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xenophon
join:2007-09-17
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| Xohm isn't really about as performance Important to know that WiMAX isn't as much about performance as about being a pro-consumer business model. Glad to see that Sprint will continue as WiMAX will be a self-marketing network for them.
You can't buy a laptop w/out WiFi today and if Intel has their way, you won't be able to buy a laptop w/out WiFi/WiMAX built in. Consumer devices like GPS, cameras, MP3 players, IP radios, etc will have WiMAX built in and consumer getting them from Best Buy may not even know it. When they notice that there is a signal, they choose to use it or not. Sprint doesn't have to market WiMAX much with that kind of device ubiquity.
ATT/Verizon will continue down their self-controlling business model, limited to phones and laptop cards. LTE/HSPA will likely not make it into consumer devices due to certifications, royalties and too much carrier control. | |
|  SD6
join:2005-03-26
| Re: Xohm isn't really about as performance said by xenophon  :Important to know that WiMAX isn't as much about performance as about being a pro-consumer business model. Glad to see that Sprint will continue as WiMAX will be a self-marketing network for them. You can't buy a laptop w/out WiFi today and if Intel has their way, you won't be able to buy a laptop w/out WiFi/WiMAX built in. Consumer devices like GPS, cameras, MP3 players, IP radios, etc will have WiMAX built in and consumer getting them from Best Buy may not even know it. When they notice that there is a signal, they choose to use it or not. Sprint doesn't have to market WiMAX much with that kind of device ubiquity. ATT/Verizon will continue down their self-controlling business model, limited to phones and laptop cards. LTE/HSPA will likely not make it into consumer devices due to certifications, royalties and too much carrier control. WiMax is just another air interface. There is nothing about it which makes it inherently or necessarily more or less pro-consumer.
Intel's participation will hopefully prevent the devices from being locked, but there is nothing I'm aware of which prevents Xohm from imposing data caps or being a walled garden. Their past public statements suggesting an open network aren't binding. Given the new emphasis on near-term profitability, such limitations are possible. | |
| | xenophon
join:2007-09-17
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
2 edits | Re: Xohm isn't really about as performance said by SD6 :WiMax is just another air interface. There is nothing about it which makes it inherently or necessarily more or less pro-consumer. Right, it's not the technology, it's the way the WiMAX forum (and Sprint) is modeling the business, which is quite different than traditional cell carriers and is more open like how public paid WiFi works. While it's not binding, it is clearly the model that is being developed and far better for consumers.
Like WiFi, you don't have to do a contract and can just use the signal if you choose to. You might have a dozen of devices on an account. The structure and ecosystem is friendly to be on many consumer devices. HSPA/EVDO is not structured this way and has royalties involved, making consumer product makers shy away from it.
Just look into how involved it is for carriers to get EVDO/HSPA built into laptops. The carriers pay laptop makers huge bucks to in order get users to subscribe to the service. The effort to get WiMAX in a laptop will be no different than getting WiFi installed - drop in a chip. No involvement with carriers for laptop makers and no contracts to setup for end users. Ditto for GPS, IP radio, camera makers, etc. For most devices, if you see a signal, supply a credit card and you're on (should be as easy as RedBox rentals).
Data limits would be surprising from Sprint given that they also want to use it to compete with landline. They probably won't do caps unless the cable/dsl ISPs do first.
Nobody knows if the model will work until it's tried, which will happen next year. If the ecosystem does happens where consumers buy devices that have WiMAX and don't even know it (like WiFi on laptops), the result will be a self-marketing service for Sprint and other WiMAX carriers. Looks like major parts of Asia is going full speed ahead with WiMAX too, which will help the device ecosystem. | |
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