Sprint XOHM

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

There is a range probably because it will depend on the devices. No different than EVDO, which is as low as $15 for phones.

And you could eventually have many devices on the account - laptop card, car, streaming multimedia player, GPS device, camera, etc.

They also apparently want to get away from contracts, so there might be monthly/weekly/daily/hourly charges. We'll see. The model will eventually be completely different than what were used to for cell service.

The first round is just laptop cards that will likely do EVDO as well, so we'll probably continue to see contracts at first at $50 or $60/month, until they enter the consumer device space.

xrayman · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:49 am Post subject:

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

With WiMAX World happening end of the month, hopefully Sprint will spill all the details.

I do suspect any WiMAX cards that also include EVDO will have the higher rate with contracts, at least for a while. Would be great if they even drop it to $50/month. I'd be surprised if access w/out contracts will be possible with the first 3 pilot cities, but they may do it to attract new users. Existing EVDO card users should just have to do a card upgrade (my speculation). If Sprint drops EVDO to even $50/month, they may get existing EVDO users to upgrade to a WiMAX/EVDO card and attract more new users.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Looks like Clearwire is trialing 'mobile' WiMAX in Seattle. They are using a Motorola card, which is likely not the same card that Sprint will use since it doesn't do EVDO as well. The card is $80 and service is $60/month.

Click here

Sprint would be smart to start offering WiMax/EVDO combo cards at $50/month, even for existing EVDO card users where WiMAX is not planned for a while. They could migrate a lot of existing EVDO users to WiMAX cards (and reward them as early adopters) if they offer WiMAX/EVDO combo at $50 but EVDO only still at $60. Even those not in a WiMAX area will get EVDO cheaper and will then have WiMAX where/when available. Novatel/Sierra/Pantech would shite a brick and be forced to create WiMAX/EVDO combo cards. I've only heard that Samsung is developing a dual card.

Think about it Sprint. You'll get a much higher penetration of WiMAX devices deployed right out the gate, have a potential WiMAX device install base over 1 million before it's even fully launched and encourage (manipulate Very Happy

) EVDO card makers to get into WiMAX. It's a no-brainer.

Verizon/ATT would be forced to lower their 3G rates or lose customers to Sprint. And they still wouldn't be offering two alternatives in one device.

xrayman · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:33 pm Post subject:

It looks like Sprint will be selling WiMAX PC cards and an advanced modem for home networking made by the ZTE Corporation.
(WirelessWeek - July 17, 2007 ) http://www.wirelessweek.com/ZTE_Sprint_Partner_WiMAX.aspx
Could these be WiMAX only devices that will be used with the lower priced WiMAX service? While the Samsung dual card will be sold for use with the higher priced WiMAX / EVDO service. Sprint could market a bundle of services similar to cable. Using the advanced modem for broadband internet and VOIP phone service along with a DBS TV system provided by DirectTV or Dish.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Methinks it would be a mistake for Sprint to release WiMAX-only cards until the coverage is as good as EVDO, which will take years. And the first round won't have handoff between sites. WiMAX only cards will be worthless for travel for at least a year. Hopefully they only focus on dual cards, and transition the existing EVDO card user base to dual cards. Then focus on handling WiMAX-only consumer devices as they become available.

Will be a big disappointment if the trial has WiMAX-only cards and no dual cards ready. It would be like releasing a RevA card that can't do Rev0. I wouldn't bite even when WiMAX makes it to my area, which is slated for next year. A dual card is the only way to go for a couple years.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Looks like Verizon and their partial parent Vodafone in Europe could go to LTE or WiMAX. It's looking more and more like EVDO RevC aka UMB may never happen. Either way, Verizon may not be doing 4G for 3-5 years. It would also seem they would need to buy 700mhz spectrum as I don't think they have enough space in 800/1900mhz spectrum to do 4G while maintaining the CDMA network. Their problem will be that they could only get up to a 24Mhz chunk of 700mhz, probably less. Sprint/Clearwire avg about 100mhz chunk of 2.5Ghz space per market.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=55&objectid=10464841

What's really interesting is that CDMA could go away within 10 years if Verizon goes LTE or WiMAX and Sprint eventually dumps CDMA for all WiMAX. It would seem the direction will be that carriers become primarily wireless data companies and voice (VoIP by then) would just be one of many services on data pipes. And then as (if) CDMA goes away, the 800/1900mhz spectrum will be freed up for 5G. Smile

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

RCR News is reporting that Verizon WILL go to LTE and maybe use WiMAX in certain cases..
http://rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/FREE/70920004/1002

Probably should split to another thread but this pretty much eliminates the possibility of EVDO RevC/UMB, yet Verizon (and Sprint) will likely continue to rollout RevA as it will still be around for many years, probably up to 10 years.

Surprisingly, Qualcomm stock wasn't affected.

The next question, what spectrum will Verizon use? 700Mhz may be sliced into chunks and not allow enough space for 4G. Now we know partly why Verizon is suing the FCC over the auction.

It's years away before anything happens nevertheless.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Sprint WiMAX map of markets coming. Clearwire will be doing several others, not included in the map.

http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/util_get_image/16/0,1425,sz=1&i=169926,00.jpg

It shows Chicago and DC/Baltimore for early 2008 rather than end of 2007. Will the test markets be a little behind schedule?

Fox McCloud · EVDO Junkie Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 618

looks like Ohio gets the special treatment again; Columbus, Cleveland, Ciny, and Toledo covered by 2010....and it looks like there's 2 cities on their map that aren't listed; one appears to be Dayton and the other looks like it could be Bellefontaine, Wapok, or Lima (really hard to tell); Lima is the logical choice....but at the same time, it makes little sense in the overall picture (Of course, Sprint had a special thing for Ohio when it came to EVDO so...*shrug* go figure).

I can't wait to see Clearwire's map; I know they already have coverage in Springfield and Dayton.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Here's a cool WiMAX site that is for engineers and those in the industry. I asked several questions about WiMAX unknowns. If the responder is right, Sprint's first round of WiMAX WILL be truly mobile with handoffs between sites.

http://www.wimax360.com/forum/topic/show?id=610217%3ATopic%3A23718

CraigCraig · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 142

What are the benefits of WiMax over EVDO Rev. A.?

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

First release will supposedly average 2-4Mbps and up to 10Mbps (higher with future versions if they can supply that much to the towers), supposedly better latency, but more importantly, WiMAX will likely be put into many consumer devices like GPS devices, cameras/camcorders, PSP/gameboys, cars, billboards and things that currently have WiFi. You could have 10 or more devices with WiMAX in the future on one account.

There also won't be contracts or monthly accounts required once it kicks into full gear. You will eventually be able to pay-as-you-go if you choose to. It is more open like WiFi and will hopefully get away from the closed cell-based model.

xrayman · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 10:50 am Post subject:

Only a few days away from the upcoming 2007 WiMAX World USA Conference & Expo in Chicago. I anticipate Sprint will release more info at this meeting about the XOHM roll out. Barry West from Sprint is one of the WiMAX World USA Keynotes & General Session Speakers.
http://usa.wimaxworld.com/

3Gstore · EVDO Addict Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 3171

Eric Bangeman of ars technica was among a group of Motorola and Sprint executives, marketing people, analysts, and journalists... taken on a boat ride along the Chicago River to experience Mobile WiMAX (802.16e) publicly demonstrated for the first time on Sprint's WiMAX spectrum, complete with hand-offs between towers.

How fast was it?

What did it feel like?

"Speed aside, the browsing experience was much different than any other mobile broadband I've used. Unlike other wireless services, which feel "laggy" and offer a markedly different experience than a wired connection, the WiMAX demo was more akin to DSL and cable. Latency was good, and, as the Speedtest.net number indicated, speeds were comparable to a decent DSL connection."

The bad news?

"Xohm was originally scheduled to launch in Chicago, Washington, DC, and Baltimore by the end of 2007, but availability has now been pushed back to March or April 2008"

read the full article on ars technica by clicking here.