Sprint has a lot riding on the HTC EVO, the first smartphone device (i.e., not a dongle) for its WiMax network. That’s why when it initially reported extraordinarily strong sales (300,000-plus in the first day alone), the industry took notice. Unfortunately, the reports were wrong, which Sprint was forced to admit in a follow-up statement (it had only sold half that number). The device itself also seems to be getting mixed reviews.
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Archive for the ‘WiMAX’ Category
The very mixed story on Sprint’s first WiMax phone, HTC Evo
WiMax smart-grid pilot comes to the U.S. — has WiMax found a niche?
GE today announced the first pilot program in the U.S. to run the smart grid over a WiMax network. GE said that the trial, being conducted by Michigan-based utility Consumer Energy, will have a number of benefits, including increased efficiency, more bandwidth, security, lower costs and the ability to react to potential outages before they occur. In another boon to WiMax in the U.S., GridNet, a smart-metering company that relies on the 4G technology, announced that Cisco has taken an equity investment in the company. Cisco made this investment in GridNet’s WiMax-focused business even though the company has been moving away from WiMax in other areas of its business, including base stations.
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Rumors point to Sprint WiMAX phone unveiling
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint could roll-out its first WiMax-based phone at next week’s CTIA show in Vegas. According to the reports, the device will be produced by HTC and is dubbed the Supersonic. The phone will run on Clearwire’s WiMax network, in which Sprint holds a 56% stake.
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ABI: 2009 wasn’t quite so dire for wireless vendors
From the way the vendors talked in last year’s earnings calls, you’d get the impression that 2009 was one of the most horrible years for the telecom infrastructure market. But ABI Research said it wasn’t as bad as the industry made it out to be. Rather than decline as much 10% to 12% as many analysts estimated, the equipment market saw a surge in the second half of the year, said Aditya Kaul, practice director for ABI. (more…)
T-Mobile offering same plans (and data caps) for HSPA+
T-Mobile (NYSE:DT) is tripling the capacity of its 3G high-speed packet access (HSPA) network, which could mean near-home-broadband speeds for its laptop data customers. But it might also result in its customers eating up their monthly allotment of data much more quickly. Today T-Mobile revealed it will start selling its first HSPA+ USB dongle on Sunday with the same data plans–and their associated data caps–it offers for its regular 3G access service. (more…)
Charter exploring wireless options
Of the major cable operators, Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CCMM) is one of the few that has yet to articulate a wireless strategy. But this week in its first earnings call after emerging from bankruptcy, chief marketing officer Ted Schremp held out one possibility: ”We’re keeping a keen eye on peers that are working with alternatives such as Clearwire. We maintain the flexibility and the opportunity to join that if and when we so desire.” (more…)
Sprint asks “What can you do with 4G?”
While AT&T (NYSE:T) and Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ, NYSE:VOD) belt it out over whose network is more widespread and reliable, Sprint’s (NYSE:S) latest round of advertising is playing the speed card. It announced a new marketing campaign today that centers on the much higher capacities its new 4G service can offer over 3G networks–including presumably its own. (more…)