WiMAX/4G/3G/CDMA and the HTC Supersonic

[billsmed]

I couldn't help but wonder what WiMAX 4G was and why I should be interested in it. To understand its significance, I decided to do some Internet searches. What I learned is, WiMAX speeds are generally considered to be 4 to 5 times faster than 3G, but on Sprint

 

[acp]

I'm not going to lie...it moved while reading this thread

 

[Roddy]

so i have a "crazy question" please don't laugh for my ignorance! lol

but with 4G, will there be voice and data simultaneously like on AT&T? or is that still limited to GSM?

 

[billsmed]

No Roddy, it's not a crazy question at all, but I'm not able to prove it one way or the other right now. Guess we'll have to wait until the phone is released to find out. Perhaps someone with WiMAX/VoIP/mobile experience will be able to answer.

My reason for posting this thread is because I'm excited about the HTC Supersonic. I wrote quite a bit tying to stir interest and was hoping people would be able to comment and expound more on the subject.

Bill

 

[billsmed]

on that note, if LTE blows WiMax outa the water i have READ where clear has been quoted saying that if necesary all their towers can be switched to LTE via software change? not sure how that is exaclty possible seeing the different bands they use but i have read it in multiple locations, if this is true, then sprint has been well prepared in going about this proccess.

Thanks, Covert. Right now, I don't see LTE blowing WiMAX out of the water, mostly because Sprint has a head start and they have all those tech giants behind them. I've also seen reference to WiMAX2, which I believe is an upgrade to IEEE 802.16m from IEEE 802.16e. WiMAX2, if that's what it will be called, will offer more speed and will do more to match the 4G standard.

If Sprint can upgrade to LTE "via software" as you mentioned, then that's a move they will probably want to make. It seems logical if they want to stay in step with the rest of the world, but only Sprint can make that decision.

 

[SoFLO]

I know the release date is anyone's guess but do you really think Sprint could roll out a 4G phone by March? I was thinking Q3 but I won't complain lol.

 

[billsmed]

I know the release date is anyone's guess but do you really think Sprint could roll out a 4G phone by March?

We should know a lot more after the HTC scheduled press event on February 16th at the Mobile World Congress. When I Google "sprint htc supersonic", I get over 600,000 hits. A lot of them are saying the Supersonic will be released in March.

Sprint has been working with WiMAX for more than 5 years and HTC has been working with WiMAX for over a year with on a Russian WiMAX phone, so they have experience with it. 11-12-2008 - SCARTEL AND HTC LAUNCH WORLD

 

[billsmed]

Covert,

I read that the Supersonic works on EVDO/EVDO Rev A, so my guess is, wherever your Instinct works, the Supersonic should also work. I'd say you would have the best of both worlds. When in Dallas, you'd would have 4G broadband type speed like you get on your desktop.

It would be great if the rumor about Wal-Mart putting WiMAX on all their buildings comes true. The following map shows where all their stores are located.

It looks like this would give you coverage at the university as well.
​

 

[IOWA]

Ok as for voice/data at the same time, I would say yes, if your in 4g coverage. 4g woul be a different radio, and you can use wifi while on a call, so its definately possible. Edge- no. Supersonic is cdma. Edge is gsm.

Wimax to lte via software? Definately possible. Wimax and lte are very very similiar, so I don't see why this would be a problem.

 

[pequeajim]

It would be great if the rumor about Wal-Mart putting WiMAX on all their buildings comes true. The following map shows where all their stores are located.

I was wondering how long it would take Walmart to ink a deal like this... It's exciting. I have 4 Walmarts within 10 miles of me, and they are all over the place in central Pa.

Looks like they gotta map for that too!

 

[caseyatbt]

I think a Walmart deal is the smartest thing Sprint could do to get WiMax up and running and have great coverage areas. I hope that it is true.

 

[Gattaca714]

Here's hoping for a March release!

 

[billsmed]

​

Where WiMAX 4G Coverage is Available Now

​

I've been trying to nail down where WiMAX 4G is available and where it should be coming soon. Clear/Sprint isn't making it easy to figure out where they're going to deploy next, so this may not be accurate on the "Coming Soon" locations.

Available Now

Georgia: Atlanta, Milledgeville.
Hawaii: Honolulu, Maui.
Idaho: Boise
Illinois: Chicago.
Maryland: Baltimore
Nevada: Las Vegas
North Carolina: Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh.
Oregon: Portland, Roseburg, Salem,
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia.
Texas: Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Killeen, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Temple, Waco, Wichita Falls.
Washington: Bellingham, Everett, Kitsap, Seattle, Tacoma

Coming Soon

California: Chico, Merced, Modesto, Redding, Stockton, Visalia
Ohio: Dayton
Florida: Daytona, Jacksonville, St. Augustine
Minnesota: Duluth, St. Cloud
New York: Rochester, Syracuse
Oregon: Bend, Eugene,
Tennessee: Nashville
Texas: Longview
Virginia: Richmond
Washington: Aberdeen, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Medford, Snohomish, Tri-Cities, Wenatchee, Yakima.
Washington DC
Wisconsin: Eau Claire

Texas seems to be the clear (no pun intended) winner so far where 4G is already operational. As I mentioned above, the cities where the roll-out is underway seems to be somewhat of a secret. I would appreciate any input.

 

[acp]

Chicago..Woot

 

[billsmed]

Now we know why Alcatel said last week that WiMAX has already lost to LTE, and that's because they have become a LTE contractor.

Sprint had their eye on the future a long time ago, and they're way ahead of Alcatel.

 

[grimloch]

check out the map at the bottom of this city web site: City of Grand Rapids - 01 Wireless Home Page

 

[billsmed]

check out the map at the bottom of this city web site: City of Grand Rapids - 01 Wireless Home Page

Wow, nice find grimloch! Good to see my old stomping grounds in the WiMAX news. They're saying that Sprint bought iPCS back in October and apparently that's been one of the things holding up WiMAX, because of an impending lawsuit against them by iPCS. Another thing I saw there was that Clear is going to be coming out with their own WiMAX phone, but not until the end of the year. HTC Olympian anybody? At this point, it's unclear how this effects Sprint and the HTC Supersonic which I'm still hoping will be released next month.

Edit: In this article from the Grand Rapids Wireless Home Page was a link to How WiMAX works and it's very good.

 

[mbell75]

I know the release date is anyone's guess but do you really think Sprint could roll out a 4G phone by March? I was thinking Q3 but I won't complain lol.

I seriously doubt Sprint can even update the Hero to 2.1 by March. Them coming out with a new 4G phone running 2.1 by March is laughable. This wont come out till end of summer at the earliest. Would have heard some solid info on it already if it was launching next month.

 

[billsmed]

I seriously doubt Sprint can even update the Hero to 2.1 by March. Them coming out with a new 4G phone running 2.1 by March is laughable. This wont come out till end of summer at the earliest. Would have heard some solid info on it already if it was launching next month.

If we don't hear something from HTC about this phone next Tuesday, then I have a tendency to agree with you. In the meantime, I'm trying to stay positive and keep my hopes up.

When you say we "Would have heard some solid info on it already if it was launching next month", if you think about it, the N1 wasn't official until the day it went on sale. The Sprint HTC Hero, the Droid or the Eris weren't officially announced until about a week before they were released. That seems to be the way it's done.

The guys over in the Incredible forum sure have their hopes up, but nothing official has been announced on that phone either. That's not stopping them from talking about it. Some of them are hoping it will be released sometime next month too.

One thing I know for sure, everyone that wants the Supersonic and the Incredible is looking for something to come out of MWC next week and hopefully, we'll have good news.

 

[billsmed]

we better, it's valentines weekend, SHOW THE LOVE HTC/SPRINT!

 

[phatning]

I seriously doubt Sprint can even update the Hero to 2.1 by March. Them coming out with a new 4G phone running 2.1 by March is laughable. This wont come out till end of summer at the earliest. Would have heard some solid info on it already if it was launching next month.

I just visited Sprint store tonight and looked at both Hero and Moment. The sales rep already mentioned Hero "now comes with 2.1" in the sales pitch...

billsmed - Thanks for the detailed info on Sprint/WiMAX. I guess my choice is now between VZW (N1) vs. Sprint (Supersonic). I am just hoping one of them will finally come out in March...

 

[mbell75]

i just visited sprint store tonight and looked at both hero and moment. The sales rep already mentioned hero "now comes with 2.1" in the sales pitch...

lmao

 

[TheBiles]

The Supersonic in March!? I just bought my Hero in January! Though I would jump ship in a second...

 

[phatning]

he's yankin your chain it doesn't yet but will hopefully soon tell that ho to stop lying to customers

He can yank it as much as he wants... I won't commit to a decision until March.

 

[billsmed]

I just posted a minor update to this thread. Look toward the bottom of the of the first post.

Sure would like to see some more interest generated for the HTC Supersonic and more discussions about it.

Thanks,

Bill