Grand Rapids Wireless Broadband

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Intel Video
 How WiMAX Works

                                                    

WiMAX Laptops Slide Show

Updates

Sign up for Wireless email updates by sending your request to: Sally.Wesorick@grcity.us.

About Clearwire

Clearwire, founded in October 2003 by wireless pioneer Craig O. McCaw, is a provider of simple, fast, portable and reliable wireless high-speed Internet service. Clearwire customers connect to the Internet using licensed spectrum, thus eliminating the confines of traditional cable or phone lines. Headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., the company launched its first market in

WiMAX vs. Other Wireless Technology

WiMax: Long-range wireless rolled out by companies

This new technology is similar to Wi-Fi, but its signals can travel for miles. WiMax also works differently. Anyone can set up a Wi-Fi antenna, or hot spot, in their home or business. WiMax is designed to be rolled out by big companies, such as cellphone carriers who put WiMax transmitters on their cellular towers. The carriers then sell the wireless service, often as a subscription.

Speed: About 15 Mbps

Distance: Nearly 2 miles

Works for: Internet access for laptop, desktop, and PDA computers 

Project Background

Bid Award News Release (PDF)

City Commission Agenda Item (PDF)

A Letter from Mayor Heartwell

Grand Rapids Wireless Summit (PDF)

glimaWest Survey Results (PDF)

Other Cities and Counties with Wireless Broadband

Clearwire WiMAX Markets 2008

Suggest locations for Grand Rapids wi-fi hot spots (yes, we will have wi-fi hot spots in addition to the WiMAX network)and provide links to Web sites that you think should be included on the free wi-fi Walled Garden splash pages.

What are your wifi hot spot location suggestions?

What are your "Walled Garden" link suggestions?

                 

Michigan customers not hurt now by iPCS and Sprint Nextel court fights

Posted by dstevens November 20, 2008 11:25AM

It looks as if Sprint Nextel customers in Michigan will not feel the effects of an Illinois Supreme Court decision until next fall. Probably.  Read More ►►

Clearwire Stockholders Approve Transaction to Combine Clearwire and Sprint’s 4G Mobile WiMAX Business

Clearwire Secures Lender Consents for Transaction

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Nov. 20, 2008 — Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ: CLWR), one of the world’s largest providers of personal broadband and mobile Internet service, today announced that its stockholders have approved the planned combination with Sprint’s mobile WiMAX business and the investment of $3.2 billion by Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Trilogy Partners, paving the way for a new era in mobile Internet services in the U.S.
 Read More ►►

Clearwire-Sprint Merger Vote scheduled for November 20

Clearwire Corporation [NASDAQ: CLWR], a leading provider of personal broadband and mobile Internet services, today announced it will commence shortly the mailing of its definitive proxy statement to all Clearwire stockholders of record as of October 15, 2008 to vote on the Transaction Agreement, pursuant to which Clearwire and Sprint Nextel Corporation [NYSE: S] will combine their respective next-generation wireless broadband businesses. Read More ►►

8/20/08 GRAND RAPIDS Press

Sally Wesorick says she never stopped believing Clearwire Corp. would deliver a wireless network that offers mobile high-speed Internet access to every corner of the city. Wesorick, the city's wireless project manager, has seen her faith validated recently. Read More ►►  


Update 8/8/08

By the end of this year, Clearwire is poised to make service available in their first four WiMAX markets -- Portland, OR; Las Vegas, NV; Atlanta, GA; and Grand Rapids, MI -- with commercial launches taking place in 2009.

Clearwire recently issued their Second Quarter Earning Report confirming that they continue to make great progress.  The company reiterated its intent to build a nationwide mobile WiMAX network.   They shared results from recent operational tests which demonstrate the significant differentiation of mobile WiMAX performance with peak data rates of over 6 megabits per second.  Combined with WiMAXs very low mean latency, we can expect the technology to support real-time services like online gaming, Voice over IP, and video steaming.

Plans for new WiMAX-enabled consumer devices continue to expand with more than 80 suppliers providing a range of more than 480 devices.  More than 100 new certified products are slated to be introduced in the next six to 12 months alone. 

Together with Intel, Clearwire is testing laptops and notebook PCs on their mobile WiMAX  network in Portland with good results.

We expect Clearwire mobile WiMAX  will greatly improve customer wireless broadband experience, far beyond what is achievable today!   For the full quarterly report and conference call summary go to www.clearwire.com

Pre-WiMAX Clearwire Markets Launched

VIDEO

  • Moblie WiMax Trial (streaming)

    Update on the progress of the Clearwire mobile WiMAX trial near Portland, Oregon
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  • Real People using Clearwire High-Speed Internet Service (streaming)

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    WiMAX PRINT NEWS!!!

  • 7/10/08 BetaNews - Clearwire is readying WiMAX wireless deployments in four more US cities this year which will use equipment from Motorola, said Jeff Orr, a senior analyst with the Maravedis market research firm, during an e-mail Q&A with BetaNews this week.  "By the end of this year, we are poised to make service available in our first four WiMAX markets -- Portland, OR; Las Vegas, NV; Atlanta, GA; and Grand Rapids, MI -- with commercial launches taking place [in those four cities] in 2009," confirmed a Clearwire spokesperson today, in an e-mail to BetaNews.  Read More ►►
     
  • 6/10/08  Sprint, Clearwire Promise Two-Way Internet Video -  Sprint Nextel and Clearwire pledged Monday to deliver wireless Internet access to police, firefighters and schools at speeds fast enough to handle two-way video conferencing if federal regulators approve their merger.  Read More ►►
     
  • 5/7/08  - $12 billion joint venture - Clearwire secures backing from Intel, Google, and cable operators. Read More ►►
     
  • 5/6/08 - Sprint Nears Deal with Clearwire  Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. are close to announcing a $12 billion joint venture that plans to roll out ultra fast wireless Internet access for cellphones and laptops in coming years, with the backing of an unlikely alliance of technology and cable companies. Read More ►►
     
  • 5/27/08 - Centrino 2 with WiMAX coming this summer - Intel announced it will introduce its next-generation Centrino 2 mobile platform, code-named Montevina, July 14. The platform is expected to offer faster performance and longer battery life, and is long awaited by the WiMAX community as it incorporates both WiFi and WiMAX, although . In addition, the platform is 40 percent smaller so that it can fit in mini-notebooks. Read More ►►
     
  • 2/22/08 USA Today-Sprint Clearwire to build national WiMAX network2/26/28  Last year Nokia confirmed that it is working on a WiMax-equipped version of its N800-series Internet tablet. Until this week, there hadn't been further news of the device. Well, Best Buy pictured an unannounced Nokia N830 Internet tablet in its February Mobile Buyer's Guide, and possibly gave away the big WiMax secret. Read More ►►
     
  • 1/15/08  Clearwire has tapped Google to provide the company's Apps suite to its subscribers. The suite includes Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Talk, and the deal also sees Clearwire leveraging Google's AdSense for Search on future portal applications. Read More ►►  
  • 1/2008 Popular Science Internet All Over -With the arrival of the first WiMAX devices, you can tap into high-speed access anywhere.  Read More ►► 
  • 11/21/07  Clearwire's WiMax Service - Seeking to fill the need for speed among wireless road warriors, Clearwire is working on rolling out its mobile WiMax service real soon now. Former partner Sprint threw a monkey wrench into things when it decided to reconsider its own WiMax plans, but Clearwire is holding fast. For a taste of the WiMax future, you can head to Seattle, where the company has started to sell PC Card notebook adapters for its "pre-WiMax" service. WiFiNetNews editor Glenn Fleishman gave it a workout, and came away impressed. Even while in a moving vehicle, he saw speeds of 1.6 to 1.7Mbps, twice that of typical 3G cellular connections, and nearly comparable to speeds at most Wi-Fi hotspots. Read More ►►

Grand Rapids Partners with Clearwire to Provide Mobile WiMAX Wireless Broadband

The City has partnered with Clearwire to build a wireless network that will provide Internet and network service to City employees, the City's businesses, and residents. The network will be funded, build, owned and operated by Clearwire.  Clearwire WiMAX service is not currently available in the Grand Rapids.  However, Clearwire is working aggressively toward implementation of mobile WiMAX broadband using a commercially viable timeframe. The network will cover the entire forty-five square miles of Grand Rapids and beyond.

Clearwire has agreed to offer discounted service to low income residents who qualify. Clearwire will also provide numerous free wifi hotspots throughout the city.

For more information:

If you have questions, suggestions, or to receive email updates please contact:

swesorick@grcity.us
Wireless Project Manager

 

Clearwire Markets Launched

Clearwire launched its first market in August 2004 and now offers service in 50 markets across the U.S. as well as in Europe.  Grand Rapids expects to be the Clearwire's first mobile WiMax market launch.  Market List ►►