Sprint said to be cooking up a tri-mode cocktail; WiMAX, WiFi, CDMA handset
Many people have wondered aloud what Sprint’s next big move might be after the Pre jumps off this weekend. The Palm Eos? Perhaps, but it looks like the struggling carrier might have something even more exciting in its bag within the next year or so. Market analysis firm SmarTrend is reporting that an unnamed Sprint spokesperson revealed a tri-mode handset coming down the pipeline sometime in 2009/2010. Said phone will be sporting CDMA, WiFi and WiMAX compatibility, which would provide a healthy mix of CDMA coverage and beastly data speeds where WiMAX is available. Analysts guess believe this upcoming tri-mode beast may be Android-powered, though we have yet to see anything substantiate that claim. As Sprint continues to expand WiMAX coverage and tout “the first wireless 4G network” in commercials, it would indeed be nice to see a handset emerge with WiMAX compatibility before the year is out. We shall see.
Thanks, fresh!
Isn’t ATT already using wiMax for backhaul now or they tested it, something like that. LTE will be great when it gets here, WiMax is up, running and growing
I’m not siding with anyone but didn’t Sprint say they are not ruling out LTE?
WiMax should be good and available in all Sprint markets at some point. Personally, LTE, WiMax, it’s all good since I live in a major metro city.
@ informed
You’re not that bright are you? You keep thinking that WiMAX will cover the entire country because it wont. Good luck with roaming from town to town. Trust you? You’re a joke. The only major US carrier that hasnt decided which 4G path to take is T-Mobile so you can forget the “there will be other us carriers on board with WiMAX” crap. Nokia even decided that WiMAX will be a niche product and has decided to concentrate on LTE. When will you accept the obvious instead of defending the dinosaur that is Sprint? People like you make me sick.
Sprint is done no matter who people put it. Verizon Wireless might as well buy out the piece of crap company that Sprint is being said that its CDMA as well. If i was Dan Hesse i would commit suicide.
Wasn’t this supposed to be about a Palm Pre??
WiMax is excellent technology, and better than LTE in many respects. If LTE becomes the new mobile standard, Sprint could sell its WiMax network or offer it as a DSL competitor as well as push it in rural areas as an in-home broadband option.
Communications and connectivity aren’t just about cellphones, and WiMax is here TODAY. LTE is just a dream right now. Face reality, its faster than some wired connections, and kicks at&t in its pants, not to mention it doesn’t suffer at&t’s capacity and bandwidth issues.
@jj
Since Sprint is a CDMA carrier, like Verizon, it always will play a major role in device design. Capacity issues aren’t withstanding and have no bearing. Capacity problems at at&t stem from having too few cell sites per user, too little bandwidth in some locations, and refusal to use the AWS 1700/2100 MHz bandwidth it bought in the 2006 auction, supposedly to address bandwidth but really to control TMobile’s US footprint.
Its not like some networks where you can’t connect to 3G, but the speed is slow because of too much traffic. TMobile, Verizon, and Sprint have this problem much less than at&t.
I love how this is turning into a fail article, just because Sprint moving forward with 4G. I really hope some WiMax devices, phones specifically, come out this year and the next Pre is 4G
@jj
I may just be confusing you. Let me clarify. SPRINT’S WiMax network doesn’t have capacity issues yet, and they took care to build in extra capacity when it was rolled out, like TMobileUSA’s 3G network, which is reliable and highly rated (well above at&t as well).
Bandwidth issues have no bearing on the Blackberry/Sprint device specifications. This is solved through firmware and network optimizations. Since CDMA sales are much lower than GSM, Sprint and Verizon both have big say in how they want devices configured to satisfy their consumers.
Bandwidth issues are a problem of network design and rollout, not the technology. at&t refuses to address the issue of capacity brought on by cheap iPhone in millions of hands very fast. They need more 3G stations to handle such a large amount of users, which the others of the big 4 have seemingly done.
@Nerdherder
Do you honestly believe Sprints 4G network will not be nationwide? And I’m not bright? lol Subnormal intelligence doesn’t escape you. There aren’t any real world test of LTE yet, Verizon only has 20Mhz of nationwide spectrum and there is still concerns in the vendor community, regardless of vendor spin, that they (Verizon & ATT) will both need 30Mhz+ if they are to dominate this space. Verizon plans to integrate EVDO Rev-B with LTE for this very reason.
Interesting that both Verizon and ATT think they need to start deploying Femtocells even with great penetration provided by 700Mhz. When they combine voice and the demands HD Video downloads/ P2P and Gamers will place on these Mobile nets they both will have problems.
Sprints 2 GHz spectrum holdings far exceeds Verizon and ATT combined, yet you’re saying Sprint can’t deploy their 4G network nationwide? lol lol lol lol NEWS FLASH! Sprint began rolling out 4G last year, many more markets to come by years ends and next year
Launching personal attacks to coverup your lack of facts, is pathetic!
@ (un)informed
You’re right, detecting your subnormal intelligence doesn’t escape me.
Sprint was the first to sell femtocells because of their lackluster coverage. Verizon sells femtocells (network extenders) because they plan on using CDMA to carry voice and LTE for data, at least initially.
Yawn, you’re so called “facts” bore me. Sprint has rolled out two (2) cities with WiMAX so far. One of them is here in Portland, the city tried to encourage the technology it but it failed to garner any real adoption by the masses, especially with Verizon FIOS already available. LTE has undergone real world tests, here in the US and in Europe, so get your facts straight pal.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=13058
Verizon has already stated that by mid 2010 there will be 20-30 markets with LTE up and running. Sprint may be ahead at the moment but truth is, they are already behind. Just because you believe the feces spewing from your mouth that you call facts doesn’t mean that its true.
@ christexaport
If LTE becomes the next 4G standard? It has already been adopted by 85% of all mobile carriers on the planet.
If Sprint doesn’t adopt LTE it’s future will be limited to mainly home internet use and by those who don’t travel and therefore don’t need a mobile phone that will work over the entire country. Who in ther right minds will want to be hooked up to the local neighborhod router? Sounds like a serious security risk to me.
I don’t post much,, but when I do and the times I have posted something it comes out exactly the way it is. So let me start by the WiMAX/LTE,,,, WiMAX has huge partners and a great future. The Network we have planned integrates the same networks who have destroyed dsl/line-lines and in most places satellite TV. Sprint/Intel/Microsoft/ and the big cable companies who have many content and “friends” have all been planning the “connected” and integration for quite some time…. If Sprint is bought it will stay in house. Besides why the hatred towards Sprint???? This is the only company who has always pushed for innovation,, even when they try to hold them down,,,,, evolution is unstoppable.
^and the times I have posted something it comes out exactly the way it is”
^^^^prophecy at its best!
Nerdherder, you got the testing of LTE right but WiMax is live more than 2 cities (4 plus I believe) with 10 more by the end of the year
@ Don Louie
Right on.
Who cares which is better
both of them will offer smoking data
Rates for users that have them. Hopefully
We get some sort or nationwide coverage
On both of them. Having a choice is
Never a bad thing people.
I agree, who cares? If you are in a market that can offer great fast data speeds at great prices.
Who cares what the global standard is? What’s the global wired broadband standard? DSL, cable modems, fiber optic cable, satellite? There is room for competitors. Ask Verizon, the biggest US carrier, which doesn’t run a GSM system. Consumer choice and proper marketing and positioning will allow WiMax to coexist with LTE, and America’s White Spaces broadband efforts will probably also utilize WiMax, so, as 50 Cent and The Game said,
“Leave it or love it, the underdog’s on top… [WiMax] ain’t going nowhere, so you can get to know [it].”
Sprint and Verizon will be bankrupt by 2011. AT&T’s 3g right now is faster than wimax will ever be.
mark and christexasport sum it up right nice, find it funny how most of the comments root for a fail even though LTE wouldn’t be a concern if Sprint didn’t go the WiMax 1st
How long has Sprint been promising and delaying wimax nationwide? Sprint was supposed to have 40 cities covered with 4G by the end of 2006.
Google news sprint and 4g from 2006.
WOW, AT&T’s 3G is faster than WiMax? Based on my family and friends on the iPHONE, not true from their experience with AT&T! Where’s the proof?
Sprint will not go bankrupt. If they lack cash, they will get bought out. I personally don’t see that happening. Meaning Sprint not going bankrupt.
at&t 3G faster than Sprint WiMax?! Save me the doobie, because that’s some Amsterdam Award Winner you’re smoking… Facts, guys! WiMax is faster than the two lowest speeds at&t offers for its WIRED DSL service. And Sprint, which I actually hate, is positioned well. If they sell their mobile business, the WiMax network could be spun off as a separate company, and is valueable as a landline alternative. Wait until the WiMax modems begin to show up… Or wait 2 more years for LTE to show up. Lol!
Keep believing AT&T’s 3G is faster than WiMax. If that’s what you meant. Sorry your rambling is not clear. My point is people keep claiming things and don’t back it up with proof.
In case you missed it, I was being sarcastic with AT&T’s 3G