Sprint Spark now available in 11 markets

With peak data speeds as fast as 60Mbps, Sprint has added Sprint Spark to 6 more markets to bring the total to 11 that are currently offering it. The tri-band LTE system works with the circuitry on compatible handsets to figure out what task you are using your phone for, and instantly decides which of three LTE pipelines to use. After the new additions, markets with the service include Austin, Texas; Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Fort Worth, Texas; Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Antonio, Texas and Tampa, Fla. By the end of 2014, 100 million Americans will have access to the service and 100 of the nation's top markets will have Sprint Spark service added over the next three years.

Right now, the Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, LG G2, Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 and the HTC One max will work with Spint Spark. Soon, the Nexus 5 will be added to the Sprint Spark equipment line-up along with the LG G Flex (which has yet to be launched on the carrier) and the Netgear LTE Gateway 6100D wireless router. All Sprint Spark devices can be used with the just announced Framily plan which allows you and a group of buddies to combine as many as 10 lines in one plan.

The faster data speeds are the result of Sprint's Network Vision, which is a fancy term for initiatives that led to upgrades of the operator's 3G pipeline while 4G LTE was put in place. Sprint is also using its 800MHz spectrum for 3G and 4G LTE, offering better in-building performance. The entire Network Vision program will be done by the middle of this year. And Sprint's Virgin Mobile, will be the first pre-paid carrier to offer a Sprint Spark supported device with the Netgear Mingle Mobile Hotspot. It can be used with Virgin's Broadband2Go. For $25, the plan gives you 1.5GB of data monthly, with 6GB of data costing $55 a month.

source: Sprint