Looks like Intel has gotten a huge boost for its efforts to push WiMax as the new wireless standard. Sprint Nextel has announced plans to use that technology to take its cellular networks to the next level. The company aims to be the first to implement fourth generation (4G) mobile technologies in the US. 4G promises faster wireless speeds that can rival that of cable.

Other partners involved in this effort include Motorola and Samsung. Motorola has promised to manufacture phones that will run on both 4G and current networks, while Samsung has committed to providing the equipment necessary to set things up.

Obsolete Out of the Box: I wonder, are manufacturers upgrading mobile devices and networks' functionality so quickly that new units become outdated once you leave fingerprints on them?