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In @9.68 eom
fwiw, Clearwire Ranked #1 in 'Hoover's Index" of 1,000 Companies:
The Hoover's Index provides insight on which companies are being watched most closely by the sales, marketing, and business development professionals who make up a large portion of Hoover's customers. Each month, longtime Hoover's industry editor Tim Walker offers commentary on some of the most interesting stories and trends turned up by the unique ranking system of the Hoover's Index.
http://www.hoovers.com/business-information/--pageid__15370--/global-hoov-index.xhtml
About The Hoover's Index
The Hoover's Index is a free, proprietary monthly index that tracks the leading public and private companies, non-profits, and associations. It represents the brand leaders, up-and-comers, and "buzz" creators that are driving U.S. and international commerce. Because it reveals monthly spikes in company search activity that are independent of companies' fiscal performance, The Hoover's Index is a resource that business executives, pubic relations managers, financial analysts, and investment professionals can use to gauge which companies are capturing the interest of the global business community.
Hoover's proprietary ranking methodology evaluates searches conducted on both Hoover's paid and free web sites, along with general Internet search and advertising data. Instead of relying on gross search volume, The Hoover's Index bases its rankings on a company's movement above or below a 52-week-average for that company's search volume. As an example, a Hoover's Index of 612 means that the search volume was 6.12 times higher than the average search volume.
Clearwire CEO Ben Wolff To Keynote WCA 2007 June 13 In Washington, DC
WASHINGTON, April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Chief Executive Officer of Clearwire Corporation will deliver the opening keynote address on June 13 at the industry's premier annual convention WCA 2007, produced by the Wireless Communications Association International (WCA). Clearwire is the world's largest WiMAX-class service provider bringing next-generation wireless Internet services that enable fast, simple, portable and reliable communications anytime and anywhere within Clearwire's coverage area.
Clearwire CEO Ben Wolff will discuss Clearwire's experience as it continues to implement its vision for wireless high-speed Internet and personal broadband services in the U.S. and internationally.
Clearwire recently announced "record subscriber growth" of more than 25% in the first quarter of this year, compared to the end of 2006 when it had about 206,000 broadband wireless users. The company ended the quarter with about 258,000 subscribers, which, it said, represents a 41% increase year-over-year. More than 232,000 of Clearwire's subscribers are domestic U.S. customers, but the company also provides service in Belgium and Ireland, and has partnered with other service providers in Denmark and Mexico. In addition, the company owns significant spectrum holdings in the U.S. and in Europe.
"As the wireless broadband industry comes of age, we are thrilled to host Clearwire's top executive," commented WCA President Andrew Kreig. "Clearwire occupies a unique leadership position for our industry as a start-up entirely focused on next-generation broadband wireless services that already has achieved the industry's largest deployments in the U.S. and globally. We at WCA eagerly anticipate Clearwire's progress report and inspiring vision."
About Clearwire
Clearwire, founded in October 2003 by Craig O. McCaw, is a provider of reliable, wireless high-speed Internet service. Headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., the company launched its first market in August 2004 and now offers service in 37 metro markets, covering approximately 8.9 million people in more than 350 municipalities in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin in the United States, as well as 1.2 million people in Ireland, Belgium and Denmark (under the Clearwire name through Danske Telecom). Details: http://www.clearwire.com/.
About Ben Wolff
Clearwire CEO Ben Wolff has served as Clearwire's Chief Executive Officer and as a director since January 2007. He served as Clearwire's Co-President and Chief Strategy Officer from October 2005 to January 2007, and as Co-Chief Executive Officer from May 2006 to January 2007. Previously, he served as Clearwire's Executive Vice President from April 2004 to October 2005. In addition, he is the president of and a partner in Eagle River Holdings, LLC, Craig McCaw's private investment company, and he serves as a director of ICO Global and ICO North America. From August 1994 until April 2004, he was a lawyer with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where he became a partner in January 1998. His practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and strategic alliance transactions.
About the Wireless Communications Association International (WCA)
Founded in 1988, WCA is the non-profit trade association for the wireless broadband industry. Its 250 member companies on six continents represent the bulk of the sector's leading carriers, system integrators, vendors, educators and consultants. WCA is an established leader in government relations, technology standards and industry event organization. Its annual convention WCA 2007 will be from June 12-15 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. The convention will feature more than 120 prominent speakers and an exhibit floor showing the latest advances by next-generation solutions providers. Details: http://www.wcai.com/.
http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2007-04/artikel-8138676.asp
I'm happy to see PUDC doing well for you guys.
Bill
Heathrow Express gets 'uninterrupted' wi-fi
April 25, 2007
Wireless internet access now available on Heathrow rail link, even in the tunnels
Mark Frary
Wi-fi went live on the Heathrow Express this week. The service has been developed by T-Mobile and Nomad Digital who claim that the 15,000 passengers who use the Heathrow Express each day will be able to access the internet at a typical connection speed of 2 megabits per second throughout the journey, including the four miles of the journey which passes through tunnels.
The services uses WiMAX technology to allow the wireless signal to penetrate into the tunnels. WiMAX allows internet access up to around six miles from a radio base station without the need for a direct line of sight.
Brian Raven, Heathrow Express’ managing director, says: ”We are constantly looking for innovative and useful services for our customers, and the addition of T-Mobile HotSpots further improves the experience we offer and illustrates why we’ve been voted the nation’s favourite train company. Delivering outstanding customer service is what our customers expect, and giving our time-sensitive travellers the choice to be connected throughout the 15 minute trip to or from the airport is an excellent example of how Heathrow Express stays one step ahead of competitors.”
Richard Warmsley, mobile internet boss at T-Mobile UK said: “The service will help passengers make good use of their valuable time; catching-up with those last minute emails, Googling that pre-meeting research, checking that their flight is on time, or even watching the goal they missed while they were in the air. This is what T-Mobile is all about – giving our customers access to the information that matters to them, to manage both their business and personal lives wherever they are.”
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/business/article1703819.ece
Clearwire Chief Strategy Officer Scott Richardson to Keynote At WiMAX World Europe in Vienna, Austria
04.25.07, 2:56 PM ET
Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR), the world's largest WiMAX-class service provider enabling fast, simple, portable and reliable communications anytime and anywhere in Clearwire's coverage area, today announced that the company's chief strategy officer, Scott Richardson, will speak at WiMAX World Europe in Vienna, Austria.
WiMAX World is the world's largest event showcasing next-generation mobile broadband and wireless technology solutions with events held on three continents. Richardson's session, titled "Clearwire's Perspective on Global WiMAX Services," is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. local time in Vienna on Wednesday, May 30th.
Richardson, a WiMAX innovator instrumental in the creation and development of the WiMAX standard, joined Clearwire earlier this year to drive the company's global mobile wireless broadband efforts. Prior to joining Clearwire, Richardson was with Intel for 20 years serving most recently as vice president of the company's Service Provider Business Group. During his tenure at Intel, Richardson worked with industry leaders to define and shape the global WiMAX standard.
"Clearwire is a prominent driver in the development of the global landscape on mobile WiMAX wireless broadband services," said Berge Ayvazian, chief strategy officer of Yankee Group. "As a leader and innovator in the WiMAX space, we are delighted that Scott is sharing his insights and Clearwire's view on global WiMAX services and as well as providing an update on its international operations."
About Clearwire
Clearwire, founded in October 2003 by Craig O. McCaw, is a provider of reliable, wireless high-speed Internet service. Headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., the company launched its first market in August 2004 and now offers service in 37 metro markets, covering approximately 8.9 million people in more than 350 municipalities in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin in the United States, as well as 1.2 million people in Ireland, Belgium and Denmark (under the Clearwire name through Danske Telecom).
http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2007/04/25/businesswire20070425006079r1.html
WiMAX Reaches into Consumer Electronics
Cellular-news
25-04-2007
According to a new report from Maravedis, the nascent mobile broadband market is primed for the emergence of WiMAX-enabled consumer electronics (CE) devices. CE devices like MP3 players and digital cameras require a computer to transfer media files to and from the Internet.
Broadband wireless technologies, such as WiMAX, are now available so CE devices can interface directly to the Internet without requiring a PC.
"Consumers represent the largest audience for mobile Internet products. They want home broadband experience without restriction of location. The opportunity is now for CE that connects to the Internet for anytime, anywhere access," reports Jeff Orr, Maravedis senior analyst and author of the report.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
* Embedding WiMAX into CE devices creates new "connected" services and revenue models.
* The biggest challenge for WiMAX is deploying a significant service area footprint. Coverage across regions and nationwide access is necessary for consumer services to be viable.
* Current 802.16e-2005 chipsets do not meet power consumption requirements for integration into battery-powered handset devices. Next generation chipsets will bring consumption under a quarter watt.
* Maravedis expects 25 million CE WiMAX units to be shipped in 2012 representing 67% of all Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)
"Over fifty mobile WiMAX consumer devices have already been announced, including PDAs, ultra-mobile PCs, and in-dash vehicle information systems," continued Orr. "This early portfolio has to be tempered with the reality that regional WiMAX coverage will not be in place before 2008."
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/23363.php
CLEARWIRE CORP Earnings Conference Call (Q2 2007)
Scheduled to start Wed, May 9, 2007, 10:00 am Eastern
http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/7/80647.html
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=198722&p=irol-news&nyo=0
Clearwire's TV plans
The Seattle Times
April 23, 2007
Posted by Tricia Duryee at 11:54 AM
Clearwire is considering adding TV service to its voice and Internet plans, according to a story today in Red Herring.
The story reported that Clearwire, which provides broadband wireless access, could start bundling satellite TV, voice and Internet access in some of its 34 markets in the United States.
"Bundling other services with our products either on our network or in partnership with others is definitely an option for us," Clearwire's CEO Ben Wolff said. "But it has to be driven by the customers and not analysts or the desire to be 'me-too' in the market."
About a year ago, the big rumor was that DirecTV, which is owned by News Corp., could make a huge investment in Clearwire based on public statements that it would invest up to $1 billion in wireless broadband.
Satellite TV services are in one of the most defensive positions because it is only able to provide video. In order to provide voice and Internet services, it has to partner with a provider.
In a September story on triple and quadruple plays, I quoted Michael Arden, principal analyst at ABI Research on the prospects of Clearwire partnering with a satellite TV company.
"The satellite guys have two options: Buy or lease DSL lines, or use WiMax or some other wireless broadband technology," he said.
Arden said Clearwire is the most likely partner for DirecTV or EchoStar. Sprint Nextel, which also is building a WiMax network, is already partnered with cable companies, making a partnership with cable's biggest competitors -- satellite -- unlikely.
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/techtracks/archives/2007/04/clearwires_tv_plans.html
That's some wild pps movement. Still late Tuesday, early Wednesday will tell the story and impact NWOG one way or the other. At least it will be a main factor for me in deciding to take a position in NWOG or not.
CLEARWIRE and DIRECT-TV Possible Partnership/Merger:
1.) We know from DirectTV recent conference:
"anybody with a national [next-generation] broadband offering is going to be a great partner for us, and we will be a great partner for them."
"It's widely expected that sometime in the not-too-distant future, DirecTV will move to a next-generation technology such as WiMax.."
"whether it's Clearwire (Nasdaq: CLWR) or another startup that doesn't even exist yet, to bundle TV services along with voice or data, or both."
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/04/04/fool-on-the-street-hearing-directly-from-d....
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=18494747
2.) It was also stated in an April 4th article regarding DirectTV's conference:
DirecTV's market strength still comes directly from their exclusive NFL package (and their more recent Major League Baseball deal) -- but they need a broadband component if they want to do battle on the triple-play front.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/82784
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=18505245
3.) This April 5th post I entitled, "Speculation of 'Direct TV' Partnering with Clearwire May Be Coming Back to Life:" and article, show the previous relationship between DirectTV and Clearwire:
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=18505588
http://gigaom.com/2006/07/18/murdoch-mccaw/
4.) In April 20th's exclusive interview with Red Herring,
Clearwire CEO Benjamin Wolff:
>Clearwire, the world’s largest WiMAX service provider, said it is considering offering TV service in addition to voice calling and Internet access, a move that would make it the first U.S. wireless group to bundle all three products.
>The move, which could come later this year, would create new business opportunities for Clearwire, as well as satellite TV operators, content providers, and video startups that would partner with the wireless service provider.<
>He said Clearwire could later this year start bundling satellite TV, voice, and Internet access in some of its 34 markets in the U.S. Carriers.<
http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=22057&hed=Clearwire+Mulls+Triple+Play
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=19026136
Clearwire already has an agreement VoIP with Bell Canada, so this now only leave Satellite TV for 'triple play'.
The smell of a partnership/merger in the air continues to grow stronger.
Bill
Expat7
Clearwire Mulls Triple Play
Combining WiMAX and TV could create unique mobile opportunities.
April 20, 2007
By Cassimir Medford
Clearwire, the world’s largest WiMAX service provider, said it is considering offering TV service in addition to voice calling and Internet access, a move that would make it the first U.S. wireless group to bundle all three products.
The move, which could come later this year, would create new business opportunities for Clearwire, as well as satellite TV operators, content providers, and video startups that would partner with the wireless service provider.
It would also likely force phone companies such as Verizon Communications and cable operators like Comcast to respond.
“Bundling other services with our products either on our network or in partnership with others is definitely an option for us,” said Clearwire CEO Benjamin Wolff in an exclusive interview with Red Herring. “But it has to be driven by the customers and not analysts or the desire to be me-too in the market.”
He said Clearwire could later this year start bundling satellite TV, voice, and Internet access in some of its 34 markets in the U.S. Carriers and cable operators typically offer deep discounts to customers willing to rely on one service provider for all three services, known in the industry as the “triple play.”
That has put intense pressure on single-service operators such as satellite TV companies and independent VoIP firms including Vonage. Clearwire’s push into TV could help it fend off larger competitors that offer triple-play services.
It will also open a number of unique opportunities for a variety of companies, including Qualcomm and Modeo, which currently offer broadcast-style TV over cell phones.
“This would be a great partnership for satellite TV operators and even companies broadcasting TV via cell phones,” said Joe Nordgaard, director of wireless consulting firm Spectral Advantage.
Unlike most conventional triple play bundles, Clearwire’s services would all be portable – a key differentiator.
http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=22057&hed=Clearwire+Mulls+Triple+Play
Seems very possible from Wednesday.
Could drop it some too, if AURC were to go the other way for some reason.
Both have had interesting plays in the past and NWOG will be up to bat once or more between this week and the end of May.
Good Luck!
Intel Dumps 3G for WiMax on Centrino
Thursday 19 April 2007
David Flynn
ZDNet Australia
Intel has confirmed that it has pulled the plug on all plans to add 3G technology to its Centrino laptop platform. From now on, the chipmaker said, it's WiMax all the way.
At a media briefing prior to the opening of this week's Intel Developer Forum in Beijing, Mooly Eden, general manager of Intel's Mobile Platforms Group, decreed that the chipmaker is leaving third-generation wireless technology in the hand of vendors and will devote its future energies to developing and promoting the emerging WiMax technology.
"You're not going to get a 3G solution from Intel," Eden told CNET.co.uk's sister site ZDNet Australia. "There are 3G solutions from third parties, but if you look at 3G adoption, it's still a one-digit attach rate. We are going to focus on WiMax, which we believe will be a more pervasive solution, and we are trying to work with the ecosystem to accelerate it worldwide."
Eden said the decision to halt development of the Intel-Nokia 3G module was "nothing to be proud of, but we took the risk, and at the end of the day, financially, it just didn't make sense."
3G was slated to be part of the fourth-generation Centrino platform, code-named Santa Rosa and due for release on 9 May, using an integrated 3G HSDPA card, to be jointly developed by Intel and Nokia. In February, however, Intel announced it was abandoning the project because it didn't see a sufficient return on investment, though at the time, it didn't rule out eventual 3G integration.
Intel fell behind its original timetable, outlined at last year's spring IDF, to release a WiMax laptop card by the end of 2006 and to introduce an integrated WiMax module into Santa Rosa.
Now it plans to pick up the pace with the release later this year of an internal mobile WiMax card, code-named Dana Point, to be followed in 2008 with the Echo Peak combo card containing both WiMax and Wi-Fi.
Eden is optimistic that Intel's WiMax push will spur the wireless broadband technology, just as the shorter-range Wi-Fi technology and the Centrino platform came of age together.
"When we launched Centrino in 2003, the attach rate of Wi-Fi was 15 per cent," he said. "Now the attach rate is more than 95 per cent. In the US, by 2008, we are going to have more than 100 million people covered with WiMax."
David Flynn of ZDNet Australia is attending the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing as a guest of Intel.
http://news.cnet.co.uk/networking/0,39029686,49289408,00.htm
WiMax in Your Pocket
By Eric Griffith
April 18, 2007
What was once just going to be a long-range, high-bandwidth wireless technology to replace your cable or DSL -- with a stop at a CPE/modem along the way -- may now go directly to your favorite devices.
And that is, apparently, just what the public wants. <In-Stat's latest survey of 1,200 people in the United States indicated the public wants WiMax even more than 3G or Wi-Fi. 50% said they'd change their broadband provider if they could get one with a wireless broadband bundle; their interest in a 3G/cellular data service dropped whenever they were told about the current pricing.
Luckily for those people, the vendors know this, and more and more of late have made announcements about devices that will integrate WiMax, sometimes with Wi-Fi and sometimes without.
For example, at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing, China today, Intel (Quote) spelled out the roadmap for its Centrino processor tech. The Santa Rosa chipset is well known: it comes out in May and integrates a Core 2 Duo processor, the Mobile Intel 965 Express chips, and Intel Next-Gen Wireless N along with Gigabit Ethernet and Turbo Memory. But in 2008, Santa Rosa will be supplanted by a new chipset, codenamed "Penryn" (which uses a 45nm silicon process technology with high-k metal gate transistors), then again later next year by "Montevina." By then, the chips will be small enough for sub-notebooks and ultra-mobile PCs. What's more, Montevina will feature integration of Wi-Fi and mobile WiMax.
Intel is certainly not alone with the WiMax in your hand. Several outlets reported earlier this week on a slew of products that have been announced by several vendors.
Rivals Nokia and Motorola both plan to have mobile WiMax handsets available in 2008. GigaOm was told by Nokia that even its Wi-Fi tablets like the N800 would get a WiMax refresh.
Samsung will have devices specifically for the mobile WiMax deployment in South Korea called WiBro, including a USB dongle, a smartphone that supports WiBro and EV-DO, and what they call a "convergence device" with a 2.8-inch touchscreen for doing voice and multimedia communications as well as a fold-out full keyboard. No Wi-Fi in these, though -- just WiMax and Bluetooth. No word on when/if they'll migrate to other WiMax services, although Samsung has said it would make WiMax PC Cards for laptops so they can use the Sprint WiMax network in the U.S. Other vendors Sprint has named include ZTE Corp. for cards, both ExpressCards and USB dongles, and ZyXEL for WiMax modems/CPEs.
Nokia, Motorola and Samsung all make WiMax infrastructure equipment as well, and have all been picked as equipment providers for Sprint Nextel's roll-out of mobile WiMax networks in the U.S. Sprint has gone on record saying it wants to be sure WiMax will reach indoor locations as well as outdoors.
Korea also will soon get a device combining WiMax, 3G and mobile video from LG.
Last month, Airspan Networks announced its first mobile WiMax USB device, the 16eUSB.
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3672696
READ***Clearwire Announces First Quarter Results Will Be Released May 8 with First Investor Conference Call on May 9
Clearwire Pre-Announces Record Subscriber Growth in First Quarter
Resulting in More Than 250,000 Ending Broadband Subscribers
KIRKLAND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2007--Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR), the world's largest WiMAX class service provider, today announced that it will release first quarter 2007 results after the market close on May 8, with its first Investor Conference Call to follow at 10:00 AM Eastern on May 9.
In addition, Clearwire pre-announced record subscriber growth in the first quarter for 2007. The Company ended the quarter with approximately 258,000 total subscribers representing over a 25% increase from its yearend 2006 level of more than 206,000 subscribers. The sequential quarterly net subscriber additions of approximately 52,000 in the first quarter of 2007 exceeds the fourth quarter 2006 record of almost 44,000 net adds by over 18%, and represents an increase of 41% in a year over year comparison of first quarter 2007 to first quarter 2006 total net additions. Clearwire also stated that its consolidated subscriber churn was approximately 1.6% for the quarter.
Domestic subscriber additions powered Clearwire's growth as it ended the first quarter with over 232,000 customers in the United States, representing an increase of 26% over its yearend 2006 subscriber tally of approximately 184,000 subscribers. The increase of 48,000 subscribers in the U.S. was also a Company record, exceeding the approximately 40,000 subscribers added in the fourth quarter. Domestic churn declined to approximately 1.5% in the first quarter.
About Clearwire
Clearwire, founded in October, 2003 by Craig McCaw, is a provider of reliable wireless high-speed Internet service. Headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, the Company launched its first market in August 2004 and now offers service in a number of markets across the United States covering approximately 8.9 million people as well as several markets in Europe covering almost 1.2 million people.
CONTACT: Clearwire
Hope Cochran, 425-216-4735
Hope.Cochran@clearwire.com
SOURCE: Clearwire Corporation
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=198722&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=987598&highligh....
Fujitsu Develops Transmission Amp for Mobile WiMax Handsets
Tokyo, Apr 18, 2007 (JCN) - Fujitsu announced on April 13 that it has developed a high efficient transmission amp for mobile WiMax handsets which maximized talking time by 50 percent and upload traffic speed by 50 percent with double the amp efficiency.
A problem with WiMax's Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) was maintaining high power output of transmission amps. Transmission amps mount linearized circuits for fixing strains and consumed much electricity.
To solve this problem, Fujitsu used a linearized circuit that was primarily used in base stations and OFDM processed. By fixing transistor size and matching circuit, the new transmission amp achieves 64QAM - an efficiency of 1.5 fold over conventional 16QAM with transmission speed up from 9Mbps to 13.5 Mbps.
By Aki Tsukioka, Staff Writer
Copyright © 2007 JCN. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network KK.
http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=14434
INTEL DROPS 3G FROM CENTRINO
By David Flynn, ZDNet Australia
April 17, 2007
Intel has confirmed that it has pulled the plug on all plans to add 3G to its Centrino notebook platform. From now on, says the chipmaker, it’s WiMAX all the way.
3G was slated to be part of the fourth-generation Centrino platform codenamed Santa Rosa and due for release on May 9, using an integrated 3G HSDPA card to be jointly developed by Intel and Nokia but in February this year, Intel announced it was abandoning the project.
Company spokeswoman Connie Brown said: "After doing further analysis, we decided it wasn't a good enough ROI to bring that product to the notebook market now."
However, Brown didn't rule integrated 3G out of Intel's notebook future. "We will continue to look into embedding 3G capability at some time" she said. "It's certainly on the table, but we're not ready to announce anything at this time."
That all changed yesterday at a media briefing prior to the start of Intel’s Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing when Mooly Eden, general manager of Intel’s Mobile Platforms Group, decreed that Intel was leaving 3G in the hand of vendors and would devote its future energies to developing and promoting WiMAX.
"You’re not going to get a 3G solution from Intel," Eden told ZDNet Australia. "There are 3G solutions from third parties, but if you look at 3G adoption it's still a one digit attach rate. We are going to focus on WiMAX, which we believe will be a more pervasive solution, and we are trying to work with the ecosystem to accelerate it worldwide."
Eden said that the decision to halt development of the Intel-Nokia 3G module was "nothing to be proud of, but we took the risk and at the end of the day financially it just didn’t make sense".
Intel fell behind its original timetable outlined at last year’s IDF/Spring to release a WiMAX notebook card by the end of 2006 and introduce an integrated WiMAX module into Santa Rosa.
Now it plans to pick up the pace with the release later this year of an internal mobile WiMAX card codenamed 'Dana Point', to be followed in 2008 with the 'Echo Peak' combo card containing both WiMAX and Wi-Fi.
<b?Eden believes that Intel's strong WiMAX play will spur the wireless broadband technology to the same levels of growth as the original Centrino platform did for Wi-Fi.
"When we launched Centrino in 2003 the attach rate of Wi-Fi was 15 percent, now the attach rate is more than 95 percent. In the US by 2008 we are going to have more than 100 million people covered with WiMAX.
"Eventually more and more people will use wireless broadband going to WiMAX will be inevitable, because the combination of the technology and the economics is such that whatever you do at the end of the day, the monthly cost for a broadband solution will be cheaper on WiMAX than any other solution," he said.
Intel's renewed attention to WiMAX can't come too soon for Unwired, which holds the local licence for slabs of the relevant radio spectrum and has received a US$37 million investment from Intel on the basis that it would roll out WiMAX.
The wireless carrier plans to trial WiMAX in Sydney later this year and begin its network upgrade from its current proprietary microwave system to WiMAX in 2008, but already faces competition from 3G HSDPA mobile networks which are hitting between 1.8Mbps and 3.6Mbps.
David Flynn is attending IDF/Spring in Beijing as a guest of Intel.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/hardware/print.htm?TYPE=story&AT=339274903-130061702t-110000001c
WiMAX coming to Intel laptops in 2008
By Eric Bangeman | Published: April 16, 2007 - 12:28PM CT
The Intel Developer Forum is going on in Beijing this week, and Intel is using the Beijing stage to reveal details of its upcoming Montevina mobile platform. One feature that Intel is hoping will make road warriors happy is the inclusion of support for WiMAX.
Montevina is currently targeted for the first half of 2008 and will be the successor to Santa Rosa, which is due to arrive next month. We touched on Santa Rosa last month, which will include support for Intel Turbo Memory Technology (aka, Robson), built-in 802.11n Draft 2.0 capability, support for vPro under the Centrino Pro brand, and Advanced Management Technology, all rolled into a new chipset.
Intel will support WiMAX and 802.11b/g/n on the same piece of silicon (called Echo Peak) with Montevina, but will also offer a WiMAX-only card. Montevina will still feature the Core 2 Duo CPU, but fabbed at the 45nm process and containing up to 6MB of shared L2 cache.
Intel had planned to bring support for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) to Santa Rosa, which would have enabled laptops with that chipset to access many 3G networks out of the box and allow for seamless transitions between 802.11b/g/n and 3G networks. Those plans changed earlier this year, when Nokia and Intel decided that the potential return on investment from supporting HSDPA didn't justify the development effort.
WiMAX has been slow to get off the ground, but Intel apparently believes that WiMAX access will be widespread enough to justify supporting it. In the US, Sprint plans to begin offering WiMAX in early 2008 in a number of US cities.
Montevina will likely support 802.16e-2005, which is better known as Mobile WiMAX. Users should see average download speeds of 2-4Mbps, at least on Sprint's WiMAX network. Down the road, Intel will likely add support for 802.16m, or "gigabit WiMAX," which offers speeds of up to 1Gbps per channel, but the 802.16m standard is unlikely to be officially ratified by the IEEE before early 2009.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070416-wimax-coming-to-intel-laptops-in-2008.html
US Consumers Give WiMax the Thumbs Up
Technology favored over more expensive cellular alternatives
Robert Jaques, vnunet.com 16 Apr 2007
US consumers have a "significant preference" for WiMax mobile wide area broadband over mobile cellular data and Wi-Fi services, research has revealed.
An In-Stat survey conducted earlier this year with over 1,200 respondents suggests that the positive light in which WiMax is seen bodes well for proponents of the technology.
The respondents were asked a series of questions by the high-tech market research firm regarding their interest in various wireless broadband services, with each service description based on what is currently or will soon be available.
"While much of the WiMax industry's focus has been on ultra-mobile devices, which still remains a few years away, these findings show real opportunities for WiMax based on what it can deliver today," said In-Stat analyst Daryl Schoolar.
"WiMax's ability to support nomadic services with laptop cards and USB devices will become a reality this year. Combining that nomadic ability with its fixed capabilities will give WiMax service providers a way to differentiate their broadband services."
The research noted that over half of respondents would change their current home broadband provider for one that bundles wireless with a home broadband service.
Respondents' interest in mobile cellular data services decreased dramatically when presented with pricing.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2187879/consumers-give-wimax-thumbs
IR says Earnings Release to be 2nd Week of May:
----- Original Message -----
From: Investor Relations
To: William Buckley
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2007 6:18 AM
Subject: RE: Earnings Release Date
Hello,
We are estimating sometime in the 2nd week of May. Thanks.
Investor Relations
425.216.4735
Investor Relations Website
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: William Buckley [mailto: expatriate7@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 11:54 AM
To: Investor Relations
Subject: Earnings Release Date
Dear Sir / Madam,
Could you please confirm the 'Date of Clearwire's Earnings Release'.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Bill Buckley
CLWR EARNINGS RELEASE - SAID TO BE THURS. APRIL 19 AFTER MARKET CLOSE:
http://www.earnings-splits-ipo.com/investing/2007/04/08/earnings-calendar-for-week-of-041607-thursda....
(Note: This is not confirmed. I will try to get direct confirmation from Clearwire IR)
Educational Article on Wimax:
If you're looking to read a single article that gives a good overview of WiMAX, this one is pretty good (although the title seems to be a bit of a contradiction given Clearwire's current share value):
http://wireless.seekingalpha.com/article/24332
General Wimax News:
Samsung rolls out WiMAX trio beside HD drive duo
By Stevie Smith Apr 12, 2007, 14:35 GMT
Following on from recent news supporting the imminent rise of WiMAX as a vastly superior replacement for the existing Wi-Fi wireless format, Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has this week launched three brand new WiMAX devices alongside two brand new SpinPoint drives.
http://tech.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1290494.php/Samsung_rolls_out_WiMAX_trio_beside_HD_d...
The Financial Express
Front Page
BROAD REACH
1,000 cities to get WiMAX in major BSNL expansion drive
Rishi Raj
New Delhi, Apr 12 In the largest deployment of WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) anywhere in the world, state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) will soon float a tender to offer the wireless broadband service in 1,000 cities across the country.
Globally, WiMAX is undergoing over 200 trials while it has been deployed at only 40 locations commercially. Considered the biggest threat to pure-play mobile telephony, it has been termed a disruptive technology. Its invention has forced mobile service providers worldwide to start trials on marrying their GSM/3G networks with WiMAX technology.
Almost 30 times faster than 3G, WiMAX can support data speeds of up to 70 mbps, against 3G’s 380 kbps to 2 mbps.
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=160995
Japan Wimax Promotional Video:
(starring fellow expat in Tokyo)
http://blogs.forbes.com/digitaldownload/2007/04/wimax_is_coming.html
Chicago To Get Massive High-Speed Wireless Internet Network
Sprint WiMax Network Speeds Rival DSL, Cable Modems
12:23 pm CDT April 12, 2007
CHICAGO -- Chicago will be among the first three cities nationwide to have access to a new high-speed wireless network that's part of an emerging technology called WiMax.
The regional network operated by Sprint Nextel Corp., the nation's third-largest cellular provider, will offer wireless Internet speeds that match DSL and cable TV modems and allow people to have constant access to the Internet from a laptop as they travel the area.
Chicago, Washington and Baltimore will have access to the WiMax network by the end of the year. Officials at Kansas City, Mo.-based Sprint said they expect the $3 billion project to reach more than 100 million Americans in 16 other cities by the end of 2008 and take three years to complete.
"We're not building another cellular voice network," Barry West, Sprint's chief technology officer, told the Chicago Tribune. "Our killer application for this new network is mobile access to the Internet."
Sprint said it would build the WiMax network using its cell sites and equipment by Motorola Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and Nokia Corp.
Intel Corp., along with Motorola and Samsung, will provide chips that can link devices such as laptops, phones and other electronic gear to either a Wi-Fi network or a WiMax network, and also operate on Sprint's cellular network.
WiMax is derived from the same technology as the popular Wi-Fi standard that provides wireless Internet access in such places as airports and coffee shops. Unlike Wi-Fi, which provides wireless Internet access over a several hundred foot range, a WiMax signal can blanket a much wider area.
WiMax, short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, has been mentioned as a possible alternative to cable modem and Digital Subscriber Line services offered by cable and telephone companies. It's also touted as a tool to connect emerging markets to the Internet.
Wi-Fi cards are standard in most new laptops, and chipmakers such as Intel are expected to provide WiMax compatibility in much the same way, said Ken Hyers, an analyst with Technology Business Research.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.nbc5.com/technology/11721974/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news
Clearwire Hawaii Update:
albeit brief
On Oahu, Clearwire has gained several points of market share in the last 6 months, mostly from former customers of Oceanic Time Warner or Hawaiian Telcom.
http://billso.com/2007/03/19/ecommerce-clickstream/
ETDiamond Viewpoint: WiMAX's Disruptive Potential Driving Strategic Responses
April 11, 2007 10:00 AM
Consulting Firm Report Explores WiMAX as Both Threat and Opportunity
CHICAGO, April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Intel, Motorola and Sprint/Nextel are betting billions of dollars that WiMAX, the trade name given to technologies based on the IEEE 802.16 standards for broadband wireless communications, will disrupt the communications industry. Those investments should compel traditional cable companies, wireless service providers and others to rethink their own strategies over the next 12 months according to telecom experts at Diamond Management & Technology Consultants, Inc. DTPI.
"The revenue potential of WiMAX has given rise to an entirely new ecosystem of component suppliers, infrastructure vendors and device manufacturers that have established bedrock industry-wide standards," said Hamilton Sekino, a partner in Diamond's Telecom and High Tech practice. "Not everyone agrees on WiMAX's impact, but the threats and opportunities are so pervasive that every company in the communications space has to consider a competitive response. They have to hedge their bets."
Diamond's latest report, "WiMAX Outlook in the US Market: Implications for Service Providers," points out that WiMAX has a large addressable market in the US: 73 percent of American households and 52 percent of mobile subscribers. WiMAX will enable two types of broadband offers -- fixed broadband as a substitute to DSL and cable services and mobile broadband as an upgrade or complement to existing 3G technologies such as EV-DO and HSDPA.
Sekino noted, however that WiMAX technology may acquire only a small share of those markets since incumbent fixed and wireless technologies are also evolving in terms of bandwidth and costs. That uncertainty makes building an accurate business case imperative.
The Diamond report notes that service providers are only beginning to grapple with potential offer strategies as they face many unanswered questions on both the demand and supply sides of a WiMAX business case. Diamond addressed the demand question by segmenting the market for both fixed and mobile WiMAX and by estimating the addressable market for each of these segments. In addition, the management and technology consulting firm considered market benchmarks of new technology introductions in the telecom industry to further estimate the potential market that WiMAX can capture. They also determined the breakeven capital investment of fixed and mobile WiMAX based on demand and WiMAX's expected market share estimates.
On the supply side, Diamond's telecom and high tech experts identified nine categories of potential WiMAX providers, including Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), cable operators, local exchange carriers, Web portals and media companies, reviewing the potential fixed and mobile WiMAX plays available to category and highlighting key strategic questions these players will need to address before they decide on any WiMAX initiatives.
To obtain a complete copy of the report, send an email to wimax@diamondconsultants.com.
New Opportunities for Service Providers
According to the Diamond report, <b.WiMAX may disrupt fixed incumbents like AT&T, Verizon, and Qwest by providing fixed broadband services to underserved or overpriced customer segments (for example small- and medium-sized businesses currently with a slow DSL connection or an expensive T1 line).
WiMAX may disrupt the cellular industry by offsetting declines in average revenue per user (ARPU) with an increase in adoption of mobile data applications. A multitude of consumer electronic devices with an embedded WiMAX interface could deliver video, music, multi-player games, and enable the sharing of pictures and video, more cheaply and with a better customer experience than alternative technologies.
Sekino said, "While it threatens the incumbent position of AT&T and Verizon, the two integrated fixed-mobile telecom giants also entering the video market, WiMAX may create opportunities for other service providers, such as cable and satellite operators, as well as VoIP providers, MVNOs, Web portals and media content owners and aggregators."
"Cable operators will be looking at WiMAX as a potential technology to deploy their own mobile infrastructure to gain more control and margins off their quadruple play offers," he explained.
"Satellite operators can use WiMAX to provide fixed broadband and voice, as well as video-on-demand, and overcome a competitive disadvantage against cable. Web portals and media companies may consider owning or leasing a WiMAX pipe to deliver fixed and mobile entertainment to millions of households and mobile users, thereby bypassing the walled gardens and toll fees currently imposed by cable and mobile operators."
"Whether threat or opportunity, all classes of telecom and content service providers will need to adapt their business strategies to reflect the new competitive and technological realities brought about by the introduction of WiMAX," said Sekino.
"The success of WiMAX hinges on how quickly its ecosystem organizes and collaborates to compete for specific market segments and develops and markets easy-to-use, affordable end-user applications and devices," Sekino said. "Potential WiMAX players need to accelerate the adoption of the service and attract a critical mass of users before competing technologies can catch up.
"But if they succeed, by 2009, we'll see a real battle for the projected 87 million U.S. households using broadband and the 161 million users of mobile data."
About Diamond
Diamond DTPI is a management and technology consulting firm. Recognizing that information and technology shape market dynamics, Diamond's small teams of experts work across functional and organizational boundaries to improve growth and profitability. Since the greatest value in a strategy, and its highest risk, resides in its implementation, Diamond also provides proven execution capabilities. We deliver three critical elements to every project: fact-based objectivity, spirited collaboration, and sustainable results. To learn more visit http://www.diamondconsultants.com.
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?Feed=PR&Date=20070411&ID=6732...
WiMax to Prove Popular with Record Companies
By Stevie Smith
Apr 10, 2007, 15:39 GMT
The wireless revolution marches on with gusto and those not prepared to follow in its wake might just fall by the technological wayside, and that’s a note that the music industry might just be about to embrace wholeheartedly through the growing emergence and potential influence of WiMAX.
A Reuters report comments that WiMAX (4G) capability is gathering pace and its importance as a distribution channel could soon see it marked as familiar as Wi-Fi to consumer and executive alike in terms of wireless signficance.
For those not in the know, WiMAX is a wireless Internet broadband technology, much in the vein of Wi-Fi, though providing massively improved range over its Wi-Fi stable mate, and seeing it cover areas more readily equivalent to those of cellular networks rather than the strictly limited and localised access range provided of Wi-Fi (usually around 100 feet).
According to the aforementioned Reuters report, WiMAX could well offer the potential to nullify the advancement setbacks thus far prevalent in the distribution of mobile entertainment. More specifically, though WiMAX allows for cellular network-style blanketed access, its transmission is considerably cheaper than that of an actual cellular network. Naturally, reduced pricing in terms of distribution should therefore lend itself to the evolution of reduced content pricing and a subsequent increase in consumers opting to purchase mobile music/content via their mobile provider. The culmination of all these factors would, obviously, lead to improved revenue streams for both music companies and wireless operators.
Another advantage of WiMAX is that its networks are able to transfer high-bandwidth content at faster download times and in larger amounts when compared to Wi-Fi, which of course means the consumer benefits from quicker downloading for single tracks, full albums, and even video-based content – again vastly improving the appeal of mobile media as a download option.
And the potential of WiMAX is certainly attracting the attention of wireless operators. Specifically, Sprint has revealed it intends to invest $3 billion USD in the format over the next two years, and aims to have functioning WiMAX networks spread across 19 U.S. cities by April of 2008. Sprint will also roll out test networks in Chicago and Baltimore/Washington D.C. before the close of 2007.
However, it’s worth noting that building new WiMAX networks, while hugely beneficial in the long term, will also mean introducing and bedding-in new consumer technology to host them – which it’s believed would take upwards of 2 years of hardware migration. Sprint remains enthusiastic about the evolution of WiMAX though, and sees the tempting possibility of video players, digital cameras and even vehicles being integrated to the new networks as a driving factor in attracting consumers to the onrushing 4G (fourth generation) WiMAX format.
© Copyright 2006,2007 by monstersandcritics.com.
http://tech.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1289487.php/WiMax_to_prove_popular_with_record_compa....
Mobile WiMax Gear Lifts Off
Computerworld
Stephen Lawson (IDG News Service) 10/04/2007 13:25:11
Mobile WiMax has turned a corner toward success, analysts said.
Mobile WiMax, hyped for years by Intel and other vendors, has turned a corner toward reality, according to industry observers.
Mobile technology was outpacing the licensed wireless broadband market overall, and gear based on the emerging IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMax standard was leading the way, Sky Light Research said.
Unit shipments of network equipment and end-user devices for mobile broadband data grew 117 per cent in 2006 from the previous year, according to US-based Sky Light. Products built to the IEEE 802.16e standard led in growth even though the WiMax Forum industry group hadn't started certifying that the mobile products work together, analyst, Donna Carlson, said. WiMax Forum certification was set to begin in the middle of this year.
Sky Light's report also included Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), IEEE 802.20 and proprietary products using Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDMA). It did not include advanced third-generation mobile systems because they were voice-based, Carlson said.
The entire wireless broadband market is fairly small, with about 26,000 base stations and about 1.5 million units of customer equipment shipped last year.
Base station units overall were up 57 per cent and customer gear up 88 per cent. But mobile WiMax was just gaining momentum, Carlson said.
Intel's backing had given WiMax a leg up, and Sprint Nextel made a big difference when it announced last year it would deploy mobile WiMax across the US for commercial service starting next year, Carlson said.
"It helped to sway carriers and open dialogues that were pretty much on hold for a while," Carlson said.
Current Analysis analyst, Peter Jarich, agreed.
"We've definitely built up momentum, and we're over that hump," Jarich said. Another driver has been the European Commission's move toward letting service providers use WiMax and other technologies in a spectrum band coming up for auction soon. The spectrum, around 2.5GHz, had originally been envisioned as being used for 3G cellular networks.
The WiMax Forum's second wave of certification is what really matters, Jarich said, because it would include performance-enhancing features such as multiple in, multiple out (MIMO) antenna systems and beam-forming. He predicted that testing would start late this year or in early 2008. Vendors were already rolling out 802.16e products that could probably be modified if necessary for certification, he said.
The progress didn't mean there wouldn't be kinks to work out, Jarich said. For the first year it's out there, the performance of mobile WiMax might disappoint users, he said. For one thing, unlike 3G systems, WiMax wasn't designed for mobility from the beginning, so it may take time to work out functions such as handoffs. But with real-world experience, he predicted carriers and vendors would be able to work out those problems.
More about Intel, Sprint, Nextel, European Commission, IEEE
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1177274356;fp;16;fpid;1
Clearwire: New Las Vegas Location Opening
Las Vegas Business Press
Monday, April 09, 2007
Clearwire Corp. signed a five-year, $1.2 million lease for 16,362 square feet of industrial space in the Arrowhead Commerce Center at 6275 S. Pearl St., Ste. 100-300. Colliers International's Spencer Pinter represented the lessor, Arrowhead 11 & 12 Properties LLC. The reported average rent equals $1.23 per square foot.
http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2007/04/09/news/iq_13568548.txt
Map
Arrowhead Commerce Center
6275 S Pearl St
Las Vegas, NV 89120
http://maps.google.com/
New WiMAX broadband technology a boon for labels
Sun Apr 8, 2007 11:37 PM EDT
By Antony Bruno
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - If you've never heard the term "WiMAX" before, don't sweat it. You're probably not alone.
But in the hyper-wonk, tech-speak jargon of the wireless industry, WiMAX is the latest thing making its way through the byzantine maze of acronyms and buzzwords used to remind the rest of the world (with all apologies to Chevy Chase), "We're wireless, and you're not."
But WiMAX sometime soon is likely to be one of those terms that the music industry, and others in the content world, will need to know all too well as wireless technologies become an increasingly important distribution channel.
Simply put, WiMAX (also known as 4G, or "fourth generation") is a wireless Internet broadband technology similar to Wi-Fi, but with a much greater range. While Wi-Fi access points have a range of about 100 feet, WiMAX base stations can cover an area roughly the same as existing cellular networks, making it relatively easy to blanket an entire metropolitan area with just one provider.
However, unlike Wi-Fi, WiMAX networks require dedicated, licensed wireless spectrum to use -- in the expensive 2.5GHz band. Many operators are willing to pay for this spectrum as it is available now, while the international standard bodies are dragging their feet in offering more high-bandwidth wireless spectrum.
So what does all this mean to the music industry? This bastard cousin of Wi-Fi and wireless networks has the potential to solve several problems that have plagued the evolution of mobile entertainment. First, it costs much less to transmit data over a WiMAX connection than a traditional cellular network. Cheaper distribution means cheaper prices, which in turn likely means more people buying mobile music. Taken together, the result would be a greater slice of the revenue pie for wireless operators and record labels to share.
"Then we're negotiating over a much larger number, rather than the tight margins we have today," Warner Music Group senior VP of digital strategy/business development Michael Nash said at a panel discussion at the recent CTIA Wireless conference.
Second, WiMAX networks can transfer high-bandwidth content much faster and in bigger packets. That means faster download times for not only single tracks but also full albums and video content.
The wireless operator most bullish on WiMAX's potential is Sprint. The company says it will spend $1 billion this year alone, and another $2 billion next year, to build a WiMAX network in 19 cities by April 2008, covering more than 100 million people. It plans to test mobile WiMAX networks in Chicago and the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area by the end of the year.
Virtually every wireless network infrastructure provider is actively producing equipment for these new services. Samsung, Nortel, Alcatel, Nokia and Motorola are all involved in deploying the technology on a global scale.
With this on the horizon, content producers are already planning to create more sophisticated fare. MobiTV, a producer of mobile video programming, in January began demonstrating high-definition-quality programming on a WiMAX demo network at the Consumer Electronics Show.
And according to MobiTV CEO Phillip Alvelda, WiMAX has the added benefit of supporting multiple delivery functions, not just mobile. So, a service provider can broadcast content over a WiMAX network, which consumers can then access on a mobile phone, home computer or eventually a set-top box at one price through one service.
"We are changing the economics of the mobile and broadband market," Alvelda says. "You'll see a tremendous reduction in cost (and) better access to your fans."
But WiMAX is no slam-dunk. Overlaying existing wireless networks with new technology is not cheap, and building a whole new network is even more costly. For wireless operators still losing sleep over how to pay off their existing third-generation (3G) networks, this is a headache many don't need.
But to be fair, WiMAX networks are much cheaper. Compared with the approximately $40 billion that Verizon is expected to pay to build its FiOS IPTV network, WiMAX seems like a steal.
Another challenge will be the process of outfitting potential customers with new devices that can access WiMAX networks. Reseeding the market with new devices takes about 18-24 months. For content providers, the plus side is that operators will be relying on more sophisticated content to drive this migration--much like entertainment services have spurred people to buying new 3G phones.
However, it's not limited to mobile phones. WiMAX enthusiasts, including several Sprint executives, see video players, digital cameras and even automobiles connecting to the WiMAX network.
For these reasons and others, Ericsson believes WiMAX revenue will account for only about 5%-10% of global broadband wireless revenue by 2010, and as such has opted to focus its efforts on traditional 3G services.
But make no mistake: WiMAX is coming, and coming soon.
"It would not be accurate to call 2007 'the year of mobile WiMAX,"' says Tammy Parker, an analyst with Informa Telecoms & Media. "But it's clear that the future of this technology in the U.S. will be built upon the foundation being created this year."
Reuters/Billboard
http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2007-04-09T033702Z...
Clearwire Subscribers and Business Strategy
(as stated in company's Prospectus filed March 7, 2007):
Subscribers have rapidly adopted our services as we have grown from approximately 1,000 wireless broadband Internet subscribers as of September 30, 2004 to approximately 206,200 as of December 31, 2006. We estimate that the average monthly increase in our subscriber penetration rate, calculated by dividing the number of new subscribers by the number of households covered by our network, ranged between 0.5% and 0.7% for each of the twelve months ended December 31, 2006. We believe that substantially all of the households we cover have access to cable modem and/or DSL Internet services, leading us to conclude that our rapid subscriber growth rates reflect the mass market appeal and robust customer demand for our differentiated services, even in the presence of highly competitive wireline broadband alternatives.
Business Strategy
We intend to continue to grow our business by pursuing the following strategies:
• Deploy our service broadly and increase our subscriber base rapidly. We intend to deploy our network throughout the United States and internationally in markets that we find attractive. We believe that this broad deployment will enable us to rapidly increase our subscriber base. We are contractually committed to use commercially reasonable efforts to deploy mobile WiMAX networks in the United States if and when that technology meets certain requirements. If this occurs, we expect to deploy mobile WiMAX networks in our new markets in the United States and in other countries and, over time, migrate our existing markets to the same technology.
• Build our spectrum position. We intend to continue acquiring spectrum in the United States and in other countries, thereby increasing the number of markets in which we are able to offer our services.
• Enhance portability and mobile service offerings. We will continue to focus on enhancing the portability of subscriber equipment and to work with vendors to introduce devices that will allow us to offer fully mobile services, whether based on our existing Expedience network or on our planned mobile WiMAX network. We intend to introduce a PC Card for our Expedience network in the second half of this year that will facilitate greater mobile access to our services. We further believe that commercial deployment of mobile WiMAX will lead to the development and availability of mobile products that are compatible with our planned mobile WiMAX network.
• Offer premium value added services. We intend to generate incremental revenues, leverage our cost structure and improve subscriber retention by offering a variety of premium services. We currently offer VoIP telephony services in 13 markets, and plan to expand this offering to other markets in the future. We also plan to offer other premium services and applications, which may include WiFi hotspots, public safety services, security services, and subscription-based technical support. We believe that our planned mobile WiMAX deployment will enable us to offer additional premium services that take advantage of the capabilities of this technology.
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1285551/000095013407005056/v25599a6sv1za.htm
Looks like a little further expansion in Michigan shouldn't require too much effort:
West Michigan New (Grand Haven Tribune)
Countywide wireless plan delayed
BY ELIZABETH COUNCIL
ecouncil@grandhaventribune.com
The county's plan to launch fully-mobile broadband Internet access to residents and businesses in all 24 local units of government before 2008 will be delayed, the county's Planning Director Mark Knudsen reported this week.
The project goal was to offer both rural and urban citizens a high-speed, wireless online experience from just about any location in the county by the end of 2007. However, now that Broadbreeze Communications, the company that was to provide the cellular-based technology to power the countywide service, recently sold its licensed spectrum to another communications company, Clearwire, the county may have to look at other options, Knudsen said.
Intel Corp. recently developed new wireless technology called WiMax, and several national telecommunications firms are planning to use the new WiMax technology, Knudsen said. With the deployment of WiMax networks not expected until early 2008, the county is hoping Clearwire will be interested in offering the countywide Internet service and that would be available to county residents then.
Knudsen said the best-case scenario would be that Clearwire would agree to a business plan with the county, and that the broadband initiative would be put just 18 months behind schedule.
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/302469563294514.bsp
Size of CLWR's Las Vegas 'Call Center' Doubled in Approximately
3 Months from a Staff of 110 to in Excess of 200.
According to the following:
Information current up to December 31, 2006 in Clearwire's S-1 filing under 'Customer Service and Technical Support':
In October 2006, we opened a call center in Las Vegas, Nevada currently staffed with approximately 110 customer service representatives. We believe that having our own internal customer service and technical support personnel enables us to deliver a consistent, high quality customer service, thereby improving subscriber retention.
Currently, some of our customer care operations are outsourced to a third-party vendor. However, we expect to replace some of these outsourced customer care operations with our own internal customer care services, partially through the planned opening of an additional call center this year.
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1285551/000095013407005056/v25599a6sv1za.htm
From this April 5th article about the new Customer Service / Technical Support Center in Pensacola FL, which was announced earlier this week by Clearwire on April 3, 2007 (see links at bottom of page):
The Santa Rosa location will be Clearwire's second technology service center and its largest. The company also has a technology service center in Las Vegas that has more than 200 employees.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/894310/call_center_coming_to_santa_rosa_industrial_park_clea...
http://www.clearwire.com/company/news/main.php
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=18445417
Furthermore See Current Positions Available in Las Vegas on Clearwire's Web Site:
http://www.clearwire.apply2jobs.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.searchJobs
IDC's Window into the World of WiMAX
Apr 26, 2007
United States
Event Details
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time
The stage is now being set for the deployment of WiMAX around the globe. WiMAX equipment vendors and service providers are racing to prove that the technology is ready for prime time. For companies looking to carve a niche in the WiMAX space, the race to capture a piece of this developing market has begun.
http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=IDC_P14977
About IDC
IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. Founded in 1964, IDG had 2005 revenues of $2.68 billion and has 13,600 employees worldwide. IDG offers the widest range of media options which reach more than 120 million technology buyers in 85 countries representing 95% of worldwide IT spending.
http://www.idc.com/about/about.jsp
AT&T WiMAX White Paper:
Excerpts:
Due to the rising interest in WiMAX as a networking technology, AT&T has conducted field trials, and gained valuable knowledge and insights that can help with network design, planning, and installation.
WiMAX is a technology to watch. It is easy to install, offers comparable bandwidth to broadband, and may potentially offer better performance than cellular. It can add value to a corporate network, particularly from a Business Continuity context, or as a unique method for responding to time-to-market challenges.
Download PDF File from AT&T
http://www.business.att.com/nx_resource.jsp?repoid=Solution&repoitem=eb_enhancing_productivity&a...
http://research.bizreport.com/detail/RES/1175788534_757.html
Convergence? Forget it. We`re all divergent now
by CommsDay - 5/4/2007 10:09:06
Wireless
“It’s all about seamless mobility – access anywhere, on any network with any device,” said Motorola’s senior marketing director James Campbell. He believes that momentum for WiMAX is growing strongly and that the technology will be used for basic access in emerging markets and for personal broadband services in more mature markets.
“The focus will be on the delivery of IP and nomadic use rather than mobility initially”, Mr. Campbell said, adding that converged devices seem not to be meeting customer needs. He predicts, “Instead of putting cameras into phones, we’ll be putting WiMAX chips into cameras. That’s the way forwards.”
Rob Inshaw, the director of carrier networks at Nortel, also believes that chipsets embedded in consumer devices will drive demand for WiMAX and says the technology will “secure Nortel’s future growth.”
Mr. Inshaw dubbed the move towards network-enabling devices as “hyper connectivity” and nominated it as one of the mega-trends of the near future. “There’s a change in paradigm coming – from one device doing everything to many devices that are all connected,” he said, taking as examples amongst the mix games machines, iPods, PDAs
and notebooks.
Rob Inshaw predicts that that OFDM will be the platform for all wireless broadband but also believes that smart antennas (MIMO) will also play a crucial role. “We don’t think OFDM is enough, we think it’s a combination of OFDM and MIMO,” he said. “Think of it as delivering parallel streams of data down to the device.”
http://www.telecomtv.com/news.asp?cd_id=7889&url=news.asp?cd_id=7889
Speculation of 'Direct TV' Partnering with Clearwire May Be Coming Back to Life:
There was quite of bit of that last July, before Rupert Murdoch sold 'Direct TV' to Liberty Media.
Murdoch & McCaw: A Likely Match?
Written by Katie Fehrenbacher
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 2:30 PM PT | 1 comment
Murdoch is reportedly planning to jump into the world of WiMAX through its DirecTV broadcast company, and could either partner with Clearwire or go after its own spectrum. The Hollywood Reporter says the most likely story is a link with McCaw’s Clearwire, and quotes sources that say News Corp and DirectTV are in “advanced” talks with Clearwire.
Robert Young, the soothsayer who sees things before others had alluded to Murdoch’s broadband plans almost a year ago. You must go and read Murdoch, WiMax and The Two Way Web and get a sense of why it is the most important priority for News Corp.
Another option could be those spectrum auctions coming up in August that everyone from Gabelli, and Paul Allen to William Berkman are eying. FCC files say a group called Wireless DBS, which is backed by DirecTV, News Corp, Fox Entertainment, EchoStar, Rupert Murdoch, and EchoStar’s Charles Ergen, among others, are looking to bid. Though, the application is incomplete and today is the last day to update it. These applications could be a low-risk placeholder, but then again, it’s an indicator of company ambition.
http://gigaom.com/2006/07/18/murdoch-mccaw/
DirecTV Looking For Broadband Partners
But they won't overpay to make it happen...
Posted 2007-04-04 19:25:39 by Karl · tags: [wireless] [Video] [satellite] [competition] [business]
Back before Rupert Murdoch sold his "turd bird" (aka DirecTV) to Liberty Media, it was assumed that DirecTV would get into the broadband business by partnering with a WiMax provider. Now that the satellite company is owned by Liberty, they've said they still want to get into the broadband sector, despite the company's history of previous failed attempts. Judging from this Motley Fool report, they're not being any more forthcoming on how exactly they plan to do this, but they are looking for partners. As it stands, DirecTV's market strength still comes directly from their exclusive NFL package (and their more recent Major League Baseball deal) -- but they need a broadband component if they want to do battle on the triple-play front.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/82784