Clear says not to expect any WiMAX smartphones before end of 2010
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 9th 2010 5:19AM
posted January 9th 2010 5:19AM
Clear might be busy bringing WiMAX to as many places as it can, but it looks like that won't include smartphones -- like that just-rumored HTC device for Sprint -- anytime soon. That word comes from Phone Scoop, who reportedly confirmed directly with Clear that it doesn't expect to see any WiMAX-equipped smartphones until at least the end of 2010. The company did say that it expects to see more WiMAX phones available in 2011, however, and that any "phone-type device" that uses WiMAX would use either VoIP or Sprint's CDMA network for voice calls. Not surprisingly, Clear didn't drop any hints about exactly who those WiMAX phones might come from.
That's what I was expecting. Wouldn't want it to use WiMax for voice just yet. Just like I wouldn't want for Verizon to use LTE for voice in their first LTE handsets.
@KingCoop
CLEAR already has VOIP with their CLEAR Voice adapters..
What are they waiting for really? Having at least one smartphone should be a top priority. It has to be a worthy web device though.
Any early mover advantage they have over LTE is quickly being squandered.
@Aridon Squander is Sprint's middle name
boo :(
@roykim
seconded
I still find it odd that Sprint is using Wimax as a 4G mobile broadband techonology as most of the world sees it more as a "fixed line replacement" solution - i.e. modems not handsets. They really seem to be the only major provider in the world not using LTE for the mobile 4G solution. (Prove me wrong everyone)
@jpfree
your facts are really not supported. WiMax currently covers 450MM POP's globally, and is expected to hit 850MM POP's by year end 2010. LTE is a great technology but has NOT rolled out in one single market in the USA yet, not once, by any carrier. Although Verizon, and ATT plan to use it, they are in the BETA stages. Sprint has gone with Clearwire, because they have the most bandwidth 43Billion MHZ at 2.5GHz. Spectrum is far more important than the technology.
@jpfree Nobody, outside of two European cities, is using LTE, either.
Clear needs to improve tech support. I tried it out and neither of the home base modems I tried worked. They kept asking me to reconfigure my browser, while I was sending pings out with a 30% packet success rate. The USB modem worked well, but unlike what they advertise in the commercial I would not depend on it to play WOW on the bus. When it switched towers it would loose connection and that could last from a few seconds to almost a minute. Also when I passed under the CTA L it seemed to loose connection as well.
They need some more towers before I start looking for VOIP over their service, but I think that they has promise.
@glamajamma It's clearly(ha) stated in all of their materials that Clear isn't intended or supported for gaming. For the record though, I've played CS:S and ping about 90.
More than likely Sprint told them to say this, I really don't expect Clear to drop any mobile phones anyway....only boardband cards...Sprint will be the only ones releasing the mobile phones....
Well Clear, fuck you...
And Palm, I really want this to be false.
DON'T DO IT - CLEAR DOES NOT WORK AS ADVERTISED. JUST FILED COMPLAINT WITH BBB FOR FALSE ADVERTISING!! In addition to charging my credit card TWICE with a $195 pre-authorization fee plus the $172 for equipment - (read $600 in charges when I signed up!)
Their hardware does not work with Mac hardware as advertised! They do have a fix but they will only let you pay for it at an ADDITIONAL $139 DOLLARS!!!!! Logged over 200 minutes in phones calls to get credit card refunded and try to get solution for Mac issue. They rather you cancel.