WiMAX non-news of the week: it’s coming

SprintctoI know I can be harsh on the WiMAX front and to be honest, I really want to like it. Why wouldn’t I? Once rolled out, it will offer speeds at least as fast (possibly twice as fast) as EV-DO and HSDPA. Day passes for service should be available as well, but honestly, there’s no reason that current 3G carrier solutions can’t offer the same thing. In fact, I expect them to when WiMAX starts breathing down their necks; that would negate a competitive advanatage.

Again, I really want to like it, which is why I got excited to read this article yesterday. In it, Sprint announced when and where the service will go live. Baltimore gets it in September followed by DC and Chicago in the last quarter of the year. (Let the crickets begin chirping now)

What exactly did we really learn here? The areas that were already WiMAX test beds are graduating to full-service areas. OK, but to be honest, I expected that. What I was hoping for was details on pricing and future markets. There’s no info on pricing yet and as far as future markets after these three, here’s the direct quote: "We’re already looking at other markets to launch after that." Uh… I would hope you are! In fact, I’d rather see where those markets are along with rough timelines for rollout. You know… as in a plan. It could be that one exists and the company isn’t ready to share. I certainly respect that, if that’s the case, but given the on-again, off-again, on-again WiMAX network rollout here, more info is better.

I really want to like WiMAX… really, I do.

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