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November 03, 2010

Clearwire, Sprint Bring 4G Network to Big Apple

By Ashok Bindra
TMCnet Contributor

Wireless broadband service provider Clearwire Corp., and next generation wireless carrier Sprint have launched 4G WiMAX network in New York City, along with New Brunswick, N.J, Hartford and New Haven, Conn., and Tampa, Fla.

In fact, Sprint (News - Alert) is delivering the power of 4G as the majority shareholder of Clearwire, the independent company that is building the WiMAX network in the country. Likewise, Time Warner (News - Alert) will also be using the Clearwire’s WiMAX network in the area.

Hence, in reality, Sprint, Clearwire, and Time Warner 4G network is all the same thing, so shop around, said Yahoo! News reporter Sascha Segan. “They're all partners in one network, and you're getting the exact same 4G service from each company. They have different prices and contract terms. So shop around for the best deal if you're interested,” noted Segan.

Meanwhile, Sprint has bundled 4G service with smartphones like Samsung (News - Alert) Epic 4G and HTC EVo 4G. By the year-end, Sprint 4G plans to go to several major new markets including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Denver and Washington, D.C., to name a few. In the tristate area, Clearwire’s CLEAR 4G service covers more than 11 million people.

In a statement, David Barnette, vice president of sales for CLEAR, said, “The arrival of CLEAR 4G in New York is a tremendous milestone for our company. We’re extremely excited to bring the nation’s largest and fastest wireless internet service to the Big Apple, a city where people are always on the move.”

The CLEAR experience is similar to WiFi but without the short-range limitations. CLEAR uses wireless 4G technology that differs from WiFi because it provides service areas measured in miles, not feet, said Clearwire. CLEAR also offers average mobile download speeds of 3 to 6 Mbps with bursts over 10 Mbps. Outside the CLEAR 4G service area, dual-mode 4G/3G modems keep users continually connected by leveraging Sprint’s 3G data network.

Clearwire offers several ways to connect to CLEAR 4G service – via a modem, mobile device, or a 4G-embedded laptop or netbook.

According to Clearwire, more than 45 different 4G WiMAX-ready laptops and netbooks with Intel (News - Alert) Core or Atom processors and the embedded Intel wireless module are available from leading manufacturers like Dell, HP, Sony, Lenovo, Toshiba, Samsung, Gateway (News - Alert), and Asus.


Ashok Bindra is a veteran writer and editor with more than 25 years of editorial experience covering RF/wireless technologies, semiconductors and power electronics. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Tammy Wolf


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