I found the below article by Jane Wells at CNBC posted yesterday “Is WiMAX Workable?”. She cites the exact complaints many of us have. Clear corporate has already begun a spin campaign against her even though the article is BURIED on her personal blog. Clear corporate/lovers are saying “no one has complained” about their services and her sources are just a few “disgruntled employees”… Well I say we all email Jane at funnybusiness@cnbc.com and tell her your story and have CNBC put this article on their front page!!! A few hundred emails from each of you should get CNBC’s attention then you will have Clear, the Attorney General, and any other unsuspecting buyer’s attention too.

All the email needs to say is: “WiMAX article – should be a lead story.” to funnybusiness@cnbc.com .

Tell your friends, neighbors, aunts, uncles, and your local Clear sales guy to send one too!!!

Article: http://www.cnbc.com/id/38222498

Is WiMAX Workable?

By: Jane Wells at CNBC
The funny business of cell phones signals.

Consumer Reports says you may need a little duct tape on your iPhone 4 to guard against dropped calls.

Sound like a step backward? What about a cellphone signal that may fail in the middle of a large building?

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Some fear that is the problem with WiMAX, a form of mobile WiFi being used in 4G phones, like Sprint’s HTC Evo.

One analyst estimates the company has sold 300,000 of the phones with their large screens, two cameras, and ability to play Flash videos.

The reviews rave that the Evo’s internet speeds are lightning fast compared to 3G phones.

But not everywhere.

Sprint is using Clearwire’s WiMAX technology, and reviewers like David Pogue point out the limitations. The signal can be “spottier than a kennel of Dalmatians”, he writes. There are apparently enough unhappy customers that someone started a web site called Clearwire Sucks.

Trent Cannon worked for Clearwire as it started up in Houston, but he left the company over what he says were concerns about the technology’s viability. “The signal has tremendous difficulty passing through things like walls,” he says. “WiMax won’t work inside large structures like high rises, malls, and stadiums. You have a major presentation on the 4th floor of a building downtown and you need wireless internet to complete your demonstration. Hopefully, the conference room is near a window or you will need Robin William’s improvisation skills.” Cannon believes WiMAX will eventually give way to a competitive technology known as LTE, which Verizon and AT&T will use in their 4G rollouts. Sprint and Clearwire have the option of eventually switching to LTE, though Clearwire says it continues to move forward with building out its WiMAX network, having recently raised almost $300 million.

“There are often differences between indoor and outdoor coverage because of how wireless signals work. That fact isn’t unique to Clearwire and affects any wireless network signal,” Clearwire’s Mike DiGioia says. He says the company provides very detailed maps on signal strength at www.clear.com/coverage.

The company has let go its direct sales staff but says it plans to add 2,600 jobs this year. Many Clearwire products are sold through Best Buy, where a source says the chain is paid $240 for every full activation, but where one store “well within the coverage area” has had a 23 percent churn rate. “Overall it’s a good service, they just need to work out the coverage,” says the source. One independent salesman calls Clearwire’s products “decent”, adding they can provide very fast speeds when you are near a tower. “But if I’m two to three miles away, where they say I’m still covered, it’s not working.”

Have you bought a 4G phone or do you use WiMAX? What has your experience been? Let me know in the comments section. funnybusiness@cnbc.com

http://mtna-landuse.blogspot.com/2010/01/noise-of-clearwires-wireless-internet.html

Early claims from Clearwire were that the 4G signal would cover a 20 mile radius. So why does Clearwire intend to put up poles every 1500 feet in Tampa, Florida? Why have they installed over 60 of of them in Portland, Oregon, which is only about 10 miles across?

http://mtna-landuse.blogspot.com/2010/01/clearwire-problems-in-florida-residents.html

http://groups.google.com/group/wimax-hacking/browse_thread/thread/f5a5647b79256889?hl=en

Also, as of this posting – Clearwire’s stock is down 22% from yesterday.

[Source: Sprint]

Sprint Nextel and Clearwire Terminate WiMAX Letter of Intent

Sprint reiterates WiMAX commercial launch in 2008

RESTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 9, 2007–Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) and Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR) have mutually agreed to terminate the Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in July 2007. The two companies could not resolve complexities associated with the LOI and failed to reach final agreement on the terms of the transaction.

Sprint remains fully committed to developing WiMAX services and deploying a WiMAX network that will allow customers to realize the benefits of a mobile broadband Internet experience. Sprint expects to continue to work together with Clearwire on future opportunities to enhance the deployment of robust WiMAX capabilities through ongoing discussions that include the possibility of roaming, frequency interference coordination, spectrum exchanges, technology evolution and development and network standards.

“We are on track for soft launch late this year in the Chicago and Baltimore/Washington markets and commercial launch in 2008,” said Keith Cowan, Sprint’s president of Strategic Planning and Corporate Initiatives. “In line with Sprint’s mandate of improving the customers experience and simplifying our operations, we look forward to working with Clearwire on opportunities such as roaming and standards.”

In light of this announcement, Sprint is reviewing its WiMAX business plans and outlook and the company expects to comment further on these topics early next year.

Sprint intends to provide services under the Xohm(R) brand, supported by an ecosystem of device, chip and other partners, including Intel, Motorola, Nokia and Samsung. The company also has selected Google to bring search, interactive communications and social networking tools through a new mobile portal to future WiMAX mobile Internet customers.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving about 54 million customers at the end of the third quarter 2007; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

Safe Harbor

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release regarding plans for the development and deployment of a broadband network based on WiMAX technology; the timing, availability, capabilities, coverage, and costs of the WiMAX network; products and services to be offered on the WiMAX network; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The words “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “target,” “providing guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are projections reflecting management’s judgment and assumptions based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements.

Future performance cannot be assured. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

* the uncertainties related to the implementation of the company’s WiMAX business strategies;
* the costs and business risks associated with deploying a WiMAX network and offering products and services utilizing WiMAX technology;
* the inability of third party suppliers, software developers and other vendors to perform requirements and satisfy obligations necessary to create the products and software designed to support WiMAX features and functionality;
* the impact of adverse network performance;
* other risks referenced from time to time in Sprint Nextel’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”