by John Atchison

Created on: September 02, 2010   Last Updated: September 03, 2010

In today's business world, sometimes the phrase "survival of the fittest" can all be about getting yourself out in front of the game in whichever product or service field you exist in.  Nowhere is that more apparent these days than in the ever changing world of cellphones, whether it being the handset or the provider.  Even that little edge over your competition can be the impetus to push your brand out in front of the other guy. 

The question is though, what will be the next "big thing" to emerge in this market.  New models of phones are appearing daily, but most of them are equipped with supped up features of something already a part of another competitor's brand.  It is the company that seizes on the brand new concept that gets an early foothold on profits, and Clearwire seems to be the company that is trying to grab that opportunity now.  Clearwire has come up with a daring concept which involves a pay-as-you-go 4G network for its mobile broadband network subscribers.

Now there is a concept that is ahead of its time.  Well at least for a few months anyway.  We all know that when a company comes out with something revolutionary, that typically other corporations go to work to duplicate it with their own nuances to keep up.  Thus will be the case with this, but at least Clearwire can say they were first and reap the benefits in the short term.

If you’re looking for this service, look for the name "Rover".  Clearwire has 4G technology in 49 markets and all of them will have this Rover technology available to its clients.  According to an article in the Wall St Journal, a consumer interested in using this unique service will be looking at a cost of $5 a day, $20 a week or $50 a month for unlimited 4G usage.  That sounds great but will also call for the user to make a one time purchase of either a "puck"-a portable Wi-Fi hotspot that will support up to eight devices-that costs $149.99, or a "stick," which supports one device and costs $99.99.

That might look like a tough expense, but that one time purchase maybe well worth it for the ability to have 4G access wherever you go.  It should certainly appeal to a wide range of people, but it is certainly aimed at the younger generation of users who are constantly in need of being connected to the Internet.  The daily or weekly price will be very appealing to them, and for those without deep pockets, they avoid the hassle of having to sign long contracts that they may not end up being able to afford in the long run.

Many of you may not have heard of this company before, but Clearwire has been there if you checked around.  They offered service on their network before Rover came out, but it's "WiMax" network was only available at that time through a contract plan.  So you can see the genius of this new design.  Obviously their terrific network was not getting enough exposure through the contract plan route, so why not open it up to a daily and monthly service and bring in a whole other level of users.

If you think this sounds like a good deal for you, they will be ready for purchase come Monday at Clearwire, Best Buy, and other selected stores in locations such as Houston and St. Louis.  It is easy to see what the appeal of this service will be, and how many people will take advantage of it.  Give Clearwire its due for putting their concept in motion ahead of the rest.  It will certainly pay off for them, at least in the short run!

 Some facts courtesy of http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100830-710412. html

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