Wifi Was Designed for operate in the local lan arena, with a range per access point of no more than a thousand feet or so

this is great for inbuilding, and hotspot type deployments.

wifi was rigged together in an attempt to provide for wide area networks, there are several problems with this.
limited bandwidth, high levels of interference when in an urban enviroment, and large deployment

wimax, was designed for distance communications, fixed, nomadic, and now moving in to the mobile enviroment, and provides for large bandwidths

if anything i would see large municipalities using both technologies, using wifi to provide local area connectivity, then backhauling on wimax , and unlike wifi mesh deployments which require municiaplities to negotiate locations for equipment, with wimax municipalities already have the locations built standing and ready …..

NoWiresNoKidding is providing a secure and portable alternative to municipal wifi for it’s customers. I think it’s a more practical solution for anyone who needs broadband access and is concerned about sending information over a random and unsecure wifi hotspot. Clearwire is fast, inexpensive, and very secure.

nwnk.clearwire.net for more info. Until 9/30, get set up for just $14.99 with no activation fee. And get $100! No other portable solution is a better value for the money.

Your analysis is unfortunately off base and out of touch with the reality that faces the US consumer, municipal or county employee that does not live in northern California, Philly or other areas where citywide WiFi projects are under way.

This announcement means that there is now going to be another nationwide option for mobility besides cellular data as well as a fixed option besides DSL and cable. Those of us who live in rural and suburban markets where there may not be citywide WiFi ever have one more choice.

Other broadband options are on the way, as Sam Churchhill points out in his recent post, including 700 MHz and other licensed and unlicensed frequency options: http://www.dailywireless.org/2007/07/19/wireless-broadband-options-abound/

I also find your comments about licensed proprietary technology to be a bit inaccurate. First, WiMAX is not proprietary -it is based on open standards just like WiFi. Second, it appears that you have forgotten that some of the muniwireless projects that have been highlighted in this blog are using licensed proprietary technology to meet mobile public safety needs: Riverside, CA is using 4.9 technology. Third, more WISPs are turning towards licensed microwave to provide interferencef-free carrier class backbone connections. Licensed technology plays an important role, in the backbone of the network as well as the last mile and should not be considered “evil” or bad for the broadband consumer.

The city managers, police and fire chiefs, public works officials and other municipal representatives that I deal with every day could care less about licensed versus unlicensed, WiFi versus WiMAX,etc. They just want a solution that meets their needs and in the case of public safety they want a network that is carrier class, not just good enough. This solution could be WiFi, WiMAX, fiber, 700 MHz, 900 MHz, BPL, even brass monkeys on light poles. The key thing is that it has to work and allow them to use their applications and be more productive in their jobs.

I would encourage you to reach out to the folks in Grand Rapids, and get their reaction to this announcement. You will definitely find consumers there who are very excited and believe this meets their needs and provides an even more compelling alternative broadband option.