(27 July 2007 3:03 pm)

MUMBAI: US based mobile phone company Sprint Nextel Corp. will collaborate with Google Inc. to develop a new mobile internet portal. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In the partnership, Sprint will use some of the company’s known products, including applications like Google Talk instant-messaging, email service Gmail and Google search engine amongst others.

The two companies will also develop new location-based services for corporations, consumers and government customers too. WiMAX will be tested in Baltimore, Chicago and Washington and Sprint Nextel Corp. is hoping to be covering about 100 million users by the end of the year, as its service is expected to launch by spring.

Google enterprise VP and GM Dave Girouard said, "Google shares Sprint’s vision for enhancing the consumer’s mobile lifestyle and is focused on greater access to information through a variety of channels. We look forward to working with Sprint to bring to market a rich and compelling broadband experience for WiMAX customers."

Google itself has plans for becoming a wireless-service provider and has announced its intention of spending to enter a bid for the upcoming auction for the 700-megahertz band spectrum. The partnership with Sprint Nextel is expected to give Google a good understanding of the wireless industry and help it to gain more in the business.

Recently Sprint also announced a 20-year agreement with Clearwire Corp. for building a WiMAX network all across the United States, which is expected to eventually provide coverage to about 300 million users.