Sprint and Intel today said they are forging an alliance to jointly develop WiMAX 802.16e technology, the WiMAX specification now in the standards process that will add mobility to the broadband wireless platform.

While Intel has been active in the WiMAX Forum since its beginnings, the technology has only recently piqued Sprint’s interest. Sprint joined the WiMAX Forum in January, making it the second U.S. wireless carrier--along with Nextel--on the Forum’s roster. The two companies said they would collaborate on 802.16e technical specifications, perform equipment trials and interoperability testing, and investigate potential mobile broadband services and user devices.

Unlike other WiMAX initiatives, though, Sprint’s interest in WiMAX isn’t in the 5.8 GHz unlicensed frequency bands. Instead it’s looking to use the 2.5 GHz spectrum it holds nationwide and over which it played with several broadband wireless technologies.