doejo

*Cute post, but:

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of how the Clear network, works.

The Clear network is not a municipal wi-fi system (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_wireless_network). Rather, it is a satellite-based WIFI network akin to a cellular phone provider's network. Like cellular networks, a customer needs a network-specific piece of hardware to connect to it, akin to a network-specific mobile phone (think iPhone, for example). That means what you are advocating is not a different marketing initiative, but a wholesale re-engineering of their system that would involve installing land-based routers all over the nation. If you think their system is expensive now, think about how much more expensive it would be if they had to install these routers nationwide without a secured customer base.

Aside from your fundamental misunderstanding about the architecture of their system, you are also mistaken about the cost of their service. In Chicago, internet through Comcast, the leading internet provider, is approximately $60/month. With a Comcast account, you do not get internet access on the go; it is only available to you at home. For $5 less per month, Clear gives you a USB-based mobile router and a traditional home-based wireless router, giving you internet access at home and on-the-go. It is clear (no pun intended), to me, that Clear gives you a broader base of access, in terms of geography, for less money than Comcast does.

And no, I am not a Clear customer, I am a Comcast customer.

And although I think their (Clear's) ubiquity is annoying (yes, I just agreed with you), it is clear that you haven't done your research.

I think you're missing the point--Clear was/is in a very unique position to let tons of people try their service, right where it matters. Consider ads that say "Log on now. The network is Clear." Their architecture might not support a blanket network, you're right. But what stopped them from opening/sponsoring hotspots all over the place in lieu of the bazillion dollars they spent on storefronts?

The point is that their product is delivered through the air, and they spent tons money on awareness when they could simply have showed people why it matters.

I remembered this post and I was just reminded of it as I walked by a clear store today. I agree it's crazy that they can't deliver awareness it a more cost effective way. And it makes me think how much of a downside there is to requiring people to purchase/obtain new hardware just to get the signal. Maybe hardware providers will start to integrate these new standards in phones and computers, but it seems nuts right now to need hardware to switch to an over-the-air-system when a nice fiber line to your home will always rock the speed meter.

I really wonder how clear is working out in other markets before they moved to Chicago. It sounds like they have grand plans for wireless data, but I also remember XM and Sirius vying for the same thing and those guys can barely pay their bills.

Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass' favor.