Sprint Nextel plans to release a software update later today for its HTC Mogul smartphone that will allow the handset to connect to the carrier’s EV-DO Rev. A network. Although Sprint has had its EV-DO Rev. A network up and running for some time now, the carrier has yet to release a compatible handset, only laptop cards.

The carrier promises download speeds on the Rev. A network from 600 kbps to 1,400 kbps, compared with the 400 kbps to 700 kbps speed range with EV-DO Rev. 0. Upload speeds should be from 350 kbps to 500 kbps, up from 50 kbps to 70 kbps.

Sprint says its wireless broadband network covers 234 million people, and that the majority of those have access to EV-DO Rev. A.

A spokeswoman for Sprint said the carrier is waiting for the HTC support site to go live with the update and then Sprint will post a link to it on its site.

Verizon Wireless also offers EV-DO Rev. A laptop cards, but has yet to offer compatible handsets.