Sprint: WiMAX, New Smartphones in 2010

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Sprint's numbers showed some improvement last quarter, but the carrier is still weathering some financial issues. They're losing customers (albeit at a slowed rate) and it's going to take more than some new marketing and the Palm Pre to reverse that trend. Today, in a live chat (via Boy Genius), Sprint executive David Owens talked about how his company intends to get back on the right track.

First off, Sprint will be giving its customers more of what they want. More Android smartphones (mostly from HTC) will be coming soon, and Owens stated that he expects a price decrease for Android smartphones once a significant volume have been sold. Sprint's current Android devices, the Samsung Moment and HTC Hero, are both due for an update soon. For the Hero, this likely means Android 2.0; the Sense UI doesn't work on 1.6, and HTC has confirmed that they are working out a 2.0 release for the Hero.

Posted on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:06:03 CDT | by Robert Evans

Samsung Presents WiMAX Future Based On IEEE 802.16m

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Samsung announced at the ITU Tlecom World 2009 in Switzerland their future plans for WiMAX.
Samsung sees Mobile WiMAX Release 2 being based on IEEE 802.16m. IEEE 802.16m is one of the major candidates for IMT-Advanced technologies by ITU. Among many enhancements, IEEE 802.16m systems can provide four times faster data speed than the current Mobile WiMAX Release 1 based on IEEE 802.16e technology. The incorporation of Multi-User MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology also improves spectral efficiency. Read more

Posted on Wed, 7 Oct 2009 03:47:43 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sprint Bringing WiMax Android Smartphone by 2010?

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We've been hearing rumors for a while about a WiMAX-enabled smartphone coming to Sprint sometime in the near future. Now, thanks to Mark Sullivan of PC World those rumors just got a boost of support. He spoke to a series of wireless carriers, handset manufacturers, and market analysts and now believes that a 4G smartphone on the Sprint network is coming.

WiMax is basically mobile broadband, and it allows a connection three to five times as fast as traditional 3G. Since Sprint owns 51% of Clearwire, the WiMax carrier, they have a vested interest in setting off a consumer craze for the service. Sullivan thinks an Android smartphone would be the perfect choice for Sprint's flagship 4G phone.

Posted on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:46:57 CDT | by Robert Evans

WiMax subscribers to Hit 50M by 2014

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Juniper Research says that global WiMax subscribers will approach 50 million globally by 2014. The massive growth will reportedly be driven by the need to provide broadband to underserved areas. According to a study from the research firm WiMax will provide easier broadband connectivity in areas where it's challenging to install wired networks.

The report found that the highest numbers of subscribers would be in the Far East and China regions because the region is one of the early adopters of the tech. Western Europe and North America WiMax is expected to be driven by DSL churn. Read more

Posted on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:30:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Sony VAIO P Gets Z550 and WiMax

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Sony is still trying to lure people to adopt their admittedly slick looking VAIO P. The company still refuses to call the VAIO P a netbook, even though that is clearly, what the P is. The machine is now getting some new specs.

The machine now has an Intel Atom Z550 processor and new SSD solutions. Exactly how much storage the SSD crams inside is unknown. What we do know is that Sony claims the new SSD and CPU give it twice the performance on benchmarks. Read more

Posted on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Acer Joins WiMax Open Patent Alliance

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WiMax is not that strong in America, but in other countries, the 4G service is popular and enjoys a decent install base. Acer has announced that it will be joining the WiMax open patent alliance to allow it to integrate WiMax technology into its computers shipping around the world.

Acer offers several computer models globally that offer WiMax including machines in its Aspire and TravelMate lines. The Open Patent Alliance was formed in June 2008 to help make WiMax technology cheaper to integrate and foster the adoption of WiMax globally. Read more

Posted on Tue, 12 May 2009 11:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Clearwire WiMAX Hotspot Announced

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Clearwire has announced a new product called the CLEAR Spot Personal Hotspot Accessory. The device works in conjunction with a Clearwire USB WiMAX modem to provide a roving hotspot for up to eight devices.

The device is a battery-powered router capable of connecting eight devices to the WiMAX network from Clearwire and the router requires a $49 Clear USB modem. Once sat up, any Wi-Fi equipped device from notebooks to mobile phones can access the hotspot. Read more

Posted on Wed, 1 Apr 2009 10:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Lenovo Adds WiMAX to Notebooks

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Acer isn’t alone in announcing new WiMAX notebooks this week. Lenovo has announced that it is offering WiMAX built-in on some of its ThinkPad and IdeaPad notebooks. WiMAX will be offered later this year on the ThinkPad W500, W700, SL400, and X200. The Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 will also be available with WiMAX later in 2008.

Lenovo machines available immediately with WiMAX integrated include the ThinkPad T400, SL300, and SL500. Lenovo says that it added the ability to find WiMAX networks to its Access Connections application. The WiMAX/Wi-Fi module used in the systems was formerly codenamed Echo Peak. Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Oct 2008 12:41:34 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Acer Introduces First WiMAX Notebooks

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It still seems odd to me to only have a few locations around the country offering WiMAX service and to have notebook makers rolling out WiMAX compatible systems. Acer announced WiMAX equipped notebooks including the Aspire 6930-6771 and 4930-6862. Acer specifically says these are for support of the Sprint XOHM network in Baltimore.

The Aspire 4930-6862 is powered by a Intel Core 2 Duo T7350 CPU, has a 14.1-inch LCD, 3GB of RAM and a 320 GB HDD along with the WiMAX solution for $899.99. The Aspire 6930-6771 uses an Intel Core 2 Duo T7350 and a 16-inch LCD with 3GB of RAM and 320GB of storage for the same $899.99 price. Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Oct 2008 06:36:47 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Alvarion Shows Off WiMAX Devices

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Alvarion has announced that it will be showing its line of WiMAX solutions at WiMAX world. The end-user devices are offered as part of Alvarion's OPEN WiMAX ecosystem. Products being shown at the show include the BreezeMAX Si indoor CPE, BreezeMAX Pro outdoor CPE, WiMAX USB adapter, and a BreezeMAX PC Card solution.

Whether or not WiMAX can take off is still unknown. The very limited availability of WiMAX in the US is the biggest reason for the unknown future. Many mobile service providers are banking on LTE over WiMAX. Read more

Posted on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:04:37 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

SkyCross Enables First Certified WiMAX USB Device

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SkyCross has announced that its antenna technology is powering the first ever USB device certified by the WiMAX forum. The USB dongle uses the SkyCross Isolated Mode Antenna and is called the MiMAX Q-series USB dongle from Airspan Networks.

The USB device is certified to operate on 2.5GHz band for WiMAX and runs on 2GHz to 5GHz Wi-Fi frequencies. After certification the USB WiMAX device is ready to be put to use in different countries around the world offering WiMAX service to consumers. Read more

Posted on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:40:19 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

WiMAX Doomed from the Start?

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According to Frost & Sullivan WiMAX is already on the way out and it’s not even available for 99% of America. According to the research firm if WiMAX rollouts don’t take place in 2008 the scope and market for the service globally will be insignificant. Frost & Sullivan also says that the technology is facing some serious challenges that are likely to make it unfeasible as a mobile access technology.

The biggest possible issue with WiMAX is that it is not backwards compatible with any other cellular systems. That would mean if your WiMAX cell phone or laptop can’t get a connection you simply won’t have service. Frost & Sullivan thinks that the investment in WiMAX isn’t for naught. It predicts WiMAX will merge with 3G LTE technology. Read more

Posted on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:55:10 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

ASUS WiMAX Eee PC 901 at Computex 2008

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Asus officially announces the ASUS WiMAX Eee PC 901 notebook.

Asus is demonstrating the WiMAX Eee PC 901 on the WiMAX EXPO VIP Bus in Taipei. This will allow users to experience firsthand quick Internet connections anytime, anywhere during the travel from the Xinyi district to the Nangang exhibition area. Asus will also exhibit the WiMAX Eee PC 901 today at the Computex 2008 Read more

Posted on Mon, 2 Jun 2008 23:51:32 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Asus Eee PC 901 no WiMAX

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The Intel Atom based Asus Eee PC 901 has not officially announced and specifications just trickle in through rumors.

What we know so far is very little. The Asus Eee 901 features a 8.9 inch screen, Bluetooth, metal alloy parts to the keyboard and hinge. Asus is supposed to launch the Eee 901 in June. Some photos of the Asus Eee PC 901 appeared also already.
Digitimes reports now that Asus is not integrating WiMAX in the Asus Eee 901. Read more

Posted on Mon, 19 May 2008 01:00:19 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sprint and Samsung Say WiMAX is Ready for Service

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Sprint and Samsung have declared that mobile WiMAX technology is now ready for commercial service. Sprint says that Samsung’s Mobile WiMAX infrastructure has passed the rigorous commercial acceptance criteria Sprint uses.

The performance criteria qualifies equipment on the overall performance, handoff procedure and handoff delay. Sprint says that the testing was conducted in its Xohm lab environment and with the commercial service network in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. Read more

Posted on Fri, 16 May 2008 07:49:20 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Siemens Announces SE680 WiMAX Modem

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Not too long ago Sprint and Clearwire announced that Sprint had acquired half of the Clearwire company and the pair would be rolling out a nationwide WiMAX network over the coming years. Siemens announced today that it has expanded its outdoor WiMAX portfolio with a new outdoor modem.

The Gigaset SE680 WiMAX and is designed to be used by enterprises for bridging long distances. The device enables high-speed Internet access at rates up to 20Mbps and will be available this summer running on 2.5 and 3.5 GHz frequencies. Read more

Posted on Fri, 16 May 2008 06:52:40 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Google invests $500m in the Clearwire WiMax Network Company

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Google is one of the investors in the newly formed Clearwire WiMAX business with Sprint. Google invested 500 million of the 3.2 billion that the new Clearwire company is getting injected.

Google will provide search and applications to the network's users, and will work with Clearwire to offer additional services and applications. Read more

Posted on Wed, 7 May 2008 13:01:14 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Siemens Shows First WiMAX Express Card in Use

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Siemens home and Office Communications Devices expanded its offerings for WiMAX subscriber devices with the introduction of an Express Card adapter. The device is called the Gigaset SE68 WiMAX Express Card.

Siemens says the card is based on the IEEE 802.16-2005 standard and complies with Wave 2 specifications. The SE68 allows for broadband speeds up to 20 Mbps. The card is scheduled to be available in Summer 2008 and will support 2.5GHz and 3.5GHz frequencies. The SE68 will also be used in a USB 2.0 port with an adapter. Read more

Posted on Wed, 9 Apr 2008 12:05:12 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

CTIA 2008: Motorola CPEi 150 for indoor fixed WiMAX Deployments

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Motorola, today introduced the plug-and-play desktop CPEi 150 for indoor fixed WiMAX deployments.

The Motorola CPEi 150 is 802.16e-compliant Wave-2 ready and features one data port, supports remote management and operates in the 2.5GHz band, connects to the WiMAX network and authenticates itself for easy setup. Read more

Posted on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:40:55 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

FLYVO G100 WiMAX hand-held Gaming Device coming to U.S.

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POSBRO, POSDATA’s subsidiary for mobile WiMAX device, announced the intention to launch mobile WIMAX online game business and devices in the United States today at CES 2008.

POSBRO already showed the FLYVO G100 portable game device at the WiMAX World USA in 2007.
The G100 will be rolling out via KT in Korea early this year. In the U.S. the G100 will be launching around the beginning of 4Q, 2008, or end of 1Q, 2009. Read more

Posted on Wed, 9 Jan 2008 02:51:42 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Asus Readying Bigger Screen Eee with WiMax

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According to DailyTech Asus will be showing off a larger screened Eee PC at CES next week. If the reports are correct the new Eee will have a larger 8.9-inch LCD screen.

The new Eee is also said to integrate WiMAX for mobile internet access. The resolution of the larger screen is 1024x600, which will address one of the most common complaints on the current Eee, the lack of screen space. Read more

Posted on Tue, 1 Jan 2008 09:06:12 CST | by Shane McGlaun