Clearwire has begun a trial of voice-over-IP phones in Portland, Ore., and is looking to introduce mobile voice service next year, according to a report in Multichannel News.
"The plan this year is to test out the mobile VoIP handsets," said chief strategy officer Scott Richardson, "We're testing the usage model, and the integration with your home phone and the WiMAX network, and how you hand off to a cellular network."
Currently, Clearwire offers VoIP service for a flat rate of $25 per month, but only for its fixed-location version of its wireless broadband service. Richardson did not disclose what handset models Clearwire is testing, but noted Samsung introduced a phone for the South Korean market based on WiBro.
Such an offering could lead to its cable provider partners--Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House Networks--offering their own wireless phone services as an extension of their wireline VoIP offerings.
For more:
- check out Multichannel News [1]
Related articles:
Clearwire [2] not slowing WiMAX rollout
Clearwire brand debuts [3] in Portland, Ore.
Clearwire moves solidly into VoIP [4] market
Clearwire launches VoIP over WiMAX [5] network
Links:
[1] http://www.multichannel.com/article/190370-Clearwire_Tests_WiMax_Based_Mobile_Phones.php
[2] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/clearwire-not-slowing-wimax-rollout/2009-03-05
[3] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/clearwire-brand-debuts-portland-ore/2009-01-06
[4] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/clearwire-moves-solidly-voip-market/2008-01-24
[5] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/clearwire-launches-voip-over-wimax-network/2006-04-12