Sprint's XOHM WiMax service launching next month, geobrowsing detailed

Sprint's oft-delayed XOHM service is finally about to go live, ready to launch in Baltimore sometime next month ahead of Chicago and D.C. later this year. We already know about the potential joys of city-wide 4G access, so Sprint is taking this opportunity to talk up "geobrowsing," uLocate-based functionality that enables WiMax surfers to get location-specific info on traffic, events, and weather, provided by third-parties like Google and NAVTEQ. With Sprint offering profit sharing and a free API to partners, expect that list to grow quickly if XOHM takes off. What Sprint is not yet offering are the specific pricing details for consumers, but day passes have been confirmed along with longer-term contracts, all able to extended to include multiple devices if you're suitably endowed.

[marty @ Aug 29th 2008 10:35AM]

not gona happen

[PoisonEye @ Aug 29th 2008 10:40AM]

How insightful. Can you tell us what is "gona" happen?

For my part I'll wait and see...this could end up being a very cool thing.

[nerdtalker @ Aug 29th 2008 10:54AM]

Ahh, I see. Your three words have totally changed my thoughts about 4G WiMax.

[OneLove @ Aug 29th 2008 12:16PM]

So what is this magic technology going to do again? (I lost track)

[thedesolate1 @ Aug 29th 2008 8:51PM]

It seems some insider engadget member has tipped us that Wimax will not be rolled out. Sprint stock is falling as we speak after the announcement! when will sprints problems end? first Nextel now this?

[Todd @ Aug 29th 2008 11:06AM]

"...Polivka added there will be day passes..."

Ahhh that's what I like to hear, access broken down to its smallest component of commitment! If true, that's got to be giving the mobile carrier's ulcers when you factor in Skype.

Now if we could just get Android installed onto one of those cool little 810 thingies...Hmmmmm

[mke @ Aug 29th 2008 7:15PM]

Go to www.internettablettalk.com and you can browse their forums and discussions--Android has already been installed on N810s--before the recent announcement of HTC's Dream. link with photos of Android on a Nokia N810 Internet Tablet .

[mke @ Aug 29th 2008 7:17PM]

Whoops here's the link with photos of Android on the N810--http://www.talkandroid.com/65-google-android-nokia-n810/

[Adam @ Aug 30th 2008 11:37AM]

Still waiting for PRICE information

[Jim @ Aug 29th 2008 12:24PM]

I wonder if they'll have a SERO option. ;-)

[Dorville @ Aug 30th 2008 2:03AM]

I have Wimax in my country for 1 year now (Dominican Republic of course), the prices of the Wimax CPEs was high at first, then we cut the price like a half, so the problem here may be the CPEs price.

They have Zyxel "Black Coffee" CPE, hope they are good as the SISO CPE, because Zyxel have a bad reputation in the Wimax World...

[IG @ Aug 29th 2008 11:14AM]

I am an optimist! This is going to happen, and furthermore, now I have an excuse to purchase the Nokia N810 Wimax Edition.

Competition to ATT and the iPhone is a good thing....no...no.......it is a GREAT thing!

[James @ Aug 29th 2008 11:56AM]

I'm praying for this to happen. Not only because I've worked on WiMAX software for the past year, but also because it means COMPETITION. With 3 wireless technologies offering high speed data plans (GSM, CDMA variant, and WiMAX) it can only be better for the consumer. Also I'm hoping for a cheaper data plan without an expensive voice plan - let skype do it for cheap! It's all data in the end.

[crashoverride @ Aug 29th 2008 11:52AM]

Multiple billing options, including one day access, for an ADDITIONAL Wi-Max division with Sprint's billing and customer service?!? HAHAHAHAHAH! That will be the biggest clusterF@#*% in history.

The thought of Sprint resolving a billing or customer service issue in a day or even one call is laughable at best. This is great technology that Sprint cannot support on the people end-like all of their business model problems. It's not often their CDMA network even; it's their billing and customer support. Hopefully Google buys them or VZW or someone with customer support. XOHM good, Sprint support BAD.

[Xenoterranos @ Aug 29th 2008 12:13PM]

What are you blathering about?! I know they had a bad rep in the past, and maybe you got burned, but I've never had an issue with sprint that didn't get resolved the day I called them.

In fact, when I first got my plan 4+ years ago, I had them put a very low level (system wise) block on all text messaging (i was paranoid). The happily obliged, and the IT guys sat on the phone with me as they went through the process.

When I finally got an unlimited plan, they had some trouble removing the hold block. They where all apologizing profusely that they had never seen a hold like this and that they where having trouble taking it off. Not only did they get it fixed, they called me back (the same rep, imagine that) to let me know everything was working, and that I would be refunded a month's worth of texting charges ( 15$).

Anecdotal evidence FTW!

[marc @ Aug 29th 2008 3:22PM]

I'd concur on the customer service troubles (took about 9 months to get them to bill my old PPC6700 right when my wife joined my plan...and after all that i lost the phone as a modem that my data was grandfathered into...if i could kill the salesman who told me my wife could join my plan without changes to my account i would)

that said, Xohm is supposed to be an independent company and should have an independent billing service. It will be interesting to see sprint fold/become encompassed by Xohm and clearwire...but it's going to take awhile. I just want to have a unit that will work on wimax when available an be able to fall back to 3G everywhere else. Still, this may not happen nationally before Lten, which is supposed to be better service.

[shaniac @ Aug 29th 2008 12:00PM]

Contracts? When were contracts ever mentioned? I clearly read that they would be offering the service and devices without contracts. Allowing for more flexibility and no stress for the customer about a contract. I hope it takes off if customers really want this. In the mobile world contracts are more about the deep discounts spread across devices/handsets and customers have said they want to be able to buy at a real world price without a contract...the question is when they can buy this way will they.

[Xenoterranos @ Aug 29th 2008 12:16PM]

Damn, I just realized that it's going to be a LOT harder to justify upgrading to a wimax phone in 2ish years if I buy the HTC Touch Pro next month! 500$ / 24 months is still 20$ a month! ouch!

[Scott Hardy @ Aug 29th 2008 12:27PM]

Folks, keep in mind that their acquisition of Clearwire was 100% for their billing, customer support and network. The management of Clearwire is DYNAMITE and will be driving the WiMax initiatives within Sprint. I still have some friends over there and expect more movement by the end of the year. 2009 will be a GREAT year for WiMax. We'll see handsets coming out and be able to gauge the relative success by the end of Q209.

I'm excited about the possibilities. There has been so much discussion, and now we're FINALLY getting close to seeing some really great products come out. Fingers are crossed for Clearwire and a strong 2009.

Warm Regards,
Scott Hardy
http://www.topclassactions.com

[Paul Fray @ Aug 29th 2008 1:04PM]

What about devices to access the service? Seems to be something coming imposed: not really market ($ and scale) driven... Hope to be wrong, competition is always good...

[ivanotter @ Aug 29th 2008 2:37PM]

Gah I am Xenoterros. I have wanted the Touch Pro, but it is not WiMax.....

GRRRRRR,,,,,

Need to read up more on the WiMax

[Deimos @ Aug 29th 2008 3:27PM]

While the current HTC Touch Pro would require a WiMax compatible chipset in order to operate on Sprint's future 4G network, I don't think it would be too far fetched, to see an updated HTC Touch Pro w/ Android OS/WiMax Chipset/Front Facing Camera/Aluminum Frame, or a version with Windows Mobile 7. Think Treo700p/Treo700w (Palm OS vs Windows OS)

http://www.ctia.org/content/index.cfm/AID/11414

[Adam @ Aug 29th 2008 5:15PM]

You forgot to mention iTunes

[thedesolate1 @ Aug 29th 2008 8:48PM]

It seems that wimax has been going to be launched forever now...

[Dorville @ Aug 30th 2008 2:01AM]

I have Wimax in my country for 1 year now (Dominican Republic of course), the prices of the Wimax CPEs was high at first, then we cut the price like a half, so the problem here may be the CPEs price.

They have Zyxel "Black Coffee" CPE, hope they are good as the SISO CPE, because Zyxel have a bad reputation in the Wimax World...