Bye bye WiMAX, Nokia targets LTE in 2010
Well folks, it was fun while it lasted — sort of. Back in January Nokia swiftly and quietly pulled the plug on its N810 WiMAX Edition, one of the first portable WiMAX devices to reach market. Speculation pointed to the ridiculously slow roll out of the US WiMAX network as one of the main factors behind the decision, though Nokia made no public statement regarding the matter. This left many wondering if the company had abandoned WiMAX development altogether and recent statements from a Nokia executive might suggest the Finnish manufacturer and WiMAX just aren’t going to happen. Specifically, “WiMAX has some place in the market, but we do believe it’s a niche play,” doesn’t exactly leave much open to interpretation. Instead, Nokia is looking at LTE as its future high-speed data technology of choice and seemingly already has compatible devices in the works. In fact, senior manager of technology marketing at Nokia James Harper stated that Nokia intends to release LTE devices as soon as next year. Mobile phones? Internet Tablets? Laptops perhaps? Your guess is as good as ours for the time being. As for Sprint and Clearwire, it’s safe to say that they will be looking elsewhere for WiMAX device partners because Nokia’s ship has sailed.
Well nokia’s phones are not that great design wise so …
Well nokia’s phones are not that great design wise so …
It would be cool if it did venture out to laptops & tablets
BG YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! You mention this “development” yet you fail to mention that Nokia is already working with VZW on an exclusive 4G device to launch in 2010 link here
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10468078/1/nokia-verizon-plan-exclusive-4g-device.html
Do you and engadget mobile work in the same office? You guys have the same articles everyday. Getting bored of reporting here.
later sprint, you are done
What happens when Verizon, US Cellular, etc. go to LTE and shut down their 2G/3G CDMA service? Does Sprint plan on expanding their WiMax service to a national level? Sprint depends on the CDMA carriers that actually do have national coverage (ie not roaming/off-network) in rural areas. Or is Sprint going to take the Nextel approach and not expand the coverage?
I realize that this shutdown is long in the future, but it should be something they are thinking about when going it alone.
I really would like to see them expand their coverage and really give the big 2 a run for their money; time will tell.
CDMA for Verizon will not be shut down anytime soon. LTE is just for higher speed data for now.
I’m not really a Nokia fan but I guess it’s good for VZW. Better then those LG phones I say. LOL
I don’t think CDMA will die, it’ll sit around like TDMA did for a while.
This is not good news for Sprint or its users over the long term.
How is this “bad news for Sprint or its users over the long term”? Some of you need to stop falling for these baited articles. Wimax is already live in the US and 100 other countries. When Sprint decided to go CDMA in 1996, the critics were saying the same thing back then, now CDMA is the superior network in the US.
For the record, Time Warner (the worlds 3rd largest media and entertainment conglomerate) is backing Wimax. I’d take Time Warner over Nokia any day.
Lastly, The Sprint Corporation was founded in 1898 by Cleyson Leroy Brown and Carlos Florendo, Jr. under the name of the “Brown Telephone Company” in the small town of Abilene, Kansas. Sprint is an ICON, despite what some are saying, Sprint is NOT folding.
Wimax is live the US? it it is in two test markets, a year behind schedule, and stalled.
Two weeks ago Time Warner is eliminated 1,250 jobs, and recorded a quarterly loss of $16 billion specifically tied to its wimax problems.
I dint see anyone mentioning Sprint is folding, but they have fired a lot of their engineering and infrastructure maintenance group, and their deep cash flow problems will mean even slower than the already behind movement on wimax.
Wimax is dead on arrival. Every other Carrier is going LTE. Why dont you ask Toshiba and the HD DVD Camp what happens to your business when every other company hops on another competing technologies bandwagon.
Site other sources people. Ya’ll looking biased if every source is BGR(whose only love is Apple/ATT). http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/03/06/portland-non-residents-rejoice-clearwires-wimax-service-to-exp/
Don’t count Sprint/WiMax out yet.
Is Verizon testing out LTE this year or launching it.
Ken read your sources. it makes you look silly.
The article you cited says Washington DC is slated for 2010. That is excellent news…. until you realize that Washington DC was slated for 2007 according to the very source you used, engadget).
Over TWO tears ago, Jan 07 in engadget:
“Sprint’s been rolling this whole WiMAX idea around for quite some time, but it finally looks like all the pieces are actually coming together. The firm chose CES to announce that Chicago and Washington, D.C. should get that coveted 4G service “by year-end 2007,”
“by year-end 2007, with a larger rollout encompassing at least 100 million people by year-end 2008.”
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/sprint-announces-large-scale-wimax-rollout-starts-with-chicago/
The repetition of vapor ware claims made over two years ago makes current claims less credible, not more credible.
engadgetmobile reported Clearwire would is going to have 10 markets this year with another 10 in the 1st half of next year. WiMax is loosing steam but still has a leg up on the comp. How vzw executes thier LTE plan and and att ramps up the thier ramped up GSM plans is the kicker, we’re also waiting on t mo U.S. to say which 4G platform it’s adopting
thanks Louie. That’s all I’m saying. Some people are so ready to see Sprint fail. I say we need more competition for better service & rates. Sprint stated different from others(CDMA while others TDMA)& still is trying to be innovative. http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/wp-mobile.php?p=13968
These are precarious times but what Sprint/Clearwire do need to ramp things up, getting a national picture is what’s needed and I do believe this can change once it has an actual handset and not a tablet
DOWN WITH WIMAX LTE ALL DAY BABY ALL DAY!!!
@ PN2
You obviously have no idea how big Time Warner is, 1,250 is nothing (it is for those laid off). http://wrightreports.ecnext.com/coms2/reportdesc_COMPANY_887317105
Every company has had layoffs and lost revenue, your point is baseless.
Also, Wimax is only being tested huh? Is that why a USB modem with Dual EVDO/Wimax is being sold by Sprint and has been available since December… http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/DisplayPhones?phoneSKU=FW300DOWMX
“Clearwire plans to launch its WiMax wireless broadband service in at least nine more markets around the U.S. this year and to reach as many as 120 million people by the end of 2010, the company said Thursday as it disclosed its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2008.”
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/160800/clearwire_aims_to_reach_120m_people_in_2010.html
Here is more information for you…
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/06/portland-non-residents-rejoice-clearwires-wimax-service-to-exp/
@ PN2
You obviously have no idea how big Time Warner is, 1,250 is nothing (it is for those laid off). http://wrightreports.ecnext.com/coms2/reportdesc_COMPANY_887317105
Every company has had layoffs and lost revenue, your point is baseless.
Also, Wimax is only being tested huh? Is that why a USB modem with Dual EVDO/Wimax is being sold by Sprint and has been available since December… http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/DisplayPhones?phoneSKU=FW300DOWMX
“Clearwire plans to launch its WiMax wireless broadband service in at least nine more markets around the U.S. this year and to reach as many as 120 million people by the end of 2010, the company said Thursday as it disclosed its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2008.”
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/160800/clearwire_aims_to_reach_120m_people_in_2010.html
Thanks Informed, it still doesn’t bode well that Nokia is saying what they say about this “niche” thing that isn’t worth making devices for
You’re welcome Don Louie, by the way, since when did BGR start moderating comments?… I posted a comment over 1/2 an hour ago, it is still waiting “moderation”