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Comcast WiMax To Hit Chicago, Philly
Company says 40% of 4G customers are new to Comcast...

As we noted yesterday, Comcast has informed us they've sped up their deployment of faster DOCSIS 3.0 speeds, and will now deliver the technology to 80% of their customers by the end of this year. But in this week's conference call, the cable giant also noted that they'll soon be expanding the markets in which they deliver their Mobile WiMax broadband service, Comcast2go, which the carrier first unveiled in the Portland market back in June. The company also recently launched the service in Atlanta.

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According to Comcast COO Stephen Burke, Comcast will be expanding deployment to Chicago, Philadelphia, the Washington state area and other markets this fall. As it stands, Comcast offers two "4G" bundles:

Comcast High-Speed 2go Metro service costs $49.99 for twelve months ($72.95 thereafter) and comes with 12Mbps Comcast home broadband service and a Wi-Fi router. The service uses a Mobile WiMax data card that will obviously only work in areas where there's Comcast/Clearwire Mobile WiMax.

Comcast High-Speed 2go Nationwide service costs $69.99 ($92.95 thereafter) and also comes with Comcast 12Mbps home broadband service and a home Wi-Fi router. The service uses a dual-mode data card that allows users to float between Clearwire's Mobile WiMax network and Sprint's 3G EVDO network.

According to Burke, the "combination product of the two has very healthy margins" that reaches 40% once the intro-prices lapse. The COO also notes that 40% of the customers signing up for their service in Portland are new Comcast customers, and in many cases were DSL converts. "They are lapsed DSL customers or customers who otherwise potentially would be getting DSL," says the exec, "and for us this is a way for us to grow our high speed data business in the home and add a new business line."

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r81984
Fair and Balanced
Premium Member
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX

r81984

Premium Member

Very tempting

If I lived in a comcast area I would definately buy this.
Comcast High-Speed 2go Nationwide service costs $69.99 ($92.95 thereafter)

funchords
Hello
MVM
join:2001-03-11
Yarmouth Port, MA

funchords

MVM

Re: Very tempting

said by r81984:

If I lived in a comcast area I would definately buy this.
Comcast High-Speed 2go Nationwide service costs $69.99 ($92.95 thereafter)
Wow, that's a nice deal!

fonzbear2000
Premium Member
join:2005-08-09
Saint Paul, MN
·Verizon Wireless

fonzbear2000 to r81984

Premium Member

to r81984
said by r81984:

If I lived in a comcast area I would definately buy this.
Comcast High-Speed 2go Nationwide service costs $69.99 ($92.95 thereafter)
Is that a monthly fee? That's VERY overpriced! Especially considering all the FREE wifi hotspots out there. It better be FAST with NO caps!

r81984
Fair and Balanced
Premium Member
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX

r81984

Premium Member

Re: Very tempting

said by fonzbear2000:
said by r81984:

If I lived in a comcast area I would definately buy this.
Comcast High-Speed 2go Nationwide service costs $69.99 ($92.95 thereafter)
Is that a monthly fee? That's VERY overpriced! Especially considering all the FREE wifi hotspots out there. It better be FAST with NO caps!
$92.95 a month is a great deal for 12mbps home internet, wimax, and sprint's EVDO.
You get internet everwhere.

There are not that many "free" wifi hotspots out there. I travel all around and very few places have free wifi anymore.

fonzbear2000
Premium Member
join:2005-08-09
Saint Paul, MN
·Verizon Wireless

fonzbear2000

Premium Member

Re: Very tempting

said by r81984:
said by fonzbear2000:
said by r81984:

If I lived in a comcast area I would definately buy this.
Comcast High-Speed 2go Nationwide service costs $69.99 ($92.95 thereafter)
Is that a monthly fee? That's VERY overpriced! Especially considering all the FREE wifi hotspots out there. It better be FAST with NO caps!
$92.95 a month is a great deal for 12mbps home internet, wimax, and sprint's EVDO.
You get internet everwhere.

There are not that many "free" wifi hotspots out there. I travel all around and very few places have free wifi anymore.
Oh, I didn't know it included HSI as well. That's actually a pretty good deal.

Don't Starbucks and Barnes and Noble have free wifi? They're all over the place.

r81984
Fair and Balanced
Premium Member
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX

r81984

Premium Member

Re: Very tempting

I don't drink coffee and Barnes and Noble just started offering free wifi.

I never found free wifi at any restaraunt or gas station by the interstates going cross country.

S_engineer
Premium Member
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL

S_engineer

Premium Member

Re: Very tempting

Try Panera....its where all the pirates go....
Samsonian
join:2007-06-15

Samsonian to r81984

Member

to r81984
It's pretty good considering monthly prices:

~$45 for Comcast HSI

~$50 for Clear unlimited mobile
or
~$80 for Clear or Sprint dual-mode 3G/4G

So if your in Comcast's service area, the bundle will save you ~$20-$25 a month on the metro plan or ~$30 a month on the 3G/4G nationwide plan, all after promo price.

The main question is what's the 3G cap when on Sprint for the nationwide plan. I assumed it was 5 GB, but have heard it might be different. Hopefully JL or another Comcast employee can shed some light on this.

S_engineer
Premium Member
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL

S_engineer

Premium Member

Re: Very tempting

In the areas where your roaming, the price gets to be stiff......"Your Comcast High-Speed 2Go Nationwide service plan includes 100MB of 3G roaming within the U.S. per full billing cycle. Domestic U.S. roaming above 100MB will incur roaming charges. Roaming usage over 100MB/month will incur costs of $1.00/MB. Usage will be charged in 1 MB increments. All usage will be rounded up to the next 1 MB increment. When youre roaming, the Comcast Connection Manager will display an R symbol displays in the Network Name field and display Mobile Roaming in the Network Type field."

Better pay attention to the "R", or you will get gouged
Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
Aptos, CA

Ulmo

Member

Re: Very tempting

Oh. 1c/10KB is a lot.

If the pricing communication is decent enough, it could still make proper business sense. It does limit its usefulness, however.

andyross
MVM
join:2003-05-04
Aurora, IL

1 edit

andyross

MVM

Usage cap?

Is there a separate usage cap on the WiMax?

castsucks
@sbcglobal.net

castsucks

Anon

Re: Usage cap?

is the 3g mode 5gb?

Can you get cable and home phone deals with this as well.

is the Wimax, 3g nated vs a some smart phones places where you get a dhcp based ip vs a lower cost nated data plan.

jlivingood
Premium Member
join:2007-10-28
Philadelphia, PA

jlivingood

Premium Member

Re: Usage cap?

I could not figure out where they placed the AUP page so I asked and got this:

»www.comcast.com/corporat ··· ?fss=2go

and

»customer.comcast.com/hel ··· speed2go

Robert
Premium Member
join:2001-08-25
Miami, FL

Robert

Premium Member

Re: Usage cap?

said by jlivingood:

I could not figure out where they placed the AUP page so I asked and got this:
When Comcast employees can't find the AUP, we're in trouble!

nwirob
@ameritech.net

nwirob

Anon

Re: Usage cap?

Ouch.. the 3G aka "roaming" usage cap on the nationwide plan is 100 MB!

»customer.comcast.com/Pag ··· ng-limit

So $20/month for $100 meg, why not just give the option for the higher limit you can get direct from Sprint.

ridethelight
@comcast.net

ridethelight

Anon

Re: Usage cap?

And....the overage charges if you go over that 100 megabytes is $1 per megabyte. Or put another way, if you find yourself outside their tiny "metro" WiMAX footprints for any length of time you'll be looking at very hefty bill. 500 megabytes = $400.

jlivingood
Premium Member
join:2007-10-28
Philadelphia, PA

jlivingood to Robert

Premium Member

to Robert
said by Robert:
said by jlivingood:

I could not figure out where they placed the AUP page so I asked and got this:
When Comcast employees can't find the AUP, we're in trouble!
Fair enough, but in my defense it just launched and I've been busy on other things.
Samsonian
join:2007-06-15

Samsonian

Member

Re: Usage cap?

Can you get back to us on the 3G cap?

I thought it was 5 GB on Sprint's 3G EvDO as well. If the 100 MB roaming cap just means roaming on non-Sprint networks like VZW, then that's alright, because that's what it costs.

If it's just 100 MB on Sprint 3G, that's pretty damn lame.

anjorusso
@speakeasy.net

anjorusso

Anon

when will wimax come to new york city damn it

tired of waiting

dellsweig
Extreme Aerobatics
MVM
join:2003-12-10
Campbell Hall, NY

dellsweig

MVM

Re: when will wimax come to new york city damn it

said by anjorusso :

tired of waiting
Look at the Job postings on Clearwires web site - NY will be real soon - they are (and have been) hiring in the NY/NJ market.
DarnellP
join:2004-10-12
Las Vegas, NV

DarnellP to anjorusso

Member

to anjorusso
said by anjorusso :

tired of waiting
2010

You'll have to wait a little while longer.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

1 edit

en102

Member

That's pretty cheap

Comcast High-Speed 2go Metro service costs $49.99 for twelve months ($72.95 thereafter)

49.99/12 months = $4.17/month
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: That's pretty cheap

sure in the hell is. You'd think they would have out sold everything by now.

JerryD1
@summitindustries.net

JerryD1 to en102

Anon

to en102
said by en102:

Comcast High-Speed 2go Metro service costs $49.99 for twelve months ($72.95 thereafter)

49.99/12 months = $4.17/month
I have a feeling that it's really $49.99 per month for 12 months.

Remember, Comcast is the ultimate blood sucker.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: That's pretty cheap

I assumed that... hence, the smiley face... they can't cut into their current broadband service.

andyross
MVM
join:2003-05-04
Aurora, IL

andyross

MVM

40% margin

Here's another story about it, saying the 40% is the profit margin??

»www.fiercewireless.com/s ··· -RSS-FW0

sansri88
digital is here
Premium Member
join:2005-12-17
New York, NY

sansri88

Premium Member

Philly market

Does that mean Philly metro or the Philly/NJ area? We're all a part of the same region (Freedom Region).

baltimore4G
@comcast.net

baltimore4G

Anon

Live here in Bmore

If they offered a MiFi router with any of these deals I'm there! I would just use my iTouch as my communication device (free SMS w/Google Voice & Skype, email, IM & Twitter as needed too), as well continue to use my home connection as a substitute for Cable TV(watch Hulu & others on my 42 LCD now).

I'd save a ton of money!

Also, I'm in Baltimore when will they offer this here, as Spring already offers 4G here - in the city.

ebb0ts
Premium Member
join:2008-01-14
Tucson, AZ

ebb0ts

Premium Member

looks like a sweet deal

Wish it was here instead of there....good package

MooJohn
join:2005-12-18
Milledgeville, GA

MooJohn

Member

Double standard

It's funny how everybody is so positive about Comcast's offering but mention Clearwire and it's a thread about how they're doomed to failure -- and they're both the same product!
WernerSchutz
join:2009-08-04
Sugar Land, TX

WernerSchutz

Member

Re: Double standard

said by MooJohn:

It's funny how everybody is so positive about Comcast's offering but mention Clearwire and it's a thread about how they're doomed to failure -- and they're both the same product!
Because a lot of the posters here WORK for CC.

ridethelight
@comcast.net

ridethelight

Anon

Re: Double standard

said by WernerSchutz:

Because a lot of the posters here WORK for CC.
Yeah that's pretty funny. And you even have some of the "official" folks berating and flaming other posters under the Comcast logo in other threads. I guess the phone support training is used for forum support, too. Very soon it will be impossible to post anything critical.

dellsweig
Extreme Aerobatics
MVM
join:2003-12-10
Campbell Hall, NY

1 edit

dellsweig

MVM

Time Warner cant be far behind

Seeing the TW was a partner to this (as was google I believe) I wouldnt think it will be long till TW starts to offer similar service.

I sincerly hope Clearwire/Sprint/TW/Comcast get this rolled out BIG time in many markets. This could really kill Verizon and ATT with their hopes for any kind of LTE penetration.

I know Clear is hiring BIG TIME in the NY Metro area

This is Clear - This is big

•••
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

1 edit

patcat88

Member

how many tricks does this pony have?

Smart guys. This has a contract. Great way to get your customers locked onto a contract now that the triple play contracts are all expiring. Whats the next trick this pony will play? Ebook reader? Internet VOD (being trialled somewhere on US Cable)?

The RFID Health Microchip in your arm that monitors your health in real time and has an IVR call you and warn you that your blood sugar is rising too high from that donut your eating in real time, plus its your drivers license, your residency permit, your internal passport, and your fugitive from justice mitigation compliance measure, plus when your eating too long infront of the TV, your Comcast box will turn off the picture and tell you to get up and walk around or your Comcast Foundation Health Insurance (must be non-profit foundation to qualify under ObamaCare® subsidy) will be immediately canceled?

dellsweig
Extreme Aerobatics
MVM
join:2003-12-10
Campbell Hall, NY

dellsweig

MVM

Re: how many tricks does this pony have?

said by patcat88:

Smart guys. This has a contract. Great way to get your customers locked onto a contract now that the triple play contracts are all expiring. Whats the next trick this pony will play? Ebook reader? Internet VOD (being trialled somewhere on US Cable)?

The RFID Health Microchip in your arm that monitors your health in real time and has an IVR call you and warn you that your blood sugar is rising too high from that donut your eating in real time, plus its your drivers license, your residency permit, your internal passport, and your fugitive from justice mitigation compliance measure, plus when your eating too long infront of the TV, your Comcast box will turn off the picture and tell you to get up and walk around or your Comcast Foundation Health Insurance (must be non-profit foundation to qualify under ObamaCare® subsidy) will be immediately canceled?
Whats wrong with a contract?? I took the option with TW Internet to get a GREAT price for 30/1 service on a 12 month contract

If they add WiMax (Clear) - well lets just say I cant wait.
Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
Aptos, CA

Ulmo

Member

Re: how many tricks does this pony have?

said by dellsweig:

Whats wrong with a contract?? I took the option with TW Internet to get a GREAT price for 30/1 service on a 12 month contract
Well, contracts are negotiable. "We offer this, with so much fine print and interpretations that you'll never know the contract. Also, we're part of a duopoly. Take it or leave it." So, as a negotiable entity, the contract is a good thing. In this case, we have a whopping single binary digit in our negotiating bandwidth -- take it or leave it. Impressive.

Equally impressive is your stance that my similar situation is not so much more desirable to be mentioned by you. My similar situation, a take or leave it with some actual customer service and consideration, is that I sign up, and have no period for which I have to keep the service, for my home service. I know, we're talking about radio services included in your contract, so that is a different entity in many regards, and does help pay for radio equipment. So there are some differences. Some.

Radios can roam. Cables can't as easily. The plant has less captivated prospects with radio.
Ulmo

Ulmo

Member

Clued

• Comcast High-Speed 2go Nationwide service costs $69.99 ($92.95 thereafter) and also comes with Comcast 12Mbps home broadband service and a home Wi-Fi router. The service uses a dual-mode data card that allows users to float between Clearwire's Mobile WiMax network and Sprint's 3G EVDO network.

It seems Comcast is running through a cycle of hiring people with a clue. This time around, they're using an underutilized decent EVDO installation (Sprint) as a backup to their own superior offering. Good fit at this moment, once again. Obviously, it may or may not hold up in the future, but that doesn't matter, since that will be another time for another implementation. At this time, this setup is a good fit for current availability.

Voyager2K2
join:2001-10-04
Wayne, PA

Voyager2K2

Member

Another Network Oversold

Crap. ATT added 2.4 million iPhones to their network 2Q 2009. It IMHO caused it to collapse. Now Sprint with AFAIK a healthy network adds this pressure to it is sure to have problems.
All the kiddies are going to have P2P running 24/7 so they can have THEIR music as well as all the background bandwidth that spy/adware as well virus activity breeds from P2P services.
WTF Sprint? ATT chose to dance with the devil, now you?
It's not as simple as adding back haul when your demands increase.
DarnellP
join:2004-10-12
Las Vegas, NV

DarnellP

Member

Re: Another Network Oversold

said by Voyager2K2:

Crap. ATT added 2.4 million iPhones to their network 2Q 2009. It IMHO caused it to collapse. Now Sprint with AFAIK a healthy network adds this pressure to it is sure to have problems.
All the kiddies are going to have P2P running 24/7 so they can have THEIR music as well as all the background bandwidth that spy/adware as well virus activity breeds from P2P services.
WTF Sprint? ATT chose to dance with the devil, now you?
It's not as simple as adding back haul when your demands increase.
The Wimax network is completely separate from Sprint's 3g EVDO network. Your concerns are unfounded.

gomobility
@comcast.net

gomobility

Anon

Chicago WiMAX

Oct. 1, 2009 is official launch date for Cook County. Collar counties to be lit by 12/31/09.
Rumors indicate special pricing for pick 2; either one landline box to replace Comcast/AT&T and 1 mobile usb or 2 mobile usb. Could be around $55.00 per month for life...no price increases ever!
Got a business card flyer at Lollapalooza in Chicago to register for info at »www.gomobilityrevolution.com Was told that mobile connectivity is min 6MB
Comcast doesn't presently offer mobility...this must be the reason they hooked up with Sprint.