Hasta La Gadget!

We’d figured that Sprint and partner Clearwire were going to have a devil of a time rolling out WiMAX this year in New York City; urban canyons are always tricky, of course, but their oddball 2500MHz spectrum allocation isn’t the best at penetrating buildings and other structures, either. On that note, we’d been tipped earlier this week that a reader was seeing some weak WiMAX reception for the first time on his EVO 4G near Coney Island (see a shot after the break), and now, we’ve been able to independently confirm it on one of our own units — in saturated Midtown, no less — though we weren’t able to do much with it beyond get a notification that a “4G network is available.” Clearly this isn’t ready for primetime use, but it’s a good sign that these guys have officially started lighting up a few cells here and there. 1080p streaming, anyone?

[Thanks, r0ckstar_23]

Update: We’re getting tipped that folks are seeing some occasional 4G action in LA and San Francisco, so keep a close eye on those EVOs!

Continue reading Sprint’s WiMAX service teases EVO 4G-toting New Yorkers (update: LA and SF, too)

Sprint’s WiMAX service teases EVO 4G-toting New Yorkers (update: LA and SF, too) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Without going into much detail, Clearwire mentioned on its first quarter earnings call today that WiMAX-capable phones bearing the Clear name from both Samsung and HTC are “expected” to be available before 2010’s out, which is a pretty optimistic affirmation of comments the company made earlier this year. It describes the Sammy as “an Android-based 3G/4G/WiFi device optimized for heavy video and video communications use,” while the HTC’s language leaves out the platform — it’s just called “a 3G/4G/WiFi enabled phone,” leading us to believe that this puppy could very well be running Windows Phone 7. If that’s the case, we can understand why HTC wouldn’t want Clearwire spilling the beans since they’ve yet to officially announce any plans for jumping into the WinPho 7 game. In fact, Clearwire went so far as to say on the call that the HTC device would not be the EVO 4G, so yeah, we can totally buy that there’s some Microsoft action going on behind the scenes here.

As for Clearwire’s health, it has seen a 94 percent year-over-year boost in total WiMAX subscribers for a total just shy of a million — and interestingly, the overwhelming majority of those are retail, not wholesale, meaning that folks are running Clear-branded equipment. We expect that to change dramatically once Sprint’s Overdrive gets a little more penetration and the EVO comes into play, but for now, some 814,000 customers are familiar with the Clear logo. They lost a hair over $94 million in the quarter, but hey, in the scheme of things, that’s peanuts — building out networks isn’t a cheap endeavor, after all.

Clearwire promises Clear-branded HTC and Samsung WiMAX phones this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Clearwire  | Email this | Comments

You probably have yet to experience its original incarnation, but with mere months left before the IEEE finally decides on the standard for the improved 802.16m version of WiMAX, a group of companies has finally stepped forward to support the new protocol, and solidify that nice, marketable “WiMAX 2” name while they’re at it. Dubbed the WiMAX 2 Collaboration Initiative (or WCI for short), Alvarion, Beceem, GCT Semiconductor, Intel, Motorola, Samsung, Sequans, XRONet, ZTE and ITRI intend to, well, collaborate to make sure the new protocol can compete with LTE, while our old friends Sprint and Clearwire — who are keeping their options open in the 4G wars — simply cheer them on. Hit the source link for invigorating quotes from each company involved.

Intel, Motorola, Samsung and more join forces to support WiMAX 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Business Wire  | Email this | Comments

Clearwire on Monday expanded its 4G mobile broadband service into Houston, Texas. The company’s Clear WiMAX offering is now available throughout the greater Houston area, Clearwire said. John Smith has been named general manager for the Houston market.

“Clear is thrilled to bring to Houston residents, businesses and visitors an Internet experience similar to what they’re used to having at home or the office, anywhere around town or on the go,” Smith said in a statement.

Much of the coverage will overlap with the 4G network being rolled out with Sprint, which has assumed an ownership stake in Clearwire.

Clear prices typically run $30 per month for home Internet service, and $40 per month for mobile Internet, or $10 for a day pass with a WiMAX-enabled device. For a limited time, users in Houston can get mobile Internet for $15 per month for two months after a $50 service credit and a two-year contract if they sign up online at www.clear.com. Other bundles start at $55 per month.