SPRINT 3G/4G WIRELESS USB MODEM

Sprint Nextel announced Wednesday that it will start selling dual-mode 3G/4G wireless broadband modems for laptops starting Sunday.

Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem U300

(Credit: Sprint Nextel)

The new device allows users to access both Sprint's 3G cellular data network and the new 4G WiMax wireless network the company is building as part of the new Clearwire venture.

The modem known as the Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem U300 will use the new 4G Clearwire network with download speeds between 2 Mbps and 4Mbps where that network is available. And when users are out of range of the 4G wireless network, they will automatically be able to access Sprint's 3G network, which offers average downloads of between 600 Kbps and 1.4 Mbps, according to Sprint.

Sprint launched the 4G WiMax network called Xohm in Baltimore in October, just months before it officially merged its WiMax network with Clearwire's network. The service will be launched in other markets across the country throughout 2009.

At the Baltimore launch, Sprint's CEO Dan Hesse promised a wireless data device that would allow users to access both networks for better coverage.

"It will take a while for the new (4G) network to be built ubiquitously," Hesse said during the Baltimore press event. "And we will have new multimode devices that will use 4G where it's available, and when it's not, it will downshift to 3G to provide that ubiquitous data coverage."

The new wireless modem connects via a standard USB port and costs $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a two-year subscription to the wireless data service. The wireless modem will be available through Sprint's direct business sales force and at most Baltimore-area Sprint stores and select Baltimore-area retailers, the company said. Starting in January, the device will also be available in Baltimore-area Best Buy stores.

The new wireless modem from Sprint will likely be a better deal for most consumers because the service, which costs $79.99 per month, offers the best coverage at the best price.

Several notebook manufacturers, including Acer, Asus, Lenovo, and Toshiba, are including Intel's WiMax/Wi-Fi module in new laptops, so that users can access the 4G WiMax network. But these devices do not have Sprint's 3G wireless technology integrated into them. This means that users would have to subscribe to both a 4G WiMax service from Clearwire, which regularly costs $45 per month (a $15 discount is available for the first six months), and Sprint's 3G wireless service, which costs $59.99 per month, if they wanted wireless broadband service nationwide. And because the 3G and 4G radio frequency technologies aren't integrated in these laptops, the devices would not seamlessly switch between the 3G and 4G networks.

A Sprint spokesman said the company and its partners will eventually offer embedded dual-mode 3G/4G technology in other devices. But he also pointed out that the laptops that use Intel's embedded WiMax technology and the dual mode 3G/4G modem are really aimed at different sets of customers.

The embedded laptops are for users who only need high speed wireless access close to home, while the 3G/4G modem is for road warriors who may find themselves far from Baltimore or any of the other WiMax enabled cities.

MOTOROLA NEW WIMAX CPES

MOTOROLA USBw 100 WiMAX USB ADAPTOR

Indoor wireless propagation can be particularly challenging, but Motorola’s wi4 WiMAX USB adaptor is designed to perform, offering reliable, high-speed data services to WiMAX subscribers.
Radio Performance: Transmit: 200 mW maximum; highly sensitive receiver (>5dB better than WiMAX forum specifications), RX diversity, convolution turbo coding (CTC), omni-directional antennas, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)
Frequency Band: USBw23100 (2300 - 2400 MHz), USBw25100 (2496 - 2690 MHz)
USBw35100 (3400 - 3600 MHz)
Certification: WiMAX Forum Wave 2 compliant,
5 MHz and 10 MHz channels for 2.3 GHz,
5 MHz and 10 MHz channels for 2.5 GHz
5 MHz, 7 MHz and 10MHz channels for 3.5 GHz
Quality of Service Classes: BE (Best Effort), UGS (Unsolicited Grant Service), RTPS (Real Time Polling Service), NRTPS (Non Real Time Polling Service), ERTPS (Extended Real Time Polling Service)
Security: Device authentication based on X.509 digital certification,
authentication methods according to IEEE 802.16e, EAP-TLS and EAP-TTLS
AES (128-bit CCM) data encryption and authentication



Motorola wi4 WiMAX CPEi 100

From its exceptional ease of use to its sleek styling,
the Motorola wi4 WiMAX CPEi 100 Desktop CPE
offers a 2.5 GHz band WiMAX solution tailored to
appeal to your subscribers.
Radio Performance: 500 mW output power, Highly sensitive receiver, Integral directional antenna, Convolution Turbo Coding (CTC), Hybrid Automatic Repeat request (HARQ)
Frequency Band (MHz): 2496 - 2690MHZ
Certification: WiMAX Forum Certification Wave 1, 5 MHz and 10 MHz Channel for 2.5 GHz
Quality of Service Classes: BE (Best Effort), UGS (Unsolicited Grant Service), RTPS (Real Time Polling Service), NRTPS (Non Real Time Polling Service), ERTPS (Extended Real Time Polling Service)
Security: Device authentication based on X.509 digital certification Authentication methods according to IEEE 802.16e, EAP-TLS and also EAP-TTLS AES (128-bit CCM) Data Encryption and Authentication
RF Performance: Sensitivity: >5dB better than WiMAX Forum Specifications, Antenna Gain: >13dBi, TX power out: +27dBm (0.5 Watts), Noise Figure: 5 dB



Motorola CPEi 600 Series

Motorola’s CPEi 600 Series Customer Premises Equipment for WiMAX makes VoIP even more attractive, with integrated ATA for plug-and-play access.\
Radio Performance: 500 mW output power, Highly sensitive receiver, Retractable, high gain, omni-directional antennas, Orientation independent desktop unit, Two branch Maximum Ratio Combining Diversity, Convolution Turbo Coding (CTC), Hybrid Automatic Repeat request (HARQ)
Frequency: 7 MHz Channel for 3.5 GHz
Quality of Service Classes: BE (Best Effort), UGS (Unsolicited Grant Service), RTPS (Real Time Polling Service), NRTPS (Non Real Time Polling Service), ERTPS (Extended Real Time Polling Service)
Security: Device authentication based on X.509 digital certification, Authentication methods according to IEEE 802.16e, EAP-TLS and, also EAP-TTLS, AES (128-bit CCM) Data Encryption and Authentication Firewall
RF Performance: Sensitivity: >5dB better than WiMAX Forum Specifications, Antenna Gain: 7dBi, TX power out: +27dBm (0.5 Watts), Noise Figure: 5 dB


Motorola CPEi 750 Series

Motorola’s wi4 WiMAX CPEi 750 offers you another Wave 2 ready device option with voice and data features.
Radio Performance: Scaleable OFDMA employing Time-Division Duplex (TDD) mechanism; Diversity Combining: Maximum-Ratio Combining (MRC); Beamforming support; MIMO Matrix A and B; Convolutional Turbo Coding (CTC); Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ)
Certification & Channel & Modulation Scheme Support: WiMAX Forum Certification Wave 2; 5MHz, 7MHz & 10MHz Channel Bandwidths; QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, both up-link and downlink
Indoor Coverage: Up to 2 kilometers range; Exceptional RF performance
Quality of Service Classes: BE (Best Effort); UGS (Unsolicited Grant Service); RTPS (Real Time Polling Service); NRTPS (Non Real Time Polling Service); ERTPS (Extended Real Time Polling Service)
Throughput: >5Mbps Down- Link> 2 Mbps Up-Link
Security: Device authentication based on X.509 digital certification; Authentication methods according to IEEE 802.16e, EAP-TLS and also EAP-TTLS; AES (128-bit CCM) Data Encryption and Authentication Firewall
RF Performance: Sensitivity: > 5dB better than WiMAX Forum Specifications across all modulation schemes; Antenna Gain: 7dBi; TX power out: 26dBm; EIRP: 33dBm;
Noise Figure: 5 dB

YOTA LAUNCHES MOBILE WIMAX AND 4G IN RUSSIA

Scartel (brand Yota), a Russian provider of Mobile WiMAX, and HTC have launched the world’s first integrated GSM/WiMAX handset.

“Yota was established to provide a unique set of mobile communication services to millions of people in Russia and today we have launched the first device and services to realise its full potential,” said Denis Sverdlov, General Director of Yota’s parent company, Scartel LLC (brand Yota). “We really believe that these innovative services, high-speed Internet and stylish HTC MAX 4G will completely change the communications industry, just as the introduction of cellular communications did many years ago.”

The Yota Mobile WiMAX network offers high-speed wireless Internet access, and the Mobile WiMAX network with traffic prioritisation algorithms, allows online films, video and TV programmes to be viewed on the large WVGA screen.

Mobile WiMAX modems

All Mobile WiMAX devices

• Provide Internet access at speeds up to 10 Mbps within the Yota network coverage area.
• Have the pre-installed Yota Access program that helps establish Internet connection in a couple of minutes.

USB Modems
A USB modem can be used with either a notebook or a stationary computer.

Mobile WiMAX USB Modem Samsung SWC-U200

Specifications:

Host Interface	USB2.0
Modulation	QPSK, 16/64QAM, OFDMA
Standard	IEEE 802.16e Wave 2
Frequency Support	2.5~2.7GHz
Output Power	0,2 W
Power Supply	2,5 W
Size	70x27x14 mm
Weight	25g

Mobile WiMAX USB Modem ASUS WUSB25E2

Specifications:

Host Interface	USB2.0
Modulation	QPSK, 16/64QAM, OFDMA
Standard	IEEE 802.16e Wave 2
Frequency Support	2.5~2.7GHz
Output Power	0,2 W
Power Supply	2,5 W
Size	105x36x10.6 mm
Weight	70g

ExpressCard Modems

The device is compatible with notebooks fitted by Express and PCMCIA slots.

Express Card 4G Mobile WiMAX 2,5-2,7 GHz SWC-E100

Specifications:

Host Interface	Express port
Modulation	QPSK, 16/64QAM, OFDMA
Standard	IEEE 802.16e Wave 2
Frequency Support	2.5~2.7GHz
Output Power	0,2 W
Power Supply	2,5 W
Size	118x39,4x14 mm
Weight	37,5g

Broadcasting 14 free channels at launch and 23 channels by the end of 2008, Yota TV introduces a powerful mobile television experience. The vibrant, 3.8 inch 800x480 screen of the HTC MAX 4G can display up to nine TV channels simultaneously, allowing quick and easy channel surfing and programme selection. Thanks to the device’s TV-out capability, users can also watch content on the big screen, putting the HTC MAX 4G at the very heart of the mobile entertainment experience.

”The introduction of the HTC MAX 4G represents the culmination of a close partnership between HTC and Yota to develop the world’s first integrated mobile GSM/WIMAX handset,” said Peter Chou, CEO and President, HTC Corporation. “Russia is a key strategic market for HTC and Yota’s Mobile WiMAX network sets a new global benchmark for next-generation mobile services.”

The HTC MAX 4G supports GSM calls using a SIM card from any Russian network operator and when both callers are Yota subscribers, the call will automatically be routed as a VoIP call over the Yota Mobile WiMAX network.

HTC MAX 4G Specifications

Processor:Qualcomm^® ESM7206A™ 528 MHz

Platform:Windows Mobile^® 6.1 Professional

Memory:ROM: 288 MB, RAM: 288 MB, Flash: 8 GB, can be augmented with microSD cards

Dimensions:113.5 mm × 63.1 mm × 13.9 mm

Weight:151 gram (accumulator included)

Display:3.8-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 480x800 WVGA resolution

Network:Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 900/1800/1900 MHz Yota Mobile WiMAX 2.5~2.7 GHz

GPS:Built-in GPS receiver

Connections:IEEE 802.16e (Mobile WiMAX) IEEE 802.11b/g (WiFi) Bluetooth 2.0 EDR HTC extUSB

Main camera:High-resolution with autofocus

Second:VGA-camera

Additional:FM-radio Motion G-sensor, position sensitive interface display automatically assesses the surrounding light and changes its own brightness

Memory cards: microSD (compatible with SD 2.0)

Audio: Supported: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, 40 polyphonic and standard MIDI format

Battery: Li-Pol, 1500 mA⋅h

Talk time: GSM: up to 420 minutes

VoIP: up to 230 minutes

Standby time: GSM: up to 350 hours

VoIP: up to 50 hours

AC Adapter: Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz

EV-DO VS HSDPA VS WiMAX

With WiFi, laptop-toting road warriors were no longer tethered to cords for internet access. Cutting the cord, however, put the user at the mercy of finding a nearby Starbucks or other hotspot location, only partially providing the sense of freedom that users wanted. Eventually, cell phone companies realized providing high-speed data over cellular networks could be a major business boom, especially if the access could be relatively speedy. Now, we've got a few competing standards that can get you on the internet wirelessly, but there are a few gotchas with each standard. Read on as we break down the basics of wireless net access.

EV-DO

National providers
Sprint and Verizon Maximum throughput speed:

Rev 0: 2.4 Mbps download, 153 Kbps upload
Rev A: 3.1 Mbps download, 1.8 Mbps upload

Provider bandwidth caps 5GB download per month on both Sprint and Verizon.
Pricing: $59.99 / month for Sprint & Verizon

EV-DO was one of the first acceptable-speed mobile internet acecss methods, and its tried and true approach to 3G data works effectively. Rather than being offered as a sort of wired broadband replacement, the pricey services from Sprint and Verizon are seen as more of an office broadband augmented luxury rather than a way to replace the home DSL service to which users have grown accustomed. EV-DO gets the job done in the mobile broadband department, and currently its what I use when I'm on the road (although through a tethered phone). However, take note of the 5GB download cap per month. If you're planning to use this as your primary connection and are any sort of power user, 5GB gets eaten up pretty quickly.

HSDPA / UMTS / EDGE

Providers: AT&T and T-Mobile
Maximum throughput speed:
HSDPA: 3.6 Mbps dowload, 1.2 Mbps upload
UMTS: 700 Kbps download, 500 Kbps upload
EDGE: 384 Kbps download, 236 Kbps upload
Provider bandwidth caps: AT&T: 5GB
T-Mobile: nonePricing:
$60 for HSDPA / UMTS on AT&T

$49.99 for EDGE / HSDPA (coming soon) on T-Mobile

Though it's coming late to the game, 3G connection through AT&T and T-Mobile could end up being more appealing than EV-DO. The primary reason? Speed. EV-DO isn't seeing nearly as much speed increase as HSDPA and UMTS. However, the biggest problem with current implementations by AT&T and T-Mobile is that the network coverage is rather spotty. EV-DO access stretches nearly nationwide, and Sprint and Verizon have roaming agreements on each others' networks, meaning there are few EV-DO deadspots. HSDPA and UMTS, however, started rolling out slowly after EV-DO, and haven't yet caught up. In fact, T-Mobile literally just started rolling out its 3G network in August 2008, and its technology isn't cross compatible with AT&T's technology, due to some differences in implementation -- meaning T-Mobile and AT&T high-speed users can't roam on each other's networks for increased coverage.

HSDPA and UMTS are in their infancy still, so if you're in an area (or travelling frequently to an area) with good mobile broadband coverage with UMTS / HSDPA and are looking for higher speeds than EV-DO, it might be worth a look. However, do some coverage area research before plunking down the cash. Be aware that the 5GB download cap still applies, too.

WiMAX

Provider
Sprint XOHM
Maximum throughput speed:
5 Mbps download, 2.6 Mbps upload
Provider bandwidth caps:
No caps on bandwidth
Pricing:
$35 / month for "home"
$45 / month for "on the go"
$65 / month for combo
$10 / single day access

The least widespread but most exciting high-speed data technology is WiMAX. While currently it's only deployed using Sprint's XOHM network in Baltimore, this up and coming technology shows the most forward looking promise of any of the cellular data options. Currently, the throughput speeds are around 5 Mbps, but WiMAX has a forward looking approach that'll have higher speeds as the netowrk continues to be deployed. Remember those 5GB bandwidth caps of UMTS/ HSDPA and EV-DO? WiMAX doesn't have them. Sprint says the real story behind WiMAX is the capacity story, rather than the high-speed story, in that the architecture behind WiMAX allows providers to more efficiently manage the network, thereby allowing people to use it as their primary internet access method. Sprint's bargain basement pricing for the Baltimore-exclusive WiMAX rollout looks very inviting, however those of us outside of 'Monument City' will be stuck waiting for WiMAX rollouts nationwide over the next few years.

Other notes

Getting online with cellular data means you'll have to meet a couple of requirements. For starters, you'll have to have a semi-modern laptop that has at minimum a USB port, but most of the providers also offer solutions using ExpressCard. For PC users, that means you'll need to have a system that has either an available USB port or ExpressCard 34 slot (the skinny kind, pictured left). For Mac users, MacBooks only have USB ports, while the MacBook Pro has an ExpressCard 34 slot as well as a USB port.

Some laptops, like many in Sony's Vaio series, include built-in mobile broadband without having to plug in an external device. These notebooks will work with a specific network type, and you'll have to contact your provider to figure out how to sync up the laptop with the network.

Also, while we're mainly focusing on adding broadband to laptops, many of the service providers listed also offer some form of "tethering" to cell phones, meaning your phone turns into the modem. Often times these plans are less expensive than the plans we've outlined above, but you'll again have to check with your provider to see if your phone is compatible.