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Clearwire officially launches PC card, $60 too high?
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Clearwire announced the official launch of its first PC card. We reported in September that the operator quietly made available PC cards in its retail stores and online in almost all of its markets. Clearwire says the card is now available through all of its distribution channels in its markets across the U.S. The launch effectively increases Clearwire's target market. The PC card can be used in most laptops versus a modem's size and power requirement that limit mobility.
Service plans for the Clearwire PC card start at $60 a month with a PC card lease fee of $7 a month. Walter Piecyk at Pali Research noted his surprise that Clearwire has continued with the $60 per-month fee for use of its PC card since store checks indicate the price might be too high to create broadband demand, especially when Sprint and Leap Wireless are offering service for $50 and $40 per month, respectively.
For more about Clearwire's PC card:
- read this release
- take a look at the Pali Research blog (reg. req.)
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Comments
Posted by Michael Finneran | October 18, 2007 - 7:39pm
Who cares?
This is a PC card for a DEAD END TECHNOLOGY. This isn't WiMAX; it's the irrelevant NextNet Wireless technology. For those who missed the history, Motorola acquired them as part of that $300MM investment they made in Clearwire last year).
With that dead end technology, Clearwire has acquired about 250,000 subs in the US. The US has about 57MM broadband households. Wow, that's 0.4% of the market, let's jump on that!!!
The NextNet technology is not expanding. This is the service Clearwire offered in Palatka, Florida- I can't even find that place on the map!! Does Clearwire even support roaming?
The fact that you could even find somebody to comment on this is the only interesting thing. Per Walter Piecyk of Pali Research, "store checks indicate the price might be too high to create broadband demand". Hey Wally, move to Palatka, I'll send you a card.
Posted by Lynnette | October 18, 2007 - 11:33pm
You don't think there is value in learning about the impact alternative service providers could have in the market, regardless of what technology they are using? I think it will be interesting to see how Clearwire does against the Verizons and Sprints, especially when it can offer faster speeds than those networks right now. Remember this is a primer for WiMAX.--Lynnette
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