Sprint to Boost Corporate Data Services

BetaNews has learned that Sprint PCS will announce on Monday plans to expand its Data Link service starting in August. The service allows corporate clients to make a VPN connection to their networks and access applications securely over Sprint's wireless network.

Some of the enhancements planned are static IP addresses. In the past, Sprint PCS would only give dynamic IPs, which caused problems for companies with applications that required a non-changing IP. Although customers have long asked for the feature, it was not possible until network upgrades were complete.

Also coming to Sprint's Data Link is hosted user authentication, as well as an option for customers to deploy the service for point-of-sale operations. Data Link could be used as a backup to landline services, or be used as a mobile solution for businesses without a fixed location. Pricing would be based on usage.

The wireless VPN service additions come as Sprint begins its rollout of the high-speed EV-DO network this month. Sprint hopes to have "wireless broadband" in 60 cities by next year, and follows Verizon's EV-DO rollout that started last year.

"The EV-DO service launch increases the ways Sprint customers can connect when mobile and augments a unique remote access service portfolio consisting of the nationwide PCS 1xRTT network and more than 19,000 Wi-Fi access points in prime locations," Len Lauer, president and COO of Sprint, said of the network upgrades.

Wireless data customers already represent 10 percent of Sprint's quarterly revenue, and the company hopes that the new services will continue that growth.