Comments on: Sprint said to be cooking up a tri-mode cocktail; WiMAX, WiFi, CDMA handset

By: scott e.

scott e. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:57:23 +0000

Read the article you linked. These are tests, not real world usage. LTE is only in testing, WiMAX is being deployed and used by customers in the real world. Seems to me that WiMAX is here now.

By: scott e.

scott e. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:54:11 +0000

Wow you sound like one of those GSM will rule people in the 90’s Well it 4 months away from 2010 and there are more CDMA users in the US than GSM. Also the new technology for GSM is really CDMA. What does this have to do with WiMAX? Simple, just as one standard did not take over the marketplace for voice, the same will hold true for 4G. And WiMax is in more than 4 markets, it is sold as Clear in others, Comcast sells it as well as Sprint. I believe that Cox is also a Clear partner. So the major Cable companies want in the wireless game just like they did for the wireline. WiMax dead, doubtful.

By: scott e.

scott e. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:40:56 +0000

Oooooh, Nokia. Now there is a major US market player. I’m sure that carries a lot of weight with carriers. So what are you telling us, that Sprint will not be able to offer cheap Nokias? Like it matters. The only major US carrier that offers a decent Nokia is AT&T, and not even the top of the line. Now if you tell me Samsung, LG, Moto, HTC, or Kyocera/Sanyo have ruled it out then Sprint should start worrying. BTW, as for “building” their 4G network, Nextel towers work well with WiMax.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:08:09 +0000

And that leaves me saying… So? Your point? Does that make it not a testing phase? Does that mean it’s passed all their requirements and they just haven’t wanted to generate revenue off of it yet so they leave it unadvertised?

By: christexaport

christexaport — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:01:11 +0000

actually, its been long known that WiMax subscribers have access to the hardware in other unlaunched markets. The system is online in many places, but not commercially launched and offered in all places.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:21:29 +0000

The joke is on you. WiMAX is here and works GREAT. AT&T can’t touch the speeds coming down from WiMAX. Streamed YouTube with no issues. Ran speed tests showing 6Mbps in a 2-3 bar area.

Oh, and it’s not even advertised as ready in the Dallas / Fort Worth market. So I assume this speed is on a test site.

By: Don Louie Cantone

Don Louie Cantone — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:23:29 +0000

Now that they’re moving closer to having more cities, start leaking the devices

By: Dan Jones

Dan Jones — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:29:56 +0000

Spoken to Sprint a couple of times on this. They are working on a CDMA/WiMax handset for real, on the roadmap for 2009-10. My guess would be 2010, since phone chips that can support CDMA/WiMax/WiFi will be more available.

See:

http://www.unstrung.com/document.asp?doc_id=177651&

By: Don Louie Cantone

Don Louie Cantone — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:49:30 +0000

Now what were the results of your WiMax/LTE research again? The capacity problems that vzw is projected to have, not talking about att because they aren’t supposed to have LTE in 40 unknown cities (good timeline but no specifics from thier spokesman) and a well read person like yourself can use context to surmise I was calling you a hypocrite for taking one company’s words at face value while disregarding another’s as propaganda. I’m actually anxious to see how the 4G battles turn out, seeing that only 2 companies are in it now

By: Don Louie Cantone

Don Louie Cantone — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:11:05 +0000

And that same logic isn’t applicable to your defense of the Pre in 6 month, and I’m an advocate. Now while your out researching, find those 40 LTE cities because that blanket statement has definite locales. Minneapolis Columbus, OH and a really vague northern NJ is what vzw has now but it’s not clear afterwards and nobody seems to want to address christexasport’s capacity problem. Before Sprint decided to go the WiMax route CDMA’s migration path was 1rxtt, DOr.0, DOrA, DOrB to EVDV, Sprint threw a wicked curve that has the competition scrambling to discredit the innovative thinking because before 4G came out vzw was on that same path and if what is being said about capacity is true they may have go that route also. Time will tell if a winner can be crowned but there’s no reason for choices to restricted because what works for one (GSM vs CDMA, Verizon vs ATT vs T Mobile vs Sprint vs etc.) is not guaranteed to work for all.

By: Don Louie Cantone

Don Louie Cantone — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:05:27 +0000

J, Google Clearwire heck click the WiMax tab in this article and the story is here. There is no 4G standard in the U.S. and as of now only vzw is competing in the next year so hodgepodge that. Let the consumer speak and quit forcing your OPINION. You seem like an well read person, so you should understand you can’t make chjoices for the masses or dictate someone’s opinion

By: What???

What??? — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:15:31 +0000

In case you missed it, I was being sarcastic with AT&T’s 3G

By: What???

What??? — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:11:32 +0000

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.

By: christexaport

christexaport — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:02:18 +0000

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!

By: What???

What??? — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:58:36 +0000

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.

By: Cedric

Cedric — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:18:55 +0000

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.

By: Don Louie Cantone

Don Louie Cantone — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:09:51 +0000

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

By: Hector

Hector — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:34:41 +0000

Sprint and Verizon will be bankrupt by 2011. AT&T’s 3g right now is faster than wimax will ever be.

By: christexaport

christexaport — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:20:09 +0000

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].”

By: What???

What??? — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:17:16 +0000

I agree, who cares? If you are in a market that can offer great fast data speeds at great prices.

By: mark

mark — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:43:16 +0000

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.

By: Nerdherder

Nerdherder — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:09:43 +0000

@ Don Louie

Right on.

By: Don Louie Cantone

Don Louie Cantone — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:43:02 +0000

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

By: JoeTour

JoeTour — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:08:36 +0000

^and the times I have posted something it comes out exactly the way it is”
^^^^prophecy at its best!

By: RDMAPR

RDMAPR — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:40:47 +0000

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.

By: Nerdherder

Nerdherder — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:17:04 +0000

@ (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.

By: informed

informed — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:23:57 +0000

@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!

By: christexaport

christexaport — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:51:55 +0000

@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.

By: Don Louie Cantone

Don Louie Cantone — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:31:06 +0000

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

By: christexaport

christexaport — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:17:41 +0000

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.