xenophon
join:2007-09-17
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
2 edits | reply to SD6
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. |
