Sprint PCS to focus on Wi-Fi; Cingular's new-term speeds are slow: Alan Reiter rounds up a few recent articles and insights, and points out that because Sprint PCS isn't planning on deploying high-speed 3G for the next year or two -- they told me weeks ago that their 1xEv-Dv tests were still in the lab -- and Cingular's EDGE upgrade only brings their network to low 100 Kbps at best, that Verizon Wireless will rule the roost with 1xEvDO.

Verizon Wireless just rolled out their first commercial (i.e., they charge you) deployment of 3G in Washington, D.C., for $80 per month for unlimited use of a network that should offer hundred of Kbps, although under widescale use, those numbers will need to be confirmed.

When I spoke to Cingular a few weeks ago, they were gung-ho on EDGE and calling it next generation, but as Alan points out, 100 Kbps is the average speed one will get from EDGE. With the right pricing plan, this is full of good utility -- I'm not knocking that speed. But it's not broadband and it's not 3G. Cingular said EDGE will be widely deployed within six months.

Given that T-Mobile has no real 3G strategy and neither does Nextel, and AT&T Wireless was forced into a commitment to five cities by January 1, 2005, to avoid defaulting on a debt obligation, Verizon Wireless might wind up turning its 3G lead into a real advantage. If they're the only one offering 3G, they might have a near-term business model, extracting the maximum return for an early adopter audience.