In anticipation of the growing footprint of its WiMAX (4G) service, the beleaguered mobile operator Sprint launched a 3G/4G dual-mode device, likely to go on sale on Dec. 21. The Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem U300, made by Franklin Wireless will cost $150 and will work with […] Read more »
Today Clearwire said it had completed the transactions that will allow it to build the first nationwide WiMAX network, to be known as Clear. CEO Ben Wolff took a few minutes to answer some questions about what the upcoming service will look like, how Clearwire might […] Read more »
Clearwire said today that it has closed several transactions that will allow it to build out a nationwide WiMAX network, including gaining control of Sprint’s Xohm network and a $3.2 billion investment from several large companies. These deals were announced in May, and despite the downturn […] Read more »
Eli’s Dirty Jokes — an animated series that brings to life jokes told by 79-year-old Eli Buchalter, the accountant for web studio GoPotato.tv, which produces the show — will begin airing on Cinemax. Read more »
The FCC today opened up the wireless communications market with its approval of a plan to allow independent devices to operate in the spectrum between digital TV channels; it also OKd the merger of spectrum between Sprint and Clearwire as well as Verizon’s $28.1 billion deal to buy Alltel, creating two new wireless networks backed, in part, by Google. Read more »
Today Intel Corp. said it would add HSPA functionality to its Moorsetown chips slated to hit mobile Internet devices in 2009 or 2010. Coming from a firm that has spent billions pushing WiMAX the news reads like an admission of doubt for WiMAX, but it’s really just a recognition that wireless broadband is so central to the user experience. Read more »
The worsening financial environment could slow the deployment of the Clearwire nationwide network. The Sprint-Clearwire joint venture should close before the end of the year, but building a nationwide network might take longer if debt stays expensive. Read more »
Alright, so we wouldn’t exactly call the wireless broadband standard WiMAX “hip.” But it’s gaining traction with the alternative/disruptive companies and carriers, while the competing standard LTE (Long Term Evolution) is being taken up by the dominant cell phone companies. That’s a general overview of the […] Read more »
Will personal cell towers replace the giant monstrosities currently sitting on rooftops and beside highways? Manish Singh, a VP with Continuous Computing, says that may be the case with the 4G buildout. He spoke with me about the company’s new line of software and hardware for […] Read more »
The all-out war between telephone companies and cable companies is now going to be fought on a whole new front: wireless. Last week, Cox confirmed that it was getting into the wireless business, joining cable industry peers. Patrick Esser, president at Cox, revealed wireless at the […] Read more »
We are working hard to prepare for our Mobilize 08 conference scheduled to be held on September 18 in San Francisco. You already know about Rich Miner (Google), Padmasree Warrior (Cisco Systems) and John Roese (Nortel). Today we are adding more awesome speakers to our growing […] Read more »
On the Internet, you can never be too fast or carry too much data, which is why Sprint is crowing about its plan to convert its core network to deliver data at 40 Gbps using the 40 Gigabit Ethernet technologies. The carrier will use Cisco and […] Read more »
Speculation that Google is working with French ISPs to build out a Gallic WiMax network has folks at Fierce Wireless wondering if Google may push open broadband overseas by investing in WiMax deployments. They point to a report in a French paper that says Google has […] Read more »
Sprint and Samsung have declared mobile WiMax to be ready for launch in Baltimore and Washington D.C. later this year. The two firms said on Thursday their trials met Sprint’s technical specifications, which means mobile WiMax is now out of the gate in an urban area. […] Read more »
You can all Xohm now — and call it Clearwire. The much talked about WiMAX joint venture between Clearwire and Sprint Nextel is going to happen and the news is going to come as soon as tomorrow. The combined company is going to be worth $12 […] Read more »
By the look of things, you’d think U.S. consumers were demanding ways to watch TV on their mobile phones. But studies show, again and again, they’re not. But a few equipment vendors in the WiMax space are throwing the facts under a truck and rolling out […] Read more »
I’m getting ready to hit Sin City for next week’s CTIA Wireless show, from April 1-3, so for those of you not planning to attend — or who will attend but plan to gamble away your expense money — here’s your cheat sheet for the show. […] Read more »
WiMAX in the U.S. has been a bit on the ropes, but it isn’t dead yet. And if you believe The Wall Street Journal, a miraculous comeback maybe in the offering, thanks to some deep-pocketed cable companies’ willingness to write megamillion-dollar checks. Read more »
Russians, like many other emerging telecom markets seem to be quite enamored with WiMAX wireless broadband technology. In past three months, three different WiMAX operators have raised close to $75 million in venture investments. The latest to get a bag full of VC cash is MetroMax, […] Read more »
When it comes to wireless broadband, WiMAX is one technology that has some bad juju. You have two of its premier proponents in the U.S., Clearwire and Sprint, riding leaky boats in rocky financial seas. You have LTE as a potential competitor, thanks to backing from […] Read more »
SAI: Google StreetView Competitor Everyscape Gets $7M News.com: In Tech Support Obama Beats Clinton BusinessWeek: Clearwire and Sprint: Squeezed Together? Fortune: Yahoo! Playing for Time in Microsoft Bid WSJ: Microsoft Expands Online Services FT: Vonage Negotiating with Bondholders to Stave off Bankruptcy Read more »
The Street.com: Sprint, Clearwire Near WiMax Deal with $2B from Intel BroadbandReports: RIM Sues Motorola Over Patent Abuse ArsTechnica: Latest Google Android SDK a Big Improvement SmartHouse: Blu-Ray Xbox 360 planned TechDirt: Court Scrutinizes Software Patents Again Engadget: Verizon Offering Unlimited Plans Read more »
DigitalBridge Communications, a provider of WiMAX-based broadband-to-rural communities, announced a $20 million Series B round of financing Monday, showing that some investors believe there might be gold to mine in them thar rural broadband markets. The new funding (which PE Hub says is closer to $23 […] Read more »
After talking earlier this week about the speed bumps that U.S. WiMAX deployment faces, it only seemed proper to take a ride in the WiMAX-equipped vehicles that Motorola and Intel revved up at CES. I will geek out a bit after the jump, but the bottom […] Read more »
Frontline Wireless’ decision to bow out of the 700 MHz auction proves that in the Wild West of spectrum speculation, only the bold need apply. Frontline dropped out of the auction after finding it difficult to raise enough money to cover a $128 million up-front payment […] Read more »
Intel Executive VP Sean Maloney, at CES here in Las Vegas, said the company will have a “middle-of-[this]-year-release” for its WiMAX PC Card, a device that could help accelerate end users’ embrace of the nascent wireless technology. Despite some recent bumps in the road for WiMAX, […] Read more »
One of the promotional gimmicks planned for next week’s CES show are rides around Vegas in a car with mobile WiMAX Internet access, courtesy of WiMAX backers Intel, Clearwire and Motorola. While the demonstration of real mobile WiMAX is a big step forward for the nascent […] Read more »
[qi:022] The Wall Street Journal’s report about Google’s big mobile plans is one that covers all bases, and leaves you where you started from: scratching your head. The Journal says Google may or may not buy a carrier; invest in a carrier; partner with a carrier, […] Read more »
[qi:___wimax] The WiMAX buildout took somewhat of a setback today, when Sprint Nextel (S) and Clearwire (CLWR) decide to not pursue their plans for joint development of a nationwide WiMAX network. The Wall Street Journal reports that the reasons for dropping the plan are “the complexities […] Read more »
Sprint Nextel (S) and Clearwire (CLWR), two companies that are betting the farm on building out WiMAX networks, are getting no love from Wall Street analysts. Sprint just reported a disastrous quarter, and the continuing decline in revenues and subscribers might result in lower spending on […] Read more »