While I too am a bit skeptical of these PR statements, the biggest thing to look at here is that three of the four major providers in the US are looking at providing this. If only one of them rolls out their 4G network in 2010, then that one provider will see a swell of customers, which the other two providers really don't want to happen. All three providers will be motivated to get their networks up and operational by 2010 because by mid next year (let's hope), Sprint will already have begun rolling out their WiMax network to several cities. The other providers will be forced to compete.

Currently, all providers offer tethering (usually for about $60), and on Verizon it is, as i said, fast enough for static pages, and streaming audio (including VoIP - but not great sounding, and a bit ridiculous since I'm tethered to my cell phone).

Also, since Verizon won the C-block (i think?) of the 700MHz auction, they will be forced to follow a certain set of open access rules. This means that they won't be able to lock down their LTE network like they do the regular one. Although, I have never done anything on the EVDO network that has gotten me into any trouble or has been blocked by Verizon (no, I haven't used Bit-Torrent at all).

Also, regarding the cost per text message, I recall reading that the reason for that was the way that the information was sent. And, of course you can tether to your n800 and use your IM for free (if you pay for the full internet connection).

I'm beyond skepticism. Like ads in general, I don't even listen anymore. 4G or anything tied to a cell phone or phone plan is useless to me. They aren't going to make it cheaper (a LOT cheaper if I'm to use it) in fact it will be more expensive since it will be promoted as faster with more ads with smiling faces.

Even at $60, tethering is out since that is on top of a phone plan that I don't and won't have. So for whatever price a cell plan is I can make a decent phone call (or not) and for $60 more I can get crappy VoIP and static pages? And then get dinged again for other services or roaming? That's not even close to being useful. WiFI even with limited coverage is much much better for the time being. I was surprised that at the restaurant I went to last night out in the boonies had full speed open wireless allowing me to use my N8 like I normally do including my own choice of dinner music. No extra cost.

The providers have it all backwards for my needs. they can offer all manner of complicated plans and services but the only thing I want is TCP/IP running anything of my choosing. I'll gladly take and prefer to have a bandwidth cap vs all the nonsense out there now. Up here there is an "unlimited data" plan provided you only do it on their locked phone running their locked down applications via a long term locked down contract. meh.

I don't believe the reasoning for text messaging prices. The voice call over cell is digital and a text message is less than 1 second worth of minimal data that doesn't have to be real time. That is why I've been running my own services for a long time and have kept my own domain for over a decade despite changing ISPs and moving to a different provider area. Now I'm doing the same with my phone number, run my own system and be independent of the transport provider or physical location. My phone number(s) ring the house phones like a landline and follows me to the office phone and wherever my NIT is. And data runs over the same system from my computers and NIT without some special plan allowing me to do it exactly like I want. And the cost is small compared to even just a single cell phone plan. My ISP still makes money.

I like your line of thinking. But, I have a feeling that you're one of the few people who both know what they want, and how to get it for themselves.

I believe that part of the definition of 4G is a TCP/IP based network. You can already run whatever service you choose on the current dial-up networks, except for *maybe* bit-torrent. I believe that the $60 is in conjunction with a cell service, but you can get it without a cell service for a different rate, and neither is a long term contract, it's a month-to-month deal. I didn't say that the VoIP was crappy, but the couple of times that I tested it, the quality wasn't as good as a WiFi connection, but it was usable. As far as the text messages, I'm not sure, but if you don't think that it's worth it, that's when you use the net connection, and IM for free over that. It's not like they're forcing you to use it. And, as for 4G costing a premium, I don't really see that happening, they didn't do it with 3G, so why would they with 4G?

Also, advertisements are different from statements that are picked up by the news media, and circulated around the blogs. The blogs announced Sprints plans to rollout WiMax a couple of years ago, and have followed that story very closely, including Sprint ousting it's CEO, who was a big WiMax supporter, as opposed to the board, who didn't want to roll out a new technology, and instead focus on their current network. But, apparently they realized that it was important to move forward with their WiMax rollout, so it's back on the table.

I guess that the biggest issue is that for you, WiFi seems to be working pretty well, so why would you pay for an inferior mobile connection? I wouldn't if I could rely on having WiFi when I needed internet access, but I can't. The mobile service may be a bit slower than I'd like, but I'm willing to pay for it because there have been very few times where it hasn't worked (on the train in between towns in New Hampshire and Maine). I don't necessarily like the current situation, but it's the best available to me right now.

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4G
Verizon LTE rollout
AT&T LTE rollout

I don't believe that it needs someone new or less evil (or even that google is necessarily less evil), it just needs someone who wants that market.
As soon as someone makes a play for it, the others have to join in.

Becasue if they have the bandwidth to give it to you, and need the market, they will.
A year ago in the UK, I couldn't get a decent practical 3G data service (no problem with phone service) at a price I could afford.
A few months back, one of the telcos decided they wanted that market and started offers for it, now mobile bandwidth has jumped 7 fold, and I can get gigs of data transfer for very little money. In fact, for the same cost as my ISP I can get half the data transfer as my adsl line, at what is an acceptable speed (certainly faster than anything I had up until a few years ago). This is nothing I could have done before, and I think it is fantastic - I have a functional mobile internet that works wherever I want to go, and it can only get better as more of the telcos have to join in. They have to work hard in the UK - it is a very mature market and noone who wants a phone doesn't have one and we change our phones a lot. The only new business they can get is taking it off each other.

Well, regardless whether it is 3/4/x/G phone, or WiMax/TLE/WTF etc, the technology is available, but if you have a problem with people providing the service, there is nothing you can do about it. If they think they can get money out of you they will.

I can't speak to the business end, and honestly, I don't know much about the technology end, either, but from what I have heard, LTE makes more sense and will be cheaper from a carrier standpoint. For the Verizon endpoint, working with the Vodaphone end, it just makes sense to get off the current platform and move to LTE.

That means better speeds for you and me, and better network utilization. True, text prices are market driven (sms vs IMs, they go over the same netowork, and the same protocols, mostly). but getting lot's of data across, like LTE enables, will be a real step up (supposedly). That is my understanding.

Did someone say LTE?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7348706.stm

So nokia make a wimax device and start pushing LTE? I guess that is keeping your options open!

Kinda like producing both CDMA and GSM phones, right?

No idea, AFAIK CDMA was/is a US thing unless I am thinking of something else (which is perfectly possible!). Cetainly nothing I had dealings with.

CDMA is used by one operator in norway, sweden, denmark and finland to push wireless "broadband" on the go...

its operating on the old NMT frequencies iirc...

as for nokia going both wimax and LTE, not surprising. they are a hardware company so as long as they get some sales going, who cares what tech its using...