With Nokia ending the production of its only WiMAX device, speculation about continued N810 WiMAX Edition support and stock recalls, and the current WiMAX vs LTE deployments, there is rampant speculation about the future of WiMAX in general. Over the past two weeks, I have received a number of emails and IMs from friends and strangers alike about their concerns (or joyful exuberation) about the “death of WiMAX.”

I truly believe the Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition was before it’s time. Nokia developed and released the N810 WiMAX Edition before there was a mature WiMAX network in the United States. Nokia believed that XOHM would be faster/better deployed in 2008, while 2008 came to a close with Baltimore as the only official deployment. Washington, DC, was supposed to be deployed next but wasn’t. As XOHM became Clear, Portland, OR, became the next official network.

I continue to use and love my Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition. My Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition hasn’t stopped working just because of a end-of-life announcement and WiMAX deployment issues. I continue to connect to and use XOHM in Baltimore (MD), Washington (DC), Vienna (VA), Reston (VA), Herndon (VA), and Sterling (VA). For as long as XOHM and Clear continue to provide service and support, I will continue to use and love my Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition. Neither it or I are going anywhere. WiMAX is not dead.

As Mark Twain once said and we continue to misquote:

“The report of my death was an exaggeration.”

WiMAX lives on. I truly hope that 2009 brings great things to Sprint and Clear. I love my Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition and I love WiMAX.

Originally Posted by promethh

My own thoughts on the matter, in response to many IMs, emails, and posts over the past 2 weeks...

Originally Posted by danramos

Nope.. can't say I or anyone I personally know can get WiMax.. so it doesn't much convince me that it's 'arrived' yet. I CAN, however, claim friends who have 3G, for example. **grumble-sigh**