"WHATTT?!! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!!!" at which point I replied "Because the EVO is far Superior than any other phone that you offer and with the upcoming 4G network it will make it that much better!"...faster than 4G or LTE, with download speeds peaking at 20mbps.!!! I thanked him for his time and went on the internetz and did a little looking around. Or should I dive into the new 4G network and the EVO?
It is really up to you.
But a few warnings about hspa, it is a very narrow spectrum and radio set.
Let me explain. If you where to get 20 mbps on you cell phone, you would only get it for about 20-30mins, then your battery would be dead.
Ignoring that.
Please watch this video
http://a.blip.tv/scripts/flash/show...//blip.tv/?utm_source=brandlink&enablejs=true
At about 17:11 you will see the true problem with hspa+.
When the bandwidth is less then 4% used, speeds up to 20mbps is doable. But when the you go past 4% to 22 % your speed will drop to less then 7mbps. If the networks has more the 23% used, your speeds are dropped futher down to 1.2 mbps.
Secondly, your radio will be capped at 7mbps max speed. Because of battery life and fcc regulations.
So your max speed is 7mbps, when 22% or less of the spectrum is being used. When greater then 23% is being used, the speeds will be forced down to 1.2 mbps. (I am trying to keep is simple)
Wimax will give you a continuous 3-8 mbps, with the network has less then 98% used, 1.2-3mpbs from 98-100% used, connection( should be right round 8mbps, but milage will vary). With bursts up to 10mbps.
Wimax is capablie of mimo 2x2. Hspa+ 1x1.
Botttom line.
Hspa+ is a great technology that will improve 3g speeds to between 1.2-3mbps. Wimax will consistently give you speeds between 3-8mbps.
Which will make wimax minimally equal and maximally 3 times faster.
That said, hspa+ is consistent through out the network, and on a carrier that has little customer base. Wimax is limited to only a few cities.
So the quesiton is, do you live in an high population area, if yes wimax.
Do you live in a 4 g area, if yes wimax.
Do you live in a sprint area, if yes wimax.
If you answered no, then you have to decide.
hspa+ is what lte is going to start as, just 3.5g. It will then slowly change over to lte-a by 2015-16.
There are the facts, you decide.