Phoenix area to be test site for fastest wireless

PHOENIX — The Phoenix area soon will become the nation's first and only test site for the fastest wireless technology entering the marketplace, a leap in cellular and Internet service that could drive down prices for consumers.

The technology includes seamless movie streaming on mobile devices, multiple-player gaming on phones and crystal-clear videoconferencing.

Wireless Internet-service provider Clearwire will start the tests this fall and hopes to offer the service throughout the Phoenix area next year.

The tests are part of intense competition between Clearwire and its competitors to provide fourth-generation, long-term-evolution technology. The technology is expected to provide download and upload speeds equal to cable Internet and exponentially faster than the third-generation technology now used by cellular service providers.