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Sprint and Clearwire Promises WiMax Will Be Totally Open, Can Replace Your ISP
In its filing to the FCC oh-so-politely asking for the okay to merge Sprint's and Clearwire's spectrum assets into the WiMax monolith New Clearwire (helpfully poked through by Ars), they make a lot of groovy promises to stoke the FCC's approval stamp into action. Like it'll be totally open: "New Clearwire will permit consumers to use any lawful device that they want so long as it is compatible" and you can "download and use any software applications, content, or services" as long they're not illegal or mucking up the network. And they're promising to cover 140 million people in the US in 30 months with claims of sustained speeds of 6Mbps downlink, 3Mbps up. Why's this cool?
As Ars points out, it seems to be the "third pipe" many hoped that the 700MHz auction would deliver (before Verizon snapped up the open access C block)--that is a third, totally open broadband alternative to cable and DSL that would provide some competition and shake up the established players.
New Clearwire's WiMax network will also be available for "non-exclusive" wholesale, meaning anyone can buy resell Clearwire's WiMax services under their own brand--basically as an MVNO--which Sprint, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks have already signed up for, with the cable companies interested in offering quadruple play services (cable, internet, phone, wireless internet). Course, all this still depends on WiMax getting off the ground and then not getting trounced by LTE. [Ars]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Leonard Nimrod
Posted 11:10 AM 13/6/08
All their cell towers should be made in Voltrons.
Leonard Nimrod
vagrant
Posted 11:05 AM 13/6/08
I say welcome to any wireless alternatives and welcome to LTE when it rolls around. Saturate the market and let the consumer sort it out.
vagrant
gamecrazychris
Posted 11:35 AM 13/6/08
But why did it have to be with Sprint! I don't care how nice it is, I've agreed with myself and I'm never working with those jerks ever again.
gamecrazychris
MagnoliaBoy
Posted 11:27 AM 13/6/08
God I love the free market system. Can you imagine what the big players would have to do to compete?
MagnoliaBoy
pdditty
Posted 11:21 AM 13/6/08
Replace my ISP for 6Mbps down and 3Mbps up??? I'll just wait for FIOS.
pdditty
strider_mt2k
Posted 12:03 PM 13/6/08
They talk a good game right now.
We'll see how reality stacks up.
strider_mt2k
DustyButt
Posted 12:01 PM 13/6/08
@gamecrazychris: I say the same damn thing about Concast.
DustyButt
Gaussian
Posted 12:36 PM 13/6/08
@strider_mt2k: I think it's more that they are giddy with their newfound cash and have the eyes of dreamers. They'll probably hemorrhage cash for a while and then run back into the arms of the Evil Empire.
Gaussian
matt buchanan
Posted 1:08 PM 13/6/08
@pdditty: It's faster than what a lot of the country's getting.
matt buchanan
fishbutt
Posted 2:09 PM 13/6/08
Yeah, with Sprint's 5gb cap and those speeds, you should be able to hit the cut-off wall sooner and faster! Notice all the companies who've signed up already are the ones who are bandwidth nazis and notorious cappers? Meh. Watch Best Buy and Walfart sign up, then all the wimax players will be on the "companies we love to hate" list.
fishbutt
utube2007
Posted 2:04 PM 13/6/08
Whats with the powerranger's megazord, what does that have to do with Sprint and Clearwire
utube2007
amw1972
Posted 3:53 PM 13/6/08
having experienced the wonders of Clearwire while on vacation in Idaho. I must say I can't wait til WiMax goes nationwide. Nothing beats just plug the WiMax "modem" into the wall, and ethernet to the computer...and away it goes.
It was as fast as if not faster than the broadband I use at home (timewarner you suck!!) Now imagine having a card for your laptop and be able to access WiMax ANYWHERE!!!!
amw1972
odnet
Posted 3:23 PM 13/6/08
thats better than what timewarner offers me right now for 50 a month. So bring it.
odnet
AndyMac
Posted 3:23 PM 13/6/08
I just want to know if this means I can get "real" internet here in the sticks. Paying $85/month for 768/512K sucks.
Will this be faster and cheaper?
AndyMac
dancinbojangles
Posted 3:15 PM 13/6/08
I don't see how Verizon having the spectrum makes 700mhz any less viable as a "third pipe." It's not like the first and second pipes are run by charitable, egalitarian companies either.
dancinbojangles
Wubbytoes
Posted 5:40 PM 13/6/08
@utube2007: I believe that is actually the defender of the universe, Voltron.
I think Gizmodo should use Voltron pics as much as possible.
Wubbytoes
sandmanfvr
Posted 10:34 PM 13/6/08
WHAT is Voltron? Google it, kids these days.....
This is all good, WiMax and all, till the fucking CAP the downloads.
sandmanfvr
utube2007
Posted 10:32 PM 13/6/08
@Wubbytoes: What the hell is Voltron
utube2007
phi
Posted 10:58 PM 13/6/08
I really wonder if they're gonna block ports though. Like, can I run a web server with that 3mbit up and not have to map to some weird port #?
phi
N@tedog
Posted 10:55 PM 13/6/08
I love Voltron but there is no way 5 kitty cats took up enough room to form into this huge beast. And if ISPs are the limbs, who's the head? Please don't say 'the government'.
N@tedog
uberfu
Posted 12:14 AM 14/6/08
And sorry - but 6Mbps - unless it's $20 cheaper and a hell of a lot more stable - is not worth me switching over_
uberfu
uberfu
Posted 12:06 AM 14/6/08
Wimax - LTE
BluRay - HD DVD
didn't we just go thru one of these battles?
uberfu
jchasse
Posted 11:40 PM 13/6/08
Dynatherms Connected! Infracells Up! Megathrusters Are Go! Let's Go Voltron Force!
jchasse
jchasse
Posted 11:39 PM 13/6/08
Form Blazing Sword!
jchasse
DashTheHand
Posted 11:26 PM 13/6/08
Dude, I still have an original die-cast Voltron on a shelf at home. And yea, it can separate into the 5 cats and back.
DashTheHand
OtterKing
Posted 12:25 AM 14/6/08
@phi: why would you want to host a wireless web server?
OtterKing
ChaunceyAmycus
Posted 1:51 AM 14/6/08
Google will be press releasing a comment complaing that they are the taint of wimax and feel they are clearly the red lion
ChaunceyAmycus
falandil
Posted 1:59 AM 14/6/08
I'd take it, it's gotta be faster than what I have. (768/128.) Then again, I could also get FIOS if I wanted, so maybe I'd go with that instead.
falandil
HeartBurnKid
Posted 1:58 AM 14/6/08
@utube2007: You fail.
HeartBurnKid
G2GdoB2B
Posted 3:45 AM 14/6/08
Looks like Sprint and Clearwire are trying to get people to accept WiMax as a true competitor. Most people think of it as LTE's little brother. If it's true that LTE supporters advertise higher speeds, etc. We are still years from seeing any relevant progress in LTE.
In this article [www.internetevolution.com] they discuss why LTE will survive and WiMax won't. And recently Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent made declarations that they support WiMax - but at least Alcatel-Lucent also support LTE. Hmmm!!
G2GdoB2B
R-R
Posted 5:56 AM 14/6/08
Do they guarantee net neutrality too? and a free Popsicle?
R-R