Sprint to launch WiMAX-enabled Android smartphone in 2010?
As is well known, Sprint and Clearwire are slowly pushing forward on their ever expanding 4G network. Mirroring a report from back in June of this year, Sprint is once again said to be working on a WiMAX-enabled smartphone that will support both 4G and 3G connectivity. Just as current CDMA mobile phones switch switch between 1xRTT and EV-DO, the new handset will manage WiMAX and EV-DO signals in a similar manner. The big question is not whether or not Sprint will make such a smartphone, but which OS will this new handset run? Analysts suggest that Android will the platform of choice with Samsung as the manufacturer supplying the necessary hardware. This rumored 4G/3G smartphone will reportedly launch when Clearwire reaches the 100 million subscriber mark in the US, a goal expected to be achieved towards the end of 2010.
I easily see this becoming a reality. And honestly I doubt they will wait for 100 million users. Like others mentioned, it is more likely they will wait until they have ample coverage for 100 million and then Samsung launch the most powerful phone (as short lived as it may be… I am sure iphone will quickly retaliate, or HTC, or Palm will one up them) to try to drive everyone to their network. This phone has been rumored for a while now (http://news.netapex.org/?p=146) so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this happen by the end of the second quarter next year. (With or without a full 4G rollout.) People still complain about the iphone’s 3G coverage but that really hasn’t slowed sales. If the phone is as amazing as the reports claim, people will buy it and “believe” that they will be getting full speed with it too eventually.
I am hoping it is a webos phone. @ phone market “savy” people do you think palm will license webos out to other phone makers? because we really need to expand on their phone selection to stay in the game.
So happy that they chose Android to start off. I feel a webOS phone should be next after the Android phone.
element4life3, if you switch to an Everything 450 plan you’ll be able to upgrade yearly at new customer pricing
This will be really exciting for sprint. This might give them the extra push they need.
My question is what kind of speeds can we actually expect to see on a
Phone?
Because in the sprint forums a person with a laptop 4G card posted a 6Mbps speed test with 52ms latency.
So on a phone with less powerful hardware, we shouldn’t expect more than 3.5Mbps at least at first am.
I correct in my estimates?
Obvously, speed can be increased but it’s all dependent on the phone hardware and capabilities.
Sprint claims average DL speeds should be Around 2-4Mbps, so how is that different than HSPA 7.2 or HSPA with 21Mbps that can get about the same average?
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
I am willing to bet a WebOS phone will be on Verizon sometime early next year.
I would like to clear up some misinformation here regarding linux and android.
@Djblois,
celz is correct in his analysis of android apps working on most (if not all) android phones AFAIK. In theory it would be possible to prevent android apps from running on your android phone (I don’t know if that violates any licensing agreements), but I don’t know why a manufacturer would do that.
@celz,
There were some inaccuracies in your response to Djblois. Virtually any linux application will work unmodified on any linux distribution, provided the proper libraries are installed and the proper paths exist in the filesystem. This means the same application could run on a redhat system, or a debian system, or a fedora system unmodified.
None of that has anything to do with android though. Android is linux based, but the applications are written in java and run inside of a java virtual machine. As long as the application does not require native code, google could port it’s java VM to a different OS (say, the version of OSX on the iphone) and everything would still work fine in theory. App compatibility has nothing to do with the linux core.
Don’t extend things in the other direction either and assume that because an app is written in java for android it will run on the blackberry’s java based UI. It won’t.
One additional note, maemo is not the only other linux based mobile OS besides android. Palm’s WebOS is also linux based and there are also some other lesser used linux based mobile phone platforms such as LiMo and openmoko.
Aren’t all the other carrier going to support LTE instead of WiMAX?
@rob
Look at number “3″. You wonder what Sprint is thinking going with WiMAX when the two largest Verizon and AT&T will back LTE.
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/336235/Ten-Big-Companies-That-Are-Veering-Toward-Bankruptcy?tickers=AMD,LVS,S,M,GT,MYL,HTZ
@Fanboy
How about you read more about the Nextel acquisition, the status of WiMAX and LTE when Sprint chose it, the underlying technology of WiMAX (compared to LTE), the future of WiMAX (in regards to LTE), and you might understand why Sprint (technically, Clearwire) is currently WiMAX.
Wow, another fan brings up some analyst projection to justify why nobody should give Sprint a chance even though it’s dependable, fast, non-restrictive and cheap. Clearwire is already working out roaming agreements with LTE so let the future come because it’s not certain at this point no matter how many projections are put out
@Vdubb
Hope you’re not referring to the Deutsche Telekom acquisition? That’s pretty much dead! If you are then it is you that should be reading!
@Don Louie Cantone
You don’t see another carrier being mentioned do you? Clear wire roaming on LTE? LoL!!! What a joke, that’s only part of why Sprint is in the situation they’re in now. Roaming on other peoples network. Just FYI that cost money. They need to find a way to keep customers.
@Fanboy
Are you seriously that dense? What the hell does that have to do with why Sprint chose WiMAX? That rumor popped up a few weeks ago, WiMAX has been know for almost two years. I can see by your dumbass remarks, that you have no interest in actually understanding why Sprint/Clearwire went with WiMAX and just want to live up to your name.
@Vdubb
I understand your passion for your carrier of choice. If you know why Sprint decided to invest in WiMAX then please share? Otherwise STFU!
Many, which I feel are smarter then you and I have questioned Sprints decision. Sorry if that’s news to you!
Also I must have been correct to assume you where talking about Deutsche Telekom, since you made no reference to it in your follow up remarks. Try toning down the insults, you might see things a little clearer.
Fanboy, so just because some analyst says Sprint is going bankrupt is reason enough not to go with a reliable, fast not to mention cost effective and more inclusive while being way less restrictive. While some carriers improving thier 3G networks another is trying to beat Sprint to the punch on the 4G forefront
@Fanboy
No, you’re not right. You’re a dumbass, plain and simple. You refuse to do research, and by making a claim that something that happen within the last month affected a decision made years ago reflects well on my view of you as a dumbass. Here’s a hint, research the Sprint Nextel acquisition. Here is also the bonus hint for retards: 2.5GHz spectrum requirements.
Haha, my suspicions are true. Hopefully I’m not the last to break this to you. But Sprint has been on the ropes for years. No, this didn’t just mysteriously happen last month as you put it.
This acquisition, which you keep referring to, like it’s the holy grail, is to little to late. No acquisition can save Sprint. Acquiring Virgin is like Comp USA acquiring Circuit City.
Sprint has made one bad decision after another. Their decision to write off Nextel did nothing for them where it mattered most. Sprint still managed to lose around the same amount as the write off.
And Spectrum! LoL! It don’t mean squat when you don’t have money!
It’s only a matter of time.
@Fanboy
You’re seriously the biggest dipshit I met on the internet. The Nextel acquisition happened back in 2005, moron. When Sprint acquired Nextel, they were required to have a 4G mobile broadband solution in the 2.5GHz spectrum (which came along with Nextel) that reached 30 million people by end of 2009. In order to do so, Sprint had to start rollout last year and since LTE wasn’t finalized yet (basically nothing but specs and lab testing) while WiMAX had many real-world networks, Sprint chose to go with WiMAX in order to fulfill their requirement of the deal.
Also, though I’m sure a fantard like you will toss away, WiMAX can be converted over to LTE with minimal costs (though costs nontheless) and Clearwire also stated they would potentially roll out LTE alongside WiMAX and seek roaming agreements to remain competitive.
Next, take you head out of your ass and do some damn research…though I guess you wouldn’t be the blind dumbass “Fanboy” you are today if you did.
@Vdubb
Old news.
Like I said matter of time.
Only a matter of time before fanboy eat there words when the rest are following Sprint lead as always and passing it off thier idea. This 4G race is the perfect example
WOW VDubb did you have to give Fanboy such a big smack down….. LOL
4G don’t matter when you ain’t got customers!
They meant coverage area of 100 million potential users, not 100 million actual subscribers
Clear has like 6 live markets now so they should that # by the end of the year