dslreports logo
 story category
Xohm Won't Reach Deployment Goals
Still waiting on CEO to get the budget in order...
Intel executive and president of the WiMAX Forum Ron Resnick tells attendees at the Mobile World Congress that Sprint probably won't hit their original deployment goal for its Xohm WiMax service (100 million subscribers by 2009), and that the company really hasn't even finalized the Xohm budget. The 2-4Mbps, $40-$50 service will still see launches this Spring in Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., but reorganization has left some details up in the air.
quote:
Although Tabassi said the soft launch was going forward this spring in Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., he also said he was waiting "for finalization of our budget." Tabassi said Sprint would at least cooperate with Clearwire on roaming agreements so the two companies don't duplicate WiMAX buildouts.
New CEO Dan Hesse, after deciding to fire 4,000 employees and close 8% of their stores, has also decided to relocate the Sprint headquarters back to Kansas. Clearwire recently announced they'd resumed talks with Sprint to co-build the WiMax network, and the new coalition hopes to get additional build funding from Google, Intel and Best Buy.
view:
topics flat nest 
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

What do you expect?

This project starts and stops more than a taxi in New York City.

Things better settle down quick or there is going to be a sale in the telecom world.

tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Gulfport, MS

tc1uscg

Member

Re: What do you expect?

said by moonpuppy:

This project starts and stops more than a taxi in New York City.

Things better settle down quick or there is going to be a sale in the telecom world.
That's not true. The project is still moving ahead as it was before. More then 600 employees in the Chicago area have been using it since Dec 2007. They may be a few months behind but the next markets, Detroit being one, is getting the eqp installed at it's switch sites and tech training to deploy it. I'm disappointed it's falling a qtr behind but they are trying to get everything else in order and continue deploying Xhom and other technologies. It's the MEDIA who can't figure it out and making assumptions so the rest of us, customers, are acting like typical Americans. We want now and can't wait for nothing. We jump on the first bandwagon of bashing when it fits our purpose. Let Sprint do what it needs to do. They cold just drop WIMAx and fix the company faster or plow along and do them both. But regardless when it's creeps across our doorsteps, it will still be out way before LTE..
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Re: What do you expect?

The problem is that we have heard internal fighting over this project that was even accompanied with the departure of a CEO.

I hope it doesn't end up like the old ricochet service.

WeSRT4
join:2000-11-20
Mobile, AL

WeSRT4

Member

Curtains

It's too late for Sprint to make a turnaround. I see a buyout coming in the form of a non-telecom company buying the Xohm part of Sprint. I'm betting that Microsoft or Google makes a move in the near future.

Sprint seems to be A.D.D. or something. They can't seem to focus on the task at hand.

old_dawg
"I Know Noting..."
join:2001-09-22
Westminster, MD

old_dawg

Member

Re: Curtains

said by WeSRT4:

I see a buyout coming in the form of a non-telecom company buying the Xohm part of Sprint. I'm betting that Microsoft or Google makes a move in the near future.
Oh really?, and where did you get this vision from?.
Pull the magic 8 ball down off the shelf perhaps?
expert007
join:2006-01-10
Buffalo, NY

expert007

Member

If Google

Doesn't win the spectrum auction....which it certainly appears that they won't, wouldn't buying Xohm make sense for them?

Pure speculation...that's my disclaimer.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: If Google

That seems like a reasonable possibility. Or at least significantly invest in it.

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

en102 to expert007

Member

to expert007
Sprint/Xohm may be waiting to see how the final outcome of the auction is before committing resources.
No reason to spend excessively if there isn't any pressure from competition.

J Polivka
@sprintlink.net

J Polivka

Anon

Story correction on Sprint Xohm

There are several errors in your story, which is a rehash of other press reports filed from Barcelona. Ron Resnick is with The wiMAX Forum and is not a Sprint employee.
Sprint announced last year it would provide an update in 2008 of its earlier Xohm budget and coverage targets. Your metrics are dated information. Clearwire, not Sprint, indicated that talks were underway regarding spectrum alignment and technology cooperation that could lead to roaming arrangements. Thanks for updating your readers.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

How to deploy on schedule...


To deploy on schedule, Sprint needs to...

- Split off Xohm as a separate public company to allow Google, Intel and others in the WiMAX interest invest. But Sprint should not let go of the spectrum and also should hold most of the spinoff. They can buy it back when WiMAX takes off.

- Distribute the rollout with Clearwire and agree not to deploy in the same markets. Roam to each other. If it makes sense, merge.

- Dump the Nextel network and invest fully in WiMAX &&

WeSRT4
join:2000-11-20
Mobile, AL

WeSRT4

Member

Re: How to deploy on schedule...

said by xenophon:

- Dump the Nextel network and invest fully in WiMAX &&
+1000000

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

en102 to xenophon

Member

to xenophon
But then my Blackberry 7100i wouldn't work anymore

packetscan
Premium Member
join:2004-10-19
Bridgeport, CT

packetscan

Premium Member

Already Dead

Before it launches it's alreay dead.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

2 edits

xenophon

Member

Re: Already Dead

Dumb and uninformed comment. It just means the rollout slows down until the budget is committed or they find outside funding. They already have it in Chicago, DC and Baltimore and word is Dallas is basically complete. Sounds like consumer release is around April or next quarter.
ydoucare
join:2003-03-12
Lafayette, IN

ydoucare to packetscan

Member

to packetscan
Jesus, do some of you people even READ the article?
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Intel to pump $2B into Sprint and Clearwire

»www.thestreet.com/s/spri ··· m_ite=NA

Looks like the rollout has a better chance of continuing.