Clearwire Introduces Clear™ 4G Mobile Internet Service to Portland PORTLAND, Ore. - January 6, 2009 Clear™ Transforms Portland into the Fastest Unwired City in the West Clearwire and Intel Showcase Mobile WiMAX Capabilities throughout the City “Let’s Be Clear” Campaign Launched in Portland PORTLAND, Ore. – January 6, 2009 – Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR) today officially transformed Portland into the fastest unwired city in the West, and home to one of the first 4G WiMAX wireless broadband services in the world, called Clear™. With Clear, consumers and businesses can access the Internet wirelessly, at true broadband speeds ─ at home, in the office, around the Portland metro area, and on the go. “Today is a historic day for the evolution of mobile computing and communications services in Portland, and the U.S.,” said Benjamin G. Wolff, chief executive officer of Clearwire. “Clearwire is reinventing wireless by delivering an unmatched combination of Internet speed and mobility. We’re providing a valuable service designed to improve our customers’ productivity and make their lives more enjoyable, wherever they happen to be in our coverage area.” “WiMAX is a new wireless technology that raises the bar on a truly mobile and affordable Internet experience for consumers,” said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer at Intel. “Intel, along with Clearwire and its partners, are proud to bring U.S. customers a next-generation world-leading broadband solution that redefines how, when and where consumers interact with the Internet.” A Clear Difference The true value of Clear is the ability to get more out of the day from anywhere in the Clear coverage area. One simple service, at one low price, can meet our customer’s needs at home, in the office, or on the go. Whether it’s a busy parent catching up while waiting to pick up a child from practice, a small business owner staying productive at the office and out with a client, or a college student looking for broadband on a budget, Clear offers customers more for less. Clear’s simple and innovative pricing gives customers ultimate flexibility. Clear’s mobile, residential and business plans can be purchased by the day or by the month, and do not require long term service contracts. Home Internet service plans start at $20 per month, while mobile Internet plans start at $30 per month, or customers can purchase a convenient day pass for $10. Additional savings are available for customers that purchase both home and mobile Internet services or that sign up for a two-year service agreement. Full details about pricing options are available at Super Fast Mobile Internet Service - Clear.com. Unlike other wireless services, Clear delivers a “True Broadband” experience, with up to 6 Mbps download speeds with the Clear residential modem, while mobile Internet customers can expect to receive up to 4 Mbps download speeds. Simply Plug-In and Go Clear is making it easy for customers by offering several simple choices for broadband connectivity. Mobile users simply plug-in Clear’s compact, mobile WiMAX-enabled USB modem into their laptop to get online. The USB modem, from Motorola, is available for only $49.99. Customers can purchase the modem from a store or online, and activate service at their convenience, anywhere in Clear’s coverage area. For residential service, Clear offers customers a wireless high-speed modem that is about the size of a small book. Customers simply plug the modem into a power outlet anywhere in their home or office and connect the modem to their PC. This enables consumers and businesses to install high-speed Internet service without the need to schedule an appointment, drill holes in their walls, or otherwise disrupt their day. The Clear residential modem, from Motorola, can be leased for just $4.99 monthly. Leading PC OEMs including Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, Lenovo, Panasonic, Samsung and Toshiba have announced plans to deliver Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology-powered notebook computers with embedded WiMAX technology that will be compatible with the Clear network in the first half of this year. Several OEMs also plan to offer Intel® Atom™-based netbook models with embedded WiMAX that will also support the Clear network. Grand Opening Events at Clear Retail Stores Clearwire will hold grand opening events at its three Portland retail stores from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, January 10th. The stores are located at: 15th and Broadway, 92nd and Sunnyside (Clackamas Promenade), and Burnside and 23rd Place (Uptown Shopping Center). In addition, Clear will offer chances to win netbook computers, Blazers tickets and gift certificates from local area retailers. Let’s Be Clear™ Clearwire also launched a series of marketing and advertising initiatives this week introducing the company’s “Let’s be Clear” campaign in Portland. Customers now have several ways to purchase service, including: new Clear store locations throughout Portland, other area dealers and retailers, or directly via the Web at Super Fast Mobile Internet Service - Clear.com, which also provides a convenient store locator. Additional Markets As part of a multi-year network build-out plan, Clearwire’s 4G network will be available in major metropolitan areas across the U.S. It is currently available in Baltimore, Maryland, and Portland, Oregon. The Baltimore market currently operates under the XOHM™ brand, but it will be re-branded with the Clear brand in the coming months. Clearwire currently offers pre-WiMAX Internet services in 46 markets throughout the United States. The company will announce roll-out plans for future markets and upgrade plans for existing pre-WiMAX markets early this year. For more information about Clear, visit Super Fast Mobile Internet Service - Clear.com. Detailed company information about Clearwire is available at Clearwire | Wireless High Speed Internet Service Providers. About Clearwire Clearwire, (NASDAQ: CLWR), offers a robust suite of advanced high-speed Internet services to consumers and businesses. The company is building the first, nationwide 4G mobile Internet wireless network, bringing together an unprecedented combination of speed and mobility. Clearwire’s open all-IP network, combined with significant spectrum holdings, provides unmatched network capacity to deliver next generation broadband access. Strategic investors include Intel Capital, Comcast, Sprint, Google, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks. Clearwire currently provides mobile WiMAX-based service, to be branded Clear™, in Baltimore and Portland, and provides pre-WiMAX communications services in 50 markets across the U.S. and Europe. Headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., additional information about Clearwire is available at Clearwire | Wireless High Speed Internet Service Providers. Clearwire Media Relations Susan Johnston 425-766-1585 susan.johnston@clearwire.com JLM Partners for Clearwire Jeremy Pemble 206-381-3600 jeremy@jlmpartners.com Intel Media Relations Suzy Pruitt 503-264-0996 suzy.pruitt@intel.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this release regarding plans for the development and deployment of the first nationwide next-generation wireless broadband network based on mobile WiMAX technology; the timing, availability, capabilities and coverage of our network; products and services to be offered on our network; planned marketing and branding efforts and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The words “will,” “would,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “target,” “designed” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are projections reflecting management’s judgment and assumptions based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Future performance cannot be assured. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to the risks referenced in the section of Clearwire’s proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Risk Factors”, which was filed on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 333-153128). Clearwire believes the forward-looking statements in this release are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. Clearwire is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. XOHM: Clearwire Introduces Clear? 4G Mobile Internet Service to Portland
Sorry to resurrect an old thread here, but I am thinking of taking the plunge, punting Comcast to touch and signing up for Clear. We have a discounted package through work that has home internet, home voice (voip) and a mobile laptop WiMAX card for well under $100/mo - sounds like a killer deal and perhaps enough to at least give it a try.
This is a thread worth reviving if you are ready to take the plunge. I don't know of anyone else on WA trying it out. I think it's available near me in Baltimore but I don't know of anyone using it yet.
The only downside is that I would take a bit step back in terms of speed for home internet. I routinely get 16Mbps right now with Comcast, while Clear advertises only 6Mbps. I don't know if it makes any practical difference though - at least in my experience, downloads are largely determined by how fast the server farms can supply the data and not so much by the bandwidth of the connection.
yeah. unless you're doing direct data transfers between two computers especially over LANs then the bandwidth does matter but in reality the IP infrastructure that's set up now doest really allow for much up to 16Mbps
OK guys, I just called up the Clear rep and took the plunge - getting the home internet (6Mbps), home phone (vonage like, I suppose) and 1 mobile internet USB dongle for a grand total of $60/mo for the 1st 6 months and $80/mo after that - this was a discounted price through work and pretty good deal considering I am paying over $100/mo to Comcast right now. I should be getting the hardware tomorrow and I have a 7 day trial period, so I'll give it a good test and report back. This should fund my cell phone data plan
Using Clear™ 3MB WiMax service in North Portland Signed up with Clear on the 8th of May. I bought my modem for $145 and signed up for the month to month service. $35 activation fee and $30 for the first months service and I walked out of the Radio Shack that also sells the modems and service. Clearwire has a horrible reputation for not letting people out of contracts if the service doesn't work which is the reason I bought the modem and went month to month. This works so well I cancelled Comcast™ two days after I signed up. Haven't regretted it. Unpacked at home, plugged in, put near window and first speedtest was 1.7Mbps on the 3Mbps plan. Hmmm.. Took upstairs, placed near a window where I got 4-5 bars on the top of the modem, connected to my Netgear WGR614 v9 and got 3.3Mbps. I avg 70-130ms ping in World of Warcraft. Couldn't play Counterstrike with this thing... I had Ricochet™ back in the mid-late 90's, so this is kind of like going home Bandwidth fluctuates a bit - this AM was getting 3.5Mbps and just now was getting 2.6-3.0Mbps. The "quick start" guide says the front of the modem is the best for pointing towards an antenna, but I've seen a disassembled Clear modem and it appears the antenna runs horizontally along one of the upper edges and not vertically up the front. And oh yeah..you can definately hear the radio in your speakers if the modem is near your computer. Glad I had to move it upstairs I'm located near the Univ of Portland in the Portsmouth neighborhood and cannot find any mention online of how to find Clear's towers....and I've been looking for days. Anyone know? I'd love to know if I'm pointing the modem at the closest or best antenna. It's kind of a moot point since where it's pointing now gives me the best signal..but I'd still like to know I can recommend Clear for my neighborhood only. Everything I've read says it also smokes in downtown Portland using the USB modem. As I said earlier, there are LOADS of people who are completely dissatisfied with Clearwire, but that is a different technology. Either way, there was no way I was going to sign a 2 year contract and pay an ETF if I wanted to leave. I was glad to get rid of Comcast™ but not at the cost of signing my soul away to Clear on a 2 year contract All in all, for $30 a month for ~3Mbs..I'm happy with it. I previously had 8Mbps and haven't (yet) been inconvenienced by the slower download speeds. And I'm saving $36 a month vs Comcast™ so the hardware is paid for in 4 months PS - Yeah I know Comcast™ is an investor in Clear and so is getting a few of my cents....but at least they're not getting all of my money :lmao:
sounds like it's prety decent to me. i can't wait until this goes completely national. I'm hoping that SPrint can finish this rollout before Verizon or AT&T can finish their LTE rollout