Sprint goes live with XOHM WiMAX service in downtown Baltimore

In an apparent effort to make good on its claim of having WiMAX rolling in Baltimore this month, Sprint is reportedly going live with the service in the downtown area today. There's no indication of when it'll spread XOHM throughout Charm City, but we're hearing that prices will start at $10 for a 24-hour unlimited pass and $35 for monthly service. Best of all, there won't be any contracts necessarily attached, and WiMAX-friendly laptop cards will supposedly start at around $45. For any locals able to actually find one of these so-called aircards and hop on this elusive XOHM network today, be sure and let us know how it goes.

[Via USAToday]

[nanobis @ Sep 29th 2008 7:15AM]

If only we were getting this in the uk.

[drathos @ Sep 29th 2008 8:57AM]

@Big Al
What? Being known as the town that had not one, but two football teams walk out on you isn't good enough?

[OneLove @ Sep 29th 2008 10:49AM]

5G is better!

[haX0r @ Sep 29th 2008 6:07PM]

I though OG was better?

[avester @ Sep 29th 2008 7:19AM]

I'd prefer 3G, thank you.

[Mam00th @ Sep 29th 2008 7:40AM]

Wait, what?

[michas_pi @ Sep 29th 2008 8:02AM]

@avester:

But WiMAX is 4G connectivity...

[Bob @ Sep 29th 2008 9:34AM]

Ok, have fun playing with your 3G. I, on the other hand, will wait for WiMax (or switch over from 3G when available). With a $35 maximum data plan, I could buy that and then just install Skype on my WiMax enabled PDA (will probably be out very soon) and pay the $35 for the service and ~$5 per month for the incoming and outgoing Skype services... Assuming WiMax could pinpoint your location for WE911 purposes.

[Big Al @ Sep 29th 2008 8:31AM]

WiMAX is actually a part of "IMT-2000", which is what everyone in the mobile industry accepts as "3G" technology. People like to throw around the "4G" term, but it hasn't been defined yet by the ITU. Even LTE is applying for official recognition as a part of "IMT-2000".

Off topic, when I tell most of my friends in Korea I'm from Baltimore, most of say, "Oh! Isn't that the place in 'Hairspray'?" Now, I can tell them, "Yes... but it's also home to Sprint's first XOHM network." Of course, then they'll ask me "What's XOHM?", but it's better than just having my hometown recognized from a musical...

[avester @ Sep 29th 2008 9:20AM]

Why is 4G any better than 3G, WCDMA gives 7,2mb/s and it's quite good for most people

Do we need 2 crappy networks that need different aircards/handsets and 2 payments to 2 companies?

1 good network that would work anywhere woule be a lot better.

And cheaper.

[anantha92 @ Sep 29th 2008 10:05AM]

Because wimax is 70mbps? It is the future. Why didnt we just stay at 2G with gprs then?

[xman @ Sep 29th 2008 10:25AM]

WiMax is considered 4G only b/c of its speed (significantly faster than EV-DO and HSUPA) not b/c of the standard. It was basically Wifi with unbelievable range (something like 30miles and it is suppose to penetrate buildings better).
I think they are too slow getting this thing out. I thought the cost/range was an advantage, but that is yet to be seen, and I think Sprint has taken so long b/c of costs. LOL

[haX0r @ Sep 29th 2008 6:04PM]

@ avester -

3G - http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3504_7-5664933-1.html

4G - http://www2.nortel.com/go/solution_content.jsp?segId=0&catId=0&parId=0&prod_id=61702

"4G mobile broadband provides improved performance, lower total cost of ownership and enables a new era of personalized services. 4G networks are IP-based and flatter with fewer nodes to manage. The benefits are significant and can make 4G mobile broadband a truly disruptive technology providing service providers a cost-effective way to deploy next generation technology and services and redefining the end-user experience."


It's like comparing apples to seeds.

I suggest you start reading because there is a big difference idiot.

[Awake @ Sep 29th 2008 6:58PM]

@ xman

Exactly, Wimax transmits a signal similar to the way Wifi transmits it's signal, it's like Wifi on roids. Other than being much-much faster and a much larger range, Wimax use a Microwave signal that reaches 30 miles as you said. I believe that signal is achieved by one base station, that gives you an idea of how strong Wimax is.

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 29th 2008 7:45AM]

Something else to screw us with!

[Saint @ Sep 29th 2008 7:48AM]

You do know that WiMax is faster than 3G?

[Derek @ Sep 29th 2008 7:51AM]

Notably so - and with low cost contract-free entry points, it seems like when it reaches around my parts, I'd be remiss if I didn't give it a try.

[avester @ Sep 29th 2008 9:21AM]

The joy of having more than 7.2mb/s...

Just to get capped to 1gb/mo.

Thank you greedy operators!

[Mam00th @ Sep 29th 2008 9:32AM]

I'm going to tell you one word, just one word. Are you listening? Latency

[Forrest @ Sep 29th 2008 10:00AM]

I'm glad you brought up the "L" word. I love that I can tether, but when I do so I'm usually playing online games. So I don't need much in terms of speed, but I'd like to have sub-300ms latency to the game server - which I typically have no problem getting when on a wired connection.

I'm lucky to get 600 using the phone, and at times it can sit at 1200. When it gets that high, even surfing can get annoying. Is latency on a WiMax connection supposed to be better?

[MikeC @ Sep 29th 2008 8:17AM]

Saw a little golf cart/booth/space ship type mobile advertisement platform parked at the corner of light and pratt st the other day..... not sure if it was just demos or swag but I'll check it out today.

[Cajaks2 @ Sep 29th 2008 8:28AM]

If i have the extra cash to spend on a wimax card I will probably check it out...Although according to teh website im just out of coverage area. I wonder if i can get a better antenna

[bob sakamano @ Sep 29th 2008 8:28AM]

i didnt know there was internet in baltimore

[Big Al @ Sep 29th 2008 8:36AM]

People from Baltimore need something to distract them from the disaster that is Peter Angelos' reign as owner of the O's...

[Murray @ Sep 29th 2008 8:58AM]

Big Al it's called the Baltimore Ravens...haven't had to care about the O's for years now.

[compuguy1088 @ Sep 29th 2008 2:21PM]

There is a distraction.....the Washington Nationals! Its especially great when they play against each other :D

[bob sakamano @ Sep 29th 2008 9:05AM]

i wish i was a sprint wimax model like these guys

[andyvp @ Sep 29th 2008 9:11AM]

it's the way of the future...the way the future...the future

[DssTrainer @ Sep 29th 2008 9:21AM]

Oooh! Can we play the caption game with that pic!?

[Forrest @ Sep 29th 2008 10:03AM]

Of course we can!

"Show me all the slides you want, but I'm not buying any of your crappy hair care products. They clearly don't work!"

[DssTrainer @ Sep 29th 2008 10:24AM]

"ok, now type: g-o-a-t-s-e-dot.........."

[DssTrainer @ Sep 29th 2008 10:25AM]

"WoW! This WiMax works great when I plug my cat-5 cable directly into the tower. But is that the way it is supposed to work?"

[manny @ Sep 29th 2008 9:25AM]

finally they are starting to roll it out, because the faster that sprint rolls out Wimax the more pressure they will put on at&t to upgrade HSPA release 7. which could potentially support speeds up to 20Mbts.
Does anyone know what types of speeds can we expect from sprint's wimax?

[theMongol @ Sep 29th 2008 9:31AM]

We already have WiMax in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It's very reliable - more than my wired connection. It's a little more expensive than the service in Baltimore and speeds are slow. But all internet companies in Ulaanbaaatar have slow speeds.

[edward @ Sep 29th 2008 9:41AM]

Does it support tower hopping?

[neodorian @ Sep 29th 2008 9:56AM]

I live in Baltimore but I have no card. I signed up as a tester but I don't find out about that for another couple of weeks at least. The prices are on par with what I pay for DSL so that's a nice touch and unlike what someone else said about caps, they aren't capping that I know of. They have a "soft cap" of 5gb on 3G but I've passed mine and never been charged. I have always heard the caps were to get power users on the new services anyway. Fair of not at least it's cheaper than cable and I'd be able to get it all over town. I really hope I get in the testing group. I could use the laptop and I'm honestly thinking about ditching Verizon DSL and just getting this if it's any good.

[Tom @ Sep 29th 2008 11:23AM]

I've got a WiMAX receiver here and response times are around 40-50 ms for me. It's quite fast and reliable, but then again the transmitter is far from fully populated :)

[Rainier @ Sep 29th 2008 11:32AM]

Without the limited time offers:

Home service: $35/month normally
Mobile service: $45/month normally
Both services: $65/month normally

3G WWAN service is $60/month

I expect the major US carriers to lower their rates to $45 to match WiMAX's rates. Competition is good.

[sr @ Sep 29th 2008 4:14PM]

Yeah but most of use get by with the $20 package for 3G. Charging more for mobile access is really unnecessary.

[phanbouy @ Sep 29th 2008 11:55AM]

XOHMG

that is all

[Steve @ Sep 29th 2008 1:42PM]

Well well, now you can go to BAL-TEE-MORE and have BIG FUN

Isn't that right? BIG FUN in BAL-TEE-MORE

(10 points for whoever gets the reference)

[whizdumb @ Sep 29th 2008 1:47PM]

Baltimore and wimax but why? That's all I can think, baltimore is a shithole I know I lived there for four years. And although the city holds alot of potential I can't see this really catching on. In a city where there are almost as many murders as there are days, wimax is the last thing this city needs.

[Laurel @ Sep 29th 2008 5:14PM]

That's why Baltimore isn't the only test market. The other test markets are Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. with Boston, Philadelphia, and Dallas to follow.

[frank @ Sep 29th 2008 6:29PM]

@ Laurel:
Yeah, I thought Chicago was like THE test market. A year ago, almost to the day, they did a live test. The Engadget post said we could expect a soft launch in late '07 and a live date of April 08.

[Bmoreal @ Sep 29th 2008 11:42PM]

You need to take that shit somewhere else. Baltimore has some VERY nice areas, and nice, wealthy suburbs.
The downtown by the water is getting very nice, Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, 700k condos, new Gucci store coming.
Bmore's much nicer than Philly. And, you know DC used to be a big ass ghetto too like 15 yrs ago.
Any major city on the East Coast has all the potential in the world to redevelop. And, Baltimore's doing it.
Where the hell are you from jackass?

[Shahryar @ Sep 29th 2008 2:26PM]

I believe DC's next now right? I don't really spend much time in Baltimore and am in DC a few times a week. Being someone who lives halfway between Baltimore & DC, I wonder if these WiMAX signals will reach me. If not, I wonder how soon.

Even then, I don't have a WiMAX device. I wish the new iPod Touch had WiMAX.

[pball_inuyaha @ Sep 29th 2008 5:15PM]

wow 10 dollars a day is Steep, that is 10 times the perday cost almost. Other wise sounds cool. So what kinda of speeds are possible and what speeds will they give you?

[Omar's comming @ Sep 30th 2008 7:07AM]

The real question is if McNulty and Freamon can get a wire up on that bitch.