PC World (and others) are reporting that Sprint's WiMax subsidiary, ClearWire, has decided that Portland, OR, will be the second city in the U.S. to enjoy the wide area wireless broadband service called WiMax on a commercial basis. Sprint's WiMax service has been available to Portland residents, at $25 per month. That is $20 per month less expensive than Sprint's WiMax offering in Baltimore, MD. (There are a range of pricing options and associated services.) The service, which is said to "harmonize" Clearwire's offering with that of Sprint's other WiMax subsidiary, Xohm, will be the platform for 4G wireless services as well as wireless delivery of DSL speeds to portable and desktop computers.

The low entry price should attract a significant number of new subscribers and should make Portland a showcase for services that seamlessly extend desktop services to wireless subscribers.