Sprint Developers Conference wrap up: disappointing for users, but encouraging for apps developers

For Mobile WiMAX advocates, this conference was mostly disappointing. No firm announcement on the long rumored tri-mode (WiMAX, 3G-EVDO, WiFi) smart phone, uncertain pricing for MIDs (see earlier wimax360 post), nothing on mobile video/Sprint TV for WiMAX, and no announcements of eReaders or cameras with embedded WiMAX interfaces.

It seems Sprint is primarilly concerned with promoting an open network and getting more smart phones from RIM and Android supporters on their mobile network. There was a lot of noise and excitement over the HTC Hero- the 1st smartphone to use the Android platform. "Android (smart phones) has the best chance to challenge the Apple iPhone juggernaut,” said Steve Elfman, president of network operations and wholesale at Sprint.

Both the HTC Hero and the Samsung Moment -to debut Nov. 1st- run all apps on the Android software platform. It appears that the new Android based smartphones it’s introducing have the best chance of boosting sales at Sprint. Also, it seems they have to work out some data session continuity, interoperability and handoff issues between their 3G-EVDO and (Clearwire's) mobile WiMAX network.

The encouraging news for WiMAX aficionados was that Clearwire is making available new software capabilities and APIs for app developers. The apps being developed will initially run on netbook and notebook PCs. We found it very strange that none of the capabilities that were announced at this conference were disclosed on Clearwire's developer website:

http://developer.clear.com/innovation

You had to be in attendance at the late Tuesday afternoon/evening session to learn about the new capabilities being offered for free to developers:

At that Tuesday's (5:30pm-6:40pm) 4G for Developers session, Clearwire disclosed a whole lot of new functional modules and APIs that developers could use to create new apps that would take advantage of mobile WiMAX. These include:

-Location: a key enabler for types of services that take advantage of mobile WiMAX speed and mobility. For example, the ability to find the location of a mobile user
-Access Authentication: using a secure mutual certificate
-RF Awareness: to adjust frame or data rate based on received signal strength/error rates/other signal quality metrics. Very useful for real time video streaming.
-Data Session continuity: between WiMAX, WiFi, EVDO/CDMA
-Device Management: will be device dependent
-Connection Management: Connecting and disconnecting to CLEAR
-Diagnostics: for enhanced troubleshooting

-Also coming is a "Service Level QOS" request capability for selected traffic types, e.g. voice, real time video conferencing, emergency/1st responders, etc. Clearwire is working on the code to make an application get a better level of service from their CLEAR network, which currently only provides "best effort" service (currently, the QOS capability inherent in the IEEE 802.16e MAC isn't utilized by CLEAR).

Editors Note: On Wednesday, I talked to some Clearwire employees who told me they are using QOS in a limited way to support their fixed VoIP over WiMAX service to residential customers. I was not aware that Clearwire was offering such a service.

Now here is the catch to get all these new software goodies: The endpoint device with embedded WiMAX-notebook, netbook, MID, or other gadget - MUST use mobile WiMAX silicon from a selected group of WiMAX semiconductor vendors. The four WiMAX IC vendors identified are: Intel, Comsys, Samsung, Beceem. Those companies have been working with Clearwire to expose information contained in their WiMAX chipsets via their I/O drivers. That information is to be accessed by the application over the common API. The application also may send commands to the WiMAX chip set, e.g. to make a connection, perform detailed diagnostics, adjust air interface speed, via the common API.

If you are writing apps for an endpoint devices with WiMAX silicon from Sequans, GPC Semi, Wavesat, Fujitsu, or other WiMAX semiconductor company, you are currently out of luck. That is because only the selected IC vendors noted above are partnering with Clearwire to make the necessary component information available in their I/O drivers accessable via Clearwire's common API. However, that may soon change for the better.

In a post conference email, Clearwire presenter Aaron Hinkle stated, "Clearwire is very interested in working with all wimax chipset providers in the implementation of the common API." I understand that Sequans is taking them up on this offer and is now working with them. I would suspect GPC Semi is not far behind.

Prescription for Success: In my opinion, Clearwire needs to better inform devwelopers via its web site and by holding a workshop/seminar. For the latter, I suggest speakers from Clearwire, chip set and device vendors. Both technical details of the common API and software modules should be fully disclosed along with proposed business models.
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Personal Notes


I took advantage of Sprint's offer to conference attendees and got a free 3G/4G USB modem for my notebook PC. I can use it if I drive a couple of miles to be close to the Intel campus where CLEAR is available to developers. However, I can't use it from my condo, because CLEAR coverage doesn't exend that far. However, I'm told that CLEAR coverage will soon include my Santa Clara residence and at that point in time I will start trialing CLEAR mobile WiMAX for myself. I'd really like to see if the super fast bandwidth and low latency claims made by Clearwire and Sprint are true. I'll let you know.

In the interest of time (yours and mine), I haven't written anything about the WiMAX features and benefits session, where Clearwire's Scott Richardson and Sprint's Todd Rowley talked. It occured Tuesday afternoon. If you'd like info on that session, please type question(s) you might have as a Comment in the box below.

Hope to hear from you.

alan