Mobile
Comcast To Offer Wireless Broadband
Comcast is getting ready to roll out Wireless Broadband as yet another product it has to sell. Initially using Sprint and Clearwire’s WiMAX network, the service will be called High-Speed 2go and will be offered in cities where Comcast has its cable service already established. It will be a slow roll out (and I’m guessing that’s because that’s due to the slow space of the Sprint/Clearwire rollout). Initially, only residents of Portland, Oregon will be able to take advantage of the service, but is scheduled to roll out in Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia by the end of 2009.
Comcast will offer its own laptop modem to hook up and it will be free with a contract (naturally) and cost $99 if you want to go month to month. Supposedly if you switch from a current plan, Comcast will waive the cost of the card. The card switches between 4G and 3G speeds, which is a good thing since there isn’t a lot of WiMax 4G out there.
Yes, there are going to be caps (5GB on 3G) and bundling offerings with Comcast’s other services. Om Malik seems to think that this will offer some competition for the existing carriers. I think he’s right. I think he’s also correct in that the success will depend on how quickly Comcast/Sprint/Clearwire can expand the service.
Perry
06/30/2009 at 10:09 am
How is it that Brighthouse ponies up a couple billion with Time Warner and Google, and yet Florida residents aren’t even in the picture as far as rolling this technology out? I get it that Philly, Atlanta, MAYBE Portland are big markets for Comcast, but what the heck is going on at Brighthouse that they throw in their support and forget about their home base? Most disappointed.
Chris
06/30/2009 at 11:12 am
I am in Glen Burnie, south of Baltimore, waiting for Xohm/Clearwire; there is no coverage on my street “yet”; distributor is located within 2 miles…big deal. Heard of this earlier this year. If this coverage is linked with Sprint…”what is wrong?”. Called Clearwire, of course….no one knows anything….was referred to check website, which I have already signed up for updates….nothing. I have relatives in Florida, they are happy with Brighthouse….I am fed up with Verizon!