SubscribeLeveraging their investment in Clearwire, a WiMax provider, Time Warner Cable on Monday announced it will officially launch the Time Warner Cable 4G Mobile Network in Dallas on December 1st. The first product to launch is Road Runner Mobile, which will essentially resell access to Clearwire for as low as $44.99 per month for Time Warner Cable customers. North Texas customers using the service can expect speeds up to 6Mbps.
“With Time Warner Cable’s 4G Mobile Network, we now offer the fastest mobile data service available,” said Barry Rosenblum, executive vice president of the Texas Region for Time Warner Cable. “We’re extending our reach outside of the home and giving our customers the convenience of mobility and the speed of 4G. Road Runner Mobile lets customers take their favorite Internet service wherever they go. This is an important part of our strategy to give our customers any content, on any device, anytime, anywhere.”
The launch literally echoes that planned in the Triad region of North Carolina, right down to the nearly word for word identical introductory quotes.
Customers face equipment fees, contracts typically extending two years, and usage caps on lower tier service. Actual speeds vary considerably. Consumers using Clearwire’s WiMax service have experienced problems using the service indoors, particularly in homes equipped with energy efficient windows. It seems window coatings can block or reduce reception in certain cases.
On December 9, Time Warner Cable will host an exclusive event in Dallas at the House of Blues in celebration of the launch of Road Runner Mobile. The “Life in the 4G Fast Lane” event will feature an appearance by “The Fastest Woman in the World,” Indy Race Car superstar Danica Patrick. Along with being able to sample the service, guests will enjoy musical performances by Eagles tribute band, 7 Bridges, and Dallas’ own The King Bucks. A limited number of tickets will be available to the public leading up to the event.
North Texas residents can register to win $4,000 in the Life in the 4G Fast Lane Sweepstakes. One grand prize of $4,000 plus an HP Mini 311 Notebook will be awarded on December 9. An additional ten (10) HP Mini 311 Notebooks will be given away to 10 first prize winners.
Residents of Austin and San Antonio are expected to get access to Road Runner Mobile in early 2010.
Time Warner Cable also announced it would utilize the services of Brightpoint, a fulfillment house, to support the launch of Road Runner Mobile nationwide including wireless data card, accessory and collateral fulfillment and returns, triage and repairs.
Customers ordering products for Road Runner Mobile are likely to receive them shipped directly from Brightpoint, which will also manage customer returns and repairs. Brightpoint is also known for supporting rebate programs and supplying retail locations with products from a variety of wireless equipment manufacturers.
Other stories of interest:
- Triad Region: Time Warner Cable Introduces Road Runner Mobile WiMax on December 1st
- Road Runner/Digital Phone Outage In Northeast
- Time Warner Starts Mailing Self-Install Kits to Southern Californians for Broadband; Charges $19.95 for Company Install
- Time Warner Cable Raises Road Runner Rates in Northeast Ohio/Western Pennsylvania Region – $50 for 7Mbps Service
- Time Warner Cable Will Introduce WiMax Wireless Broadband Service This Fall
The Dallas, San Antonio and Austin networks have been online with TWC’s underlying provider, Clearwire, for a few weeks now. Also, Clear’s pricing is currently a LOT better than TWC’s. OTOH TWC invested lots of dough in Clear, so let ‘em sell the service at whatever price they want. What matters is that there’s effectively a third pipe for internet access in Clear-powered towns that is better than typical DSL and comparable to lower-end cable.. Just don’t tell the cable companies that