It's Monday, November 12, 2007, and welcome back to Good Day, BWIA, a light compendium of news, items of interest, irreverent commentary, and occasional light analysis relating to Broadband Wireless Internet Access (including WiMAX, public access Wi-Fi, etc.).
Would Google just buy Sprint Nextel? Rich Tehrani Says Maybe. I say No Way. Sprint Nextel is nothing resembling a strategic fit for Google - it's in all the wrong businesses to complement Google's core competence of Internet-based services accessible via Broadband Internet Access, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), voice-centric technology, dealing with retail customers, etc. But Google could buy Clearwire. Their stock is cheap from the shellacking Clearwire took after last week's announcement that Sprint Nextel wouldn't be proceeding with a strategic partnership for both parties to build out complementary Mobile WiMAX networks on their respective 2.5 GHz spectrum. Clearwire's in the "do whatever you want with your Internet connectivity" business using (soon) designed-for-Internet Mobile WiMAX technology.
Today's Clearwire Modem Weather Report - Hollywood Hill, Woodinville, Washington - Alternating between 2 and 3 Bars. The Seattle area is enduring high winds (in some areas, 70+ Miles Per Hour) and rain today.
To use one is to want one, especially at a (real world) price of $200 One Laptop Per Child's Give One / Get One campaign is now underway today through November 26. OLPC's XO laptop is very cool, and yeah, it does effectively cost you $400 (discounting the karma you get from paying for one to be donated free and clear to a child in the developing world), it's the only laptop I've heard of that is based entirely on flash memory technology for file storage, is completely optimized for a customized and designed-for-ease-of-use version of Linux, and has mesh / peer-to-peer Wi-Fi sharing and Internet Access. Mostly I'd like a small Internet access device that's been designed to survive "backpack rough" handling and the occasional drop. I predict that this program will be vastly popular and they will sell out production runs a number of times.
Reader Question Stafford Smith asked Wall Street sees the Sprint Nextel retreat from a joint Wimax network as big setback for Clearwire. Do you agree? Yes, and No. Yes, that the Sprint Nextel / Clearwire agreement was a big win for Clearwire - they would have given them enormous benefit of their customers having roaming access to much bigger network coverage than what Clearwire could have done on their own - size of team that they can devote to building out network, finances, spectrum acquisition and footprint, etc. Not to mention that Clearwire would have been able to offer their customers nationwide wireless telephony service immediately via Sprint's existing CDMA network. Overall, the agreement would have been a huge win for Clearwire. No, that Clearwire would have been saddled with, and attention diverted by, dealing with a company with enormous legacy issues, including circuit-switched telephony technology, last-generation billing and management systems, huge personnel legacy and "worldview" issues, and thorny migration of Nextel users (those that haven't already quit) from 800 MHz to Sprint's 1.9 GHz CDMA network. I'll reiterate what I said on Friday, and will considerably elaborate in my other writing such as FOCUS and putting attention back into the Independent Clearwire Blog - that I don't know how, exactly it will happen, but I'm convinced that what will happen is that Clearwire will end up with unrestricted access to Sprint's 2.5 GHz spectrum and will use it to build out a nationwide Mobile WiMAX network that will offer not only mobile Broadband Internet Access, but also "telephony" services using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). I also think that backing this idea is the only logical path for Google's wireless ambitions: 1) they don't have to fight the stupidity of network neutrality conflicts of interest with Verizon and AT&T, 2) They get the benefit of "designed for IP" wireless technology, and 3) Clearwire's motivated - they need the money that Google can throw their way and Google can significantly influence the direction of Clearwire. Thanks for asking, Stafford.
More progress on BWIA Satellite - link
Wireless Networking In The Developing World - I was impressed with this book, and even more impressed that they made it freely available for downloading. I'll be reading this.
New product leak - Alvarion VL for the 900 MHz band - Mike Cowan of Wireless Connections / ACC got a little boastful on a public mailing list and stated that a follow-on product to Alvarion's very successful VL BWIA system adapted for the US 902-928 MHz band is forthcoming. Alvarion is taking orders, and Cowan claims to have "placed a huge inventory order". This would be Alvarion's second or third generation product for the 900 MHz band, and likely one of the very best products for the US 902-928 MHz based on the stellar reputation that the 5.x GHz versions of Alvarion VL have garnered. An Alvarion representative followed up Cowan's posting confirming that the product is in development, but offering no further details, including a projected release date.
Fine Print / Boilerplate / Acknowledgements / Credits / FAQs (Last updated 2007-11-06)
This article is Copyright © 2007 by Steve Stroh except for specifically-marked excerpts. Excerpts and links are expressly permitted (and encouraged).
The T-Mobile offer of one year of hot spot WiFi service for the OLPC purchase makes it an even better deal.
Keep up the great newsletter Steve. This is giving me the executive summary of what's happening in the Broadband Wireless world...
Posted by: Bill V. | November 13, 2007 at 09:11