At last, WiMax is here—well, "here" meaning Baltimore, that is. Still, the oft-delayed launch gives us an intriguing glimpse at how Sprint's high-speed Xohm service—which you can get without a contract—will work.

Sprint claims that Xohm users in Baltimore can expect download speeds of anywhere between 2-4 Mbps, with bursts up to 10 Mbps—equivalent to DSL and cable-modem speeds.

That much we knew; what's interesting, however, is that Sprint is offering its Xohm service without a contract, starting at $25/month for use with a home modem (effectively replacing your existing broadband service) or $30/month with a laptop broadband card.

There's also a $10 "day pass," as well as a $50/a month "Pick 2" plan, which lets you use two Xohm devices (such as a home modem and a broadband card) under the same plan.

Hardware options for Xohm are pretty limited for now: A Xohm home modem (which you can connect to a Wi-Fi router) goes for $79, while a Xohm ExpressCard is available for $59. Coming soon: a Xohm USB adapter (no pricing details yet), as well as laptops with built-in WiMax and the previously announced Nokia N810 Internet Tablet. There's also talk of a dual-mode EV-DO/WiMax broadband card that'll roam between the two networks.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with the Xohm service plans—especially the "no contract" part. As it stands, the plans are similar to what you'd expect from a Wi-Fi hotspot service—which is pretty much how Sprint is pitching Xohm. That said, I wouldn't mind a free home Xohm modem; after all, cable companies don't charge for the modem when you add broadband service.

Also, I'm curious to read the first real-world reviews of Xohm, especially in terms of its reliability as an at-home broadband service. If it's dependable—and fast—I'd be interested in switching myself, once Xohm makes its way to New York.

Unfortunately, there's no clear indication on when that'll happen. For now, Sprint's Xohm site says that the service is coming to Washington, D.C. and Chicago "soon," while Dallas-Fort Worth, Boston, Providence, and Philadelphia are "in the works." Given that Sprint had been hoping to launch Xohm commercially back in April—five months ago—we could be in for a long wait.

So, what do you think—would you consider switching to the Xohm WiMax service when (and if) it arrives in your neighborhood? Or are you happy sticking with cable or DSL?

Related:
Sprint Xohm Web site