September 29th, 2008
Sprint XOHM WiMAX service launches in Baltimore
WiMAX is no longer just a wireless technology we have been hoping to see, but is now available from Sprint as XOHM in Baltimore. This highly anticipated 4G service seemed to be on shaky ground as company partnerships were worked out, but is finally a reality. The pricing options are actually reasonable and I can’t wait to try out the service.
You can purchase XOHM-branded Samsung Express air cards for US$59.99 and ZyXEL modem for US$79.99. Other devices (ZTE USB modem, WiMAX notebooks, and the Nokia N810) are expected later this year. The service fee options include a day pass for $10, $25 for monthly home internet, and $30 for monthly on-the-go service. The best deal looks to be the launch special $50/month for two different WiMAX devices. This would allow you to have a modem at home and a wireless card for when you are mobile.
There are no long-term commitments or contracts for the service either, which is a breath of fresh air here in the U.S. where most people are tied to wireless carriers for extended periods. Because of this I will be looking for some kind of device to try out as soon as support for the Puget Sound area is launched.
I don’t have high download demands and the 2 to 4 Mbps download speeds may be more than adequate for my home internet needs. The $50/month plan could save me some serious money and allow me to access the internet on the go at high speeds. Let’s hope that other cities continue to be added quickly.
Thanks to Dave Zatz for the heads-up on the news.
Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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