Sidecut Reports

While Google’s new instant search feature certainly impressed many at the news conference in San Francisco Wednesday, the impending launch of Google Instant for mobile devices might be the next application that brings fragile cellular networks to their knees.

Why? Though we probably won’t know until thousands start using Google Instant on their cell phones, the application’s feature of guessing what you are typing may actually mean fewer mobile searches since theoretically you will find your answer faster. But with new results appearing with each letter typed, Google Instant may also cause a lot of unwanted traffic as servers, cell towers and handheld devices engage in constant communications to support the “instant” search results. Could all that search traffic clog mobile networks to the point of saturation? We don’t know for sure, and didn’t get any confident answers Wednesday to make us think that the Googlers have thought this through completely, either.

Google reps at the announcement Wednesday all acknowledged that Google Instant would certainly increase bandwidth needs for either mobile or landline connections, but also pointed out that search results were typically very small bits of information, especially when compared to things like streaming video. But the increased amount of connections needed could cause less-than-instant search-result slowdowns, especially in a mobile situation. In demos of the mobile version (which Google said won’t be available for a month or more), there was a noted latency of a few seconds’ delay when compared to the desktop/laptop version of the program.

Google VP for search Marissa Mayer admitted that some beta testers of the service had to turn it off in cases where their broadband connection wasn’t good, and Google reps at the event said that it (obviously) would work better on Wi-Fi, OK on a 3G connection and not at all on “2G” wireless like AT&T’s EDGE network. Though Googlers Wednesday didn’t think the instant searches would cause someone to burn up their mobile data cap while looking for a nearby restaurant, the mobile version will come with a handy “off” button — just in case.

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Before we take a little end-of-summer break here at Sidecut Reports, a quick recap of some of the 4G news breaking this week:

CLEARWIRE’S MYSTERY MARKET REVEALED: Credit to the always-digging Tricia Duryee at mocoNews.net for uncovering an SEC document that shed some more light on Clearwire’s announced announcement next week. Of course yours truly speculated somewhat correctly when asked earlier about the pending news. Still would like to hear more about Clearwire’s WiMAX phones, though!

METROPCS LTE COMING IN SEPTEMBER? That is the word on the street, with services in Las Vegas and perhaps Dallas/Fort Worth, according to various reports. Without pricing and data-cap information, however, it’s hard to get too excited about any LTE plans or try to compare them to the WiMAX-based 4G services now being sold by Clearwire, Sprint and partners. Still, the more 4G the better, we say!

VERIZON’S POCKETSPOT ADS — GOOD! Caught some of the new Verizon TV ads this week, specifically the ones touting the “pocketspot” capabilities of the new Droid phones from Big Red. While you could quibble about how fast five people might use up the 5 Gb monthly limit on Verizon 3G data plans, the ads are well done and explain the Wi-Fi “cloud” feature very well with some special-effects cloud magic. Just a small hint of what could be forthcoming in the way of 4G marketing from a company with admirable assets in that department.

Welcome Sidecut Readers to the audience participation segment of the blog! Seriously, we are starting a bit of a new tack here and with an amazing amount of industry experience amongst our readership, we have a few questions to ask, the answers to which will surely interest us all.

More about the “new tack” later; for now we are simply requesting that you answer the question in the simple poll below — namely, tell us who pays for your phone. If you feel limited by the responses please let us know with an email to kaps at sidecutreports.com; otherwise stay tuned and we will parse the results later this week. Thanks for your help!

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The reviews are in on the latest WiMAX smartphone, the Samsung Epic 4G, and they are resoundingly good — meaning that Sprint and its partner in WiMAX Clearwire should have another winner on their hands when the Epic goes on sale Aug. 31. For industry watchers, that date should set a clock ticking on when we might see the first mass-market Long Term Evolution-based smartphone available in the U.S., from big LTE backer Verizon: Will it be Aug. 31, 2011 before we see a Verizon-branded LTE smartphone? Or later? And what does that year-long lead mean for WiMAX’s shelf life?

Given the design complexities that an LTE smartphone from Verizon will have to overcome — namely, multiple radios for different frequencies for LTE upstream, downstream, and 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity — it’s probably safe to bet that LTE smartphones will arrive later, rather than sooner, than the oblique “mid-2011″ deadline Verizon is now publicly stating. And yes, we know that Samsung is planning to release a “LTE smartphone” for MetroPCS in Las Vegas maybe later this year. But one phone for one market does not a national competitor make. It’s interesting for sure, but in any WiMAX vs. LTE entree-provider comparison the MetroPCS offering is sort of a side dish.

Put aside for the moment the kerfluffle about whether or not Clearwire and Sprint will move to LTE in the future, since it’s not something that will happen anytime soon. Instead, start thinking about what will happen in the next 12 months, when Sprint and Clearwire get to keep selling all the HTC EVO 4G phones and Samsung Epic 4G phones they can get their hands on, while Verizon tries to explain why you need to buy an LTE data card and a Verizon smartphone, with limited-download more-expensive data plans for both.

Almost a year ago, I was of the opinion that WiMAX providers needed a snazzy iPhone-like smartphone, if for no other reason than to get the point across. You can market all you want, but what says faster broadband better than a cool phone that can also act as a Wi-Fi hotspot? As I said then, WiMAX folks needed a cool handset to help them spread the message:

What the WiMax industry really needs? A snazzy WiMax-enabled smartphone that can do the talking for them.

Now, the HTC EVO 4G and the Samsung Epic 4G seem to be doing just that. If this device lead can stretch to next summer, will consumers really want WiMAX to go away?

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Pricing and availability details for the second WiMAX phone under the Sprint 4G banner were announced late Wednesday, when the company said that the previously announced Samsung Epic 4G would be available Aug. 31, for $249 after rebates.

Service pricing plans for the Epic 4G are the same as those for the first WiMAX phone, the HTC EVO 4G, which went on sale in June: Sprint will tack on an extra $10 per month for the 4G WiMAX connectivity whether it’s used or not, and will allow the phone to be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot (for up to five additional devices) for another $29.99 per month, same as for the EVO.

In an interesting retail twist, Sprint is letting potential customers “reserve” the device online on Aug. 13, with the ability to complete the transaction at a nearby store on or after Aug. 31. More details on this plan as we hear ‘em.

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