Motorola demos Sprint's Xohm WiMAX network, drives recklessly

Part of the WiMAX World festivities taking place this week, Motorola was on hand in Chicago last night to demonstrate fragments of the Mobile WiMAX build-out it's been throwing together to support the upcoming launch of Sprint's Xohm service. A leisurely cruise took curious onlookers down the Chicago River while Moto demonstrated a variety of WiMAX-friendly goodies like VoIP and streaming video, with handoffs flawlessly (apparently) transitioning the signal from access point to access point amongst canyons of skyscrapers, steel, and cement. The company also took its demo onto the "streets along the Chicago River while driving at speeds beyond 50 mph," a clear violation of local traffic laws, so we're hoping Moto's got some money socked away in its meager coffers to pony up some fines. Anyway, if all goes well, the demos foretell a late '07 soft launch of Xohm's Chicago network, with a commercial release in April of next year.

[gizmoguy @ Sep 26th 2007 3:01PM]

This is why I enjoy Sprint, Verizon will be milking their EVDO coverage for 4 more years before they start their 4G network installation. Sprint is always quicker than Verizon to rollout new technology.

[jmattick @ Sep 26th 2007 3:24PM]

Right... But by the time Sprint has it's Xohm network active in most major cities... Verizon will have EVDO coverage blanketing most of it's typical cellular service.

I'd prefer to have high speed service wherever I went rather than just a few select cities.

[AKBlade13 @ Sep 26th 2007 3:46PM]

Me too. Now if only they can get some cool phones (and hopefully the Wi-Max phones this year).

A man can dream right?

Kirielson

[tc1uscg @ Sep 28th 2007 1:22AM]

Say what? Few selected cities? That's VZ's rule of thumb (remember the inital 3G roll out and EVDO) "Taking to the air... one tower at a time". Please..

[Mystic Alpaca @ Sep 26th 2007 3:14PM]

Professional Driver Closed Course

[oshean @ Sep 26th 2007 3:19PM]

I can't drive 55!

[Jesse @ Sep 26th 2007 11:07PM]

I love Sprint but you're wrong Gizmoguy about Sprint being the first to roll out new technology. Verizon beat Sprint with the Roll out of EVDO by about 6 months.

[Saint @ Sep 27th 2007 1:44AM]

True, but Sprint could of launched it way earlier had they wanted to. The reason they didn't was because they wanted to get everything working correctly. As to EVDO coverage, I believe Verizon covers more, but not by that much. In the end, I rather stick with Sprint and my Rev. A card for $49.99 a month. It's not bad for unlimited usage.

[Tony C @ Sep 27th 2007 9:19AM]

LOL, did anyone read the press release? The 50MPH was on Chicago's el-train. =)

[Brian Erst @ Sep 27th 2007 11:40AM]

Did you?

"Motorola has successfully demonstrated several of these applications on streets along the Chicago River while driving at speeds beyond 50 mph and while riding Chicago’s famed elevated train."

Unless, of course, you're assuming they're driving an elevated train down Lower Wacker...

[uskali @ Sep 27th 2007 4:52PM]

Yeah if the El made it past 30 mph I'd probably shit myself.

[tulga @ Sep 27th 2007 11:29PM]

Where can i get more detailed information about that Motorola demo? i mean some videos, pictures? and detailed information about technical side? (Speed, Coverage etc), Does anyone has practical materials?