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Clearwire boosts NYC WiMAX coverage by 21 percent, 91,363 people rejoice uncontrollably
Consider yourself a New Yorker? If so, you could find yourself underneath Sprint / TWC / Clearwire's 4G umbrella, as the trio has announced a 21 percent coverage expansion in the greater New York City area. Folks in Alpine, Bayonne, Elizabeth, Fair Lawn, Newark, Paramus, Secaucus, Union, NJ; and Hartsdale, New Rochelle, New York, Rockville Centre, Yonkers, NY will now be covered in the regional Clear network, and as of last count, that amounts to an extra 91,363 people. 'Course, a few newcomers will be born every minute, so maybe we've breached 91,369 by now. Or maybe more. Talk about confusing.
TUAW's Daily Mac App: Onyx
Cleaning up a Mac is something many users never do, but if you want to squeeze all the performance and disk space you can out of your Mac, you need a tool like Onyx. A free multi-purpose utility, Onyx lets you run a myriad of system tasks such as disk maintenance, cache clean-up and index rebuilding. You can use Onyx to clear away the cobwebs that collect in things like the browser cache, font caches, boot, kernel and extension caches, as well as logs from crash reporters, system diagnostics and Software Update. If that wasn't enough, you can also get Onyx to delete previous iTunes libraries, the QuickTime Content Guide, recent items lists and even Mail downloads. OK, you can do most of these things yourself manually, but Onyx makes it fast and easy to do it all from one place. Cleaning isn't the only talent Onyx has -- it's able to do quite a few maintenance and repair tasks such as verifying your startup disk, which it will do on it's first run automatically. By rebuilding the Spotlight Index or LaunchServices, you can often cure small corruption issues with your Mac. You can check the S.M.A.R.T. status of your internal disks, verify file structure and fix disk permissions without having to open Disk Utility. Onyx will also let you change some hidden preferences in Finder and other Apple programs such as iTunes and Mail, allowing you to tweak a few things here and there. Onyx is a great free system utility that we've covered many times in the past and which allows you to perform a load of different tasks all from one application. If you're interested in cleaning out OS X, download Onyx today. By the way, Onyx also works well with OS X Lion.
Clear Spot 4G sails through the FCC, heading to WiMAX territories soon
Remember that Clear Spot 4G that was unveiled a fortnight or so ago? Hello, again! The so-called WIXFMM-122 has just made its way into the FCC's blossoming database, boasting 4G-only hotspot functionality (here we're talking WiMAX, not LTE), a minuscule display for showcasing signal strength and battery life, and support for up to eight simultaneous connections. Per usual, there's no information regarding a solid price or release, but given the inability to switch over to a 3G network if necessary, we're guessing it'll go for a song.
Clearwire ditches plans to produce phones, satisfied Sony Ericsson drops logo lawsuit
We thought Clearwire might have had a chance at legal victory against Sony Ericsson, but the wireless carrier has apparently dropped out of the ring. Clearwire told a federal court it no longer plans to produce a smartphone -- which basically nullified Sony Ericsson's worry that upcoming Clearwire handsets would oh-so-similar swirling orb logo. As a result, Sony Ericsson's reporting today that it's dropped the trademark infringement lawsuit, which sounds good for all involved, except it leaves Clearwire not producing much of anything now.
Clearwire posts Q1 loss amid record subscribers, decides not to sell spectrum after all
You know you're having a wacky quarter when it involves a resigning CEO, lawsuits, and rumors that one of your wholesale partners is courting your potential replacement. But can you still come out on top? Clearwire answered this question during yesterday's Q1 2011 earnings report to investors, and the answer is just as intriguing as the quarter itself. Though it posted a substantial revenue of $242 million, the company was also inflicted with a net loss of $227 million. Don't worry, it gets crazier -- Clearwire experienced record subscriber growth, seeing an increase of 533 percent year-over-year from Q1 2010. Sounds like a contradiction, right? A few factors led to the loss, such as higher costs from network expansion and writing off the "abandonment of projects that no longer fit within management's strategic network plans." A loss is a loss, but at least the future looks brighter; Clearwire predicts it will end the year with nearly a million more subs than originally forecasted (9.5 million, up from 8.8). Saving the best news for last, CEO John Stanton announced his company is no longer feeling the pressure to sell off some of its spectrum, primarily due to its recent $1 billion deal with Sprint. The deal will add enough cash flow to sustain network operations for the next year, so Clearwire just needs to make sure it uses some of the extra cash to buy us all something pretty. The full press release can be found after the break.
Clearwire ditches Rover pre-paid WiMAX service
It's been less than a year since it went live, but Clearwire has now officially dropped its Rover pre-paid WiMAX service, saying that it was simply a way to "test some new pay-as-you-go pricing options and was offered on a limited retail basis in a couple markets." As you may recall, the brand offered just two products -- the Rover Puck WiFi hotspot and a USB stick -- and it gave customers the ability to purchase 4G WiMAX service on a daily, weekly or monthly basis starting at just $5 a day. As a Clearwire spokesperson explains to FierceWireless, however, the company is not giving up on pre-paid options altogether, and says that it's own new no-contract plans "should meet the needs of most of the Rover customer base."
Best Buy Connect takes the 4G leap, now stocking over 20 WiMAX products
Took 'em long enough! Nearly a full year has elapsed between the time that Best Buy announced that its 'Connect' program would support 4G and the time that it actually started stocked 4G gear. In fact, the company actually took the time to sign up for LightSquared's wholesale LTE service a full week prior to making good on its commitment to Clearwire, which may or may not say anything about the future viability of WiMAX. At any rate, those who'd prefer to sift through mounds of peripherals (and be hounded at the exit by employees attempting to hawk product protection plans) in order to buy their 4G service can now do just that. BB Connect stores in the US will offer unlimited 4G service for $45 per month with a month-to-month or two-year contract, and if you choose the latter, the $35 activation fee will be waived and a hardware subsidy ("up to $150") will be yours. So, you digging in, or feeling the tug of Long-Term Evolution?
Clearwire CEO Bill Morrow resigns
Citing "personal reasons," Clearwire boss Bill Morrow has rather suddenly stepped down from his positions both as CEO and executive board director. Replacing him on an interim basis will be John Stanton, current chairman of the board and former CEO of VoiceStream (a company you may know better as T-Mobile USA). Now, it's no secret that Clearwire has been under a bit of pain lately -- it's scaled back its ambitious growth plans and shelved its retail strategy, not to mention the fact that 4G partner Sprint has been seen carousing with both LightSquared and T-Mobile lately -- so it stands to reason that Morrow may have had a little help being shown the door. Follow the break for Clearwire's full press release.
Sony's see-through Alpha DSLR gets the hands-on treatment, probably won't get a launch date
We've been teasing you with images of this see-through beauty since Sony announced plans to bring its translucent mirror to the A77. Unfortunately, we've still yet to get our dirty paws on its hard shell, but we're happy to live vicariously through Pocket-lint's hands-on of Sony's clear-bodied Alpha camera. According to its post, the concept DSLR is based on a heretofore unidentified mid-range camera that touts an Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and "fast continuous autofocus." The camera is slated for a late 2011 release, but chances are it won't come with that sweet transparent body. So soak it up while you can, because this could be the last you see of the crystalline casing -- hit the source link for even more eye candy.
Sprint allegedly talking to LightSquared over 4G infrastructure deal, Clearwire should be sweating
Bloomberg is citing "three people familiar with the talks" (it's not often that we get a specific number!) as saying that LightSquared is in active negotiations with Sprint to use its network infrastructure as it builds out its L-band LTE network. As you might recall, LightSquared is the would-be 4G wholesaler that is in the process of repurposing some satellite spectrum for terrestrial LTE use -- a concept the FCC has approved, but concerns over GPS interference could end up delaying or derailing the strategy altogether if they aren't solved to everyone's satisfaction. Of course, building out any sort of national terrestrial wireless network is a multi-billion dollar, multi-year type of venture, and presumably a tie-up with Sprint to use some of its hardware would help move matters along. What this means for Sprint's existing dealings with Clearwire is unclear; the two operate a WiMAX network together, after all, but the carrier has made it clear in the past that LTE could definitely be an option in the future.
Sprint talks seriously about LTE, suggests it could complement WiMAX
We've already heard Sprint do some talking about LTE at Mobile World Congress this week, but the company's Senior Vice President of Networks, Bob Azzi, has now gone even further in an interview with PC World, where he seems to have suggested that a switch to LTE is all but inevitable. In fact, Azzi is reported to have said that "with the spectrum holdings we have, WiMAX is not an option," and he further went on to note that even with Sprint's majority stake in Clearwire, it still only has "indirect ownership" of Clearwire's spectrum holdings. So what's it going to do? Azzi suggested that an LTE network which complements its current WiMAX network might be the answer, and he even suggested that we could see tri-band LTE phones with a WiMAX radio "velcroed on." He did, of course, point out that no decision has been made just yet, simply stating that "the question is how to keep growing," and that "it's about having a plan."
Clearwire wins initial round against Sony Ericsson in trademark bout
The fight isn't over, but round one has certainly gone to Clearwire. Last month, Sony Ericsson sued the company for a logo that it thought to be too similar. And, indeed, they're both vaguely swirly green blobs (that's SE's orb on the left). However, Clearwire has issued a statement indicating that a federal court isn't so concerned, finding "insufficient evidence of likelihood of confusion and no irreparable harm," denying a motion for a preliminary injunction. It's unlikely that the case will go much further from here, but the final bell certainly hasn't rung just yet. The full statement is below.
WSJ: Clearwire moving away from retail, will concentrate on network wholesale business
Though it apparently doesn't have any plans in place to close its existing 140 stores around the country, The Wall Street Journal is reporting this evening that network operator Clearwire is halting its direct retail strategy to concentrate on selling the use of its airwaves to other providers -- providers such as Sprint and Comcast, for example, both of which make use of Clearwire's WiMAX network for their own 4G services. The move doesn't come as much of a surprise since the company announced unfortunate numbers back in November of last year -- numbers that forced it to scale back its headcount and its dreams of launching Clear-branded handsets in the near term -- and WSJ says that the move may make Sprint more comfortable investing more cash in the company since they'll no longer be giving off the appearance that they're competing head-to-head on the customer level. Investment is exactly what Clearwire needs to survive right now, and whether it comes from Sprint or another national carrier that's in the market for 4G spectrum, you know what they say: money is money.
Sony Ericsson sues Clearwire for trademark infringement
Quick, can you tell these two swirling orbs apart? That's Sony Ericsson's logo on the left, and Clearwire's on the right -- and SE thinks they're confusingly similar enough to have filed a federal trademark lawsuit in Virginia. The situation is pretty basic: Sony Ericsson holds trademark registrations on the various iterations of its sphere logos, and the company thinks Clearwire is confusing the mobile market with its version -- and it definitely doesn't want Clearwire to stamp the logo on phones, which Clearwire is eventually planning to do, money problems or no. SE's asked the court to forbid Clearwire from using the logo and for a host of monetary damages, which seems like a big risk for a company that's having cashflow problems to begin with -- we'll see what happens. [Thanks, Alex]
Clear bullish on LTE trial results, says WiMAX is 'best for the customer' right now
Clearwire's talking more about some of the glorious numbers it's seeing as it drives around the greater Phoenix area testing its trial LTE network, and we think one specific quote pretty much sums it up: "this isn't your grandfather's LTE." That statement was made in comparing Clearwire's results -- bumping up against 90Mbps in some configurations -- to the 5 to 12Mbps that Verizon is quoting for its first-gen commercial LTE network, though they're quick to note in the same breath that Clear's test is on an unloaded network without a deluge of users all trying to stream professional sports games in HD at the same time. What does that all mean for Clear's existing WiMAX deployment? The company's as noncommittal on the subject as ever, saying only that WiMAX continues to be "best for the customer" today but that "potentially in the future that could be WiMAX and LTE." Needless to say, though, they're taking the LTE option pretty seriously if they're dumping serious cash into testing it out and publishing the results. Follow the break for Clear's teaser footage -- wouldn't you like access to this action?
Clear iSpot discontinued already
Well, that certainly didn't last very long, did it? Looks like Clear is already sending its unusual iSpot product to the great WiMAX network in the sky less than five months after its introduction. As a refresher, the iSpot's claim to fame is that it was designed to work only with iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads -- and in exchange for the crazy restriction, Clear would charge you less than $100 for the hotspot itself and just $25 a month for unlimited 4G access capped at 6Mbps down. Of course, it's easy to understand why Clear would want to forget the iSpot ever existed: its MAC address filtering was easily defeated and plagued with reports that even approved devices were being denied access, suggesting that the concept probably wasn't a solid one in the first place. For what it's worth, Clear retail stores are still selling through remaining stock if you're interested -- and the company will maintain a supply of units for warranty replacements -- but otherwise, you're out of luck. [Thanks, rand]
Sprint adheres to its roadmap, turns on WiMAX in San Francisco Bay Area
Technically speaking, it's not actually the 28th of December in the Bay Area yet, but Sprint's already out in front with its announcement that WiMAX connectivity has been activated in and around the city of San Francisco. We were promised this development exactly three weeks ago, back when Los Angeles and Washington DC were first familiarizing themselves with the glorious new speed, and today the Bay Area, which also includes San Jose, Palo Alto and Oakland, adds to a total of 71 metropolitan markets that have been lit up with Sprint's finest wireless offering. Guess Verizon had better start fast and keep running if it wants to keep up, eh?
Clear iSpot gets easy web-based 'jailbreak'
For hackers, Clear must have known that its iSpot mobile hotspot would be hard to resist -- $100 for the device contract-free plus unlimited WiMAX for $25 a month is a pretty insane deal, after all, and the only catch is that they try to lock non-iOS devices out of the action. Indeed, it took mere hours for unlocks to start coming out of the woodwork, but now it's easier than ever: the developer of one of the original iSpot hacks has circled back to create a new unlock that requires nothing more than a couple link clicks while you're on a machine connected to the hotspot. How is that possible? Turns out there's a vulnerability that makes it possible to execute arbitrary commands on the iSpot through web code, and Clear hasn't yet updated the firmware to patch it. On that note, the developer tells us that there are actually some iPads that aren't able to connect to the iSpot without the hack, ostensibly because Apple is using some MAC addresses that the iSpot's current firmware isn't expecting -- so ironically, you might need this "jailbreak" just to use the thing the way Clear intended. As always with these sorts of things, proceed with caution -- we don't have an iSpot lying around to try this ourselves, so let us know how it goes.
Clear launches new at-home WiMAX router with integrated WiFi
Hey, don't knock the naming engineers -- "Clear Modem with WiFi" just works. Indeed, that's the official title of Clear's new at-home WiMAX modem (the same one that flew through the FCC back in September), designed to bring the 4G superhighway into one's home for as little as $35 per month. According to the operator, it's an all-in-one solution that's "around the size of a book," offering 4G reception as well as an internal 802.11b/g/n router to distribute those waves across your home without the need for a separate WLAN router. It's available today from your local Clear store, with a $120 outright price or a $7 per month lease rate. Furthermore, Clear home service customers can add home voice service, with unlimited local and long distance calling in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, for an extra 15 clams per month. Oh, and if your math skills are a tad fuzzy, we'd recommend buying it if you're planning to keep the service for greater than 17 months. You're welcome.
Sprint wouldn't mind if T-Mobile bought 4G spectrum from Clearwire
Considering Sprint's heavy investment in Clearwire -- and the fact that it shares its WiMAX network with the company -- you can understand why it might be a little weary of letting other carriers in on the spectrum. That said, a Goldman Sachs analyst that apparently met with Sprint execs this week has said that they "have encouraged" a wholesale spectrum deal that would bring cash in from T-Mobile USA -- a company that has yet to settle on a next-gen network strategy beyond HSPA+ -- though it would ultimately depend on the price. Considering Clearwire's somewhat bleak financial picture, it seems likely that Sprint's looking at this as a do-or-die situation -- it isn't necessarily interested in dumping cash into the company by itself ad nauseam, but if it allows the company to falter, that could have unsavory consequences on Sprint's own 4G ambitions. Should be interesting to see how this plays out.
