Russia's Yota pulls the trigger, plans migration from WiMAX to LTE
By Chris Ziegler 
posted May 24th 2010 2:49PM
posted May 24th 2010 2:49PM
Remember what HTC's first WiMAX phone was? The EVO 4G's getting all the attention these days, of course, but it was actually Russia's Yota that announced the so-called MAX 4G with Windows Mobile way back in November of '08. Being first to market doesn't always mean you're the most successful, though -- and in the battle for 4G data, WiMAX seems to be rapidly losing momentum to LTE, including an announcement by Yota late last week that they'd be spending $100 million to roll out LTE in five cities this year on the way to a total of $2 billion. Putting it bluntly, Yota says that "the world's biggest operators and device makers such as Nokia and Samsung have chosen the LTE standard... following the global trend, we are seeking to give our clients the best solutions." In other words, it believes LTE is going to be the "best solution" going forward -- and considering the number of manufacturers, carriers, and industry associations throwing their weight behind it at this point, it's hard to disagree.
So, if a technology in another country(ies) is not to be used by another country, we shouldn't either?
When I see stuff like this, it reminds me of GSM and CDMA. I think just because WiMAX doesn't work there, doesn't mean it won't work here.
I find myself annoyed that these other countries set all these 'standards' and expect us to live by them.
We shall see I guess. But I'm still getting an EVO 4G whether Europe and Asia wants me to or not!
@Jouten
The fact still remains that the majority of America has no 4g coverage. Therefore, the EVO looks good on paper but in the real world, is useless.
Sprint made a bad call not converting their Nextel network to WCDMA, they then wasted their money on WIMAX.
@JKL
But they even said themselves that they could easily combine or transfer to LTE if they wanted to.
@Jouten
The difference is that we can travel with our phones, americans with non-standard network phones can't. I'd say that's a double win for us.
@Jouten
I give Sprint about 3 years to join LTE. Wimax just doesn't cut it... but they will probably have one good year with it.
@Jouten Exactly, I'm tired of peopl bashing Wimax, Wimax is for America right now and there are a million people using it.
And wimax is not even an issue for the Evo. 4g is free with the Evo on Sprint. Please show me where in america you can buy a comparable phone for 199.99 @ 69.99 a month. Its not VZW, At&t, or even tmo... The HD2 costs exactly the same at release for way less features and a much worse network. Look at how much the TP2 or the instinct hd were. Its unrealistic to think you can get the best of both worlds.
And as for european 3g and 4g the Incredible or HD2 have neither for the same price
Nobody mention this to the WIMAX fan club. The same people who ignore posts in sites like dslreports, where people are told from support to move or even open windows to use the service.
This has me on the fence about buying the EVO...> Not operating the "Global" standard could be a downfall of A Great Phone. Especially when Sprint is considering moving towards LTE. The WiMax spectrum is limited as it is. This Not Good News.
@Ardroid
I was disappointed to see that they didn't include a secondary WCDMA GSM module, as hey have done so with other phones.
@JKL > Exactly. Dan Hesse's reason to get 4G Out 1st is not a Win for the Customer it's a Win for the Corporation(Sprint). Because in the long run the customer will not benefit from WiMax. WCDMA would have been better.
@Ardroid
Sir, I'd love to know what the heck are you talking about. America won't be seeing this "LTE standard" until AT LEAST Q2 o 2011, which by then, there will most likely be better phones than the EVO 4G. And it is only VZW that is rolling out LTE, while AT&T and T-Mo don't even seem to have it on their maps yet.
In other words, "WiMax being the downfall of the EVO" is nothing but BS, kthxbai.
Dual mode Wimax/LTE Chips exist.....
The first 4G network to open up was a LTE network. What was the reason for Sprint go their own way?
LTE (telephony focused) is next gen GSM and WiMAX (data focused) is next gen WiFi (mobile), why can't they just simply co-exist?
And if you are still having doubts on getting an HTC EVO 4G, then you were never going to get one to begin with. You were just searching for an excuse not to get one. Plain and simple.