Clear and present
The Review-Journal lying on my driveway this morning was wrapped in a bright, lime-green plastic bag, announcing: “This is not a newspaper.” On further inspection, I found my paper, which included a full-page ad for Clear, a new Internet service provider in the valley. The service is high-speed and wireless, and uses the next-generation of technology, referred to as WiMax. It is also called 4G, as in fourth generation.
I have a friend who has been testing Clear’s service for several weeks. He is extremely happy with the speed and reliability. I asked him to conduct a speed test on the upload and download connections. Here is what he got last week:
Download: 3256 kilobits per second
Upload: 433 kbps
Converting kilobits per second (kbps) to megabits per second (mbps):
Download: 3.18 mbps
Upload: 0.42 mbps
By comparison, I did a speed test on a Verizon Wireless MiFi portable hot-spot device last week. The speeds were:
Download: 0.83 mbps
Upload: 0.22 mbps
Clear’s numbers are pretty impressive.
The ad in today's paper says the pricing is $50 per month for home and mobile service. You'll need to get a WiMax receiver card for your laptop, but look for new models out soon with built-in WiMax cards.
Clear’s service is already available in Baltimore, Atlanta and Portland, Ore.
Clear is hosting a launch event for the public from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Town Square mall, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd South.
