Clearwire is launching WiMAX service in Silicon Valley, specifically Santa Clara, Mountain View and Palo Alto, but only for developers. The network will cover the offices of Cisco, Google and Intel (not surprisingly, they are investors in Clearwire). The purpose of the test network is to allow developers to test and create applications that will run on devices that can access Clearwire’s WiMAX network when it goes live for the public in the SF Bay Area in 2010.
Some developers will be given free accounts. Others will have to buy their own WiMAX modems ($50) and sign up for the service. If they already own a Samsung Mondi or a WiMAX-embedded PC that is set up to run on Clearwire’s network, they can sign up for the program. Developers can go to the Clear Developer site: http://developer.clear.com/innovation. The site will include coverage maps and suggested drive routes for mobile application testing.
Clearwire’s SF Bay Area plans are questionable
I doubt Clearwire will succeed in getting people to subscribe to their WiMAX service in an area that has a lot of DSL and cable Internet access, fiber access, and 3G (iPhones, Blackberries, etc.). I can see how they would succeed in a place like Los Gatos Saratoga, which has no high-speed Internet access and a population that is wealthy enough to pay whatever Clearwire wants to charge. But in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Mountain View? I don’t think Clearwire will be successful in these locations. They should focus on remote areas in California where there is hardly any high-speed broadband. There they’ll have a captive audience.
As for developers, I wonder how many will devote a lot of time and money making apps for Clearwire’s devices. Developers already have a lot on their hands creating applications for the iPhone, Android, etc. With regard to laptops and desktops, it’s just broadband — whether wired, fiber, DSL, cable or WiMAX — no need for special applications. I think it’s crazy and wasteful to write special applications for specific devices to run on specific networks.
Assume I have a laptop or other portable device that has Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3G. I don’t need a different version of an application for EACH network. Your iPhone app works on Wi-Fi and 3G. So the only reason I can see for having such a developer network is that the devices themselves will be WiMAX specific (perhaps with Wi-Fi thrown in just to please the Wi-Fi crazed masses).
- – - – - – - -
*Attention vendors and consultants! Make sure you’re included in the vendor directory of the Muniwireless guide on how to get a grant from the NTIA and RUS (send an email to me).
*Join the MuniWireless / Muni WiMAX Linked In Group for networking and discussions.
*Sign up for the MuniWireless / WiMAX newsletter.
*Advertise on Muniwireless.com. Email us for current advertising rates.
You leave out the part about WiMAX being mobile. WiFi and DSL are not – so location aware apps come immediately to mind. Think you may be missing the point a little. Down at the Warf in SF real broadband is a good thing. 3G can’t get there.
People will not get a THIRD broadband subscription just so that sometimes they can get wireless broadband connection when there is no 3G or WiFi. They have: DSL/cable or fiber at home; a 3G subscription from AT&T. Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile (and a smartphone). So will they pay additional money to get yet another device that has WiMAX on the chance that, should they be in an area without 3G or WiFi like the Wharf (or the Ferry Building which has lousy 3G from AT&T), they can connect? No. That is Clearwire’s challenge. They are very late to the market. Their main strength is in areas that do not have fiber/cable/DSL/3G.
Another thing: It’s also about the device, not just the pipe. A lot of people love the iPhone or the Blackberry, not because of the operator or the type of network, but because of the user experience on the device itself. So if Clearwire’s devices are not better than those currently used by people, the latter won’t buy them.
WiMAX will not be a replacement for existing DSL/Cable broadband in the home but it does have relevant uses beyond rural and underserved areas.
WiMAX’s advantages and new users are:
- Higher speed mobile than 3G service.
I had a wireless laptop card and used for one week. The service was horribly slow.
- More consistent coverage than WiFi
Yes, WiFi is “everywhere” but I always have a problem finding a WiFi service that I can use. When I turn on my laptop or iPhone, there are 5 to 20 WiFi access points but they are all password protected. Unless I am in a Starbucks, free wifi is hit and miss.
- WiMAX to WiFi portable hotspot from Craddle Point
Again, WiFi is not everywhere and not mobile. You can use a $139 Cradle Point Personal WiFi Hotspot for $139 and have WiFi anywhere in the WiMAX coverage area. Including your car.
Clearwire’s best long term opportunity is the partnership with cable companies. Cable companies can bundle Clearwire service with cable broadband in the home and the cable WiFi hotspots. This allows cable companies to compete with LTE from ATT & Verizon.
In the future the typical Internet service from ATT, Verizon and the cable companies will include:
1. (Fixed) Broadband to the home (DSL/Cable/Fiber) @ 50+ Mbps within a home.
2. (Nomadic) Nationwide roaming your laptop or iPhone (WiFi) @ 10+ Mbps within 100 ft of the access point.
3. (Mobile) Access to a 4G mobile network for your mobile devices (LTE/WiMAX) @1-6Mbps anywhere in the coverage area.
Well its going to take a lot of deployment and capital to have WiMax in a large portion of everywhere. And is it really going to be much faster than 3G in most locations?
Its using frequencies higher than 3g, and the end user devices aren’t going to be operating at power levels greater than 3g.
I think that obstructions (trees, buildings, etc) will ether require an unbelievable density of basestations and/or delivered bandwidth that is not much greater than 3g.
I would consider using WiMax (or anything at this point) for my home in the 3rd world neighborhood of Saratoga, CA, part of Silicon Valley where there is NO choice of ANY high speed Internet. There is sill no DSL or Cable here. I am using 3G but have already been burnt by their usurious charges if you go over 5Gb per month (I did it in 5 days once just from Google Mail updates to an IMAP client!)
Good article! I agree with the idea that WiMax is an excellent way to hit rural areas with necessary broadband they can’t get. I wouldn’t bet against Craig McCaw, but his idea of covering the Valley for developers isn’t bad. And, WiMax just isn’t that expensive. We have been deploying WiMax for 5 years, but we don’t have a desire to go head to head with Cable companies and AT&T DSL deployments, even though we feel they are deficient. Rural and remote areas are great uses, as WiMax has great reach.
Due to speed and ease of installation (when done right) WiMax outshines in many ways. Yes, Mobile is a favorite. http://valleywireless.us