I wonder what this means for Whispernet

[daffy4u]

Sprint and Clearwire Marriage Official

Initially, the network will deliver an average of 2-4Mbps downstream, with the first devices outside of laptops and USB modems arriving in the middle of next year—stuff like mobile internet devices and MP3 players.

I followed a link.

The new company, which will be named Clearwire, will be focused on expediting the deployment of the first nationwide mobile WiMAX network to provide a true mobile broadband experience for consumers, small businesses, medium and large enterprises, public safety organizations and educational institutions. The new Clearwire expects to dramatically enhance the speed and manner in which customers access all that the Internet has to offer at home, in the office and on the road.

A couple of the comments note that WiMax had coverage in Alaska and Canada (where there is no Whispernet coverage now).

[Ervserver]

I think eventually Kindle users will be paying for the service

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Sprint and Clearwire Marriage Official



I followed a link.



A couple of the comments note that WiMax had coverage in Alaska and Canada (where there is no Whispernet coverage now).

Originally Posted by Ervserver

I think eventually Kindle users will be paying for the service

I don't think it will have any effect at all on Whispernet. For one thing, Kindle users are already "paying" for Whispernet. The cost is bundled into the price of each book sold by Amazon and available over Whispernet.

We all know that it doesn't cost Amazon $9.99 to produce a downloadable copy of a book ... not even a best seller. And, since the Kindle is not made to be a web-browser, I would dare say that most of us only use Whispernet from time to time .... and mostly to download books from Amazon.

Even with a merger, the original Sprint contracts will have to be honored, and it's really in Amazon's favor that there is now a larger coverage area. They can start selling Kindles in Canada.

Possibly, at some point, they may discontinue the experimental web browser, but you know, I stopped using that about day two of having my Kindle. I still use Whispernet, but that's about it. And, now that I've got my iPhone, I much prefer that for on the go browsing. It's much (much) faster.

Oh, now there's a thought .... I wonder how hard it would be .... say I was out of Whispernet range .... to purchase a book from Amazon using the cell phone, download it to the cell phone, and then copy it from the phone to the computer?? Hmmm .... may have to try that.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Oh, now there's a thought .... I wonder how hard it would be .... say I was out of Whispernet range .... to purchase a book from Amazon using the cell phone, download it to the cell phone, and then copy it from the phone to the computer?? Hmmm .... may have to try that.

I'm mostly hoping that it will expand Whispernet coverage.

If you have your computer, why can't you just download directly. No need for the extra steps. Or just buy it and turn on your Whispernet when you get in range. I've purchased from my iPod Touch that way.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I'm mostly hoping that it will expand Whispernet coverage.

If you have your computer, why can't you just download directly. No need for the extra steps. Or just buy it and turn on your Whispernet when you get in range. I've purchased from my iPod Touch that way.

I think that's what it will do .... just expand the coverage.

Nah .... I was thinking of those rare times when I'm outside of Whispernet coverage, but I also don't have my computer with me. I admit that would be a really strange circumstance ... but play along for a minute.

I mean, I could purchase it on the phone, and then wait until I had the Kindle in range in order to pick it up .... but say I was staying at some podunk hotel that had no internet ... wireless or dial up, and I'm outside of Whispernet range, but I'm still getting an AT&T signal. Then, theoretically, I should be able to download a book to the phone and then go from the phone to the computer and then from the computer to the Kindle.

I have stayed at some pretty out of the way places where their idea of an internet connection is a really crappy computer out in back of the office, no wireless and no hope of connecting up my laptop.

I know .... you're surprised such places exist, but they do.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I think that's what it will do .... just expand the coverage.

Nah .... I was thinking of those rare times when I'm outside of Whispernet coverage, but I also don't have my computer with me. I admit that would be a really strange circumstance ... but play along for a minute.

I mean, I could purchase it on the phone, and then wait until I had the Kindle in range in order to pick it up .... but say I was staying at some podunk hotel that had no internet ... wireless or dial up, and I'm outside of Whispernet range, but I'm still getting an AT&T signal. Then, theoretically, I should be able to download a book to the phone and then go from the phone to the computer and then from the computer to the Kindle.

I have stayed at some pretty out of the way places where their idea of an internet connection is a really crappy computer out in back of the office, no wireless and no hope of connecting up my laptop.

I know .... you're surprised such places exist, but they do.

I see now. I was confused. You're saying that this is if you can't get a wifi signal on the computer... only on the iPhone.

I have a broadband wireless express card, so if I can get a signal on my cell phone, I can use the card with my computer. It's a tax write-off, thank goodness.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I see now. I was confused. You're saying that this is if you can't get a wifi signal on the computer... only on the iPhone.

I have a broadband wireless express card, so if I can get a signal on my cell phone, I can use the card with my computer. It's a tax write-off, thank goodness.

I looked into getting one of those cards, but it was just too expensive. Especially considering that I get such a great wifi signal on my iPhone.

I don't travel as often as I used to, or I would probably be able to justify it, but 99% of the time I'm where I can hook up at the hotel for $10 a day and probably only travel (staying in hotels) about 10 days a year.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I looked into getting one of those cards, but it was just too expensive. Especially considering that I get such a great wifi signal on my iPhone.

I've heard that AT&T is working on official support for tethering. So, perhaps for an extra $10 a month you could use the iPhone internet with your computer via bluetooth.

BOb

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I've heard that AT&T is working on official support for tethering. So, perhaps for an extra $10 a month you could use the iPhone internet with your computer via bluetooth.

BOb

You know, even at only $10 a month, it would be more expensive than paying the hotel rate for the few days I'm at a hotel each year. This year was a heavy hotel year for me .... and it was still only five days.

Most of the time, when I travel, I stay with friends, and my friends generally have really good broadband connections. Especially since so many of them are people I have met on the internet.

Eeek .... just realized it's 9:00 pm and I totally forgot to have dinner tonight. No wonder I'm hungry.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by Ervserver

I think eventually Kindle users will be paying for the service

Amazon has promised the store access, content downloads and Wikipedia will remain "free" (meaning "included in the cost of the books you buy"). Other network service is "experimental" and they have always been clear that it may not remain so. I think they will be able to keep the guaranteed services free. They're pretty low-bandwidth. On top of that, Sprint gets a little extra advertisement with Kindle customers as a data provider. If they have a good experience with Whispernet availability, they may choose Sprint as a provider. Plus the Whispernet model could be an interesting model for other businesses. Making life difficult for Amazon wouldn't help them build this new sector. Adding a new connection type could actually strengthen that play.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I think that's what it will do .... just expand the coverage.

Nah .... I was thinking of those rare times when I'm outside of Whispernet coverage, but I also don't have my computer with me. I admit that would be a really strange circumstance ... but play along for a minute.

I mean, I could purchase it on the phone, and then wait until I had the Kindle in range in order to pick it up .... but say I was staying at some podunk hotel that had no internet ... wireless or dial up, and I'm outside of Whispernet range, but I'm still getting an AT&T signal. Then, theoretically, I should be able to download a book to the phone and then go from the phone to the computer and then from the computer to the Kindle.

I have stayed at some pretty out of the way places where their idea of an internet connection is a really crappy computer out in back of the office, no wireless and no hope of connecting up my laptop.

I know .... you're surprised such places exist, but they do.

Yeah, but how often do you go to Bumfark, Yukon?

[geko29]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I've heard that AT&T is working on official support for tethering. So, perhaps for an extra $10 a month you could use the iPhone internet with your computer via bluetooth.

Every other AT&T tethering plan is $30/month on top of unlimited data, so it stands to reason that will go for the iPhone as well (meaning $60/month total for data service). And if they do it, it had better be CABLED tethering. Using it as a broadband modem via bluetooth would only work for 15 minutes or so before the dumb thing shut off.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Yeah, but how often do you go to Bumfark, Yukon?

Bumfark, Yukon?? Hey, that's the sister city to Bumfark, Texas, which is where I live. Small world.

Oh, I go there all the time. It's actually closer to go to their grocery store than to go to ours .... plus the selection is better, and I get to hear people say "eh" all the time instead of "good Christian."

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Bumfark, Yukon?? Hey, that's the sister city to Bumfark, Texas, which is where I live. Small world.

You really should move to a blue state!

BOb

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

You really should move to a blue state!

BOb

Heh .... red state, blue state ... it really doesn't matter to me. Bumfark isn't so much a place as it is a feeling. I've encountered the Bumfark feeling from those people I've met who have been brought up with braces on their brains everywhere I've lived.

It's just more out in the open here .....