wiPhone 3.0

On the topic of failed dreams, i.e. the lack of infrastructures for certain technologies, I did upgrade my wiPhone to 3.0 with Clearwire’s iSpot. If you’ve heard of Clearwire, you’ve heard how much they suck. I’d like to complicate that notion, a little, and say, “Maybe they don’t?”

It’s rare that I read a newspaper in paper form. I hate the ink, the feel, the smell, the rubbish lying around my house. The wiPhone is fine, a little too small for totally easy navigation (I don’t have an iPad). But it was in this antiquated medium where I found a fullpage advertisement for the future. Or, a step toward the future.

iSpot. It’s a portable wiMax router that relies on that network to transmit wifi. The idea is perfect for the wiPhone. The gadget itself costs $99, but this advert was saying ‘one-day only sale--$25’ and then $25/month for unlimited usage (not this 2 gig thing that At&t has recently imposed). Month to month, no contracts; I liked that. I called and got through to a customer rep pretty easily, they overnighted the device to me, and even gave me a free two-week trial. There is normally a $35 activation fee, but they waived it. It’s also possible to lease the equipment for $2.50/month, but with this deal, I wanted to tinker with it.

I should mention that before I called I checked the reviews and 90% of them were one star, often wishing that there were a ‘no-star’ rating. So I was apprehensive to say the least, but my curiosity got the best of me as well as my hope to dance circles around the telecom competition, At&t, Comcast, et al.

Where there was coverage, for example downtown Seattle, the iSpot actually worked pretty well. I found in a moving vehicle, it was not as good, but still there was some. I even got coverage on Vashon Island.

Here’s where Clear failed: the online customer assistance. I’ve copied the chat here:

Hello donald. Please wait while we find a CLEAR specialist to help you.

Your question is: having problems signing in first time

All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.

An agent will be with you in a moment. Thank you for your patience.

The next available Agent will be with you in a moment.

All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.

You have been connected to Kylle Jenkins.

Kylle Jenkins: Hi donald! I'll be happy to help you today!

donald: k

Kylle Jenkins: I can assist you with your tech issues tonight Donald! (apparently loves exclamation marks)

Kylle Jenkins: May I have the phone number associated with your account, please Donald?

Kylle Jenkins: Thank you Donald, one moment while I bring up your account information.

donald: xxx xxx xxxx

donald: still there? (super long wait time~5 minutes)

Kylle Jenkins: Yes, I am just looking over your account. (another minute later)

Kylle Jenkins: So you are having an issue signing into your online account?

donald: y

Kylle Jenkins: So you are having an issue signing into your online account?

donald: again, you have chosen the correct question

donald: how about troubleshooting?

Kylle Jenkins: Well is there an answer you can give me? If so I can provide you that answer, in a matter of moments Donald.

donald: i tried to sign in

donald: using my account name 'donald'

donald: and the last 4 of my billing method

Kylle Jenkins: One moment please./

donald: and it says that it doesn't recognize me

Kylle Jenkins: Could you please verify the last 4 digits of the credit card on your account?

donald: xxxx

Kylle Jenkins: Username: ddaedalus

Password: tmp-xxxxxxxx

Kylle Jenkins: That is the last four of the billing and those are your username and password!

donald: thanks

donald: also

donald: if my ispot

donald: is blinking red

donald: and part blue

donald: on the light

donald: that means i'm not getting very good reception, right?

Kylle Jenkins: That means that it is trying to connect.

donald: ok

donald: thanks for your help

Your session has ended. You may now close this window.

********

The next problem that occurred was the device wasn’t functioning as described in the accompanying literature. It wouldn’t connect or it woudn’t stay connected. It turned out that I had to update the firmware on the iSpot, which was easy enough. After that it worked fine. I guess they were so busy getting the gadget out to me that they forgot to update it. Clearwire, you are forgiven.

So what I was looking at is, since I still had Skype's $10 plan of unlimited calling and voice mail, the total telecom bill would be $36/month and include data. Per month that’s $28.99 less than At&t. Per year, $347.88. At age 27, with an average life expectancy of 82, though cut in half by the cancer I'll get from cellular radiation, that's a savings of $9,566.70. Just about enough for the first payment of my future cancer treatment.

While Clear worked well enough in Seattle, checking out the national coverage, since I was soon moving back to SF and later NYC, I found huge patches. The infrastructure for Clear just isn’t there yet. Basically, wiMax has much further transmission ranges than wifi, more like miles than feet, so perhaps the infrastructure to support coverage will be able to be set up faster than the nearly decade its taken to get wifi everywhere, or even cellphone coverage.

I’ve read in multiple places, including Clear itself, that they plan to expand to NY by the end of 2010, and get up to 120 million users. That’s been the magic number: 120 million. It must to claiming to offer an alternative to these cities like SF and NY where people don’t really have a choice between ISPs; either the coverage is horrible or you have to go with a huge provider who is much more expensive, but not that much better, in fact barely acceptable. Again, a failed technology. So, I like the idea that Clear is trying to squeeze into these markets, and maybe even appeal to people who don’t want to pay for both Internet and voice on their phones (though computer/laptop wifi must be supported by a different Clear device—iSpot works only on Apple’s iPad, iPod, and iPhone).

What I’d love to have happen is get Clear in NYC and then figure a way to be able to tether my wiPhone 3.0 with my Macbook pro. But, for the time being, there is no Clear coverage in SF and NYC so my plan is in hibernation for the next three months, and the wiPhone goes back to version 2.0.