Sprint Nextel is requiring manufacturers to provide Wi-Fi capabilities in its smartphones, including a version of the BlackBerry Tour that will be released next year. Jeff Clemow, director of business product marketing for Sprint, said the company “is embracing Wi-Fi in all its major devices going forward.” However, no time line was given for manufacturers to comply. The Tour is being launched by Sprint this weekend, with support for CDMA and GSM networks. Industry observers have noted that the anticipated device does not support Wi-Fi. No specific release date for Sprint’s new, Wi-Fi-enabled Tour has been given. ‘Changed Their Tune About Wi-Fi’ Other BlackBerrys, including the Bold for AT&T, do offer Wi-Fi, and AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile USA have been aggressive about offering Wi-Fi. As an example, there are reports that Verizon has privately instructed its device manufacturers that Wi-Fi has to be included in all major smartphones. Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said there

is “no question” that carriers have “changed their tune about Wi-Fi.” At one time, he noted, it was seen as a competitor to 3G, but now some carriers have taken the position that Wi-Fi helps to off-load traffic from their 3G networks. Consumers, he said, “prefer choice.” Greengart said 3G offers consumers widespread coverage, while Wi-Fi can offer faster access. But, he noted, Wi-Fi can “also provide coverage where there is no 3G, and vice versa.” At this point, he said, many consumers “want both, particularly for high-end devices” such as the BlackBerry Tour. WiMAX Next? The move to offer Wi-Fi more widely is part of several new initiatives from Sprint to position itself in the fast-moving wireless market. Some industry observers have suggested that Sprint, whose partner Clearwire is building a a high-speed WiMAX network, may soon begin to require that capability as well. Sprint is also…

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Smartphones Made for Sprint Will Have Wi-Fi Access