The 4G war: has WiMAX won, or will Verizon choose LTE?
In a wrap-up of the state of 4G networks over at BusinessWeek, the battle between the three competing 4G network standards -- WIMAX, Long Term Evolution (LTE), and Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) -- is appraised, with WIMAX clearly edging out its other rivals. This could be a two horse race before long if Verizon chooses to back GSM's successor LTE over CDMA's sequel, UMB. That would leave Qualcomm without one of its most significant backers for CDMA's spiritual sibling, although it'll do just fine thanks to the multiple 4G patents it holds. Ultimately though, in all of this space there's very little discussion about what the consumer wants: do we really need two or three different standards that probably won't inter-operate, leaving us back at the square we've always been at? Frankly, for all the benefits that 4G is purported to bring, we'd like something a little more imaginative than the usual bickering amongst the big shots.Update: Although it didn't come from VZW, last month Vodafone's chairman Arun Sarin made it clear that Verizon will go for LTE. Bad news for UMB!
Filed under: Verizon Wireless, GSM, CDMA
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SuCrAm @ Oct 29th 2007 1:35PM
does this mean verizon is contemplating on switching to gsm?
tweak @ Oct 29th 2007 1:39PM
You'd think the way Verizon markets itself as being driven by the needs of the consumer they'd choose WiMAX and do something that would ultimately benefit the consumers as opposed to selecting another 4G alternative...Guess we'll have to cross our fingers and hope.
Randy @ Oct 29th 2007 2:12PM
First things' first, Verizon doesn't care about *you* the customer.
I think Verizon's decision to go with LTE was influenced by Vodaphone's controlling ($$$) interest at the time. Wimax only has Sprint (in the US) backing it at the moment how is it that it's winning out?
What is at&t doing? I'm pretty sure it's not Wimax.
Mark @ Oct 29th 2007 1:46PM
Well, if Sprint does manage to get WiMAX out of the gate in 2008, that's a couple of years before LTE. The early bird gets the worm?
dubz @ Oct 29th 2007 1:50PM
I thought Verizon already decided on LTE :
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/verizon-dumps-cdma-for-gsm-based-lte-in-4g-networks/
David @ Oct 29th 2007 1:59PM
Haha! Verizon "driven by the needs to consumers" - oh man, you HAVE to be kidding. All the big cell phone companies are EVIL, with their modus operandi being "extract as much cash as possible from our subscribers". Let us all pray the google phone (or some other device) will somehow free us from this reign of tyranny.
Terrag @ Oct 29th 2007 5:19PM
You are so funny! Equating cell phone companies with Good / Evil. They are businesses. They are here to make money. Just because they want to make a profit does not make them evil. Get a life.
Victor @ Oct 29th 2007 2:28PM
Unless the 'bird' loses all its 'feathers' leaving it unable to get to the 'worm'
blevay @ Oct 29th 2007 4:54PM
I'm going to jump on the VZW (and any of the others for that matter) couldn't give a shit about their customers and just want $$$. from what i hear, Verizon could have had the iPhone if only they had not been so stuck in their feature-crippling vcast-money-whoring ways.
Steven @ Oct 29th 2007 6:00PM
if i recall that isn't the reason why verizon didn't agree to the iPhone, I thought it was because of how much percent of sales apple wanted in their pockets and because they didn't want the phone problems to go to the apple stores.
TD @ Oct 29th 2007 7:30PM
First of all LTE is not GSM, it's totally different. If Vodafone and Verizon went to LTE they would both have to change there networks entirely. Maybe not such a bad move as Vodafone might be looking to buy Verizon out. It would be nice as well because AT&T is looking to go to LTE. Which would leave poor little Sprint right wheer it should be, on the chopping block. Even if they have WiMAX out first it wouldn't matter, with the larger companies going to LTE manufactureres would cater to them first.
David @ Oct 29th 2007 8:39PM
"Get a Life". Brilliant.
You are correct, making a profit is acceptable. Locking phones, 2 year contracts with ridiculous penalties, etc is not. This guy sums it up nicely: http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/22/mossberg-howls-free-my-phone/
trooth @ Oct 30th 2007 4:26PM
Yeah nice article. The one calling for government to force wireless companies to fit the writer's ideal of a wireless company. *Cough* Socialism *Cough*
You see in America we have free enterprise. The customer's can go to whatever company they want, and businesses can make their own choices in reguards to business model, technology used, technology offered etc. If you don't like AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and T Mobile, you can *gasp* start your own company, or *gasp* choose another carrier.
But really it makes more sense to have Congress decide what technology is best for America. I dare you to contact your congressman and ask them which 4g technology they prefer. Like they will have any clue what you are talking about.
Brian Dolan @ Oct 30th 2007 12:12PM
Verizon Wireless has not said it is going with LTE, WiMAX, Rev. C or any other "4G" technology. Only that they plan to run trials of each. They've also said they will only choose one and not have multiple technologies, like some of their competitors are doing. Here's a recent interview with Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam on the subject and others.
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/hot-seat-verizon-wireless-ceo-lowell-mcadam/2007-10-30