wireless carrier Sprint is letting owners of HTC's Touch and Mogul devices use Windows Mobile 6.1 as their mobile operating system.

Since October 2007, the Touch offered Windows Mobile and multimedia features for accessing business and personal essentials. The new software called EV-DO Rev. A has support features and enhanced data speeds.

“The software upgrade for the Touch by HTC will provide Windows Mobile 6.1, EV-DO Rev. A capabilities, GPS, Opera browser and an onscreen 40-key QWERTY Keyboard,” said Ashley Hahn, spokeswoman for Sprint.

“This update enables a Sprint customer to transmit data at faster speeds over the Sprint Broadband CDMA data network, wherever EV-Do Rev. A coverage is available," she said. "The GPS enhancement will allows Sprint customers to use applications such as Sprint Navigation, which provides turn-by-turn directions."

The software is available for download at http://www.america.htc.com/touchupdate. Its features include EV-DO Rev. A which increases average download speeds from 400-700 kbps to 600 kbps-1.4 mbps and average upload speeds from 50-70 kbps to 350-500 kbps.

Program sheet

The enhanced GPS capabilities support popular applications such as Sprint Navigation, which provides audio and visual turn-by-turn directions, nearly 10 million local listings, and one-click traffic rerouting.

The Opera Browser offers full Internet content and images to handsets. Also available is the on-screen full QWERTY keyboard.

In June 2007, the Mogul Windows Mobile device claimed to be the first EVDO Rev. A-capable handset. The new software for this device is available at http://www.america.htc.com/mogulupdate. 

The new features will include Sprint TV, which offers live TV and video-on-demand with about 50 available channels.

Windows Mobile 6.1, which offers Windows desktop applications such as Microsoft Office and Live Search, will be available for both devices. 

The new software for Touch and the Mogul is available with Sprint’s $99.99 Simply Everything pricing plan.

The devices are sold in Sprint stores, online at http://www.sprint.com and in Sprint business sales channels for $99.99 for the Touch and $299.99 for the Mogul, with a two-year service agreement and a $100 mail-in-rebate.

“Sprint continues to provide upgrades for our devices as a way to enhance the usability, performance and experience for our customers,” Ms. Hahn said. “The goal for Sprint is to continue to provide these as often as we can to ensure customer satisfaction.”