NEW YORK — Sprint Nextel Corp. plans to start a service this year that will allow customers to make purchases with their mobile phones, ahead of a similar initiative from rivals Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile USA.

Sprint is working with payment networks and handset makers on technology called near-field communication, or NFC, which allows people with smartphones to make purchases by tapping them on or waving them in front of electronic readers in stores, said Kevin McGinnis, vice president of product platforms.

The effort may give Sprint an advantage in attracting new customers and compelling existing ones to upgrade to the tap- and-go handsets. The competing joint venture, known as Isis, said in November its network may not be available to consumers until 2012.

“We intend to make this an open solution where consumers can use their phone in a variety of physical locations,” said McGinnis. “Because we’re allowing other brands and other institutions to participate, they can also tell their consumers that this is available on Sprint.”

— From wire reports