Clearwire promises Clear-branded HTC and Samsung WiMAX phones this year
By Chris Ziegler 
posted May 5th 2010 6:56PM
posted May 5th 2010 6:56PM
Without going into much detail, Clearwire mentioned on its first quarter earnings call today that WiMAX-capable phones bearing the Clear name from both Samsung and HTC are "expected" to be available before 2010's out, which is a pretty optimistic affirmation of comments the company made earlier this year. It describes the Sammy as "an Android-based 3G/4G/WiFi device optimized for heavy video and video communications use," while the HTC's language leaves out the platform -- it's just called "a 3G/4G/WiFi enabled phone," leading us to believe that this puppy could very well be running Windows Phone 7. If that's the case, we can understand why HTC wouldn't want Clearwire spilling the beans since they've yet to officially announce any plans for jumping into the WinPho 7 game. In fact, Clearwire went so far as to say on the call that the HTC device would not be the EVO 4G, so yeah, we can totally buy that there's some Microsoft action going on behind the scenes here.As for Clearwire's health, it has seen a 94 percent year-over-year boost in total WiMAX subscribers for a total just shy of a million -- and interestingly, the overwhelming majority of those are retail, not wholesale, meaning that folks are running Clear-branded equipment. We expect that to change dramatically once Sprint's Overdrive gets a little more penetration and the EVO comes into play, but for now, some 814,000 customers are familiar with the Clear logo. They lost a hair over $94 million in the quarter, but hey, in the scheme of things, that's peanuts -- building out networks isn't a cheap endeavor, after all.
DARN IT!
Way to kill my EVO DREAMS! Now I am lusting over some other phone that will come after the Evo that is better, faster, and by this post attitude, cooler :(
Why ? Why technology are thou so cruel! ( sometimes this announcement do hurt. I have been waiting on the perfect phone for 2 years now lol - I know I am stupid for thinking THE phone will be always THE phone )
@TikiTeko > You're mad because the EVO wont be able to out-beast upcoming technology after it? might want to reconsider that thought process chief.
@IAMKITTY I know lol it is just a but hard considering the vast amount of info always getting steamed about new phones. I think part of my treatment to overcome this mental condition would be to once I get my EVO, to stop visiting tech sites for a year, or at least for the 30 days of buyer remorse period.
Only the HTC one will be of any quality, the Samsung one will have a terrible GUI over Android, and bad button placement as usual.
@TikiTeko
By your logic, I wouldn't have gotten my 5870 video card knowing that 6870 will be released next year...
If Clear comes out with something like the HTC HD2 Mix with the style/functional keyboard of the Sony Experia X1/X2a then I'm totally in.
@TikiTeko
Dude, believe me. There are always going to be better phones in the future. The thing is though that the EVO has so many features that it will be a game changer. Basically the only thing that future phones will have that is better than the EVO is a faster processor and a better screen. I mean come on, the thing even has an FM radio.
@TikiTeko, the EVO is "optimized for heavy video and video communications use" as well, It will be marketed that way. There is a front facing camera on the EVO for a reason. We're talking about, Netflix, Hulu, Youtube HD Movies, etc. Oh yeah, it can make phone calls too!
@scorpeo awesome! I did read something about a hulu app and netflix that would be radical. ! Can't wait
@TikiTeko, Sprint said the EVO is the first device where Sprint is thinking data/video features first. Global IP Solutions have made their video-engine available to Android developers and all developers, who are writing video-chat software for the EVO.
@MegaJapan I think it's slightly different when dealing with carriers, contracts and phones with select bands. A better comparison would be to say not leasing a vehicle (though obviously a much more costly investment).
Why the hell would it be Clear-branded? Sprint would have much more recognition.
@HurricaneDC
Doesn't matter. Sprint owns a majority of clear, and branding it clear could help with any negative stigma that sprint may bring.. Or maybe it's that other carriers will have wimax too. Who knows.
@zeroinfinity2
But who the hell is Clear?
What?
Exactly.
@Plazmic Flame Who the hell is Clear is better than Spotty Sprint
@HurricaneDC Since Sprint owns the majority of Clear anyway they are probably allowing Clear to do this to gather customers who have something specifically against the Sprint name.
Sort of like how I have something specifically against AT&T (do to past experiences) and will never buy their crap. If only the iPhone had been available somewhere else I would probably have one now. but with the EVO coming out and all the new 4g phones on the horizon I don't feel like i missed out too much.
@rDub (due to past experiences) ... me english are gets bettering
Trying to brand a backend concept to a consumer target audience is throwing money away.
Who needs another logo/brand?
What could be clearer than "3G/4G/WiFi device optimized for heavy video and video communications use"?
@Oscarson3 oh wait, so it will be marketed thru clearwire? I thought it would go thru sprint, just have a co-logo of Clearwire, net to sprint, and HTC, and whatever other logo the phone may have (FCC, with Google, etc.)
@TikiTeko You understood it the same way as I did. :)
The word 'branding' seemed to have confused things.
@Oscarson3 that means on the back instead of powered by google it will say powered by google and clear
@TikiTeko I'm thinking it would be like the Samsung Mondo, but with Sprint 3G as well and with Clear branding, not Sprint. In all likelihood, Sprint could end up carrying the same device.
"HTC's language leaves out the platform -- it's just called "a 3G/4G/WiFi enabled phone," leading us to believe that this puppy could very well be running Windows Phone 7"
OH HELL YESSS!!
@shishi I am glad you are excited ... I WAS but then after hearing about all the gimping; no removable storage, no multitasking, etc I have sorta lost that excitement. I hope it isn't as bad as it has been made out to be, when it comes out; but for now WinPho 7 is a no go for me.
Interesting that besides these two devices, Sprint will have a Motorola, LG, and Palm WiMax device too. Hmm.
@Sin City let's hope they do son, let's hope they do
@Sin City plus, Palm + HP = awesomeness!!!!
Is it Phat? No, it's Phalm.
Just get it out...I dont care whose logo is on it as long as you dont nascar it all up.
So what is the difference between clearwire and lte? If they are both fast what does it matter. Can someone tell me.. One is 50mbps and the other is 60??? Fast is fast right? Good luck sprint. i really wish you used a sim card. sometimes i travel and need to use a sim :/ good luck though. i am rooting for you.
@Mike Vick hmmm, new sprint phones come with a sim card slot. I have one to prove it. (also Verizon)
@Mike Vick, the difference between Clear-Wimax and LTE, Wimax is basically "WiFi on steroids". Wimax is more similar to an internet connection, it's optimized for heavy video/data use. It's easier to have a Wimax backhaul push a WiFi signal as opposed to LTE. LTE is in the GSM family, more similar to a wireless cell phone signal. Many can argue which is "faster", lets wait until LTE hits the real world to see which is in fact faster, Wimax or LTE.
it will probably get just as crappy service as I get with clear at home.
@jldv6125se
exactly - i have better connection speeds with 3g and EDGE than I do with my clear account any day of the week.
@bpm2000
that's a bummer, I get 7mbs consistently with my company U301 and not uncommonly see 10mbs. 100+ is suppose to roll out later this year too... hmmm.
Still not interested in a pure VOIP device unless they plan to partner with Sprint for CDMA coverage. Also will they hotspot like the EVO? I don't think my plans have changed, EVO all the way.
@drewsmobiletech You are lucky. I know most of the people in the city I live in that have clear or had it get nothing but horrible speeds. Some days you can get about 2 mbps download others 1 mbps. Most days upload is about 786 K. all of it is slower than what I pay for.
What city are you in?
after using an unlimited, contract free 3g mobile plan for my laptop and using an unlimited, contract free clearwire 4g mobile plan for my laptop the difference is just too great to go back to 3g. a 4g phone is the only way to go now that i've been using 4g mobile internet. i know 4g is very sparse compared to 3g which is a considerable drawback but it's expanding. if you've got clearwire in your neighborhood. you're really, really lucky and the price is soooooooooooo right. i encourage all to jump on the bandwagon if it's in your area
@boofay, I will not mention, by years end Sprints 4G footprint will be larger than At&t's 3G network, oooops!
Clearwire is the future!!
Though I bet AT&T or Sprint (more likely) will merge with them in a few years
@Stevenk genious. Sprint owns the majority stake of clear already. There's no need for a merger. Sprint co-founded the new clearwire frm the old clearwire. So that clear cld focuss on the network build out while sprint wld continew to fight there costumer loss problems... N yes. Clear is defenitly the future. Go sprint
I'm hoping that one of them is a QWERTY slider. I need my physical keyboard and desperately want to upgrade from my TouchPro.
Well, there's my hopes for a 4G Palm phone.
@chiliu78
If only! HTC will never come out with a Palm phone anyway. I'd rather know HP/Palm's device road map so I could decide if the EVO is a good placeholder until the next WebOS phone arrives.
So let me get this straight. It will be Clear branded but run on Sprint's network since Clear doesn't have a cell network of their own, right?
@hurricane87 Sprint owns Clear, well 51%. Essentially, Sprint's 4g network came from purchasing that 51% and Clear only does 4g now with their base price ($15/month/device for 3g add-on). That is all on Sprints network.
Actually just got my Overdrive today. It's a sweet unit. Couldn't be easier, and the shared drive is a nice addition.
You guys forgot the most important part of that article... "Clearwire also today announced plans to launch 4G mobile broadband service in 19 additional cities this summer, including previously announced markets Kansas City, KS; St. Louis, MO; Salt Lake City, UT, and the core area of Washington, D.C. and newly announced markets Nashville, TN; Daytona, Orlando and Tampa, FL; Rochester and Syracuse, NY; Merced, Modesto, Stockton, and Visalia, CA; Wilmington, DE; Grand Rapids, MI; Eugene, OR; and Yakima and Tri-Cities, WA. "
Is this the same Clearwire wimax service that has been 100% down for the last three weeks? It's kinda hard to tell if that's nationwide or just in my state because each of their techs has a completely different story. Either way, it doesn't matter how super-awesome their coverage or devices are if they can't keep their network running.
nice, get this phone with 4g, tether to my home pc and have high speed internet, and good bye to comcast AND ATT! $$$ back in my pocket!
I have heard that the HTC phone will definitely be running Microsoft so I am going to stick with the EVO.