It's about time. Cellphone and other wireless technologies need all the competition thay can get. If they can somehow provide unlimited data and voice for $100 a month I'll jump on.

Can someone tell me why we need WiMax? I already have greater bandwidth with my measly cable modem and WiFi router. I can get free internet access on my laptop at most coffee houses.

This is just an example of what happens when companies try to change the way the public does things to help their bottom line. Sure, now they don't have to run wire the "last mile". Most people already have the wire.

If they were really concerned about access, they should be rolling this out in rural areas where the cable and DSL lines are not available. I hadn't heard that Chicago and DC were lacking in broadband service.

Of course they'll get a few takers that want to jump on the latest and greatest, but in the end no one cares about WiMax. Why not spend the resources on increasing bandwidth over the wiring we already have?

Sprint already has unlimited voice, data, and text for 99.99 a month not including taxes.

Talk about missing the point! You don't need this? Fine. Don't use it. There are plenty of good uses for it, though, even if it is somewhat niche right now.

"I can get free internet access on my laptop at most coffee houses." -- great! Can you get wireless access at the park? What about a technician who makes house-calls and needs his laptop in constant connection with the home base? True, it's already provided by companies like Sprint, but now there is competition, which will drive quality up and prices down (for both Sprint and WiMax).

"This is just an example of what happens when companies try to change the way the public does things to help their bottom line." -- Huh??? For the most part, you can't change the way the public does something if it doesn't want to do it (the jury is still out on Microsoft, though). You offer it, and people will either buy it or not. You can't force the public to buy it...unless you are a distressed bank. If WiMax succeeds, it is because it works for people.

"If they were really concerned about access, they should be rolling this out in rural areas where the cable and DSL lines are not available." -- I think you need a quick course in accounting. That's the end goal of this project, to be sure, but they have to see if it is viable first, and that requires large markets where the niches are big enough to earn a profit. If that works, they expand. Look at cell phone service -- same model, concept proven.

"...in the end no one cares about WiMax. Why not spend the resources on increasing bandwidth over the wiring we already have?" -- Right, but it's a free country. You want to expand our existing bandwidth? Do it! Stop whining and get off your butt. I agree that faster bandwidth would be nice, but this is about WiMax. If no one cares, WiMax will fail. If enough people are helped by this technology, then WiMax will succeed. If WiMax opens up a bank, they are guaranteed to succeed even if they fail.

I think it will work, and I think it will end up head-to-head with Sprint, which benefits all of us. Bravo capitalism.

but is it wirelessly?
can I access it through my laptop? car mounted gps device? hand held portable net device?
I didn't think so

Wasn't WiMax supposed to be a technology to allow startup ISP's compete with cable and telcos? How does having Sprint offering WiMax offer any real competition? So Baltimore goes from a Comcast - Verizon duopoly to a Comcast - Verizon - Sprint triopoly. Not looking so good for consumers