4G must enter the white space

I have said that 4G is a technology that will for ever be an evolution in progress. Their are many facets that make up the complexity of what makes it tick. Such as rules and regulations, bandwidth, spectrum, frequency. So when the FCC does it's best to keep the playing field level, they often, and most of the time do what they do with the consumer in mind.

Now when the FCC made room for wireless via the 700 MHz TV band, they new this would advance this space in the best possible path for innovation. What they also did here was give this resource, over 200MHz of the 700MHz band to us, the consumers, as license free "tvws". 

The 700 MHz band has been coined as the water front spectrum "sweet spot". If the FCC had not deregulated the phone company, or had not made 2.4 GHz license free, there would be no cell phones, or wireless at all. So we can all thank the FCC for that. 

2.4GHz "wifi" was considered a trash band, no one expected this to be of any use, as microwave's, garage door opener's, cordless phones all used this frequency, as it is license free. These things were around before wifi. I think we can all agree that wifi works quite well considering it is everywhere. The 700 MHz has been called super wifi. This in not wifi. This will be much better then wifi. 

There are a couple of carrier's that did not want to see the FCC make available this valuable water front spectrum that they paid 20 Billion to obtain. Again they, the FCC is looking at tomorrow, and making sure these technology's can co-exist, and the consumer can end up being the beneficiary's of this invisible real estate.And this band, 700 MHz "tvws" is not a trash band. 

What device maker will be bold enough to integrate the white space band in tomorrow's device? Let me say this, the one, or one's that do see what tomorrow's 4G looks like, will certainly have the upper hand. Spectrum is scarce, and it would seem like any of it, license or license free would be a large plus for device makers, carrier's, and end user's. Cell phones have five or six radios in them now, so adding one more is no big thing, it may ad under five dollars to the price of the device. One thing for sure, it is time for the integration to begin, and for them to get this on their road map for tomorrow. 

Sprint Clear Team Advanced.

Please choose 4G Evolution Revolution 4G for Education Sprint,Clear Team Evolution Sprint 4G cutting Edge Sprints future,This Is 4G Airmaxed Playlist Site

                                       
Sprint may have made a bad decision with the way they make press. With the announcement they were dropping wimax by 2012, in favor of an LTE initiative. Wrong press wrong timing. This did neither Sprint, nor Clear any forward positive news for their 4G plans.

It cost them their credit rating, and made a poor case for getting investors on board, as well as show investors they are making bad decision's, and don't really have a grip on tomorrow.

It disrupted Clear in a negative light, at the same time did nothing to help the Sprint 4G path. Harmony is what investors like to see. A real partnership, with positive press. Sprint is on track to disrupt 4G once again. With the LightSquared, Clear, Sprint partnership, they will have every square inch of the US covered with broadband via the lightSquared satellite LTE band. That fixes the last mile, and puts rural on the 4G path as well.

Since my last article The 4G Evolution Revolution  that I wrote right after the press of Sprint moving beyond wimax, and leaving Clear to fend for themselves, or that was how the press looked at it. I tried to relax the situation with my take on things. For this to make more since, please check out the link above.

Well since my article two weeks ago there is a different tune. Not only is sprint keeping wimax in for the next three years or so, they announced their plans for advanced LTE. They now know why they can not live without Clear. Here is why. Sprint will be using FDD LTE, the same as AT&T, and Verizon, Clear will be using TDD LTE, that no other carrier will be using here in the US, or not at the moment. The Clear flavor of LTE is being implemented by many other countries including China. And since Clear has the Lyons share of spectrum,Sprint know's they need this for their advanced to work as it should.This is the first sign that communications will become global in devices equipped with both flavors of LTE. Does this give Sprint an impressive edge, to have a device that can hand off to both technology's. And have redundancy with many advanced wireless  technology's. I think so.

Clear started this whole wireless trendy global data echo space, And I do feel they will also finish it. Clear may well become the back bone  to all LTE providers here in the US. As a engine that provides capacity, bandwidth, backhaul that lessons the strain that networks will be under from the growing demand. I think investors need to educate themselves, and truly take a look at what this means for tomorrow. This should be the fastest network in the US, by no less than 5X, up to 10X. Then we will all enjoy what 4G really means, as  this  unlocks the door to  apps that are bandwidth hungry, that will make the speeds of today seem like dial up.

Here are some things that helped the case for clear. Their agreement  with China to build devices in the TD LTE space. Clear in talks with metro pcs to provide capacity. Sprint sees this China agreement as real potential to add advanced features to LTE advanced. To make , and help bring tomorrows technology to the globe, where their are two flavors of LTE. 

4G Evolution Revolution

WOW there has been some news here in the last weeks concerning the 4G revolution. SO Sprint decides to go in the direction of LTE, I reported in a past article to expect some news from Sprint. Then just last week they "Sprint" says it will not be embedding, supporting wimax in their devices in 2012, or Clear for that matter.

Now I wouldn't read in to that to much. What I got from that press was this. They are not supporting wimax any longer, LTE is another entity. So after Sprint reported an LTE path, I also reported that Clear would be making some big news, So right after Sprint came out in favor of LTE, Clear shares some spot light with their  new LTE path.

I also read some press about Sprint devices embedded with both TD and FD LTE here is the link C/NET. Now to me, that says Sprint and Clear are moving away from wimax. They are certainly not washing their hands of Clear. If Sprint has learned anything, they know the value of that spectrum and the future of true 4G speed is in that massive 2.5 GHZ pipe. They also know the value of being able to utilize that network with their own to offload data and keep their network flowing, they learned that from watching what happened to AT&T, and their network not ready for prime time. It took a nose dive from the introduction

of the iphone and all that data flow crashing, or crushing their legacy voice gear.

Sprint is just ready to go forward, And their saying get on the LTE train, or get left behind. Now I also wrote an article last year about how Clear should have made this decision back then, but because of the Sprint ties, and an in place echo space that needed no disruption, they waited, and that cost them an LTE run away that's put them in a last place position. There are many reasons for this, and it's all corporate. There are also many other investors, lets just say, they did not want to upset the apple cart.

If Sprint really wants to make some 4G news, try offering a 4G only plan on your wimax embedded devices for $45 a month. Lets see your paying Clear $10.00. so $35.00 profit, and you didn't even have to build the network. You might just get the attention of investors, and you and Clear will be off and running with the fastest LTE available.

WOW and then after the news of Sprint treating Clear like a red headed step child with no more wimax, Clear is in talks PCS, which is Sprint, and Verizon. this brings us back to all that spectrum. There are so many ways Clear can contribute in this space, by providing an off load port for all the telecoms, or being the backhaul to devices. And it's not even dependent on clear being built all the way out.

This is how I see this morphing in to an awesome path. If Sprint starts to build out their LTE, while Clear continues to get their truck roll on, they would be building at twice the speed. Now, if these devices are on either a TD or FD LTE network, this is some common ground, at some point their paths meet, and bam, they have not only caught up but have passed the competition, as this is the realm of true 4G. And if the goal was to build out advanced LTE, the fat lady will have sung.

It looks to me like all the carriers are going to find a way to access the Clear spectrum, Clear may well become an integral part of all things 4G, on all devices before this is over.

4G for Education

The USA is failing our schools, the result is the students are are not getting to move to the head of the class. We are behind in all aspects of learning. 14th in reading, 17th in science, 25th in math. This study from 35 developed nations. I am writing this as NBC is broadcasting their 2011 education nation conference this week. I wrote this blog in March 09. Opening the flood gates with broadband in education.

One of the biggest problems is tenure. Some of these teachers are not ready for the classroom of tomorrow.

The teachers of tomorrow will be younger with IT skills, Ip, marketing, and ultra computer literate. The same reason we are behind in technology, 17 th in the world of broadband, is the same reason we are behind in education.

What ever the reason for the lack of smarts these administrators have about how best to educate, this is much easier than they are making this process to move us forward and bringing technology in the class.

One thing our students have is computer, and social networking skills. This is what they know, and like, so build around that.

Facebook has created an education platform, these schools need to be using it. Every school needs a page, every classroom in that school, and every student should be utilizing this social platform for it's intended use. Let these students and teachers build on this, and make their class the best it can be. Some teachers may want to broadcast live to other schools or classrooms via livestream, or ustream. Let the students push out the video to other classes, you will find out what is and is not working through the social aspect.

This is so simple, find a class, lets say a science class anywhere USA, that is excelling for what ever reason. maybe the teacher's personality, broadcast this teacher to classrooms around the US, and see what students are saying about it. The students will grade their curriculum, not the administrators. And now you know what is working. Students and classes can interact with this, by Q/A.

It's time to get technology in the hands to those that already have a grip on it. Trust me school's will have a new path that students will rally around. So broadband is the key to this becoming the fix for education. Not new books, or it's not in our budget. Put this in the budget, or our students will forever loose the future.

I think that schools should have been first with this technology. As they the students are our future. Students are incredibly computer literate, it's time that the class gets caught up.

This is also where public safety can benefit. Schools are always used for shelters during times of disaster.

This is another good reason for broadband in schools. If a disaster hit a community, and communication was down, from wired infrastructure, the schools can open their network to the public, for emergency use.

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sprint 4G Clear LightSquared

I think the Sprint strategy update on OCT 7th will reveal some sort of highbrid 4G solution, where lightSquared will be utilized for rural, or last mile infrastructure, as well as low priority data. Clear will stay as their main 4G player.

Satellite communications, that LightSquared has access to is great for last mile, and low priority data. But latency is not going to be a big part of 4G. And satellite is to latent for communications, voice or video, gaming where you and your peers are playing, will be non user friendly.

However, here is another way this can be utilized. Since Clear is not mobile on the road from one town to another, as your out of the outer edges of your 4G market with Clear, satellite may be the only way to make this work throughout the US. As your roaming, and your wireless 4g is lost on the open road, your device may hand off to satellite via LightSquared.

Sprint, Clear: Team Evolution

The news finally arrived from Sprint, I said in my last article "Sprint's Future 4G LTE & Wimax", to expect some news soon from the Sprint camps on what their future technology of choice was going to look like, and they signed a multi billion $ deal with lightsquared, and that news is we are going LTE. I also reported that news would be coming from the Clear camp as well in this article:

"Sprint Clear ready set go:is LTE on the horizon"

Clear just made their announcement to go with this 4GX2 path, Wimax / LTE. I feel they should have made this decision six months ago, as this would have been a good move for new investment opportunity's. Clear needs to drive their technology in some new directions, break new ground. Wireless security, portable security, mobile security, now their is a direction to innovate in. I have tested such a device, and with outstanding results. Using a Lorex IP wireless camera, a Clear desk top modem, a netgear N router, and a Tekkeon lipo smart battery, This thing performed well, and for around 14 hours. Their are many directions to work with such a new technology. I'm not sure if their Clear spot will work with a wireless camera, but if it don't, I would get to work on that.

I am not just all pro Sprint, or Clear, other camps just make no positive news. Verizon is number one for a reason, they have an out standing network, and with the first to LTE, they are likely to stay on top for a good while.

I just feel that Sprint has a grip on 4G, and knows what the consumer demands. The decisions they make today will be tomorrows future superior network. Demand for bandwidth is increasing by the minute, and they are laying the ground work some super speed data. Just don't expect over night the 4G fairy to wave a magical wand and poof. But with the news of Sprint, LightSquared, and Clear getting on the LTE path almost in sync, this is the making of even bigger news in the coming weeks.

We must not try to understand the relationship between Sprint and Clear, this could make your brain hurt. Just know this, Clear is making decisions based on what sprint is dong. They are more on the same page than not. And when I am mentioning Sprint, I am also making reference to Clear. When I say they, Sprint has more spectrum than any other carrier, of course I mean the vast reserves of Clear, that Sprint has 54% interest in.

I can not begin to tell you how important clear is to the 4G echo space, I feel that if Clear had not had this vision to bring us wireless data on the fly, would we have 4G at all.

Sprint 4G, Cutting Edge.

We are going to cover the thing's that matter in the 4G arena. First off I will ad, I am not paid by Sprint, Also not a PR guy, and in no way paid be any carriers in the wireless 4G space.

Now I have always liked the under dog, in this case we will call Sprint. As the number three carrier. Sprint made some risky moves, but clearly looked the future right in the face. And understood what was going to matter for a new technology to take shape. And all data mobile networks, are a new technology, known as 4G. Now this new technology gives you , for the first time, no limits, and plenty of choices. I't also gives you your network on the go.

Lets look at this always with you network. This is why 4G is your G. Sprint gave you for the first time, the ability to take your network everywhere you go. You are able to save money, by not needing a second network for home use. Just like the days of cellular phones, and free long distant calls. People decided they no longer needed a home phone to. This is a trend that is going on now, with 4G, and only sprint gives you this on the fly ability, with no limits, or caped data. So the consumer can get a device from Sprint, that is hot spot ready, remove their home network, or wired, or wireless, and start saving that day, between 30 and 50 dollars a month. And that is 4G at work.

Sprint is defining this 4G trend because they can. Those decisions they made when it mattered, gave them the upper hand, and gave them bragging right's to first to 4G. We are in a process of weening our selves from 3G over to 4G, and this is going a little slow. 3g will have to be in the mix for a good while. But if I had to choose today who is 4G, then you know my answer. This un caped data is going to be the problem for the other teams, or carriers. So Sprint is defining this space. They are still in the lead, with subscribers on a 4G network, their are more devices for their network to access 4G, with more on the way.

So LTE may be a bit faster than what sprint has been running with, Wimax is already a 10 year old technology, and Sprint has many more options than the other carriers. Sprint has 6X the spectrum as the number 1 and 2 carriers do, and this is going to matter, other mobile data networks will have issues with traffic congestion. They will be using two technologies, one 3G, and one 4G. Sprint will be running two 3G and two 4G technologies, with about 120 more Mhz of spectrum per market. And with the growth of wireless to continue doubling year after year, that 120 Mhz is going to matter. So sprint has made the right decision's to move this technology right into your hands.

So the under dog is setting the bar for 4G, and making this competitive, and that has always been good news for the consumer.

I do have a little rant for the Sprint camp though. You are certainly in the driver seat here, and I am a little concerned about this charging for the hot spot feature on this Nexus S 4G. Here is a quote from Chris Parsons, a blog from Androidcentral

"The fact they are charging for something that is included directly in the firmware always raises some eyebrows and quite often leads to folks looking for workarounds to access stuff for free and really, you already are paying for the data. Carriers’ charging for this feature is often looked at like they are charging you twice for something you already have".

Check out the link to Androidcentral for the full article. Sprint you are going to have to keep the others carriers guessing, and try not to find ways to charge the consumer for features that are part of their device. And stay in the lead, define the space you already own. Sell more devices, become no# 1. You have the keys, now open this space.