Would-be WiMax users find a shortcut
Wireless users in Baltimore are standing politely in line to sign up for just launched Sprint WiMax service, called XOHM, pronounced "zohm," at slightly better than the expected rate, according to Sprint executives.
However, unauthorized users in Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia are apparently cutting the line.
According to published reports on the Web, those who can't wait to try out Sprint's high-performance wireless technology (4Mbps downlink and 2MBps up) in Baltimore -- the only place where the service is officially launched -- have found a workaround: Simply registering with a Baltimore zip code and getting themselves a WiMax card.
Boston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia are all places targeted by Sprint for a WiMax rollout, but the network is not complete, and users may find varying levels of service in these cities.
But that hasn't stopped the diehards.
One blogger tells his fellow broadband geeks to "UPS air your Baltimore WiMax hardware for your fix of Wimax geekery."
This blogger is going so far as to fly to Boston with his Baltimore hardware to try it out.
If this is any indication of pent-up demand and or need for broadband wireless capabilities, Sprint may be in for a subscriber bonanza because the fact is, most analysts agree that Sprint's only technology competition, LTE, will not be available until 2010, and then from a limited number of providers.
"LTE is at the stage where the spec is just getting done and test equipment is being made. More aggressive wireless carriers will deploy LTE in 2010; the others will wait to 2012," said Phil Solis, principal mobile analyst with ABI Research.
Meanwhile, the self-proclaimed broadband geek ended his blog with this assurance for those who were breathlessly waiting more news.
"When we get there [Boston], I will let you know how it works at the airport and surrounding suburbs."
» posted by ITworld staff
InfoWorld
Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world
On Twitter now
wimax
Powered by Twitter
jfruh
Apple syncing patent can't come soon enough
pasmith
New Twitter features borrow from 3rd party clients
Esther Schindler
Open Source Changes the Software Acquisition Process
mikelgan
How to set up continuous podcast play on the new iTunes
David Strom
Five important Windows 7 mobility features
sjvn
Guard your Wi-Fi for your own sake
Sandra Henry-Stocker
Grepping on Whole Words
Sidekick: The Good News & the Bad News
Either way you look at it Microsoft Data Center management did not follow standards or best practices in this failure. In which case it makes me wonder more about the outsourcing of corporate data much less personal data.
- mburton325
Join the conversation here
Quick, practical advice for IT pros. Made fresh daily.
Want to cash in on your IT savvy? Send your tip to tips@itworld.com. If we post it, we'll send you a $25 Amazon e-gift card.












