Sprint said Thursday that it was making available a PC Card that will connect to its 3G 1xEV-DO network even though that network has not yet been launched.

The company said in a statement that it was selling the AirCard 580 from Sierra Wireless for $299 to business customers. The card will work on the operator''s 3G network when it is launched later this year and also will work on current 1xRTT data networks, according to the company. That network offers speeds of between 50 Kbps and 70 Kbps.

A 1xEV-DO network offers typical speeds of between 300 Kbps and 400 Kbps. Verizon Wireless is well along in its 1xEV-DO network roll-out and Sprint previously announced it expects its network to be available in a few metropolitan areas by the middle of this year and throughout the U.S. by the end of the year.

Sprint said it will provide pricing information for the 1xEV-DO service in the near future.