WiMAX Watch: Sprint's New Device for Tapping WiMAX and 3G
Sprint introduced a new device today that Baltimore-area residents can use on both its new high-speed WiMAX wireless broadband network, which for now is only available in our metro area, and its more ubiquitous "3G" cellular/data network, which is available throughout most of the U.S. Remember WiMAX?
In late September/early October, Sprint Nextel Corp. launched its XOHM network, which is based on WiMAX technology that essentially makes it easier to turn a larger geographic expanse into a "hotspot", similar to what you'd find at your local coffee shop.
What was also cool about XOHM was that Sprint broke the telecom mold by allowing users to purchase the wireless/mobile service on a monthly basis -- without being forced into a lengthy contract. (Earlier this month, Sprint announced it had spun off XOHM to another company, Clearwire. Note to Baltimore users: at some point in the future, XOHM will be rebranded as "Clear.")
Tech geeks have been a little ga-ga over the potential future for Sprint's XOHM network. But for the discerning digital mobilista, buying XOHM coverage for your laptop wasn't a huge draw, because the USB plug-in devices on the market could only catch the WiMAX signal. So, if you wandered out of the Baltimore coverage area with your XOHM-enabled computer, you'd be out of luck getting online.
But Sprint's new "dual-mode" USB plug-in device allows XOHM-ers to connect to both of Sprint's data networks: the WiMAX one, which only operates in the Baltimore area, and its 3G (CDMA-based) network. Hit the jump for more details and pricing.
In most parts of the Baltimore area, WiMAX speeds compare favorably and even beat your typical DSL connection at home and it's faster than your typical laptop cellular card/modem. WiMAX is a whole new network Sprint built on Internet protocols and is designed for high-speed data transmission, Sprint officials told me back in September.
I spoke with Todd Rowley, a vice president with Sprint's 4G business units, and he gave me some facts about their new dual-mode device. Per Todd, here's the quick rundown on Sprint's new 3G/4G (WiMAX) USB device for laptops:
1) For now, it only works with PCs, not Macs. Mac operability will likely be introduced early next year.
2) Built-in GPS: applications are still being developed but the device will eventually enable your laptop to do GPS-y things. One hot little tech field right now is the development of "location-aware" services.
3) Unlike a wireless USB device that is XOHM-only, you have to buy into a contract with this "dual mode" device.
4) The device will retail for $149. Other 3G devices are priced up to $119, according to Sprint's Website as of this afternoon.
5) The monthy service-contract rate is $79.99, with unlimited downloading on WiMAX, but a 5-gigabyte monthly download limit on the 3G network. By comparison, if you just chose Sprint's 3G network for mobile Internet, you'd be paying $59.99 a month. And with XOHM alone, you would pay $45 a month for mobile Internet.
6) Handling the transition from 3G to WiMAX: If you're in a WiMAX area and wander out of it, you'll get dropped out of the network and a connection manager will plug you into the 3G network. Just hit the browser to refresh the page. It isn't 100 percent seamless, but Sprint says it should be painless.
7) Where to buy in the Baltimore area? For now, Sprint retailer stores. Next month, Best Buy. It might be awhile before you see it sold online, because Sprint doesn't want people in, say, Nebraska inadvertently buying a "dual mode" device that can only be used with one mode where they live. Said Rowley: "We think it's a real value package...and the best of both networks."
(Side note: Interestingly, Gizmodo, the gadget blog, today put out their own little independent comparison of the major telecom carrier's 3G data networks, and Sprint's beat out Verizon's and AT&T's.)
