Clearwire to produce portable WiMAX / WiFi router

We can't say a device such as this was inevitable or anything, but given how limited the adoption of WiMAX has been thus far in America, it's definitely a win for everyone involved. According to Sidecut Reports, Clearwire will soon unveil a portable WiMAX / WiFi router built by Cradlepoint (prototype pictured), which will utilize a Motorola WiMAX USB stick to enable WiFi-capable devices to gather 'round and surf on the delightfully speedy WiMAX superhighway. In other words, non-WiMAX handsets that have WiFi modules can tap into the WiMAX network (if they're in a lit locale, that is) via this device, which -- if we may say so ourselves -- is a brilliant design move. There's no word yet on when the box will ship nor how pricey it'll be, but this could be just the thing you've been looking for to replace that painfully expensive cable modem at home.

[Thanks, Jeremy]

[bob @ Jan 13th 2009 7:07PM]

hahahhahahaa

[bill @ Jan 13th 2009 7:09PM]

1st eh' well done you won the prize!

[trevor @ Jan 13th 2009 7:20PM]

WOOP! well done dude!

[matthew @ Jan 13th 2009 7:32PM]

i aspire to gain your skills~! bravo!

[Frank @ Jan 13th 2009 7:38PM]

I want to be IN you!

[finnith @ Jan 13th 2009 8:34PM]

You're so desperate for attention you make up your own!

[El Taco @ Jan 13th 2009 8:55PM]

I lol'd when I realized it was all the same person

[Joe H @ Jan 13th 2009 7:09PM]

This would be great too because you wouldn't need a separate plan for each device. I mean, I know that Clearwire does have a home router, but you'd have to pay $50 for that, plus another $50 for each portable device that has WiMax, which can quickly add up. With this you might not even need the separate home router, depending on your usage.

[chaosrain @ Jan 13th 2009 7:14PM]

Sure it SOUNDS like a good idea. I have a hard time believing that carriers won't cap bandwidth on WiMax like they do with 3G data. If your connection's capped and you get hammered for each additional MB you download, I can't see any reason why you'd want to share your connection. Even if it is with specific people you allow to link up with your router. It's almost like a device like this is designed to encourage users to go over their stated bandwidth cap so the carriers can make a knot on overage fees. They'd never do that, right? Of course they would. On one hand, they'd complain that expanding the network is too costly and on the other they'd tacitly encourage users to blow past their bandwidth limits to generate additional $$, which they'd never pour back into network expansion.

Should a carrier offer TRULY unlimited WiMax, I'm in like Flynn. I'm not holding my breath, though.

[ohforfucksake @ Jan 13th 2009 7:15PM]

that is it! enough is enough! someone please tell me what format this ars@hole blog comments section accepts as an avatar picture!

[ethana2 @ Jan 13th 2009 7:49PM]

Not gravatar.

[Zapp @ Jan 13th 2009 7:24PM]

Let's just hope it doesn't come at the expense of more innovative devices such as the recently deceased N810 w/ WiMax. Straight from the horse's mouth (Scott Richardson, CSO), it was discontinued at least in part because Clearwire refused to sell it. I was waiting for the N810 to get closer to $300 but as a Clearwire customer I was planning on buying one.

They call it a pocket router. I am not up for hauling such an obvious kludge around with me, least of all in my pocket.

What is the usage scenario for a router with two hours of battery life? All of my portable devices last considerably longer. And no, a bigger battery wouldn't solve it, because the thing is f'ing huge already.

[paul-engadget @ Jan 14th 2009 4:49PM]

I think Nokia's decision to can the n800 (or at least suspend manufacture and sales) is quite telling about their expectation of the future of wimax.
OTOH, others speculate it's because Nokia wanted to sell an open device without being locked to carrier and needing its subsidies.

[Dat @ Jan 13th 2009 7:24PM]

I was at the WiMax Launch in Portland...
Photos
http://flickr.com/photos/dontbecreepy/sets/72157612202645330/


The sale rep for clear hinted early spring to middle of spring.
He also hinted it might come with a in-car adapter.

[[e-mail] @ Jan 13th 2009 7:27PM]

For every time WiFi or or WiMAX is mentioned in the article, take a shot of the alcohol beverage of your choice. Afterwords, tell us how drunk you are.

[The WC @ Jan 13th 2009 7:29PM]

For every time WiFi or WiMAX is mentioned in this article, take a shot of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. Afterwards, tell us how drunk you are. Unless you have died of alcohol poisoning.

[Logboy @ Jan 13th 2009 7:33PM]

So this is supposed to be out in Portland, Oregon. Has anyone tried it?

[Dan T @ Jan 13th 2009 8:29PM]

I tried clears wimax service out a couple weeks ago. I signed up for the unlimited 4mb mobile and 6mb Home plan. Unfortunately the usb mobile adapter doesn't work with os x yet and I didn't think to ask before signing up. I was able to tryout the home version as it is a standalone device that works independently of drivers. The download speeds were great but the upload left a lot to be desired. If I wasn't into online gaming I would have canceled Comcast and kept the service. For now I don't have much use for this until they get the mobile version working with OS X. I love the idea of eventually being able to use this with my laptop in cafes/coffee shops/wherever without worrying about finding a place with free wifi.

The only negative outside of the slow upload speeds was the return process. You can't just drop the equipment back off at the store you got it from and get a refund. You have to call a number and explain why you are canceling (you have 1 week from purchase to get out of your contract). Then they ask you a bunch of annoying questions like "do you know somebody who would want to sign up for our service that you could give your hardware to?" Eventually they accept your cancelation request and email you UPS stickers to ship the hardware back. Kind of annoying.

[Charles @ Jan 14th 2009 4:32AM]

Hey Dan, I was considering this as an option to get out of the endless Comcast cycle but I have the same problem. I run a Mac, and I'd like to be able to use it with XBox Live. Did you ever do a speedtest? If so, what were the results? How is the coverage? I'm in inner southeast so it probably wouldn't be too bad. Even though it apples-to-oranges, those crappy metro-wifi hotspot thingies are still on the light signals reminding me how crappy this whole thing could be.

[Del @ Jan 13th 2009 8:23PM]

yawn... this is what passes for news these days? We've had these in the UK for months, and they're a quarter of the size of this piece of junk!! Check out http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/Huawei_D100_Router

[Paul Kapustka @ Jan 14th 2009 1:30AM]

Thanks for the link guys! Scott Richardson, Clearwire strategy officer, did say the device will cost somewhere around $125 and be available soon -- like February. He also said it would probably be smaller, "like a hockey puck."

We will post all the info at Sidecut Reports as soon as we hear from Clearwire.

[Paul Kapustka @ Jan 14th 2009 1:35AM]

That's http://www.sidecutreports.com

[FILA @ Jan 14th 2009 1:51AM]

Baltimore raise up!

Saw these in the mall the other day actually, well maybe not this particular model or whatever, but a bunch of adapters and routers.

[Justin @ Jan 15th 2009 2:09AM]

This is fucking awesome, am buying.

[keithwwalker @ Jan 15th 2009 3:41PM]

If Clearwire sells an HTC (Max 4G) or Nokia phone that can be tethered, I am ON BOARD. Otherwise, it is not worth the bother