US Wimax operator Clearwire announced the expansion of its broadband services in a number of states, with increased coverage and distribution. The Clear-branded service offers speeds of 3-6Mbps, with bursts up to 10Mbps. Clearwire offers home service from USD 25 per month and mobile service from USD 35 per month, with a dual-mode plan available from USD 55. Customers can also buy a day pass for USD 10, or bundle the service with 3G mobile broadband coverage from Sprint for USD 70 per month on a two-year contract. In addition to Clearwire's own increased number of retail outlets, the Clear service is sold at RadioShack and Best Buy. In Texas, the network now covers some 6 million people in Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Antonio and Austin. In Chicago, the service is available to 6.6 million people over 1,700 square miles, while the Puget Sound network reaches 3.1 million people over 1.300 square miles. Clearwire also announced retail services available for nearly 3 million people in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina, and coverage for 800,000 of the 1.2 million people in the state of Hawaii. To connect to the networks, customers can buy a Motorola USB modem for USD 49.99 or USD 4.99 per month or a dual-mode 3G/Wimax modem for USD 5.99 per month. The Clear Spot device creates a local Wi-Fi network and sells for USD 139.99. Home users can buy a modem made by Motorola for USD 69.99 or USD 4.99 per month, and add the Clear Voice Adapter for USD 15 and receive unlimited local and long-distance calls for USD 25 per month. Dell, Fujitsu, Lenovo, Samsung and Toshiba also have Wimax-enabled laptops on the market. Separately Sprint announced that it has started selling the Wimax service from Clearwire, in which its a shareholder, in the Seattle area and Hawaii. Other Clearwire shareholders Time Warner Cable and Comcast also announced new areas of Wimax service, in respectively Dallas and Seattle. By the end of 2009, Clearwire's network is expected to be available in more than 25 markets covering over 30 million people.
