Mobile Broadbroad Reviews

It's been 2 long years since I updated this blog and here's why. I've completely built out everything you need to know before, during and after mobile broadband at the relaunched Mobile Broadband Reviews.

From the MBR Buyer's Guide to reviews on every postpaid, prepaid and mobile broadband rental provider out there, the whole she-bang is there. Be sure to subscribe over there so you don't miss a thing.

To Your Success,
Marc
Uncomplicating Mobile Internet
www.mobile-broadband-reviews.com

WiMAX to launch officially in Portland, Oregon

Clearwire, the wireless broadband company that has merged with Sprint's Xohm to provide WiMAX, is set to launch its first city under the Clear brand today (Jan.6.08).

Here's a breakdown of the regular featured mobile plans according to Clear's site.

$10/day - 24 hour pass
$30/month - Occasional (200 MB/month)
$40/month - Frequent (2 GB/month)
$50/month - Unlimited monthly usage

Home plans look like this:

$20/month - Basic plan (768 Kbps downloading)
$30/month - Fast plan (3 Mbps downloading)
$40/month - Faster plan (6 Mbps downloading)

(oh, they've got cool business plans too)

Sign me up for unlimited mobile please. Did I mention that there's no contract? (you can sign up for one for a discount though). At $10 cheaper than 3G service, plus 4 Mbps download speeds? I'm game. Only downside is that upload speed is 384 Kbps. I think they could do better.

It is interesting to note that the difference between the home plans and mobile plans (besides price) is speed versus capacity. They cap the speed of the home plans but choose to cap the amount of data one can download on the mobile plans. It seems as though they are modeling them not based on their network capacity but in a way that consumers can compare them to what they already have.

Translation: Mobile plans are targeted to existing (and new) mobile broadband/WiFi customers while home plans are targeted to DSL/Cable subscribers. Expect some form of mobile/home bundle for sure (just as AT&T does with its services).

Somehow $20 seems very attractive compared to the $30 or $40 DSL carriers like to charge. Let's see how this all pans out...now if they can just get this stuff nationwide.

via PCWorld

WiMAX looks better than FiOS, Cable, DSL and 3G networks

The year's just about over and everyone's making their predictions and resolutions for 2009. Naturally, you've also got those who reflect on the events of the past year. GigaOM made an interesting list called "10 Stories That Define Broadband in 2008". It's a good list that mobile broadband makes frequent appearances on. What really stuck out to me was this lil chart showing the popularity of WiMAX:

As you can see, North America has the 2nd to least amount of commercial WiMAX networks in the world. If you take a step back and glance around a bit, you'll also notice that the United States has fallen from the #4 spot for broadband penetration to #24 in the world.

Umm...That's huge.

What does it all mean though? If you hit the zoom out button on Google Earth a bit more, you'll see that you're looking at a nation that's neglected to keep pace with the world not just in broadband infrastructure, but infrastructure period. Who's to blame? Hmm, a war that costs 1.2 trillion maybe. But then again, sometimes we need a little help in understanding what 1.2 trillion dollars could buy.

Is there hope?

In one word, yes.

President-Elect Barack Obama is exploring just about everything that could work to turn this around. Among the solutions is a stimulus package of sorts for broadband providers. Naturally, they're lined up to get it. The only problem here is that their self-serving tendency vs. providing the actual consumer with fair service.

Now if we could just agree on what broadband actually is , maybe we can get somewhere.

Here's my take: 

WiMAX is looking the most promising of all broadband (and mobile broadband) prospects that are available. While it's not as fast as Verizon FiOS service, it's decent, allows for mobility, and for the time being claims to be unlimited without major restrictions on what you can do with it.

If Sprint & Clearwire can pull off a nationwide network, continue to increase capacity and speed, while keeping restrictions down to a minimum then we'll see net innovations grow. Yes, P2P usage will rise, but just as how the music industry must embrace mp3 and do away with their CD/album model, media moguls of all kinds must adapt to the changing landscape.

More power to net neutrality in 2009.

Unlimited Internet for Businesses, $75 via WiMAX [Xohm]

Xohm aka WiMAX aka Clearwire & Sprint's 4G service is gonna offer businesses unlimited use with download speeds of 6 Mbps and uploads of 1 Mbps for $75.

I'd pay it.

via MuniWireless

Haters attack Sprint/Clearwire's WiMAX

Yes. They're haters. Why?

Sprint didn't start working on WiMAX yesterday. They've been pretty public about their decision to pursue WiMAX with major blockades and obstacles along the way for years. All of a sudden when things are finally going off without a hitch,

BAM, a lawsuit that could cost Sprint the $3 million to $5 million it spent to build out the network magically appears. If someone steals your stuff...and you see them stealing your stuff...do you wait 2 years to call the police?

Commercial WiMax Launches in September in Baltimore

I'm personally pumped up about this. I have a feeling Sprint may be able to walk the path of light was more...or maybe the path of a matchlight at least. WiMax for the average joe in Baltmore this September. That's just around the corner. What will the pricing be like? It has to be competitive with mobile broadband prices and definitely cable/DSL prices.

It seems like they're aiming to have a nationwide launch by the end of the year. Just about when AT&T will be done making their mega 7.2Mbps upgrades to their 3G network.

The Mobile Broadband Showdown Begins!

Via WNN