With enhanced data speeds and a new pricing structure, will Xohm herald the future for wireless networking?
Sprint today took the wraps off its Xohm wireless network in Baltimore, Md. Xohm, which uses Samsung WiMAX technology on the 2.5 GHz spectrum, offers faster download speeds than current 3G wireless networks. For instance, while AT&T's fastest HSDPA network claims speeds up to 3.6Mbps, our real-world tests have rarely topped 1Mbps downloads. Sprint's Xohm network hopes to average 2-4Mbps average download speeds, which is a great, though perhaps not revolutionary improvement over the current technology. Xohm network devices will operate somewhat faster while stationary than on-the-go, which means that the network will also be marketed as a home broadband replacement.
The Xohm-enabled hardware
Initial devices available for use on the Xohm network focus primarily on heavy data usage. Wireless cards from Samsung, and modems from companies like ZyXel and ZTE will bring data access to laptop and desktop machines, while the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet will be the only standalone portable device available at launch. Besides Sprint's obvious voice pedigree, the company seems to be taking an ambivalent view of voice over Xohm. Instead, the network will follow an "Open Internet" business model, with few restrictions on the type of Internet App that will work on the service.
Among the first device makers on board are laptop manufacturers like Acer, Asus (check out the Asus F8va here), Lenovo and Toshiba. All of them have announced new or upcoming laptops that will come will include onboard suport for integrated Xohm networking. Of course, we'd really like to see some of those new netbooks, like the Asus EEE PC or the Acer Aspire One, start earning their keep by integrating the fast WiMAX abilities. We think this would make those machines much more compelling.
A new way to buy wireless
It is this aspect of the Xohm network that has us most excited. While faster network speeds were always inevitable as networks evolved, we're excited to see Sprint embrace a new pricing and buying structure in the new network. The Xohm network is available without any contracts. Users simply buy a device and activate their plan through a unified Web site. Pricing will range from $10 for a single day's use, to $25 for a stationary modem or Xohm-enabled device, up to $30 per month for a mobile device. Sprint will also initially offer a $50 deal for two devices.
We think this is a great way for customers to buy wireless access. We like the simplicity of the plans, and the ease with which Sprint claims new users will be able to buy and activate a device. Sprint has an eye towards the ubiquity of wireless broadband networks, and we agree with them here. Eventually, every Internet-enabled device in your home, including computers, Tivo and set-top devices, and gaming consoles, among other devices, could have its own wireless networking connection, instead of a wired connection to a home network or a Wi-Fi adapter. Sprint's plans allow users to unify all of these devices under a single plan, with a simple activation scheme. Hopefully, as the range of devices grows and users face the possibility of dozens of wireless devices in their possession, Sprint will accomodate these users with more robust "all-in" plans offering bargains on data usage.
All it's cracked up to be?
Of course, there are a couple stumbling blocks in Xohm's path. First of all, even in the Baltimore market, where Xohm is already active, there are still holes in the coverage area that need to be filled. These will be built out with time. The bigger question for us is whether the enhanced networking speeds offered by WiMAX will be enough to entice users away from their current network setup. Though the wireless data speeds, if they pan out in real-world testing, are truly impressive, they aren't exponentially greater than what we're currently seeing, even on Sprint's own speedy EV-DO Rev. A networks, and they certainly don't measure up to the more common cable modem networks. With 4G LTE only a few years away, offering speeds that are much closer to wireline broadband networks, we wonder if Xohm will be enough to draw users into the still-spotty network.
Here, EDGE networking might be our best guide. EDGE was originally intended as a stopgap between older GPRS networks and faster 3G, and we don't think any pundits would have predicted that EDGE would have lasted as long as it did. In fact, T-Mobile is still operating a successful wireless business built almost entirely on EDGE networking (until very recently, in a few select markets), and even high-end phones like the original Apple iPhone are being released with EDGE networking on board. There is clearly something to be said for a ubiquitous network, and if Sprint can roll out their Xohm network on a nationwide scale before Verizon Wireless and others manage to launch upcoming LTE networks, they could certainly gain a foothold that would last until the next generation of networking springs to life.
We'll have more informtion, including our own hands-on test with the Xohm network in Baltimore, in the days and weeks to come, so check back for our complete coverage of the latest in 4G networking.
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