Clearwire unveils cheaper mobile WiMAX plans in Portland
Clear modems, plans less expensive than those from Xohm
January 6 2009 - 2:54 pm ET | Allie Winter | RCR Wireless News
Clearwire Corp. launched mobile WiMAX service in Portland, Ore., with cheaper prices than previous WiMAX efforts.
The “Clear” home Internet service plans start at $20 per month with on-the-go plans starting at $30 per month. The $20 per month home service includes network speeds up to 786 kilobits per second, while an extra $10 per month ratchets that speed up to 3 megabits per second. And for $40 per month users can have access to download speeds up to 6 megabits per second.
Clear’s on-the-go Internet service pricing is also tiered, but instead of being based on speed, it’s based on usage. For $30 per month users can download up to 200 megabytes of data; $40 per month gives 2 gigabytes of data transmission; both plans also include a $10 per gigabyte overage fee. For $50 per month users can receive unlimited access to the network, though Clearwire does indicate it can throttle network usage for certain activities.
The Clear pricing comes in lower than that offered last year by Sprint Nextel Corp. under its soon-to-be-deceased Xohm brand. When Sprint Nextel launched its mobile WiMAX Xohm service in Baltimore last year, it offered service for $35 per month at home and $45 per month while mobile.
Clearwire said it will replace the Xohm brand in Baltimore with its own “Clear” brand in the coming months.
Separately, Sprint Nextel is moving ahead with its new “Sprint 4G” brand, under which it will sell mobile WiMAX services via an MVNO relationship with Clearwire. The actions spring from the completion of the two companies’ new mobile WiMAX partnership.
Interestingly, Clearwire is also coming in with cheaper mobile WiMAX modems. The carrier offers a $50 USB laptop-plug-in modem from Motorola Inc., which can also be leased for $5 per month. Xohm’s home modem costs $80, while Sprint Nextel’s “Sprint 4G” modem clocks in at $150. Sprint Nextel's modem supports both WiMAX and CDMA connections.
Clearwire currently offers pre-WiMAX Internet services in 46 markets throughout the United States. The company said it will announce rollout plans for future markets and upgrade plans for existing pre-WiMAX markets early this year.
Article updated Jan. 7 to include additional information.
February 12, 2009 08:24 am
This kind of service in mobile speeds will be awesome. Where it can really have an impact that people don't usually think about is for public safety and disasters. Police are already dependent on mobile data via carriers like Sprint and Verizon. They are lucky if they get a few hundred kbps now to support all their applications.Smaller countries like New Zealand have been ahead of US on cell data speeds. Emerging market countries have bypassed wire entirely. It would be nice for the U.S. to finally have something like this to build on!
January 7, 2009 10:36 am
@John Polivka: I'm not sure what's funnier - the transparent PR shilling, or that you used your real name: http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmpolivkaEither way, kudos. You're clearly worth every cent Sprint is paying you.
January 7, 2009 05:59 am
The Sprint 4G modem for $150 is dual mode 3G/4G and theirs is single mode 4G. Obviously the combined coverage footprint is much greater, and the higher cost of the modem is understandable.Dave @ Sprint
January 6, 2009 03:06 pm
Clarification: Sprint's service isn't priced higher than Clearwire. It's two networks, not just one. The Sprint 3G 4G USB Modem U300 allows you to access the most dependable 3G network in the U.S. anywhere right now, as well as the Sprint 4G network as it rolls out across the U.S.
January 6, 2009 03:06 pm
The 6 meg reference is best case and some tests have come close. The carrier (Sprint) has not been setting that expectation but if you view the live test of Sprint's 3G/4G by thestreet.com, the results are very impressive, including a speed above 6000kbs.
January 6, 2009 03:06 pm
The service is launched; you can go to www.clear.com to sign up.
January 6, 2009 03:06 pm
Did they really launch it, or just announce it? There's nothing on clearwire.com and no announcement on their corporate website...
January 6, 2009 03:06 pm
6 Mbps is an advertised rate. That's not what a typical experience will look like. Probably closer to 1-2 Mbps at best... Unless you put the modem and the antenna outside on the roof.
January 6, 2009 03:06 pm
Gordon - 10 mbps apps? You need fiber my friend! Funny to think that Clear is must be "throttling" speed to 4 mbps to ensure service quality - amazing for a mobile broadband solution and I can actually afford it!
January 6, 2009 03:06 pm
Gordon I dont think you understand the WiMax is mobile, as were Wifi is locked down to a hotspot.So WiMax is doing fine. 6mbs in a trial state is amazing.