Rumor: Sprint to Release WiMAX Android Phone This Year. Who Cares?
The Android news this week isn’t all about the HTC Hero, although it feels that way. A rumor has appeared that has Sprint planning to release an Android phone this year or next that is CDMA/WiMAX-capable. This is certainly an interesting proposition but given the situation of the WiMAX rollout in the U. S., who cares?
WiMAX is one of those technologies that sounds so good on the surface that it’s easy to get excited about the thought of high-speed connectivity everywhere. The problem is the everywhere part, and that is killing off the enthusiasm quickly.
Sprint is one of the companies that has been pushing for a big WiMAX rollout, but let’s face it, it is as spotty as a dalmation at the firehouse.
I have corresponded with numerous folks who have jumped on the WiMAX train and signed up for service as soon as it was available in their area. One thing I hear from all of them is the sound of hopes dropping when they experience the reality of spotty service. I’ve heard many times that they see good bandwidth in one spot but travel a few blocks and it’s gone. I’m not a technical guru about WiMAX technology but it sure sounds iffy to me.
Take this latest example. William in Nevada sent me a long account of his recent foray into the exciting world of WiMAX. He signed up with great excitement about using WiMAX in his home and traveling around Las Vegas. The reality didn’t take long to set in, however. He found the signal was spotty in his home; he also finds service to be variable around Vegas:
At the Strip, the WiMax service is a mixed bag. Signal strength was good outside, but was occasionally blocked by a tall building. Inside, the signal was hit or miss. For example, in the Rio Resort and Casino, I had a decent connection when I stood within 30 feet of the glass doors, but lost the signal at 50 feet inside. Farther inside the resort, I found the signal again, but it was weak.
William’s account of his experience made it clear that he is the exact target that WiMAX service providers want to reach. He is very excited about the technology and is willing to make compromises to get it to work. In the end, however, he just couldn’t justify it:
I have enjoyed the ClearWire service, but I will probably cancel… The data services by ATT and Verizon are close to ubiquitous in populated areas. Guaranteed access is more important to me than sheer speed of connection when I’m on the go. WiMax (and other 4G technology like LTE) are very promising, but for the moment I’ll (reluctantly) stick to the phone carriers’ data service.
WiMAX proves the old real estate adage is also true for wireless coverage: location, location, location. For a technology that is based on the premise of widespread coverage, WiMAX still has a long way to go (and cover).
Sounds a bit like AT&T’s 3G here in Silicon Valley
hmm.. I understand that wimax isn’t everywhere, but I have been using it for a while now. I haven’t had any problems with spotty connections, and it is very fast. The college I am attending will be getting it in the fall, and will provide city-wide coverage.
I am currently interning at Intel–working on wimax stuff, and will be helping maintain the wimax network once I get back.
not trying to be wimax fanboy or anything but you do seem a little harsh on it. I remember when 3g stuff was nearly impossible to find.. Give it some time- but support it until it is there.
It does seem that these devices are ahead of the networks. The way the Nokia 810 tablet with Wimax bombed was simply because there is no network to use them in. I like the idea of 4G though…
Clear’s WiMAX’s deployment (Not Sprint, but the clusterf**k of the brand is a different story for a different XHOMing day) IS important because–
A) It’ll keep the North American 3G network (EVDO/HSPA)operators a bit more honest in terms of pricing and service plans.
B) In places like San Francisco, where there is poor AT&T DSL deployment and OK Comcast service, it’ll keep the wireline broadband providers more competitive IF it can deliver the speeds that are delivered.
C) And do you even think you’d see LTE next year if it wasn’t for WiMAX?
Regrettably, WiMAX has been fighting an uphill battle due to the initial whisper campaigns against the technology by the GSM crowd.
If it is CDMA/WiMAX-capable then, presumably, you would fall back to CDMA (which is still fast), when a WiMAX signal is weak/unavailable. I’m sure that will be the same mode of operation for LTE, when it comes out, so I don’t see the problem.
It seems to me that it highly likely that none of the other cellular technologies are making it inside the casinos (large, complex building) either. The reason why other networks have coverage in there is probably because there are picocells installed inside the building for indoor coverage. Don’t you think the installation of indoor picocells would solve the problem and would probably happen at some point?
Anyone remember Sprint’s initial CDMA rollout of their “PCS” service? It didn’t fall back to analog the way Verizon’s did, and coverage was a huge problem. Eventually the networks were further built out for better quality coverage.
Like “HereandNow” I don’t see the issue, this is good news & a big hello to 4G’s introduction. WiMax has a good strip of coverge in major city areas (Notheast Metro area) already & from the speed I had in baltimore on XOHM, its seems to be quite speedy. Its the only 4G/ cell-carrier game in town. Besides Sprint
has the best data network so whatever you can’t get with 4G, you still have EvDO Rev A, or Rev 0. Try getting your 3G(HSDPA) speeds with AT&T or T-Mobile consistently, Verizon turtles on its 3G for reasons I can’t understand (congestion maybe?) untill they fix thier 3G 1st I could give Sprint thier just due here. Meanwhile I’ll care about LTE when it exists…
Sprint’s been slow but steady but out of the carriers, they’re the 1st horse out of the gate.