Sprint announced today that it is extending its lead with 4G service deployments by announcing additional cities that will receive 4G service in 2009.

If all goes as planned, the cities to be added during 2009 include:

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Chicago, Illinois
• Dallas, Texas
• Fort Worth, Texas
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Portland, Oregon
• Seattle, Washington

Despite its poor fourth quarter earnings, Sprint is moving forward with its plans to deliver 4G WiMax. Verizon Wireless has shared future plans for Long Term Evolution (LTE), which directly competes with WiMax.  Testing of LTE has begun in Minneapolis, Columbus and Northern New Jersey. Additionally, the company is testing the product in Budapest, Duesseldorf and Madrid in Europe.