3G/4G Devices Require 3G/4G Plans - Be Careful, Unlimited Users!

Now that Sprint's 4G service is available in a number of cities across the US, many Sprint 3G users are interested in switching to a new 3G/4G device like the U301 (left) or Overdrive, even if they don't currently need 4G - simply so they can have the latest device and be prepared for when 4G becomes available to them. This is understandable, but for customers who currently have a grandfathered "unlimited" 3G account with Sprint, swapping to a 3G/4G device may not always be the best idea. 3G/4G devices must be activated on Sprint's 3G/4G plan, which is $59.99 and provides unlimited 4G use but only 5GB of 3G use, with overage charges thereafter. This is the ONLY plan that you can activate Sprint's 3G/4G devices with - you CANNOT activate a 3G/4G device on a 3G-only plan.

This may come as a surprise to some, since Sprint does allow customers to do "ESN (Electronic Serial Number) Swaps" from one 3G device to another without changing your contract. Many people assume that they will be able to do an ESN swap from their 3G device to a 3G/4G device, continue using their unlimited 3G service for the time being, and be ready for 4G when it becomes available. This is NOT the case. You cannot do a simple ESN swap from a 3G device to a 3G/4G device. You can do a swap and not extend your contract, but you must change the plan to the 3G/4G plan (also, the swap can't be done online; to swap from a 3G to a 3G/4G device, you have to call Sprint).

For people that live in a 4G area, this isn't a problem since the 3G/4G plan provides unlimited 4G access, but for people that will mainly be relying on the 3G side, giving up your unlimited 3G service might not be worth making the switch just yet. If you have a 3G device with an unlimited Sprint plan and are considering doing a swap to a 3G/4G device, you should only do so if you actually have access to 4G and plan to use it; otherwise, you may want to wait until 4G is available in your area. You can keep up to date with the latest news on 4G, including coverage rollouts, by visiting our sister site 4ginfo.com.

For those that are ready to upgrade, you can purchase the U301 and the Sprint Overdrive both with and without contract from 3Gstore. Click here to purchase with no contract; if you're looking to purchase with a new two-year contract please use the 3gstore Sprint Order Form.

For more info on Sprint's 3G vs 3G/4G service and devices, check out our video debate: 3Gstore Mobile Break.

Sprint 3G/4G U301 USB Modem Now Available at 3Gstore

Sprint's newest dual-mode USB modem, the U301, is now available at 3Gstore! The U301 is a dual-mode device that can connect to both Sprint's 4G WiMAX network and their nationwide 3G EVDO Rev-A network - you'll enjoy super-fast 4G speeds where available, and when you travel outside a 4G market, the U301 will automatically connect to Sprint's 3G network!

Sprint's new 3G/4G plan makes the U301 an excellent option even for users who aren't currently in a Sprint 4G area. 3G/4G service is the same price as Sprint's 3G-only service - $59.99/mo - and provides unlimited 4G access and 5GB of 3G access. If you were considering signing up for Sprint's 3G mobile broadband service with a 3G-only device, we highly recommend considering the U301 instead - for the exact same monthly price you'll be able to use 3G service now and when 4G does become available in your area (or if you travel to a 4G area) in the future, you'll be prepared with a compatible device!

More about the U301:

* Dimensions: 3.5" x 1.27" x 0.92"
* Weight: 1.25 oz
* Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X 10.4 and later
* Cradlepoint router support coming soon!

The U301 is available from 3Gstore for FREE with a new 2-year contract (pay $49.99 and receive a $50 mail-in rebate). Remember, when you order your Sprint service through 3Gstore you'll have access to our esteemed technical support as well as discounts on routers (Cradlepoint plans on supporting the U301 in an upcoming firmware release) and antennas/amplifiers (there are currently no signal-boosting options for improving the 4G signal, but repeaters can be used to improve your 3G signal)!

Order the U301 for $49.99 - $50 mail-in rebate securely from 3Gstore

Sprint's New Mobile Broadband Plan Offers 3G & 4G for $59.99/mo

Whenever new technology debuts, customers understandably become concerned about buying products that are going to be outdated or getting stuck in a service contract when something better is on the way. Now that Sprint's 4G internet service is becoming available to users in more and more cities and more dual-mode 3G/4G devices are hitting the market, folks who were considering signing up for 3G mobile broadband service now have another option to contemplate. Luckily, Sprint has put together a new mobile broadband plan that gives you access to both their 3G and 4G networks at the SAME price as their 3G plan, just $59.99/month! You get the same 5GB of 3G service plus unlimited 4G access - Sprint is essentially giving away their 4G service at no additional charge!

Read more about Sprint's new 3G/4G plan and devices

2009 in Review: The Year of 4G!

This has been a really exciting year for 4G services! This time last year, 4G services were available in just a select few markets, and after just one year Sprint/CLEAR have expanded their WiMAX coverage to over 30 markets, several new devices made their debut, and Verizon made sure we didn't forget that LTE is on the way. Lets take a look at the highlights of 4G in 2009!

• Sprint/Clearwire Expands 4G WiMax Coverage To New Markets:

• Abilene, TX
• Amarillo, TX
• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX
• Bellingham, WA
• Boise, ID
• Chicago, IL
• Corpus Christi, TX
• Dallas / Fort Worth, TX
• Greensboro, NC
• Honolulu, HI
• Killeen, TX
• Las Vegas, NV
• Lubbock, TX
• Maui, HI
• Midland / Odessa, TX
• Milledgeville, GA
• Philadelphia, PA
• Portland, OR
• Raleigh, NC
• Salem, OR
• San Antonio, TX
• Seattle, WA
• Waco, TX
• Witchita Falls, TX

• Cradlepoint integrates support for the new 4G devices onto their router line with a firmware update.

• Sprint, Clearwire’s largest shareholder, expanded it’s network onto the Clearwire infrastructure to become the first national 3G/4G carrier.

• Sprint announced the U301 3G/4G Hybrid Modem, the first Mac-compatible 3G/4G Hybrid device

• Samsung announced and released the Mondi, the first "MID" or Mobile Internet Device to work on the Clear network.

• Verizon completed its initial tests on its LTE network in two lucky cities, Boston and Seattle, and promised coverage to 25-30 markets in 2010.

Going into the new year, we are looking forward to seeing many new developments and advances in 4G. Things that we will be watching for this year include:

• CLEAR and Sprint 4G further expanding their 4G coverage to new markets
• WiMAX-enabled phones (Sprint & LG To Unveil WiMax 4G Phone at CES?)
• Verizon to launch their 4G LTE service
• 3Gstore.com (4Ginfo's sister site) will begin selling Clear & Sprint 4G products and services in the very near future - check 3Gstore.com/clear for updates!
  

It looks like 2010 is going to be a very exciting year for 4G services, so stay tuned for the latest news & information!

Sprint announced the industry's first dual mode 3G and 4G device today, the Sprint 4G U300 (by Franklin Wireless). This USB dongle will allow you to access all of Sprint's mobile broadband networks, including EVDO Rev-A and WiMAX! Currently, 4G is ONLY available in Baltimore, but they will be expanding throughout 2009.

The device will cost $199.99 with a 2 year contract and will be available after 12/21/08; the monthly charge will be $79.99 for EVDO and 4G access. It is unclear what the usage limits will be, but I'd imagine it would be 5GB like most mobile broadband. Unfortunately, it is NOT Mac compatible, which is strange, since all other Franklin devices have been Mac compatible out of the box - this is probably because they don't (yet) have Mac support for their 4G network at all.

Related Links:

• Sprint U300 Announcement
  
• Sprint 4G U300 - First Announced on 4Ginfo.com
• Franklin Reveals First EVDO/WiMAX USB Device: the U300
• Discuss the Sprint U300 on EVDOforums.com
• When Available, you may be able to buy the Sprint U300 at 3Gstore.com
  
• Read about Franklin Warranty on EVDOinfo.com

Clearwire and Sprint have had to jump through a lot of hurdles since announcing their plans to join their WiMAX forces back in May of 2008. They faced opposition from AT&T, who unsuccessfully appealed to the FCC earlier this fall to try to stop the merger, as well as from iPCS, then had to wait for approval from the FCC (which they got earlier this month), and then were waiting on a vote from Clearwire stockholders to see that they had their stamp of approval.

It was finally given to the shareholders to vote upon on Thursday, and Clearwire's board of directors unanimously recommended to their shareholders that they vote in favor of the merger - and they did!

The transaction was approved by the shareholders yesterday and Clearwire (remember, the merged Sprint/Clearwire company is going under the name "Clearwire") now has the seal of approval from the law and the people. This is a big step and I'd expect to see their development and deployment schedule really ramp up now.

As Clearwire CEO Benjamin G. Wolff put it,

"Today, our shareholders have taken a transformative step toward enabling an entirely new mobile Internet experience for consumers and businesses across the country. With an unmatched spectrum portfolio, a next generation all IP network, an ever-expanding ecosystem of mobile 4G devices, and the backing of some of the most innovative communications, entertainment and technology companies in the world, Clearwire is ready to redefine mobile Internet services in the U.S."

Join the 4G Forums discussion about the new Clearwire

The Clearwire/Sprint merger may have been approved by the FCC earlier this month, but that doesn't mean the new WiMAX company is now 100% free to forge ahead with all of their plans. At least two companies have expressed a distaste for the merger - first AT&T, who tried to block the merger earlier this year, and also Illinois-based Sprint partner iPCS, who has a history of blocking Sprint from providing service from merged companies in their territories. Citing exclusivity clauses in their contract with Sprint, iPCS has gone to the courts in hopes of barring Sprint from offering any service from the new Clearwire network in their territories, which include areas of Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio and Tennessee (check out the map above for more detail on where iPCS reigns).

Fortunately for Sprint/Clearwire, on Monday an Illinois circuit court told iPCS that they must immediately withdraw their request for a restraining order, meaning Sprint/Clearwire can move forward with their WiMAX development plans. This is great news for the new company, especially considering the precedent that was set when the Illinois court sided with iPCS when they complained about the Nextel merger. The court did provide an allowance for iPCS to re-file in the future, but for the time being Clearwire will be allowed to continue their development unfettered.

It has been reported that Clearwire plans on rolling out services in iPCS territories in July of 2009, and they have agreed to notify iPCS of their plans 60 days before launch. While it was reported that July 2009 would be the soonest WiMAX would be deployed in those regions, it was not made clear where exactly the service will become available first or which parts of the region will be covered.

Discuss iPCS vs Clearwire on the 4G Forums

XOHM currently offers three modems for use on their WiMAX network, and they're all different formats: there's the Zyxel Home Modem, SWC-e100 ExpressCard, and their latest offering, the ZTE Tu25 USB dongle. So which one are you supposed to choose? Which one is the "best"? Do they all work the same?

We at 4Ginfo.com have tested all three available XOHM modems, and after comparing the performance and benefits of them we've put together some information that should help you make your choice!

Our Favorite: Zyxel Home Modem: If you're going to use XOHM primarily at home, the Zyxel is far and away the best choice. It's incredibly easy to set up and is compatible with any computer (it is the ONLY one that works with Macs right now) AND can be used with any standard router! It works just like a regular cable or DSL modem: just plug it into the wall and then either connect it directly to your computer via an ethernet cable or use it with a router. Its built-in antennas are powerful, and it is the only modem with antenna ports that can be used with future antennas, like EVDO aircards (there aren't any available yet, but stay tuned).

It also out-performed the other two options. We saw consistent download speeds of 4-5Mbps (even higher than XOHM promises on their site) and we were seeing consistent uploads of well over 1Mbps. Unless you're going to be traveling a lot and don't want to worry about having to find an outlet everywhere you go, this is definitely the best modem to go for.

First Runner Up: ZTE Tu25 USB Modem: If you want to go truly mobile, we suggest the USB option. It worked well for us, and obviously works with any PC that has an USB port (not on Macs, though!). As for speeds, we were able to occasionally hit download speeds of nearly 10Mbs, but the average speeds were much lower than that. The upload speeds, on the other hand, were significantly less than what we saw with the Home Modem, in the range of about 800Kbps as opposed to 1.2+Mbps.

Unlike the Home Modem, there probably won't be an option to hook up an external antenna to this modem. It does have two connectors on the bottom of the modem beneath the label, but they are u.fl connectors and not designed for repeated connecting and disconnecting of an antenna like we do for EVDO aircards.

And in a Distant Third Place: The Samsung ExpressCard: Unless you have too many peripheral devices taking up your USB ports or you just love ExpressCards, we do NOT recommend the SWC-e100 ExpressCard. There have been activation problems, and those that have been able to activate it have experienced slow speeds and difficultly staying connected to the network. In our tests, we maxed out at 1.5Mbps or so down and our fastest upload speed was 791 - the average upload speed was more like 500. Better than dial-up, but those are speeds we expect from EVDO Rev-A, not WiMAX. With the USB modem also available for "on-the-go" users, there is no reason to opt for the ExpressCard.

If you've used a XOHM modem, let us know if you agree with our opinions! Share your experience with the 4G community at the 4G Forums

Earlier this month, we at 4Ginfo.com posted an article on how to get your Sprint XOHM device up and running in areas with XOHM outside Baltimore. It has worked successfully for MANY people, allowing people in Dallas, Chicago, etc to sign up for service and access the SUPER fast network. We've heard a lot of success stories and had success ourselves!

Some people have had trouble, though. I mentioned the accounts of a few of them the other day, but over the weekend one of our own employees experienced a bump in the road in Chicago. After being able to access the network without any problems for a while, he began having a problem when using his ExpressCard. Each time he popped it in his computer, he was asked to re-register. Coincidentally, our employee received a phone call from XOHM, welcoming him to the network (has anyone else received such a call? While it's a nice gesture, it seems a little over the top for Sprint to expend such manpower on welcome calls...), and he decided to take the opportunity to try to find out why he was experiencing this problem.

Upon seeing that he was actually outside the Baltimore region, she informed him that the "workaround" is no longer valid - the Network Operations division had halted activations outside Baltimore. She went on to explain that people in Chicago and Dallas will just have to "be patient" until the network is launched in their areas. However, since he has had his device activated for weeks now, she told him that she wouldn't be canceling his service.

Interestingly, another one of our employees has had NO such problems. He is in Dallas and has been able to connect to the network consistently since signing up a couple weeks ago.

If you've had similar problems, or, better yet, a success story, make sure you join in the discussion at 4G Forums!

An interesting topic has come up at the 4G Forums, regarding some problems that users have encountered trying to use their activated modems in covered areas outside of Baltimore (Chicago, Dallas, etc). The problems range from not being able to connect to XOHM - despite their successful activation via 4Ginfo's workaround - and XOHM double-charging on a Pick Two plan.

Here are some complaints straight from the mouths (keyboards) of XOHM users:

Not working here in Chicago. I did everything correctly and connected once to Xohm service but now it doesnt even give me the option to connect to wimax. I used a few different Baltimore address but still gettting nothing.

I have to start up the connection manager than re insert the data card for it to work. Now on the home page for xohm it says that its an unknown wimax device. Do i need to activate it again on xohm home page? I am getting frustrated.

You may need to call in to XOHM Support. They fouled up my pick 2 plan and charged me twice and still ONLY had my Xyzel Home modem activated on my plan. I have noticed I have had more issues with the express card itself. May take a little patience for that card has to remain connected to the XOHM network in order to pull down some activation updates. Seeing that signal is spotty at current, it may just not be receiving that neccessary update to remain active.

Its hit or miss with the express card. The connection manager will find Xohm service but everytime it tells me to activate service. I have a receipt that shows what I ordered but it always brings me to xohm home page to activate my card, than I put in the mac address. It does this over and over. Very frustrating but I do realize that the service isnt active yet here in Chicago just using the work around. I might give it 30 days than Im going to send back the card and cancel the service.

To be fair, these problems seem to be occurring mainly when people are attempting to use the service OUTSIDE of the official Baltimore area, so things may clear up when those places are officially launched/supported by Sprint/XOHM. The most troubling complaint is the one regarding double-charges and their failure to activate one of the devices on the Pick Two plan. It's true that their system is brand new and a few hiccups are to be expected along the way, but those are pretty fundamental issues that should not be occurring.

Have you had any problems with your service? Or do you have a success story? Share your info on the 4G Forum.

Sprint XOHM coverage has been confirmed in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but how does it measure up to the great results we got from our Chicago XOHM tests last week?

The results, while not horrible, were not nearly as impressive as what we found in Chicago:

The good: The network is definitely there, and the range was wider than expected - for those familiar with the area, it extended far north of the downtown area, north of LBJ/635

The bad: The network is NOT currently stable. We were not able to stay connected for more than 10 minutes at a time.

We used the SWC-e100 ExpressCard to test the area.

Here is the initial speed test:

When we moved closer to downtown, things looked a little better (click to view full size):

Here is a ping test to Google (click to view full size):

And finally, a traceroute, also to Google (click to view full size):

Just to contrast, here is a traceroute from the same location using EVDO Rev A (click to view full size):

We were only able to test with the SWC-e100 ExpressCard - perhaps the Home Modem, with its powerful antennas and ability to connect to towers that are further away, will fare better.

Don't get us wrong - we were happy just to see WiMAX! Once it officially launches in early 2009, the network is bound to be much more reliable.

Discuss coverage throughout the country on 4G Forums

Now that we've confirmed that there is indeed XOHM available in Chicago (albeit unannounced), it's time to put it to the test!

On the official XOHM site, potential speeds are quoted at 2 - 4 Mbps download and 0.5 - 1.5 Mbps up. There have been rumblings that the actual speeds don't live up the hype, but here's what we found:

Zyxel Mac206M2 Home Modem: We tested the Zyxel directly connected via ethernet to a Mac Powerbook running Leopard. We performed three tests, about 3 hours apart, to account for fluctuations. Those internal antennas built into the modem must really do their job - the average download speed was about 4.5Mbps, faster than XOHM's promises. The upload speed averaged at about 1.2, which, while not as impressive when compared to the download, is still well within the range quoted by XOHM. So far, so good!

For the Samsung SWC-E100 ExpressCard, we switched to a Toshiba laptop running Windows Vista Home (remember: the ExpressCard does NOT work with Macs). Despite the fact that we were in the same location, the results were markedly different. Download came in at 3.1Mbps and upload at just 0.8, right in the middle of XOHM's promise but disappointing after seeing how the Home Modem did.

It is definitely very exciting to see these types of speeds. The true test, though, will be how it holds up as the service becomes more popular and the network traffic increases.

For screenshots and more, check out 4Ginfo.com

As you may have noticed - or read on the 4G Forums! - there have been XOHM sightings in areas besides the officially announced Baltimore region.

So how can you access the network? You need to register your modem and service, but you need to use an address that IS covered in Sprint's official Baltimore network.

No problem! We have created a super-simple step-by-step set of instructions so that you can get your modem up and running in places like Dallas, Chicago, or Philadelphia. Check it out on 4Ginfo.com and start XOHM-ing!

The official launch is still two weeks off, but Sprint's XOHM network is already up and running in Baltimore and some of the surrounding suburbs. They've also released pricing information - and it's good news! You DON'T need a contract, and the prices are very reasonable: plans include a $10 Day pass, $25 monthly Home Internet service and $30 monthly On-the-go service. Special launch pricing also includes a $50 "Pick 2 for Life" monthly service option that covers 2 WiMAX devices!

Some pertinent details from the release:

• No long-term commitments or contracts are required, freeing customers from restrictive long-term subsidized plans
• Monthly home, on-the-go and day-pass Internet plans provide service choices
• A single monthly charge covers service for multiple WiMAX access devices
• WiMAX devices are purchased like other computing/consumer electronic devices
• XOHM broadband service is self-activated and includes future updates capability

If you live in the Baltimore area, check out the coverage map to see if you are lucky enough to be in the service area:


It's not incredibly wide spread yet, but there's enough coverage to give it a try.

Obviously, you will need a modem. It looks like they are launching with a $79.99 home modem, a $59.99 ExpressCard, and a USB modem. Here's a look at the MAX-206M2 by ZyXEL modem:

The ExpressCard:
And the USB modem:
Now for the bad news on these devices: neither the ExpressCard NOR the USB modem are compatible with Mac!! We hope that sometime in the near future when the network is a bit more widespread we will be able work on some sort of work-around like we did back before EVDO devices offered official Mac support, so stay tuned.

Read the full press release on 4Ginfo.com
Discuss the launch/pricing on 4G Forums

Are you ready, Baltimore??

Sprint announced today that the WiMAX XOHM network will debut in Baltimore on October 8th - just a little over 2 weeks away.

Sprint has assured the world that the network has been thoroughly tested and is definitely ready for deployment. They didn't release any marketing/sales info yet, though - a "source" says that will probably happen sometime next week. Thus there's no news just yet on how much it will cost per month, whether a contract is needed, what kind of devices will be available and how much those will cost. I would love to speculate on that stuff, but we really just don't know yet! My guess would be that it will cost MORE than EVDO per month, but then again, maybe they'll want to lure early adopters in with good deals. As for devices, I think we can expect a variety of USB and ExpressCard modems, just like they offer for EVDO.

Next step: accessories! Antennas, routers... how long will it take for those to become available?

If you're a Baltimore-ite and become a WiMAX user, please share your thoughts on 4G Forums!

Discuss the Baltimore release on 4G Forums

Earlier in the year AT&T tried to put the legal kibosh on Sprint and Clearwire, hoping to prevent them from completing the big merger that would (will) surely make them a WiMAX superpower. The merger is still going through, but AT&T isn't the only company less than thrilled about it.

Illinois' iPCS is a service provider that serves around 640,000 subscribers in portions of Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio and Tennessee with Sprint service, and they have been battling it out with Sprint ever since their acquisition of Nextel back in 2005. With the Nextel issue, iPCS argued that the merger breached the exclusivity portions of their contract with Sprint, and they were successful - court rulings forced Sprint to ditch their Nextel operations in the areas iPCS covers. Now that Clearwire is joining the mix to create a widespread WiMAX network, iPCS is back in the courts again, trying to do the same thing with this merger that they did with the Nextel issue. Timothy M. Yager, president and CEO of iPCS explained their point of view in a news release:

“Over the past few years the exclusivity provisions of our affiliation agreements have been continually tested by Sprint, and we believe that it is appropriate and necessary to continue to defend our rights under the agreements. We firmly believe that the Illinois courts, including the Illinois Appellate Court, that have previously enforced our exclusivity protection will also find that this latest attempt by Sprint to compete with us in our territory is another violation of our agreements.”

Essentially iPCS is arguing that their contract with Sprint promises that iPCS has the exclusive rights to use Sprint's network, and continued mergers with other providers go against this and wreak havoc with their place in the market.

Obviously, Sprint is fighting back. The Clearwire merger is crucial to their goal of creating the first major WiMAX network in the country, and being blocked in 80 markets - however small or large they may be - puts a crimp in their plans. They're heading to the Illinois Circuit Courts to contest iPCS's claims and hope to get things cleared up ASAP as they move forward with their WiMAX plans.

The question now is what will/would happen if iPCS is successful again in their attempts to keep their market exclusively Sprint.

Verizon may have a history of rebuffing Google, particularly its Android platform, but such is not the case for Clearwire. In a chat with Unstrung.com, CEO Ben Wolf confirmed that their WiMAX XOHM devices will indeed make use of Android.

Between their earlier timeline and now the confirmation that Sprint/Clearwire XOHM users will get to use Android devices, Verizon is looking further and further behind in the 4G market. They did show some interesting progress this week with talk of their new "open development" policy, but how far will that carry them?

Discuss Clearwire and Android on 4G Forums

There are a lot of benefits to the big Sprint/Clearwire merger, which is getting very close to being finalized, but like most everything in this complicated world, there is at least one downside to the partnership. Unlike LTE, Sprint has been promoting WiMAX products as being "dual-mode," meaning they operate on both CDMA and WiMAX systems. With a CDMA option, users can roam the world and activate service in areas that operate on non-SIM networks, a huge plus for consumers that travel globally and need internet access wherever they go.

Really, though?

Not for XOHM users!

Here's the deal: Clearwire/Sprint's WiMAX products will be marketed under the XOHM name, and those products and service are on the way beginning this year. For some reason, Sprint wants to keep XOHM products WiMAX only - no CDMA. They WILL be offering dual-mode products (including a laptop card that will debut sometime next year, most likely), but only on the Sprint-branded not network.

Confusing enough for you? Frustrating?

For many early adopters, it won't make much of a difference. Not everyone travels around the world, and for them CDMA is really a non-issue. But what about business travelers and the like? They will be forced to either wait until they can get a Sprint-only device or go through the pain of switching after some time of using XOHM stuff.

Only time will tell whether this confusing split between dual- and single-mode devices will make a big impact on consumers. We do know that there is a percentage of 3G users that are disappointed by the lack of CDMA support for EVDO from Verizon and Sprint, and I'm sure that will transfer to 4G.

Discuss this news on 4G Forums

We reported on the Sprint/Clearwire merger back in August, but the merger is still not quite complete. Thanks to the complaint filed by AT&T (a desperate attempt on their part to slow down XOHM and give them a little more time to get their own technology rolling... in my opinion), regulatory approval has taken a bit longer than they would have liked, but Clearwire CFO John Butler has stated that he expects the deal to be finalized by the end of the year.

In addition to teaming up together, Sprint/Clearwire is also partnering up with Google, Intel, Time Warner Cable and Comcast to create their network. It looks like "the more the merrier" is what Sprint/Clearwire thinks will make their XOHM plan a success - and I think they're on to something. Comcast and Time Warner will be able to add WiMAX service to their "bundle" packages available to customers, Intel will provide things like chipsets, and Google, of course, can offer everything from search to maps.

The merger also gives Sprint/Clearwire a lot more cash to work with: the new company is estimated to be worth $14.55 billion! Development and wide-range deployment of a new network is going to cost them, and with money at their disposal they'll be able to move forward much more quickly. With yesterday's news that LTE might not be ready for widespread use until 2015, this partnership and the money they'll have to use is going to give Sprint/Clearwire a huge jump on their competition. Will LTE ever be able to catch up?

Discuss the merger on 4G Forums
Read the press release on 4Ginfo.com

We've been waiting anxiously for info on the products we'll be using for WiMAX service when it finally becomes available, and today we all get a sneak peek at some of the devices, courtesy of the wonder of the internet and various sites' willingness to link info!

The purported devices include a XOHM phone from Nokia, Samsung SWC-E100 expresscard, ZTE TU25 USB modem, and a ZTE PCMCIA card (why?). Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be Mac support for the devices at this time, but when the devices become available the crew at 4Ginfo.com will work to explore Mac workaround options. Also, no pricing information has been released at this time.

Here's a look at a couple products:

The ZyXel WiMAX mobile router looks very promising - compact and featuring an optional 4-hour battery:

Pictures of Nokia's N810 WiMAX phone have also been leaked. It appears to be a slider model with full QWERTY keypad:

Sprint is still being tight-lipped about pricing, from the service to the products. With coverage landing in Baltimore any time now, though, I'd assume we will be hearing soon. Stay tuned.

Discuss Sprint XOHM WiMAX's Leaked Products on 4G Forums