Another Step Closer to WiMax

[Mike Peregrine]

Headline in the paper this morning (http://www.kansascity.com/798/story/609255.html) - Sprint and Clearwire are joining to bring WiMax to the country. Sprint continues to hedge its bets that this is going to be the next revolution in ultra high speed wireless internet. Looks like their venture capital is coming from some pretty impressive players - Google, Intel, Comcast, Time Warner, and Brighthouse.

[Andrew Herron]

This partnership and new company is going to take at least another $5 billion to finish a buildout and even then, do you want to trust a company owned by Sprint AND Comcast?

I've got both right now and I'm certainly not impressed by their offerings. WiMAX looks and sounds great, I just worry about the past trends of these companies involved.

[Mike Peregrine]

Not a Sprint fan, and certainly NOT a Time Warner fan (if they would just give me an HD DVR that works without constantly re-setting, it might be another story).

But I'm definitely a Sprint mobile data fan. Personally, I'm hoping they pull this off. It would be nice to stream hi-res video.

[Steve Polley]

Is this the same venture as Xohm or is this another completely different service they are starting?

[Mike Peregrine]

I think it's the same ... the article refers to the "XOHM WiMAX" package of services.

Lots of info on how the two work here: http://www.xohm.com/

[John Wetter]

Yeah, it's Xohm. Now, if SPrint and Clearwire can just stay together and actually get something done.

[Mike Peregrine]

The venture is at $14.5 bil. (http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/610381.html) now. It's interesting that WiMax equipped computers are to start production this year. It is expected to be available to 120-140 mil. users in the US by 2010.

[Chris Harrell]

Now they are directly competing (http://www.suntimes.com/technology/945795,CST-FIN-wimax13.article) against AT&T and Verizon. Also they mention it could be available in Chicago by the end of the year.

[Ross Kimes]

I like the idea of broadband internet access across the entire country, but I am not sure WiMax is the way to go. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a WiMax connection limited to being in the line of sight of the transmitter?

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

I like the idea of broadband internet access across the entire country, but I am not sure WiMax is the way to go. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a WiMax connection limited to being in the line of sight of the transmitter?

Well, it depends... Estonia has a WiMAX network and the network used here has non line of sight functionality.

Example of our system (http://www.levira.ee/390eng.html)

[J Kinkaid]

wimax will have a 5 gig cap that will make it almost useless for most of us. Why do they call it broadband if they are going to limit it to 5 gigs ? Then again this doesn't just apply to Sprint but also ATT and Verizion who will roll out LTE in 2009.

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

Although not living in U.S, I can say that I have "been there done that" situation. My ISP had 10 GB cap more than a year before adding unlimited plans. Unlimited plans have same download speeds as limited plans here, but lower upload speeds.

[Dick McGowan]

Wimax was officially launched in Baltimore a week or so ago and those who have been using it are pretty impressed. Some good articles:

http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/wifiwimax/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210800558

http://sprintconnection.kansascity.com/?q=node/824