Going WiMAX

A couple of days ago Verizon announced that it will now allow virtually any device to gain access to its network. The decision heralds a new and long-awaited era of customer choice; a decision that will only increase demand for new innovations and encourage customers to seek out their ideal device rather than compromise by choosing from only the devices that a particular carrier holds.  BetaNews reports that in 2008 Verizon will be implementing minimal technical requirements for devices that can be carried over to its network. These requirements are as simple as whether or not a device can connect via CDMA or PCS networks. The same article provides an interesting quote from Verizon’s Chief Marketing Officer, John Stratton:  

“[The devices that can connect to Verizon's network are] subject to the imagination of the marketplace. As we think about the unconventional model here, going beyond the traditional feature-phone product, you can certainly see a time where devices that are today sort of stand-alone become networked devices. So things like gaming devices, imaging devices, digital still cameras – all manner of different products.”  

Verizon’s move toward open access may very well set a precedent for other large carriers. If this indeed happens, one of the most interesting prospects is what sorts of innovations “open access” may inspire. This is meaningful for WiMAX as well given the fact that increased innovations in the wireless world go hand in hand with the increased need for faster connections and increased coverage. With fewer limitations imposed by carriers, customer demand and innovation can truly take off and further incite the implementation of 4G technologies.  

Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Verizon, Open Access, 4G, Ari Zoldan

Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications

ABI Research has provided an interesting analyses of the potential effects the auction of 700 MHz spectrum could have on the United States’ mobile communications market. To recap: the auction for the 700 MHz band is slated for January 2008, with Europe and Korea following suit in 2010 and 2012, respectively. The spectrum has been freed up as a result of the move toward digital television, and is suitable for mobile television as well as for technologies like WiMAX.

Who are the contenders in the race for 700MHz spectrum? Apple, Google and Yahoo! have all been mentioned and speculated on. However, the possibility of Google’s hand in the spectrum seems to be the most compelling to analysts. According to the article,

[Google has] already stated their willingness to invest $5 billion in the “C” block of spectrum, perhaps in partnership with a network operator, in order to facilitate a more competitive wireless market.

Speculation on Google’s role in the 700 MHz auction is also noteworthy along the backdrop of Android (their new platform for mobile devices), their involvement in the Open Handset Alliance and their recent involvements with Sprint. It will be interesting to see if a combination of all these factors will translate into new developments for WiMAX in the United States.

Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Google, Android, Open Handset Alliance, 700MHz auction, Ari Zoldan

Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications

After a plethora of rumors questioning Sprint’s commitment to WiMAX and the strength of its plans for a nationwide rollout, the answer has come: Sprint and Clearwire’s deal has come to an end. The reasons are ambiguous, with either company only supplying comments such as: “the deal was likely to introduce a level of additional complexity to each party’s business that would be inconsistent with each company’s focus.” Back in July, when Sprint and Clearwire first forged their agreement, it was clear that either company could not separately accomplish the task of successfully rolling out WiMAX on a national level. For this reason, the future of WiMAX in the United States in particular has been cast under a gloomy light.

However, does the Sprint-Clearwire fallout really mean an end for WiMAX? The answer is no. Granted, Sprint has been repeatedly cited as one of the major proponents of WiMAX in the US. Yet to assume that Sprint loosing steam would guarantee the failure of WiMAX would be entirely presumptuous. After all, rolling out WiMAX is not a project that is solely being pursued by Sprint, nor is it Sprint’s technology per se. Demand for WiMAX is international, and there are hundreds of forward-thinking companies that are eager to fill that demand in various capacities. If Sprint does indeed continue to falter, it is not necessarily a commentary on the potential of the technology itself.

Sprint is planning on going forward with developing Xohm and claims it will provide further information on its revised plans for Xohm early next year. For the time being, there are various options one can imagine for their WiMAX rollout sans Clearwire. Firstly, companies like Intel, Nokia, Motorola and Samsung all have stakes in the future of WiMAX. Sprint also has a powerful web services agreement with Google, with potential allies in the Open Handset Alliance. Strong ecosystem partners like these may sweep in with Sprint or provide other support that may help keep Sprint’s WiMAX plans afloat. In addition, much has already been accomplished. Sprint reports that they “have 10,000 sites readied for deployment, plus 1,750 base stations and 20,000 antennas ordered” and their plans for soft launches in Chicago, IL, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD are still going strong. Finally, some collaborative efforts between Sprint and Clearwire are not totally out the window. According to Sprint, “there is still the possibility of discussion on roaming, frequency/interference management and spectrum coordination.”

Sprint now has several options, and the choices it will make in that regard remain to be seen. In the meantime, regardless of the road Sprint chooses to take, WiMAX can still continue to flourish. The WiMAX ecosystem is strong, its evolution is much bigger than Sprint itself, and there are too many opportunities available for one fallout to jeopardize the long-term future of this technology.

Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Clearwire, Sprint, Google, Xohm, Open Handset Alliance, Intel, Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Ari Zoldan

Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications

For many users of mobile devices, the idea of an open platform is like a dream come true. It comes as no surprise then that many have reacted positively to Google’s announcement about Android, a new open platform for mobile devices. Developments behind Android are being spearheaded by the Open Handset Alliance, a group of 34 companies including Intel, Qualcomm, Motorola, Sprint and LG among others. How the Open Handset Alliance operates in conjunction with Google and the precise role each company will play with respect to Android is still not fully clear.

What is interesting to note is that many companies that support WiMAX also seem to be involved in the Open Handset Alliance. This is no coincidence. The connection speeds associated with WiMAX make it an appealing technology for those who are interested in increasing the quality of mobile communications. Along a similar vein, Android would allow mobile devices to function more like modern PCs. Users would have the ability to download and customize their mobile devices in ways that were previously impossible. Just as WiMAX aims to make mobile connectivity meet the standards of wired connectivity one would experience on a home or office computer, Android aims to provide freedoms that previously did not translate over from PC to mobile device. Both supporters of WiMAX and the Open Handset Alliance seem to have a common goal: enhancing users’ overall mobile internet experience. Developments around both these technologies are timely, and may eventually overlap given the right circumstances.

Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Google, Android, Open Handset Alliance, mobile devices, Ari Zoldan

Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications