Nokia reveals the WiMAX N810 just a little early

We've been hearing that a WiMAX-enabled version of Nokia's N810 would be making its grand debut at CTIA on April 1, but it looks like the cat's out of the bag -- check this new image on the Nokia Europe site. Yeah, no beating around the bush there -- we'd say the WiMAX N810 is coming, and soon. Sadly, the product link doesn't work yet, but we think we might have a hunch what the major differences from the regular N810 are.

[Via Internet Tablet Talk]

[Homeboy @ Mar 28th 2008 5:43PM]

We don't have WiMax over here in Europe so can anyone of you dudes on the other side of pond briefly explain what WiMax is versus WiFi and this white space thingy Engadget keep talking about.

[Nathan @ Mar 28th 2008 5:48PM]

Bloody Nora! Don't know what WiMax is then? WiMax (802.16) is more akin to cellular data service than WiFi (802.11x), as it has a broader transmission area and opperates (I think) around 2.4 GHz(?).

It is more suitable for long range data transmission than WiFi as it doesn't need line of sight for long links.

HOWEVER having been a Clearwire customer, I can assure you that their antenna worked best when it was pointed at the tower that was broadcasting.

[usedHONDA @ Mar 28th 2008 5:55PM]

Technically, there isn't WiMAX anywhere yet. It's basically high speed internet powered by a cellphone-esque network. A company called XOHM (pronounced "zom") is in the process of creating this uber WiFi network as we speak, and should be coming out later this year.

With the help of WiMAX, you'll be able to check your email, Google's stock trade value, and buy those airplane tickets to India almost anywhere in the country. This will indeed pwn 3G and SMS services.

Oh, and just an FYI, with you always being connected to the internet and the N810 with it's own version of Skype, you can talk on the internet for about $10 a month, anywhere in your country, unlimited, with webcam, and dirt cheap international. WiMAX will change the industry of communications!

[Nathan @ Mar 28th 2008 5:57PM]

Whoopsy Daisy! Forgot about white space.

The White Spaces Coalition (?? name ??) is trying to get the small, unused bits of spectrum between currently occupied bits of spectrum to be used for something instead of nothing (or instead of acting as a buffer between transmissions) mainly, wireless internet.

Along the same lines at the concept behind WiMax; use radio frequencies to send data at high speeds to consumers and supersede the need for cable connections. However, unlike WiMax they want to use different (and multiple, dynamic) frequencies.

Someone please correct this if it is incorrect, I am just summarizing what I THINK I have read in the last year or so.

[FRZ @ Mar 28th 2008 6:07PM]

Will the WinMax service itself be free?

[CT A @ Mar 28th 2008 6:16PM]

XOHM = Sprint

[Jeebus @ Mar 28th 2008 8:22PM]

"Will the WinMax service itself be free?"

MUUAHHAHAAAAHAHHAHAHAAAAAHAHAAAA....

[Sam Winter @ Mar 29th 2008 2:47AM]

@usedHONDA

For being so enthusiastic about WiMax, you don't seem to know much. "XOHM" is not a company, its the name brand of Sprint's Wimax service. And no, Wimax most likely will not be this utopian broadband you think it will be. First of all, We don't even know if Sprint's Wimax plans have any future with the company being in such flux recently. There is talk of possible partners coming on board from the cable industry, but nothing has been confirmed or announced. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Sprint succeed and have cheap nationwide Wimax service, but I'm not real confident they'll be able to pull it off.
Additionally, with AT&T and Verizon both having large nationwide networks already with 4G/LTE plans for the future, and now huge wins in the 700mhz auction, they will both be large forces in wireless broadband moving forward.
Hopefully I'm completely wrong though, and Sprint pulls their shit together and rolls out cheap service. The other problem I wonder about is by the time they have it finished, will the ~1-3mbps of average Wimax be good enough? Acknowledging the grand canyon gap between the theoretical and the real-world when it comes to performance of anything having to do with new technology, there has been a LOT of talk about "HSPA+" and LTE/HSOPA having truly massive data rates of 30-250mbps. If Sprint doesn't roll their Wimax network out quickly, Verizon just may have an ultra-fast next-gen network up and running.

[stevee @ Mar 29th 2008 9:45AM]

probably there is wimax in every european country its not american thing (i am fom bulgaria there are more than 4 companies oferring wimax) if you dont know what something is just google it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX

[Nathan @ Mar 28th 2008 5:43PM]

"...we think we might have a hunch what the major differences from the regular N810 are."

DUH! One is silver with blue wallpaper, one is black with orange wallpaper.

[JohnTitor @ Mar 28th 2008 7:59PM]

no man -_-
its the Elite Edition black color

[gerbick @ Mar 28th 2008 10:32PM]

That "orange wallpaper" is also on the regular N810 as the default for one of the other OS 2008 themes.

So the wallpaper isn't indicative enough. The color on the fascia though would be the only giveaway on first look.

So sayeth the man now with a regular N810 :(

[usedHONDA @ Mar 28th 2008 5:48PM]

Great, now all we need is a news bit entitled "Nokia N810 WiMAX reviewed just a little early"

[FRZ @ Mar 28th 2008 5:48PM]

And I was just about to buy the old version. I guess I was just bored with myself.

[sayid @ Mar 28th 2008 5:49PM]

I hope it has the "tilt" faeture.

[sayid @ Mar 28th 2008 5:50PM]

sorry miss type.

[FRZ @ Mar 28th 2008 5:51PM]

I was just dreaming the same thing. That stop my love affair the tilt phone even though I am not even on that carrier.

[holycow @ Mar 28th 2008 6:01PM]

"Your media, Your maps, Your Internet, Make it yours"

I bet they wished they could use the "You make it you" tagline!

[deadfred @ Mar 28th 2008 7:06PM]

Cool

[techFTW @ Mar 28th 2008 7:18PM]

Funsicle

[Zero2007 @ Mar 28th 2008 8:23PM]

Man, and I had already bought my N810 and have had it for a good month! Well, I suppose it's OK since I got it with my discount at BBY, and will probably use my service plan to get a new, updated one later, but...

My thoughts: WiMAX isn't even out yet and I almost totally regretted buying my N810. It's a wonderful device--I actually had to stop myself after reading this article from hating my N810 and think, "WiMAX isn't out yet... and I already have Wi-fi where I need it so..."
UH (University of Hawaii) has wi-fi all over the campus, and I do have home... at the malls, there are Road Runner Speed Zones...

So in the end, I don't really see the WiMAX edition being that appealing to me--it WILL have a bigger audience to attract now, but I think for a lot of people already have wi-fi in the places they need it (I know, I sound as if I'm speaking on behalf of everyone, but the concept of WiMAX is awsome...we just haven't tried or experienced it yet--so I'll speak on the immediate basis for now). On the road or newer places without wi-fi would have the WiMAX edition kicking ass though.

But...just be careful with Maemo (OS2008). The N810 itself doesn't utilize itself fully, and with Maemo being open source, I just hate holding my breath for fixes. One awesome little feature on the N810 is the webcam--but unfortunately, we can't use it for Facebook, youtube, or any other flash-reliant utility that wishes to use the webcam.. since webcam support for flash isn't available on linux yet (there's a bug a bunch of N810/N800 users reported regarding this, but no one knows how to code for it)!

So hopefully, before Nokia decides to pump out more products--I hope they, and I guess Adobe, and developers get together and make the device a little more functional than it is now.

[Max @ Mar 28th 2008 8:21PM]

The picture on the right looks like an iPhone.

[steez @ Mar 28th 2008 8:31PM]

They are making moves, just not too fast. I sold myxohm.com to someone about a month ago and they still haven't put anything up on the site.

[uhn tiss @ Mar 29th 2008 1:12AM]

if they dont give us 2 SDHC slots im gonna be mad

[Valgas @ Mar 29th 2008 10:39AM]

Hope there are other revisions other than just the addition of WiMax

[Valgas @ Mar 29th 2008 12:31PM]

Like make it into a phone and nokia has lots of win.

[Johnie Doe @ May 29th 2008 5:05PM]

There is Wimax in Madison, Wisconsin through TDSmetrocom and there has been for a couple of months now.