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WiMax ?


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Sprint, Nextel and Clearwire have joined togather to provide a service they call WiMax. They say it will be available by 2010 and will cover far more and broader areas then WiFi. Anybody heard anything about this proposed new service ? It could be the best thing since sliced bread for the RV'er.

I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth 08' Oliver Legacy Elite HULL NUMBER 0003(sold)

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From the Chicago-Sun Times:

May 13, 2008

BY BRAD SPIRRISON

The "battle lines" are being drawn in the race to provide faster wireless Internet access across Chicago.

 

Technology giants including Comcast, Intel and Google last week committed more than $3 billion to fund the deployment of the WiMAX mobile Internet network in Chicago and other markets. The deal, which merges a unit of Sprint Nextel with Clearwire Corp. and new investors to form a new company called Clearwire, could bring the highly touted XOHM WiMAX mobile network to Chicago and outlying suburban areas by year-end.

 

WiMAX, which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is an emerging telecommunications standard that promises uninterrupted broadband wireless Internet access to subscribers anywhere within a given coverage area. It works for personal computers, mobile phones and other communication devices. WiMAX differs from the commonly used WiFi standard as it provides much broader coverage for access and a better quality of service. AT&T and Verizon Wireless currently offer a competing wireless Internet access to more than 130 million national subscribers and plan to roll out a faster service to compete with WiMAX by 2011.

 

"They are just kind of leapfrogging each other," said Chris O'Brien, a partner with Diamond Management & Technology Consultants. "We have seen a real definition of what the battle lines are going to be in the wireless world."

 

O'Brien, who previously served as chief information officer for the City of Chicago, is interested to see what the company's investors bring to the table in addition to capital.

 

"The really fascinating thing about Clearwater is who is backing it because you can sort of get a sense to what the thinking is," he said.

 

Three cable companies -- Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks -- ponied up a combined $1.7 billion for a minority stake in the company. The conventional wisdom is those companies will want to provide their subscribers with mobile alternatives to land-based access. Intel, which invested $1 billion, makes the computer chips that enable WiMAX access. Google's $500 million commitment will also allow the Internet search giant to develop applications and advertising services within the WiMAX Network.

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Thanks Geri, It looks as though those of us that can arrange to be off of contract and on a monthly basis so we can drop when we are ready, might find a deal with the new CLEARWIRE when it becomes available.

That will likely end the internet providers from attempting to prosecute the motels and other places that advertise "FREE WIFI" to attract customers to their businesses. ( sharing their internet connection )

At this point the internet providers don't seem to worry if you grab a wifi signal as you find it, but they do seem to object to blatant sharing of service with the public and advertising it on bill boards. They seem to view it as advertising to the public that they ( the motel, ect. ) will assist in the theft of services.

It will also likely put an end to MickeyDee's charging to your credit card to access the internet.

I wonder how they will try to control this new wide area service so they may charge all who access it ?

I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth 08' Oliver Legacy Elite HULL NUMBER 0003(sold)

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