Largest Metropolitan Mobile WiMAX Network in the U.S.
Largest Metropolitan Mobile WiMAX Network in the U.S.
17th June , 2009
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US : Clearwire Communications officially transformed Atlanta into the fastest unwired city in the South. The city is now home to the largest 4G WiMAX wireless broadband network in the United States with CLEAR™ service available to nearly three million people across approximately 1,200 square miles. With CLEAR, consumers and businesses can access the Internet wirelessly, at true broadband speeds ─ at home, in the office, and on the go.
“By delivering broadband connectivity to people, and not just places, we now offer Atlantans 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.”
A CLEAR Difference
Unlike other wireless services, CLEAR delivers a mobile broadband Internet experience on par with speeds typically experienced only on fixed residential and commercial connections, like DSL. For example, some of today’s 3G wireless networks typically deliver download speeds of between 1.0 and 1.7 Mbps. CLEAR customers, however, can expect to see download speeds of 4 to 6 Mbps with bursts exceeding 15 Mbps, far surpassing even the peak theoretical speeds of 7.2 Mbps in upcoming 3G upgrades. In Atlanta, the CLEAR network utilizes an area-wide WiMAX radio system from Motorola.
CLEAR’s simple and innovative pricing gives customers ultimate flexibility. CLEAR’s mobile and residential plans can be purchased by the day or by the month, and do not require long-term service contracts. Home Internet service plans start at $20 per month, while mobile Internet plans start at $40 per month, or customers can purchase a convenient day pass for $10. Additional savings are available for customers purchasing both home and mobile Internet services or signing up for a two-year service agreement. Full details about pricing options and business plans are available at www.clear.com.
Simply Plug-In and Go
CLEAR offers several simple choices for broadband connectivity.
- USB modem: Mobile users simply plug-in CLEAR’s compact, mobile WiMAX-enabled USB modem into their laptop to get online. The USB modem, from Motorola, is available for only $59.99 or leased for just $4.99 per month. Customers can purchase the modem from a store or online.
- Residential modem & services: For residential service, CLEAR offers customers a wireless high-speed modem, about the size of a small book. Customers simply plug the modem into a power outlet anywhere in their home or office and connect the modem to their PC or wireless router. This enables consumers and businesses to install high-speed Internet service without the need to schedule an appointment, drill holes in their walls, or otherwise disrupt their day. The CLEAR residential modem, from Motorola, can be purchased for $79.99 or leased for just $4.99 monthly. Residential customers can also add in-home voice service with purchase of the CLEAR Voice Adapter for $15, and receive unlimited local and long distance service for just $24.99 per month.
- CLEAR Spot: With the CLEAR Spot, any existing, off-the-shelf Wi-Fi device (compatible with 802.11b/g) can connect to CLEAR’s mobile WiMAX network. The CLEAR Spot creates a personal Wi-Fi hotspot that travels with consumers anywhere they happen to be within CLEAR’s mobile WiMAX service area. This $139 device is a portable, battery-powered router that seamlessly connects up to eight standard Wi-Fi-enabled devices (computers, mobile phones, portable gaming, consoles, cameras, etc.) to the Internet via a CLEAR USB modem to access CLEAR’s mobile WiMAX network.
- Intel Embedded WiMAX Laptops: Numerous CLEAR-compatible embedded WiMAX laptops based on Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology are now available directly from their manufacturers and through other channels. From Dell, these include the Studio 17, Studio XPS 16, Latitude E4300, Latitude E6400, Latitude E6400 ATG, Latitude E6500, Precision M2400, and Precision M4400. From Fujitsu, this includes the LifeBook P8020. WiMAX-ready laptops from Lenovo include the ThinkPad line: SL400, SL500, X200, X200s, X200 Tablet, X301, T400, T500, W500, W700. From Samsung, this includes the X460 notebook as well as the NC10, the first WiMAX-enabled netbook based on the Intel® Atom™ processor, available in the U.S. From Toshiba, consumers can order the Portégé® R600-ST520W and Satellite® U405-S2920.
- Coming Soon: Panasonic has announced plans to deliver this year a Toughbook® computer with embedded WiMAX based on Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology, and compatible with the CLEAR network. A dual-mode, 3G/4G, modem is coming this summer, which will provide CLEAR customers access to Sprint’s nationwide 3G network, and consumers will also soon be able to order the Samsung Mondi™, mobile WiMAX enabled handheld device.
Customers can purchase the service online at www.clear.com, or by visiting numerous retail locations throughout metro Atlanta including: the CLEAR store at 55 Peachtree Street, Cumberland Mall, North Point Mall, or Lennox Square; any of 11 Best Buys or 29 RadioShack stores; or other authorized CLEAR dealers.