| The terms '4G' and 'WiMax' have been thrown | | | | AT&T, and every other carrier with the |
| around quite a lot over the past several years. | | | | capital for a 30 second spot. The big carriers try |
| 4th Generation broadband access has been often | | | | to one up each other with claims of the most far |
| seen as the futuristic offspring of the current 3G | | | | reaching network or the largest capacity for data |
| network technology. The outlook for 4G was | | | | transfer. In reality, 3G networks still have quite a |
| optimistic- upload and download speeds nearly | | | | few holes in their nationwide plans and the data |
| identical to anchored cable connections but | | | | transfer almost never actually reaches the touted |
| effortlessly available on-the-move across the | | | | 1-2 mbps downstream speeds. |
| country. Disappointingly, a number of legal, | | | | 3G networks have never truly been an end-goal, |
| economic, and political hurdles have slowed a | | | | but rather an in-between state between anchored |
| nation-wide release of WiMax. Currently it has only | | | | broadband and next generation technologies like |
| been deployed in Baltimore and Portland, with | | | | WiMax. Sure - you can check your email, get |
| limited access. | | | | directions and even watch a video or two on |
| It's a relief that Clearwire, the primary mover of | | | | your iPhone or via your cellular broadband card. |
| 4G WiMax technology, has announced a | | | | Utilizing the 3G networks has always been a |
| partnership with Cisco Systems. Cisco has been | | | | compromise though, it's never quite as fast or |
| known to be a company that puts it's money | | | | reliable as a land connection. There is always the |
| where it's mouth is and delivers products in a | | | | sigh of relief when you connect to your home or |
| timely and efficient manner. The addition of | | | | office's wireless network. |
| Cisco as a partner to create WiMax equipment | | | | We've been in limbo; to be fully productive |
| should speed up the initiative as a whole. Cisco | | | | citizens of the Internet, we need our 4G |
| will be charged with building new mobile WiMax | | | | technologies. Nationwide WiMax will open up |
| devices for CLEAR 4G consumers, small offices | | | | the doors to overdue features like full-fledged cell |
| as well as the small and medium-sized business | | | | phone video conferencing capabilities. Cisco is the |
| arenas. | | | | perfect partner to manufacture the networking |
| From Cisco's Newsroom: | | | | hardware necessary for this next leap in human |
| "By teaming with Cisco, one of the world's most | | | | connectivity. They already have the record of |
| forward-looking IP network infrastructure | | | | success for developing the routers and switches |
| providers, we're building a robust and | | | | for our prior generation of networking needs. |
| cost-efficient next-generation network that's | | | | Used Cisco hardware has proliferated the market |
| designed specifically for delivering rich broadband | | | | for a reason- it is well built and made to work |
| services," said Scott Richardson, Chief Strategy | | | | efficiently. |
| Officer of Clearwire. "In addition, Cisco plans to | | | | "Around the globe, mobile WiMAX providers |
| develop WiMAX technology for end-user devices, | | | | continue to make great strides bringing 4G mobile |
| which will give consumers and businesses more | | | | Internet services to market, and we are pleased |
| compelling ways to stay connected through our | | | | that Clearwire has selected Cisco to help |
| CLEAR 4G service." | | | | un-tether its Internet customers across the |
| Just to recap for those who have been missing | | | | United States while delivering high performance," |
| for the past two years: 3G is the network | | | | said Brett Galloway, senior vice president, wireless |
| technology that is touted every five minutes on a | | | | and security technology group of Cisco. |
| cell phone commercial for Sprint, Verizon, | | | | |