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Sprint ION Broadband Internet Service?
pgroebner asks: "I just spoke with someone at Sprint about their version of DSL called ION that will be rolled out to me by year's end. In addition of the regular modem cable link features I get two static IP addresses and they don't care how many computers I hookup and (best of all) I can have my own web server with a DNS. Does anyone else have Sprint ION and what have been your experiences?" How new is ION and what is its planned coverage area? I sure could use something like this.
I've never used it, but I know one of the chief architects of the software that supports it. There have been delays with the rollout of the technology, but there are currently ongoing trials in Kansas City and I think Washington.
ION is effectively ATM provided all the way to the end point. It's a very interesting strategy, but I suspect it's going to run head first into generic IP based solutions. Nonetheless, having ATM right to the end point is very handy, particularly for businesses. This allows businesses to dynamically configure their line utiliztion, etc. As a consequence, Sprint is currently focused on the business side of this whole thing. That being said, I know that their original plans called for a rollout of the services to 10 major metropolitan centers by the end of this year.
Interestingly ION doesn't really care too much about the underlying media. For a lot of end points they're using DSL, but they can go with just about anything that has the required bandwidth.
As far as Internet connectivity goes, I wouldn't expect it to be any different from what you can currently get from other DSL service providers. I think they're a tad faster, but that probably depends on how far you are from the switch. I also am personally not too wild about Sprint's backbone (admittedly I'm prejudiced from negative experiences in the mid 90's), regardless of whether I'm hooked up to it at 4mbps or not.
sigs are a waste of space
The front page of www.sprint.com lists both business and residential ION services. They also have a form that lets you check availability in your area.
Currently ATM to the customer site has some advantages, but IP QoS and MPLS (for provisioning the equivalent of virtual circuits in the core) may well eat its lunch. But I'm probably biased...
Most large customers have a lot of IP traffic, and are migrating other protocols to IP, so it's increasingly important to be able to be able to manage IP application traffic.
I have been salavating for ION for over a year now.
I think this has great potential - ATM to the house using DSL, Fixed Wireless (MMDS), and/or cable. Speeds of 6-8 Meg with Dynamic bandwidth allocation, up to 4 voice lines (1 voice grade- the rest are data grade), 750 minutes of LD calls DSL/cable-type always-on access directly to Sprints Backbone for $159/month?
Unfortunatly, its not available in my area yet! Sprint is rumored to be having some difficulites with there equipment vendor which is causing widespread delays in rollouts.
I have DSL now, but to get rid of the local telco and DSL and ISP...