XOHM is the new branding for WiMAX

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

so for those of you who didnt get RJB's avatar () Sprint has chosen to name the WiMAX brand XOHM pronounced "Zoam"

XOHM Wimax From Sprint will take you to the main page for all the updates on the movement but basically this is it (and i quote)

Sprint has chosen Samsung for PC cards available in both single WiMAX mode and dual CDMA 1xEV DO/WiMAX mode for WiMAX service launch use. Additionally, Sprint has selected ZTE Corporation, China's largest listed telecommunications manufacturer and key WiMAX developer, to supply multiple WiMAX 802.16e devices including PC cards in express and USB form factors as well as advanced modem solutions; and ZyXEL Communications Inc. of Anaheim, Calif. for modem products.

Sprint announced the launch of a new WiMAX Device and Chipset Ecosystem program in order to accelerate the pace of WiMAX-embedded device development and have a wide variety of WiMAX-enabled access devices available for customers. The program will facilitate the dialog between chipset and device makers, and is designed to guide manufacturers on required specifications, features, functionality and product design;

Additional WiMAX service areas were identified for the 2008 launch calendar. Motorola will develop Chicago*, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Minneapolis; Samsung will develop Baltimore*, Boston, Philadelphia, Providence and Washington D.C.*; Nokia will develop Austin*, Dallas*, Denver, Fort Worth*, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Antonio* and Seattle. Additional location information will be provided when available.

Sprint will demonstrate Mobile WiMAX technology at booth #2987 during CTIA Wireless 2007 March 27-29 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Sprint will be working with Clearwire to build a WiMAX network that they will share.......the two companies will exchange licenses between eachother to build one seamless WiMAX network the both sets of customers can roam on.....

there has even been suggestion that the federal government is a big supporter of this milestone because it allows them to be more mobile in the U.S. in times of crisis to access their own systems and mobile applications

Under the network build-out plan, Sprint Nextel will focus its efforts primarily on geographic areas covering approximately 185 million people, including 75 percent of the people located in the 50 largest markets, while Clearwire will focus on areas covering approximately 115 million people. Initially, the two companies expect to build out network coverage to approximately 100 million people by the end of 2008, with seamless roaming enabled between the deployed areas.

sounds like Barney was right when he said working together gets things done faster........if these calculations are right Sprint should have most of their home network covered with WiMax by 2009

Sprint Nextel and Clearwire will market mobile WiMAX services under a common service brand

which we have established is XOHM

Clearwire will offer mobile WiMAX services in Clearwire's territories through Sprint Nextel's retail stores, and through its own distribution channels. Both companies will provide seamless reciprocal roaming service to each others' WiMAX customers, and Sprint Nextel plans to provide dual-mode (CDMA-WiMAX) services nationwide to its customers over both its own and Clearwire's portion of the WiMAX networks.

sounds pretty seamless..........but i wonder if Sprint will keep to sense that the new dual mode laptop cards will be programmed to choose WiMAX over cellular to free up traffic on the cellular network for handsets and the QChat application

Motorola and Samsung will also support Sprint's current and CDMA/EV-DO network technologies by creating multimode devices that will support services on both the 4G network and the 3G network in areas outside the planned 4G coverage, and will provide voice service using the core 3G network. The 4G broadband network will offer a complementary, high-bandwidth service driven by data centric devices.

looks like they have selected their key brands right there

Intel, one of the early members of the WiMAX Forum and one of the key contributors to the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard, will deliver next generation WiMAX solutions for Centrino Mobile Technology and next generation computing devices. Intel will bring its extensive history in device-to-network verification as well as marketing expertise to expose customers to the breadth of new WiMAX capabilities and services.

this looks like either they are gonna make laptops with WiMAX capabilties built right in or new processors that will be less power hungry and more mobile to save battery power.......

Samsung Telecommunications America will be a primary Mobile WiMAX infrastructure supplier to Sprint Nextel and will also deliver dual-mode devices supporting Mobile WiMAX and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, designed to enable Sprint's Mobile WiMAX users to utilize Sprint Nextel's existing 3G network resources. With its installation of networks in South Korea and other markets, Samsung Electronics is the first to commercially deploy Mobile WiMAX and with its alliance with Sprint Nextel will bring this global expertise to North America. Samsung is the global leader in delivering Mobile WiMAX technologies and offers Sprint a total solution including chipsets, infrastructure, mobile devices and consumer electronics focused on Mobile WiMAX and dual-mode WiMAX/CDMA services delivery.

Motorola has been a long-standing proponent of WiMAX and will offer Sprint Nextel both single- and multimode devices designed to enable seamless mobility for users, while playing a major role in its WiMAX infrastructure roll-out. Since Motorola is the exclusive supplier of iDEN technology as well as a major supplier of CDMA and EV-DO Revision A technology, it can offer a complete end-to-end solution (from radio access network equipment to both single- and multimode mobile devices) and is uniquely positioned to expand the seamless mobility experience into the wireless mobile broadband market.

so it looks like Samsung has the experience with building WiMAX networks......and Motorola is giving support.........so until iDEN is completely phased out Moto might make devices that will work on CDMA iDEN and WiMAX?

thats most of the details for now........the rest are on the XOHM website

[Mobile Mike]

Hmm, guess I have to get used to "XOAM". Sounds like a funny name, but I'm guessing Sprint knows what it's doing...At least I hope they do.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

yeah..........its different...........but different seems to become more and more cool nowadays

[Bill Clinton]

I really don't like the name. Why can't they call it WiMAX?

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

well they arent gonna call Direct Connect QChat are they.........they arent gonna call DirecTalk MOTOTalk are they?

they need to change the brand name to something less generic.................and XOHM is hip..........its different............and most of all its new.............because XOHM is the way people are gonna universally recognize WiMAX in the U.S...................i mean considering that Sprint and Clearwire are the only two comanies releasing commercial WiMAX and they are doing it together.............its important to have a brand beyond the technical name

which is why Sprint isnt gonna call Power Vision

CDMA2000 EV-DO Revision A

[RJB]

I think this is going to be so neat when this comes out.

[Bill Clinton]

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

well they arent gonna call Direct Connect QChat are they.........they arent gonna call DirecTalk MOTOTalk are they?

they need to change the brand name to something less generic.................and XOHM is hip..........its different............and most of all its new.............because XOHM is the way people are gonna universally recognize WiMAX in the U.S...................i mean considering that Sprint and Clearwire are the only two comanies releasing commercial WiMAX and they are doing it together.............its important to have a brand beyond the technical name

which is why Sprint isnt gonna call Power Vision

CDMA2000 EV-DO Revision A

XOHM is also a strange combination of 4 letters. I guess calling it WiMAX wouldn't have been the best choice either, but then again you have WiFi so WiMAX could be associated with wireless high speed internet and data. Obviously that is about where the similarities end, but a name like XOHM is going to leave a few people thinking 'huh?'

Ask RJB said, XOHM is going to be great and I am as excited as anyone. I just think the name could have been better. I hope you are right. I hope people remember it and I hope people want to sign up for it.

You mentioned Direct Connect. I am glad the Direct Connect name is back. Walkie Talkie was a horrible name for the PTT feature.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

yeah.........and keeping that will make a ring that legacy Nextel customers can recognize............you know it may be completely different but the name is the same so it must be the same.............thats the thinking of many consumers...............and consumers also know how spotty WiFi can be when it comes to hotspots and that wouldnt be a good reputation to bring to WiMax.................the consumer community will recognize XOHM as something fresh that Sprint and only Sprint will deliver.............and the name has already been selected and there is no point in wondering why Sprint chose it but rather what good can come out of it

[Mobile Mike]

XOHM sounds like the call letters of a Mexican radio station...

Still got to get used to this name.

[TelcomJunkie]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

XOHM sounds like the call letters of a Mexican radio station...

Still got to get used to this name.

Haha that's because it practically is one! Flip two letters (And say it the same way) XHOM!

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

now thats pretty cool..............but yeah the name will take some getting used to cuz it is pretty unique to say the least

[RJB]

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

now thats pretty cool..............but yeah the name will take some getting used to cuz it is pretty unique to say the least

LOL wonder what the others will call their 4g?

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by RJB

LOL wonder what the others will call their 4g?

...And will we be able to pronounce it??? Let's hope it doesn't require an interpreter.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Lol........yeah but no doubt some others wont be nearly as innovative as Sprint................i mean for gods sake AT&T called their 3G video service "Cellular Video"............real freakin original