Mobile Wimax -- Engadget

mobile wimax posts

MobiTV demonstrates mixTV mobile DTV service

by Donald Melanson, posted Apr 20th 2009 at 6:43PM

This one is still only in the very earliest stages, but it looks like MobiTV has taken advantage of the big National Association of Broadcasters Show in Vegas this week to show off a new mobile DTV service that it's developed in partnership with Sinclair and PBS, which it hopes will eventually find its way to a few interested cellular carriers. The service itself is a combination of free over-the-air DTV broadcasts (from PBS and the CW, at the moment) and subscription-based on-demand content, which would apparently be made available for a seven-day window and be delivered via mobile WiMAX. Unfortunately, there's no indication whatsoever of a potential roll-out, but it looks like MobiTV will be working hard during the next few days to woo some additional partners, so there's at least a slight chance that we could be hearing a few more details before the show wraps up later this week.

[Via Phone Scoop]

Samsung's WiMAX-equipped SWD-M100 MID outed as Mondi

by Ross Miller, posted Mar 26th 2009 at 5:31PM

Although apparently not on its site just yet, it looks like Samsung's RSS feed has unleashed the first official pic of that WiMAX-enabled SWD-M100 MID we spotted at MWC as well as revealed a catchier name: Mondi. The device will utilize Clearwire's Mobile WiMAX network simply dubbed "Clear." Last we heard it was running Windows Mobile 6.1, but seeing as its sporting that dedicated Windows button required for WinMo 6.5, that all could change before it's release. Speaking of which, mum's the word on pricing or availability, we're afraid.

[Via Phonescoop]

Nortel quits the mobile WiMAX game

by Nilay Patel, posted Jan 30th 2009 at 2:02PM

Sure, Clearwire is still busily rolling out its mobile WiMAX network across the US, but the fledgling wireless standard isn't having the best time of it lately -- Nokia just discontinued the N810 WiMAX Edition, which was easily the highest-profile WiMAX product on the market, and now Nortel is closing down its entire mobile WiMAX division. Considering Nortel's struggle to stay afloat in our super-awesome economy, the move isn't too shocking -- but at least Nortel partner Alvarion is working to pick up the pieces, so hopefully the impact on the broader WiMAX market won't be too huge.

Clearwire's $150 dual-mode WiMAX / Sprint CDMA modem launches Sunday

by Thomas Ricker, posted Dec 17th 2008 at 1:33AM

Yup, it's true, the dual-mode CDMA / WiMAX modem is real and will be sold by ~~Clearwire~~ Sprint starting December 21st. The $150 device (after $50 rebate and two-year Sprint contract) is a first to function on both Sprint's EV-DO network and Clearwire's nascent mobile WiMAX service currently supporting Baltimore's collection of kitschy beauty salons. So yeah, the modem is of limited interest until Clearwire can build-out its network in 2009, starting with Portland in early January.

"First" US WiMAX deployment goes live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 1st 2008 at 11:49AM

Bet you didn't see this one coming. With everyone's eyes fixed firmly on Sprint's supposedly forthcoming US WiMAX deployment in Baltimore, Chicago and Washington, DC, DigitalBridge Communications has snuck in to steal a little of the spotlight. As we speak, America's "first" (um, really?) mobile WiMAX deployment has gone live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming courtesy of Alvarion's BreezeMAX gear. The firms are hoping that high-brow tourists that come to tackle the black diamonds of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will also bring their WiMAX-enabled device and / or WiMAX card to send enviable photos back home, but only time will tell if folks find value in the offering. DBC is expected to expand the network's reach in the area (which currently hits 3,000 homes and businesses), and then "add mobile capabilities throughout its 200,000-household footprint."

[Image courtesy of TerryDreams]

Indian telecom company to rollout massive WiMAX network

by Nilay Patel, posted Jan 24th 2008 at 8:05AM

Even as Sprint tentatively rolls out the XOHM network here in the States, the largest Indian telecom company is planning to build a mobile WiMAX network covering three states on the subcontinent capable of serving 250 million people. State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is leaning on Soma Networks to build the broadband-speed network in response to government requirement that 20 million broadband lines be in service by 2010. The WiMAX rollout will first hit the largest and most-connected states, but BSNL is planning on extending the network if things go well. Soma says it's shipping thousands of base stations to get the network operational at full speed, and that when it's done, 400 Indian cities will be covered, with downstream speeds of 1.5 megabits per seconds. No word on when that might be, but the race is officially on, Sprint.

Sprint soft launching XOHM in "the next few days"

by Thomas Ricker, posted Dec 5th 2007 at 6:55AM

Despite rumor and conjecture to the contrary, Sprint's XOHM-branded WiMax service plans are alive and well. Well enough to soft-launch anyway. The Chicago, Washington D.C., and Baltimore pipes will all go live "in the next few days," according to Ben Shen, VP of Product Management and Partnership Development. Official launch is still (somewhat) expected for Q2 2008. Business as usual while they court prospective financial suitors, perhaps.

Samsung rolls out second generation WiMax devices in Korea

by Thomas Ricker, posted Nov 13th 2007 at 6:07AM

While Sprint teases us with their beleaguered WiMax offering, Samsung is already shipping product for KT's and SKT's year-old WiBro service in South Korea. In fact, they've already moved onto their second generation of devices available starting today. The list includes the SPH-9200 HSDPA, WiFi, and Mobile WiMax totin' butterfly XP device we've seen before. New, is that pair of SPH-H1300 and SWT-H200K USB Mobile WiMax modems and CDMA SPH-M8200 candybar running Windows Mobile 6 on EV-DO and Mobile WiMax data beneath that biggie touchscreen display. Now please Google, just cut to the chase and acquire Sprint so that we can get a taste of that high-speed mobile data on a homegrown frequency, too. Pretty please, with sugar?

Gallery: Samsung rolls out second generation WiMax devices in Korea

[Via AVING]

Google to acquire Sprint Nextel for Mobile WiMax?

by Thomas Ricker, posted Nov 12th 2007 at 4:22AM

It's just a rumor, in fact, it feels more like speculation than anything backed by a reputable source; still, there's a Google / Sprint buzz getting a lot of play this morning. Rich Tehrani is reporting that Google is considering an acquisition of Sprint Nextel in order to grow its mobile business. Of course, Google has long touted the importance it places on mobile ad revenues, made all the more evident by their recent preparation for the 700MHz auction and the figurehead role Google now plays in the Open Handset Alliance's Android platform. Sprint, for its part, is already on good terms with Google as a member of the OHA and that WiMAX mobile services deal which Clearwire just bailed on. In fact, it's access to that beleaguered WiMAX network which has the pundits in such a tizzy. While we'd love to see Google in a deal with Apple, Intel, Motorola and others to bring mobile broadband to the masses, we're filing this one under musings from Neverland until the rumor firms up a bit.

[Via GigaOm]

Motorola demos Sprint's Xohm WiMAX network, drives recklessly

by Chris Ziegler, posted Sep 26th 2007 at 2:43PM

Part of the WiMAX World festivities taking place this week, Motorola was on hand in Chicago last night to demonstrate fragments of the Mobile WiMAX build-out it's been throwing together to support the upcoming launch of Sprint's Xohm service. A leisurely cruise took curious onlookers down the Chicago River while Moto demonstrated a variety of WiMAX-friendly goodies like VoIP and streaming video, with handoffs flawlessly (apparently) transitioning the signal from access point to access point amongst canyons of skyscrapers, steel, and cement. The company also took its demo onto the "streets along the Chicago River while driving at speeds beyond 50 mph," a clear violation of local traffic laws, so we're hoping Moto's got some money socked away in its meager coffers to pony up some fines. Anyway, if all goes well, the demos foretell a late '07 soft launch of Xohm's Chicago network, with a commercial release in April of next year.

Sprint and Motorola take a slow boat down Chicago's Xohm fast lane

by Thomas Ricker, posted Sep 26th 2007 at 9:49AM

The dream of true untethered broadband connectivity is nearly upon us dear US-American readers. Last night, Sprint and Motorola teamed up to do a live demonstration of Sprint's Xohm-branded, mobile WiMax service on the Chicago River. Fortunately Ars Technica was there to take all the 4G action in for the benefit of mankind. An impromptu benchmark courtesy of Speedtest.net clocked the 802.16e WWAN network at more than twice the speed (in both directions) of Verizon's EV-DO Rev. A network. In fact, Ars called their Xohm experience "far superior" to Verizon's speedy EV-DO service...

Continue reading Sprint and Motorola take a slow boat down Chicago's Xohm fast lane

Motorola shows off its first consumer WiMAX modem

by Nilay Patel, posted Sep 24th 2007 at 7:10PM

The WiMAX train is starting to pick up steam -- and with services like Sprint's XOHM scheduled to launch in the next year, we're expecting to see a lot more devices like Motorola's CPEi 300 WiMAX modem hit shelves. The company is showing off the wireless broadband modem at the WiMAX World conference in Chicago this week, and seems bullish about targeting the "unserved or underserved" with the device. The unit features one "data port" (we're guessing Ethernet) and two RJ-11 ports for VoIP access, and runs on the 802.16e "Mobile WiMAX" standard. We'd love to know when we'll be able to buy this thing and how much it's going to cost -- or even just what it looks like -- but it looks like we'll have to wait a bit to find out more.

[Via TG Daily]

Airspan intros Mobile WiMAX Wave 2 USB device

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 21st 2007 at 5:14AM

It's been some time since Airspan kicked out a new device enabling laptop (or desktop, for that matter) users to hop on the Mobile WiMAX highway, but that's changing thanks to its recently-unveiled MiMAX USB. This USB 2.0 dongle "turns any laptop into a high performance Mobile WiMAX client," and it marks the first product in the Mobile WiMAX MIMO family. As with the 16eUSB that came before it, this gizmo allows users to connect to "virtually every Mobile WiMAX network that is deployed worldwide," and supports "all of the target Wave 2 MIMO Mobile WiMAX certification profiles (2.3GHz, 2.5GHz, 3.3 - 3.8GHz, and 4.9 - 5.8GHz)." Furthermore, the MiMAX USB even plays nice with licensed and unlicensed frequencies, and if you're looking to detect WiMAX networks before flipping on your machine, the optional MiMAX Finder should do the trick. Sadly, there's no mention of a price just yet, but we've got a feeling those details could be loosed during next week's WiMAX World USA in Chicago.

Sprint's XOHM WiMAX service gets official

by Thomas Ricker, posted Aug 16th 2007 at 2:08AM

The Xohm website is now hot, making yesterday's rumor pretty incontestable at this point. Although seeing a press release would really seal the deal. The teaser site simply states that Xohm is coming in the Spring of 2008 and promises to "expand the internet experience" to a new class of internet enabled devices. ~~Right, a bit later than "by year-end 2007" which Sprint was originally touting.~~ We'll update you with the press release which we expect to pop any minute now. With any luck, we'll also learn how to pronounce their new mobile WiMAX brand.

Update: Ah ha! As reader Deluxe points out, it's pronounced "Zome" as in Rome. Had to bust out Firefox since the audio won't play in Safari.

Update 2: The Press release is out. The "end of 2007" soft launch is still expected for Chicago and Baltimore / D.C. markets. Lucky you, John Waters.

The Seoulllll e-Traaaaain!

by Thomas Ricker, posted Aug 13th 2007 at 4:08AM

Ok, it's only a temporary gig but check out the "Sens e-train" offered to Seoul's subway jockeys over the next few days. The kids at Samsung and Korea Telecoms have fitted two cars from Seoul's number 2 line train with a dozen WiBro-enabled Samsung Q45 laptops and Q1 Ultra UMPCs. The hippest trip in S.Korea is operational (and free) from 1100 to 1700 daily until August 19th. We're just wondering what's more impressive: high-speed data while blasting along the underground rails or the lack of any visible organic excretions in a subway car. Either way, there's no chance in hell of this working in New York City.