Clearwire Offering VoIP First in Stockton, California Wireless provider Clearwire has announced they're going to soon offer customers VoIP service - first in Stockton, California, then in its other 27 markets. If you recall, Clearwire got into a scrap last year with Vonage after they began blocking a number of "high bandwidth" applications from their users. Clearwire included competing VoIP services in that classification, and allegedly informed Vonage's Jeff Citron that they didn't handle any traffic greater than 64kbps.
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 Reviews:
 ·Bright House
2 edits | I seen this being offered before... I already knew about this VoIP thru Clearwire, but I can't think of where I seen the ad. This is a perfect example of the ISP's control over RESIDENTIAL service. I am the first post probably because nobody else is surprised this provider is doing this. My question is WHY and HOW are they going to provide the service. The why question is why over wifi internet/wireless. And how are they going to deliver the audio, uLAW, GSM, what? I doubt they will be able to deliver anything near the quality of Vonage uLAW. Cable VoIP is the only way to go.
P.S. Is there ANY other VoIP techs out there? Let me know if you plan on getting this service or already have it. I am interested to know what codecs they prioritize/allow/use. | |
|  |  wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | Re: I seen this being offered before... The first talking point is that Clearwire does NOT provide wifi access, their service is provided via Wimax. As for the quality, well that remains to be seen.....
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Now THATS superfluous!! | |
| | | | | | | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | Re: I seen this being offered before... said by swintec:said by wifi4milez:The first talking point is that Clearwire does NOT provide wifi access, their service is provided via Wimax. As for the quality, well that remains to be seen..... I thought Clearwire has been around a lot longer than this WiMax thing? I seem to remember seeing them around like 2 or more years ago, long before Wimax. There site doesnt offer much into how they operate except that it is off of cell towers. » www.clearwire.com/wireless-broad···view.php They launched using pre-Wimax in 2004. Clearwire owns the majority of the 2.5ghz wimax spectrum here in the US, therefore allowing them to serve almost all communities. For more info Google "clearwire wimax".
»www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cl···e+Search
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Now THATS superfluous!! | |
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| | | | You know I went to go talk to a sales rep about the phone service. The rep had no clue what he was talking about. Clear wire does not supports the phone adapter behind a router. You must place the adapter in front of the router. I have clearwire and I only get about 3 bars and my speed is around 120k up and 650k down, so if I use the service then my internet connection would be crappy or my QOS on the Phone adapter would be crap. I would have to say even though I don't agree with cable companies sometimes but I have never had any bandwidth problem with Comcast. Clearwire likes to throttle my bandwidth so I know that is why my speed is the way it is.. | |
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| Reviews:
·Bright House
| Clearwire is NOT WiMax. WiMax is a point to point delivery, where a directional antenna is pointed (beamed) to a base station. The Clearwire antennas are inside the modem they give you. It's towers are leased from local cell phone carriers, and the cellular grid becomes your Clearwire grid too. Essentially it's WiFi with multiple access points. It uses a cell phone equivalent standard to negotiate which tower to use. Wireless cracks and technology interest me, and I read up on Clearwire's modems and found that info. I *think* I read somewhere that they use Verizon for something, maybe tower space, maybe network space. | |
| | | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | Re: I seen this being offered before... said by phattieg:Clearwire is NOT WiMax. WiMax is a point to point delivery, where a directional antenna is pointed (beamed) to a base station. The Clearwire antennas are inside the modem they give you. It's towers are leased from local cell phone carriers, and the cellular grid becomes your Clearwire grid too. Essentially it's WiFi with multiple access points. It uses a cell phone equivalent standard to negotiate which tower to use. Wireless cracks and technology interest me, and I read up on Clearwire's modems and found that info. I *think* I read somewhere that they use Verizon for something, maybe tower space, maybe network space. According to their website and online they do use Wimax. In fact, they were one of the first companies to roll out the pre-wimax gear.
"Clearwire offers a Wi-Max-class solution, utilizing next-generation, non-line-of-sight wireless technology, developed by its wholly owned subsidiary, NextNet Wireless. www.nextnetwireless.com."
»www.clearwire.com/company/facts.php
Another article about Clearwire using Wimax:
»www.technewsworld.com/story/37620.html
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Now THATS superfluous!! | |
| | | | Reviews:
·Bright House
| Re: I seen this being offered before... It is NOT Wi-Max. They offer a Wi-Max "CLASS SOLUTION" meaning they claim the throughput and service is similar, not the same as, Wi-Max. Kinda like "unlimited" internet. Trust me, it's not Wi-Max. How about looking up the meaning of Wi-Max instead of looking up a companies claims. | |
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ricep5Premium
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL | Former Clearwire customer First off, Clearwire is not WiMax, though they plan on using it. Intel is an investor in Clearwire.
Second, Clearwire licenses a part of spectrum that was allocated to school districts by the FCC. Clearwire typically as part of their contract, rents that spectrum from the schools and provides free internet to them in return.
Third, just as the VoIP dust up started, my Clearwire service started degrading calls. First with mild clipping, then lost words. When my contract was up I didn't renew.
The service has some of the same issues as cable. At around 3PM to 11PM the latency would go way up as the people in the service area would boot up and drain off capacity.
If your NextNet antenna wasn't very high, it was sensitive to physical obstructions or weather. They offer a Netgear based powerline solution to extend the service down to the first floor if necessary.
Clearwire is not interested in volume users. They want the occassional home user that has a low demand potential and therefore high margin.
They will partner with anyone for sales. They have become the Avon lady of the internet around here. Even the local sushi buffet is an authorized Clearwire reseller.
The benefit that I found was that I could take the antenna/modem combo with me to my girlfriends house. It will even work in your car if you stay in range of the towers. | |
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