WiMax devices still thin on the ground

Jeff Orr:

The Sprint Xohm display at CES 2008 showed off the NEW products and partners beyond the ones that have been announced since late 2006 when Sprint Nextel announced plans to offer a Mobile WiMAX network in 2008.

Today, there are more than 100 Mobile WiMAX (those based on the IEEE 802.16e-2005 and ETSI HiperMAN standards) announced or commercially available.

One of the changes that Sprint has discussed is how different device and service acquisition will be from the traditional cell phone model, which is tied to a specific carrier. Consumers can obtain Mobile WiMAX devices at their favorite brick and mortar, e-commerce, or other channel and provision service without prior scrutiny and approval of the carrier.

While not all the 100+ devices will be available on day one of the Xohm commercial launch (targeted for end of April), there are many for both the traditional PC connections and new form-factors that will attempt to break the mobile phone stereotype.

Sydney Lawrence:

SJT in his expeditious manner has delivered a devastating review of the Opel billion dollar debacle. Surely it is time for Senator Conroy to visit this taxpayer funded Howard/Coonan folly with a view to avert financial disaster and an absolute decimation of taxpayer money.

I believe that the original Tender was breached by the Opel application and the spirit of the whole exercise has been a sadly mishandled folly with available money ramped up without notification to all Tenderer's. Surely a system duplication was not envisaged originally when the Government called for Tenders.

Dan Warne:

We get it, you guys like what each other writes. A lot.

Sydney Lawrence:

Dan there are two of us and two million of you so don't be to unhappy. Thanks for the opportunity and time will tell.

SJT:

Yes we certainly seem to? So now if "you" could only get an unbiased grasp of telecoms and report that way Dan, we'd all be happy - LOL! Typically, you didn't have anything to say about my OPEL comments! I didn't come here to wave the Telstra flag, but rather to highlight OPEL's inadequacies and the fact that they get off scot-free for these inadequacies, whereas if it were Telstra, they would not! So, do you believe as per the "independent" links I supplied that OPEL are struggling? Come on let's hear what "you actually" think about the self proclaimed non-existent OPEL - if you're allowed to that is? Ooh I did mention independent links, because I haven't noticed those authors posting anti-Telstra comments on Now we are Talking "like you have done in the past Dan" - Hmmmm! But I'm sure you aren't biased in anyway (sic)! Anyway Dan, as the poster boy for Hel$tra haters, I'd sincerely like to hear your opinion of OPEL as they currently stand - instead of you simply and snidely taking potshots at any and all pro-Telstra comments! And please not the typical "OPEL will bring choice and competition creating better prices for consumers - yes, yes, let's hope so "ONE DAY"! But what about OPEL now? Are you one who ignores the facts as they currently stand and simply crosses his fingers and hopes? Or do you actually factor into the equation, the facts at hand? I bet I know! Don't worry though, I don't think I'll be continuing to comment here at APC and further spoiling the party! I'm tiring of all the non educated sheep who simply applaud your every negative Telstra word!

Dan Warne:

To be honest, I have no point of view on OPEL other than:

- they haven't shown us much yet

- there are some odd areas that they are not covering at all, like Alice Springs.

But in the absence of any information from the Government or OPEL, I think it's best to watch and wait before passing judgement. 

SJT:

Thanks for the reply Dan and fair enough! All the best.

Sydney Lawrence:

While being reluctant to again speak in support of SJT (after Dan's recent remarks) his logical honesty makes opposition difficult. It is a fact that we all have a point of view, dictated by our own interest and observations, but I do think that many participants here are particularly one sided and have minds closed to reasonable debate. Expressions by some(Hel$tra die, Hel$tra scum etc) displays at best, poor manners and at worst serious understanding difficulties. My hope is that the Powers that be in Government are monitoring this Site and may be helped in their opinions from their observations of it. Concerning Opel, one would not need to be a financial genius to for-see the disaster that awaits them. By their start-up date(even Almighty God probably doesn't know when that will be)Next G will be operating excellently and accepted by the Australian people. After the CDMA turn-off whinge imagine public outcry with any deficiency or malfunction in the Opel system considering the fact that it's quality of delivery will probably be inferior to Next G. I base this assumption on many things, one being the lessor number of transmission towers Opel plan. I understand the financials for Optus with $500million going straight to the Singapore Government via the Optus expanded asset backing but surely it is time for Senator Conroy to put a stop to this folly(if he legally can)regain the billion for the Australian taxpayer and expose the deceipt of Howard and Coonan.

Joe:

Call me cynical, but you work for Telstra, right Sydney?

Anyway, the reason why there hasn't been any action lately (apart from legal action by Telstra) in implementing the Opel network yet, is that Senator Conroy has been sitting on the network plans for over a month now (by my reckoning) and not released any funding to start the ball rolling.

So anyone interested in seeing this stuff happening, needs to be asking not what Opel is doing with money it hasn't even seen, rather what Senator Conroy is doing dragging his feet. Sure, he wants FTTN so he can surf the 'net in style (with the help of $4.7B from the taxpayer), yet won't approve one fifth of that amount so rural folks can have something usable.

Drewbeeeeeeeeeee:

He's been on other sites like ITwire and PC User, and admits he has shares.

Phuccinnutt:

Anyways I cant wait till that day,, just any of
take a look at what the Aussy's have started, I almost
want to move there myself, there have speeds of
100/ms DSL and that TOTAL SPANKS CABLE and Shuts
Lady up for good, if you think Im nuts look into
it, one of the main leading people and Im not stateing
who, cause you can find out on your own, has made
avaiable for DSL speeds for All of Australia to be
at 100ms spanking all places in North America
include Canada. By doing this the county will be
far greater up to speed and getting better results
and benifits for the country... hurry go check

Frank :

"That said, the OPEL project will most likely use the fixed WiMax standard, dubbed 802.16d, for its initial rollout operating in the unlicensed 5.8GHz spectrum range."

I guess the APC reporter who wrote this paragraph was still on holidays when it was announced earlier this year that Opel had secured the Austar 2.3 and 3.5Ghz Austar spectrum. Why would they roll out 5.8 equipment when they have superior licensed spectrum??

SJT:

When are APC and all the Hel$tra haters going to actually swallow their pride and simply admit OPEL are hopeless (so far anyway)? You can obviously still hate Hel$tra too, you know? You can also continue to dream about telecoms nirvana and the promise that was initially, naively hoped for with broadband connect, all you like, but let’s just be a bit fair dinkum, shall we? I won’t again quote all the OPEL “loose ends” but according to many reports, they haven’t actually achieved anything thus far and it’s been over 6 months since they were announced the winning tenderer. Oh sorry, one Nostradamus who ignores what’s actually “happening now” and keeps trying to convince us (and himself too - me think) that OPEL “will be fantastic (eventually)”, has stated there’s “a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes”! Well, behind the scenes back-slapping and martini sipping, isn’t getting towers built, our country friends the technology they need and the outcome our $1b was supposed to, thus far - has it? So I guess he’ll (like a lot of others) simply blame Telstra – LOL. I believe had either Telstra or AUSalliance won the tender, the “actual work” would be full speed ahead by now! Enter those who will now say – yeah but we want it affordable! Yes, obviously! Or perhaps like FTTN offered from Telstra 2.5 years ago, (which would probably now be completed) you can of course have the alternative, NOTHING! Anyway… Ian’s article was unbiased, uncoloured information and they way it should be, imho. However, when Dan or Angus report, especially when Telstra are involved, all of a sudden the attention grabbing negative gibes are rife. The 800lb gorilla, monopolistic giant, etc! Well on top of OPEL’s feverish “inaction”, Optus’ own GM of technology stated that OPEL doesn’t even exist, hellooo – non-existent! But yet OPEL still get off scot-free, without any real finger pointing negativity from the Dan’s of this world, whatsoever. For the record, since OPEL have been awarded the subsidy, I sincerely want it all to work out, rather than have $1b of taxpayers money wasted! But it’s time for the “they’re ok, don’t hassle them, their not Hel$tra” attitude to end and real questions asked. It’s time to start grilling OPEL, like Telstra get grilled. E.g. within hours of the CDMA non-closure, we had forums and people giving it to Telstra – but still non-existent OPEL perpetually get off scot-free? Here it is now 11am - 25/1 and this article was written yesterday, but not one (other) comment? So APC and Hel$tra haters, are you now going to grow some marbles, put your personal “tall poppy” disliking of Hel$tra to one side and ask the “OPEL untouchables”, just what the hell is going on with our $1b?

Anonymous Anonymous :

@ SJT

Since OPEL have yet to receive a cent of the almost Bn$1, then I can't see how anything OPEL do is of any concern to the tax payer.

So far, OPEL are only spending the partners' money (Optus and Elders).

If the project plans currently under construction get the nod from the government, then and only then will OPEL actually receive tax payer funding. Of course, after that event you can bitch an complain all you like :-)

SJT:

Point taken anonymous anonymous! However... Q. why haven't OPEL received funding? A. SMH 29/11: ... "despite finally signing a funding deed with the Howard Government in September, Opel has still not received the money because it has yet to gain the Communications Department's approval for its network plan and the commercial arrangements between Optus and Elders" :- ( So the next question obviously is - ok, in that case, "how did OPEL initially comply to win the funding, when now they are now unable to comply"? As I said too many loose ends! It's now almost February and it was signed in September??? Anyway... For in depth eye opening articles of OPEL's (I'll be nice) unfortunate shortcomings, please read - cheers.
http://business.smh.com.au/wind-shift-opel-may-have-to-reconsider-rural-broadband-plan/20071128-1dia.html and
http://commsday.com/node/199

Empowered:

Hey SJT, you are either a major shareholder in Tel$tra or a complete moron. APC, among others, report it like it is, ie Tel$tra has turned an affordable public owned institution into an expensive privately owned cash cow, interested only in profits, without any moral conciousness at all. You are probably a Liberal supporter as well. I, like many others, have given Tel$tra the flick by using Vodafone prepaid mobile and Unwired for Internet and VOIP. This means NO confusing plans riddled in fine print, NO contracts, No line fees and NO excess usage fees. This means I am in control, not the other way around. And all this a lot cheaper than Tel$tra (or any other telco) can provide.

SJT:

Yes nice eloquence Empowered! What a gentleman (woman) and all around good guy (girl) you must be - someone I'm sure your parents are most proud of. Typically, anyone who has a different opinion to you is a "moron" - nice! Major shareholder - wrong, Liberal supporter - wrong again and I'll even add I'm not a Telstra employee nor am I related to or even know any Telstra employees. For someone who naively thinks he/she has all the answers, you don't get too much right do you - LOL! As such, one of us is most certainly a moron and it's not me! Enjoy your tacky patched up BS, telecoms, Einstein.

Anonymous Anonymous:

WiMax is up and running, with success, in regional Australia.

Check out what Internode are currently doing:
http://www.whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1774?show=replies