While this technology works well for fixed access, it’s often been a real
challenge to use these frequencies for mobility due to its propagation
characteristics and to Doppler shifts (or more precisely the Doppler Effect),
which is more pronounced at higher frequencies above 3GHz.  From a
technology perspective, these shifts in frequency and wavelength result from a
source moving with respect to the medium, a receiver moving with respect to the
medium, or even a moving medium.  As modulated symbols are transmitted,
they interfere with one another, creating a phenomenon known as Inter Symbol
Interference (ISI).  ISI complicates symbol detection at the receiver,
often producing an unacceptably high bit error rate.

Consequently, there has been a perception that 3.5GHz spectrum should not be
used for mobility.  That thinking is now changing with the roll outs of
several 3.5GHz mobile WiMAX networks in Europe.  And if 3.5GHz can be
effectively used to deploy IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMAX networks, then operators
could provide both fixed/nomadic as well as mobile broadband access to
subscribers at a lower cost than at 2.5 GHz and lower frequencies. 

Indeed, there have been several deployments and recent announcements of
operators using 3.5GHz for IEEE 802.16e based WiMAX networks in Europe:

- Worldmax based in Amsterdam is using Beceem’s silicon and Motorola equipment
to deploy a nationwide mobile WiMAX network in the Netherlands at 3.5GHz . 
The operators’s service is currently deployed as a city-wide hot zone in
Amsterdam and early results have been quite encouraging. 

- Imagine Communication Group is deploying a nationwide mobile WiMAX network in
Ireland at 3.5GHz.  The network will use Motorola’s end-to-end WiMAX
solution to deliver voice and high speed data services to residential and small
to medium-sized enterprise customers as well as offering mobility in city
centers, using USB dongles.  More on Imagine’s WiMAX roll out later in this
article.

- Clearwire announced that it would deploy 3.5GHz mobile WiMAX in Malaga and
Seville, Spain next year, using RAN equipment from Alvarion and ZTE.  "We
intend to prove that WiMAX can work not only at 2.5GHz, but also at 3.5GHz,
which is the spectrum we have in Spain," Barry West, president of Clearwire
International, said during a press conference at the ITU Telecom World 2009 show
in Geneva.

- UK telecom regulator Ofcom has changed Freedom4′s spectrum license conditions,
allowing the operator to offer mobile WiMAX services across the U.K.  using
the spectrum it already owns.  (Note: Freedom4 is a joint venture between
Daisy Group and Intel Capital.) Freedom4 owns a broadband wireless spectrum
license consisting of two blocks of 84 MHz in the frequency band 3.6-4.2GHz. 
Ofcom’s move will enable Freedom4 to launch mobile WiMAX services, rather than
just fixed wireless access.  As a result, the company will be able to
directly compete with the UK’s five mobile network operators.  However,
Freedom4 has not disclosed any deployment time frames or other details of its
planned mobile WiMAX network. 

Imagine Communication’s WiMAX Network

According to a fact sheet provided by Imagine Communications Group, Ireland’s
broadband infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the demands of its modern
economy.  For broadband quality, Ireland ranks in 37th place out of 66
countries and behind countries such as Estonia, Greece, Poland, and Turkey. 
On the major cities ranking list, Dublin is ranked in 94rth place behind
locations such as Krakow, Ankara, Naples, Nanjing, and Istanbul.  One out
of three fixed lines in Ireland cannot get broadband and four out of 10 lines
can get a maximum of only 1Mbps.

In an attempt to greatly improve Ireland’s broadband infrastructure, Imagine
recently announced it will invest €100 million in upgrading to mobile WiMAX
technology, a move that could result in the creation of up to 200 new jobs. 
The Imagine WiMAX service is already in operation, with phase one of the rollout
covering 250,000 homes in Dublin, Wexford, Sligo, Tralee and Athlone to be
completed by mid-November 2009.  Imagine’s new network will not be
restricted to high-population areas, but will also be rolled out to smaller
towns and rural communities at a rate of 15 new WiMAX areas per month. 
Imagine’s CEO and founder Sean Bolger stated that Imagine plans to cover 90% of
the country by 2012 with WiMAX services. 

"Customers across Ireland will soon experience a leap forward in terms of
broadband access and speeds.  Motorola’s globally renowned WiMAX solutions
are quick to deploy, flexible and scalable and allow us to meet increasing
demand for next-generation voice and broadband data services at home, at work
and on the move," according to Bolger.

Sean Bolger, Imagine Communications

Bolger further stated that Imagine’s WiMAX service will debut at 8Mbps, but is
capable today of reaching 17Mbps and higher speeds.  According to
the companies website, the pricing for
consumers and businesses will be unveiled shortly, but Bolger promises it will
come at a lower price than current fixed line broadband services.  Bolger
told the

Irish Times it will be 50 percent cheaper than comparable Eircom products. 

He pointed out that Ireland has the highest fixed telephone costs in the world
and at €25.47 line rental is 70% higher in Ireland than the European average. 
Imagine also intends to allow other operators to wholesale its WiMAX service,
although he said it had not begun negotiations with anyone.

"4G broadband is not about speed but being more competitive." He went on to say
that Ireland has plenty of fiber, "now the problem is connecting to that fiber."
Bolger says WiMAX could solve that access problem. 

And Imagine owns lots of spectrum.  The company holds 88MHz of 3.5GHz
licensed spectrum in Dublin, Cork, and Waterford, 123MHz in Limerick and 60MHz
in the rest of the country.  In those cities, this is more than double the
35MHz held by each of the 3G mobile operators.

Motorola has agreed to provide a portion of the €100 million that Imagine needs
to replace its existing wireless nationwide infrastructure with WiMAX. 
Motorola will provide the RAN equipment as well as deployment, integration and
support services to Imagine.  Motorola’s Head of Sales commented, "Today’s
announcement is very significant for Motorola as we see Ireland as a key
strategic market for (mobile) WiMAX due to the digital divide and broadband
deficits which causes lower broadband speeds and higher prices than the rest of
Europe," he said. 

Intel is partnering with Imagine to supply technology for 3.5GHz mobile WiMAX
enabled notebook and netbook PCs.  Mr Jim O’Hara, General Manager of Intel
Ireland, said that WiMAX is a game-changing technology.  "Many people in
the country are operating on a 1Mbps speed at the moment, even if they think
they are paying for higher.  WiMAX is easily achieving 8Mbps, and this will
be increased.  Intel is going to provide WiMAX embedded laptops and PCs
from early 2010," Mr O’Hara concluded. 

These 3.5GHz mobile WiMAX deployments are great news for the WiMAX industry. 
As early indications suggest, these networks should be price competitive with 3G
networks while offering better performance and availability.  For true
mobility, the key question is when the mobile WiMAX embedded netbooks,
notebooks, and hand held devices are available that work at 3.5GHz.  We
hope it’s early next year.

References:

The CLEAR developer network is a precursor to commercial service planned for the
San Francisco Bay Area¹ in 2010.  It will cover more than 20
square miles in Santa Clara, Mountain View and parts of downtown Palo Alto,
California.  The current coverage footprint includes the local campuses of
Intel and Google, two founding Innovation Network supporters who have also
commenced their own internal 4G application development programs.  Cisco’s
campus will receive coverage in the coming months as the network expands. 
Clearwire will update the coverage area maps over time.  Download detailed
maps of coverage areas with suggested drive routes and test locations:

- Palo Alto

- Santa Clara

- Mountain
View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale

Clearwire plans an aggressive expansion program for CLEAR in the U.S., with a
combined coverage area that would service up to 120M people by the end of 2010.

Logistics for the Innovation Network

After reviewing terms and conditions, qualified software application developers
that live or work in Silicon Valley can register for free mobile WiMAX service,
as long as they buy or own a Clearwire approved terminal (see list below). 
Bright House, Comcast, Sprint, and Time Warner Cable will join Cisco, Intel and
Google in support of Clearwire’s mobile WiMAX application development
initiative.  All those companies except Cisco are strategic investors in
Clearwire.  The first four plan to resell the CLEAR service, so they have a
lot to gain.  All of the participants will aid in promoting the program and
have deployed their own respective development resources into the network (e.g. 
RAN equipment, IP NGN systems, devices, software, etc). 

Infrastructure providers include: Motorola, Samsung, Huawei (these three vendors
supply RAN equipment), and Cisco (Core IP NGN Network). 

Editor’s Note:  Allen could not confirm that all of these
infrastructure vendors would be involved in the Innovation Network instance.

Components, modules and applications were said to be available from: Intel,
Google, Cisco, and Beceem (chip set).  Netbooks with embedded mobile WiMAX
interfaces are available from Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, Samsung, and Fujitsu for
use in the program.  The new Samsung Mondi MID handheld is also supported
on the Innovation Network. 

Editors Note:  only the mobile devices listed are eligible for use
on the CLEAR Innovation network.  Home modems and CLEAR VOIP products and
service are not available on the Innovation Network.

To access the network, developers can purchase a Clearwire WiMAX USB modem for
$49.99.  Developer-owned, CLEAR "network-ready" mobile WiMAX devices, such
as the Samsung Mondi and WiMAX-embedded Intel-based PC’s, are also eligible for
the program.  To qualify, developers must register for Clearwire’s
developer program and describe the mobile WiMAX applications/ development ideas
they wish to pursue.  Interested developers can sign-up at

http://developer.clear.com/innovation.

Developers can expect to realize peak download speeds of up to 10 Mbps on this
network, with average download speeds of 3 to 6 Mbps.  In contrast, some of
today’s 3G wireless networks typically deliver download speeds of between 600
kbps – 1.4 Mbps, according to Clearwire.  Unlike Wi-Fi, mobile WiMAX
provides service areas measured in miles, rather than feet.  In addition,
the IEEE 802.16e technology used supports full mobility and enables seamless
handovers from tower to tower, similar to cellular networks. 

Goals and Applications for the Innovation Network

Flanagan stated the goal of the Innovation Network was "to stimulate software
development for Internet applications, broadband media content, Internet and
integration services." Allen identified several target applications: streaming
media, LBS’s, on-line gaming, voice and communications, social media, networking
collaboration, optimization and performance tuning.

Clearwire will support developers by providing: CLEAR Platform API and network
documentation, Location and Connection APIs along with associated guidelines. 
Educational content will be available for mobility, optimization/ tuning,
network setup, operations and coverage maps. 

In a short video, Clearwire CTO John Saw articulated the applications the
company expected to be "enabled" by the Innovation Network.  These
included: mobile video, location awareness, voice, social networking and gaming.

Click here to view
Clearwire’s CTO Dr.  John Saw discussing the Innovation Network

Q&A

In answer to a question, Mr.  Flanagan echoed a 4G World comment from
Clearwire CEO Bill Morrow that both WiMAX Pico cells and femtocells would play
an important role in "4G networks" and be critical to their success.  In a
follow up email exchange, Allen stated: "In my opinion, it will take some time
before they become critical.  Just as it took a lot of years for them to
become deployed on previous generation cellular networks."

This author asked if Clearwire might have trouble motivating garage shops and
small software developers to participate in the Innovation network program,
considering the absence of any smart phones or hand held devices (except the
brand new Samsung Mondi).  Allen said that Clearwire was very aware of that
issue and together with its investors would be able to recruit a critical mass
of developers for the network.

Clearwire will participate as a platinum sponsor of the Sprint Open Developer
Conference scheduled for October 26-28 in Santa Clara, CA (this author is
registered to attend).  Developers can register to attend the conference
at: 

http://developer.sprint.com/devcon2009.

Flanagan suggested that developers interested in working on applications for
mobile WiMAX might want to attend the conference to learn about the Innovation
Network directly from Clearwire executives. 

Editor’s Note:  This author expects important new announcements from
Sprint regarding handsets and perhaps other devices that will operate on CLEAR.

What the Big Boys Have to Say

"We see tremendous potential for true, mobile broadband to act as the catalyst
for new and compelling Internet applications that leverage our 4G bandwidth,
free of the confines associated with wired connections," said John Saw, Chief
Technology Officer of Clearwire.  "Our goal is to harness the concentration
of developer talent in Silicon Valley and accelerate the pace at which these
disruptive services are being developed."

"Our long history of innovation with WiMAX, including our development efforts in
Portland, OR, allowed Intel to be among the first in the U.S.  to have
access to this exciting, next-generation 4G environment," said Sriram
Viswanathan, vice president of Intel Capital and general manager of WiMAX
Program Office at Intel.  "Along with the WiMAX ecosystem, we look forward
to expanding these mobile broadband resources and efforts in an area home to the
one of most technology-savvy groups of individuals in the world."

"Mobile broadband is fundamentally changing the way people use the Internet, and
4G networks like Clearwire’s have incredible potential," said Larry Alder,
mobile product manager at Google.  "We are excited to see how developers
will take advantage of this unique asset as Internet users increasingly expect
connectivity regardless of their device or location."

"Cisco’s Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network infrastructure is playing a
key role in the Silicon Valley Innovation Network," said David Goeckeler,
general manager of Services and Mobility business unit, Cisco.  "An IP
network is the right platform to deliver on the promise of mobility and put 4G
services in the hands of some of the most talented and creative developers in
the world."
"At Bright House, we’re always searching for new and innovative capabilities to
bring to our customers," said Leo Cloutier senior vice president, strategy &
business development, Bright House Networks.  "We’re strongly supportive of
this initiative and its ability to leverage the creative talent of developers in
the region for the creation of new mobile broadband applications."

"Combining the speeds of broadband with the mobility of wireless communications
gives the development community in Silicon Valley a unique opportunity to create
differentiated applications," said Tom Nagel, Comcast’s senior vice president
and general manager for Wireless.  "Comcast is pleased to support this
development program to spur further innovation with 4G capabilities.  The
initiative is consistent with our own commitment and efforts to encourage
developers to leverage open standards such as Tru2way."

"Sprint continues to demonstrate its leadership in the growth and deployment of
4G networks and technology and in the developer community," said Len Barlik,
vice president of wireless and wireline services for Sprint.  "Sprint is
the first carrier to offer an open community that gives developers the platforms
and network to create innovative applications and the ability to introduce new
services to the market.  The availability of 4G in the Silicon Valley is a
great opportunity for developers to immediately begin the development of the
next generation of wireless applications."

"Time Warner Cable looks to provide services that are simple, easy to use and
give customers more control and convenience," said Michael Roudi, group vice
president of wireless services for Time Warner Cable.  "We are proud to
support the efforts of developers in the Silicon Valley to experiment and create
new applications which will take advantage of the mobile broadband network and
enhance our customer’s wireless experience."

Conclusions

The Silicon Valley community is very pleased to have Clearwire’s Innovation
Network up and running.  In particular, IEEE ComSoc SCV members have
expressed a strong interest in mobile broadband applications for netbooks and
notebooks as well as for hand held devices.  We hope to report results of
these application developments in forthcoming articles.  IEEE ComSoc SCV is
also looking forward to hosting a panel session in early 2010 where Innovation
Network participants will describe the tangible take-aways and lessons learned
from this very important endeavor.

_________

Footnotes:

http://www.wimax.com/commentary/blog/blog-2009/april-2009/Commercial-WiMAX-Network-Planned-for-Silicon-Valley-0410

Web References

http://newsroom.clearwire.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=214419&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1331811&highlight=

http://www.wimax360.com/profiles/blogs/silicon-valley-becoming-the-4g

The CLEAR developer network is a precursor to commercial service planned for the
San Francisco Bay Area¹ in 2010.  It will cover more than 20
square miles in Santa Clara, Mountain View and parts of downtown Palo Alto,
California.  The current coverage footprint includes the local campuses of
Intel and Google, two founding Innovation Network supporters who have also
commenced their own internal 4G application development programs.  Cisco’s
campus will receive coverage in the coming months as the network expands. 
Clearwire will update the coverage area maps over time.  Download detailed
maps of coverage areas with suggested drive routes and test locations:

- Palo Alto

- Santa Clara

- Mountain
View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale

Clearwire plans an aggressive expansion program for CLEAR in the U.S., with a
combined coverage area that would service up to 120M people by the end of 2010.

Logistics for the Innovation Network

After reviewing terms and conditions, qualified software application developers
that live or work in Silicon Valley can register for free mobile WiMAX service,
as long as they buy or own a Clearwire approved terminal (see list below). 
Bright House, Comcast, Sprint, and Time Warner Cable will join Cisco, Intel and
Google in support of Clearwire’s mobile WiMAX application development
initiative.  All those companies except Cisco are strategic investors in
Clearwire.  The first four plan to resell the CLEAR service, so they have a
lot to gain.  All of the participants will aid in promoting the program and
have deployed their own respective development resources into the network (e.g. 
RAN equipment, IP NGN systems, devices, software, etc). 

Infrastructure providers include: Motorola, Samsung, Huawei (these three vendors
supply RAN equipment), and Cisco (Core IP NGN Network). 

Editor’s Note:  Allen could not confirm that all of these
infrastructure vendors would be involved in the Innovation Network instance.

Components, modules and applications were said to be available from: Intel,
Google, Cisco, and Beceem (chip set).  Netbooks with embedded mobile WiMAX
interfaces are available from Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, Samsung, and Fujitsu for
use in the program.  The new Samsung Mondi MID handheld is also supported
on the Innovation Network. 

Editors Note:  only the mobile devices listed are eligible for use
on the CLEAR Innovation network.  Home modems and CLEAR VOIP products and
service are not available on the Innovation Network.

To access the network, developers can purchase a Clearwire WiMAX USB modem for
$49.99.  Developer-owned, CLEAR "network-ready" mobile WiMAX devices, such
as the Samsung Mondi and WiMAX-embedded Intel-based PC’s, are also eligible for
the program.  To qualify, developers must register for Clearwire’s
developer program and describe the mobile WiMAX applications/ development ideas
they wish to pursue.  Interested developers can sign-up at

http://developer.clear.com/innovation.

Developers can expect to realize peak download speeds of up to 10 Mbps on this
network, with average download speeds of 3 to 6 Mbps.  In contrast, some of
today’s 3G wireless networks typically deliver download speeds of between 600
kbps – 1.4 Mbps, according to Clearwire.  Unlike Wi-Fi, mobile WiMAX
provides service areas measured in miles, rather than feet.  In addition,
the IEEE 802.16e technology used supports full mobility and enables seamless
handovers from tower to tower, similar to cellular networks. 

Goals and Applications for the Innovation Network

Flanagan stated the goal of the Innovation Network was "to stimulate software
development for Internet applications, broadband media content, Internet and
integration services." Allen identified several target applications: streaming
media, LBS’s, on-line gaming, voice and communications, social media, networking
collaboration, optimization and performance tuning.

Clearwire will support developers by providing: CLEAR Platform API and network
documentation, Location and Connection APIs along with associated guidelines. 
Educational content will be available for mobility, optimization/ tuning,
network setup, operations and coverage maps. 

In a short video, Clearwire CTO John Saw articulated the applications the
company expected to be "enabled" by the Innovation Network.  These
included: mobile video, location awareness, voice, social networking and gaming.

Click here to view
Clearwire’s CTO Dr.  John Saw discussing the Innovation Network

Q&A

In answer to a question, Mr.  Flanagan echoed a 4G World comment from
Clearwire CEO Bill Morrow that both WiMAX Pico cells and femtocells would play
an important role in "4G networks" and be critical to their success.  In a
follow up email exchange, Allen stated: "In my opinion, it will take some time
before they become critical.  Just as it took a lot of years for them to
become deployed on previous generation cellular networks."

This author asked if Clearwire might have trouble motivating garage shops and
small software developers to participate in the Innovation network program,
considering the absence of any smart phones or hand held devices (except the
brand new Samsung Mondi).  Allen said that Clearwire was very aware of that
issue and together with its investors would be able to recruit a critical mass
of developers for the network.

Clearwire will participate as a platinum sponsor of the Sprint Open Developer
Conference scheduled for October 26-28 in Santa Clara, CA (this author is
registered to attend).  Developers can register to attend the conference
at: 

http://developer.sprint.com/devcon2009.

Flanagan suggested that developers interested in working on applications for
mobile WiMAX might want to attend the conference to learn about the Innovation
Network directly from Clearwire executives. 

Editor’s Note:  This author expects important new announcements from
Sprint regarding handsets and perhaps other devices that will operate on CLEAR.

What the Big Boys Have to Say

"We see tremendous potential for true, mobile broadband to act as the catalyst
for new and compelling Internet applications that leverage our 4G bandwidth,
free of the confines associated with wired connections," said John Saw, Chief
Technology Officer of Clearwire.  "Our goal is to harness the concentration
of developer talent in Silicon Valley and accelerate the pace at which these
disruptive services are being developed."

"Our long history of innovation with WiMAX, including our development efforts in
Portland, OR, allowed Intel to be among the first in the U.S.  to have
access to this exciting, next-generation 4G environment," said Sriram
Viswanathan, vice president of Intel Capital and general manager of WiMAX
Program Office at Intel.  "Along with the WiMAX ecosystem, we look forward
to expanding these mobile broadband resources and efforts in an area home to the
one of most technology-savvy groups of individuals in the world."

"Mobile broadband is fundamentally changing the way people use the Internet, and
4G networks like Clearwire’s have incredible potential," said Larry Alder,
mobile product manager at Google.  "We are excited to see how developers
will take advantage of this unique asset as Internet users increasingly expect
connectivity regardless of their device or location."

"Cisco’s Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network infrastructure is playing a
key role in the Silicon Valley Innovation Network," said David Goeckeler,
general manager of Services and Mobility business unit, Cisco.  "An IP
network is the right platform to deliver on the promise of mobility and put 4G
services in the hands of some of the most talented and creative developers in
the world."
"At Bright House, we’re always searching for new and innovative capabilities to
bring to our customers," said Leo Cloutier senior vice president, strategy &
business development, Bright House Networks.  "We’re strongly supportive of
this initiative and its ability to leverage the creative talent of developers in
the region for the creation of new mobile broadband applications."

"Combining the speeds of broadband with the mobility of wireless communications
gives the development community in Silicon Valley a unique opportunity to create
differentiated applications," said Tom Nagel, Comcast’s senior vice president
and general manager for Wireless.  "Comcast is pleased to support this
development program to spur further innovation with 4G capabilities.  The
initiative is consistent with our own commitment and efforts to encourage
developers to leverage open standards such as Tru2way."

"Sprint continues to demonstrate its leadership in the growth and deployment of
4G networks and technology and in the developer community," said Len Barlik,
vice president of wireless and wireline services for Sprint.  "Sprint is
the first carrier to offer an open community that gives developers the platforms
and network to create innovative applications and the ability to introduce new
services to the market.  The availability of 4G in the Silicon Valley is a
great opportunity for developers to immediately begin the development of the
next generation of wireless applications."

"Time Warner Cable looks to provide services that are simple, easy to use and
give customers more control and convenience," said Michael Roudi, group vice
president of wireless services for Time Warner Cable.  "We are proud to
support the efforts of developers in the Silicon Valley to experiment and create
new applications which will take advantage of the mobile broadband network and
enhance our customer’s wireless experience."

Conclusions

The Silicon Valley community is very pleased to have Clearwire’s Innovation
Network up and running.  In particular, IEEE ComSoc SCV members have
expressed a strong interest in mobile broadband applications for netbooks and
notebooks as well as for hand held devices.  We hope to report results of
these application developments in forthcoming articles.  IEEE ComSoc SCV is
also looking forward to hosting a panel session in early 2010 where Innovation
Network participants will describe the tangible take-aways and lessons learned
from this very important endeavor.

_________

Footnotes:

http://www.wimax.com/commentary/blog/blog-2009/april-2009/Commercial-WiMAX-Network-Planned-for-Silicon-Valley-0410

Web References

http://newsroom.clearwire.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=214419&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1331811&highlight=

http://www.wimax360.com/profiles/blogs/silicon-valley-becoming-the-4g

"By delivering broadband connectivity to people, and not just places, we now
offer Atlanta the freedom to enjoy super-fast Internet access wherever they go
in our coverage area," said Marc Brachman, General Manager of Atlanta market for
Clearwire.  "Whether it’s a busy parent who wants full Internet
connectivity in the back of the family minivan, a small business owner looking
to conduct online video chats with customers from the field, a person looking to
access entertainment sites like Hulu without being tied to a fixed-location, or
a college student simply looking for one Internet service provider to meet their
needs at home and on-the-go, CLEAR delivers.  We’re providing a valuable,
new kind of Internet service designed to make our customers’ lives more
enjoyable and more productive, wherever they happen to be in our coverage area."

As part of a multi-year network build-out plan, Clearwire’s 4G network will be
available in major metropolitan areas across the United States.  In
addition to Atlanta, mobile WiMAX is already available in Baltimore, Maryland,
and Portland, Oregon.  Clearwire plans to officially launch service in Las
Vegas later this summer (although service is already currently
available on its website).

The company plans to bring CLEAR to 80 markets and up to 120 million people by
the end of 2010.  Some of the additional markets planned to launch in 2009
include Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft.  Worth, Honolulu, Philadelphia, and
Seattle.  Some of the additional markets planned to launch in 2010 include
New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Houston and the San Francisco Bay Area.

It should be interesting to see how the Clearwire Atlanta launch unfolds in the
coming months, especially on AT&T’s home turf and its aggressive marketing of
its own mobile broadband offerings.  The key for success with Clearwire
will be in "clearly" differentiating the performance advantages of its WiMAX
network relative to AT&Ts 3G network.  Go Clearwire!