A tipster tells us that Sprint's mobile WiMax Xohm service should be launched in the Baltimore market on October 6. Xohm sales kiosks for the new service should show up that day in the Columbia, Arundel Mills, Harbor Galleria and Marley Station malls. The tipster says that the real introductory date will be September 26 (next Friday). That will be the date of the real fireworks, so that Sprint makes their promise of a Septmeber launch.

On that day, the Xohm website will be updated to show locations, coverage and prices. The company had previously stated they aimed to keep the Xohm monthly price point at around what users pay for terrestrial broadband -- in other words, less than $50. Speeds, as most had expected, should be in the 2-4Mbps range with occasional bursts. Executives have pegged those speeds at closer to 3-5Mbps, and say they've seen speeds as high as 11Mbps when close to towers.

Trouble finding high-bandwidth backhual links, alongside some kinks in the Xohm billing system, resulted in Sprint announcing a major launch delay back in April. The company ultimately struck a significant number of new deals with microwave backhaul operators. Gearmaker Proxim says their microwave gear can offer 200Mbps at 20 miles (30 if you've got enough height), a far cry from the 1.5Mbps provided by a T1.

With billing and backhaul issues sorted out, the launch is now fully greenlit, and the Chicago and DC markets should go live shortly after Baltimore. Boston, Philadelphia and Dallas/Ft. Worth are on deck, with no firm dates. The September 26/October 6 Baltimore launch date coincides with the Mobile Content & Marketing Expo in San Jose. After years of hype (flashback to our 2004 report), it will be nice to finally see something we can really get our hands on.