AOL, Clearwire Team On WiMAX Access

AOL said Thursday it is starting to offer its service via wireless broadband provided by Clearwire Corporation. Cellular pioneer Craig McCaw founded Clearwire in 2004.

Clearwire provides service over WiMAX-class networks in 27 small and medium-sized cities. Initially, AOL said it is offering the service in Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, Florida and Stockton and Modesto, California.

Pricing plans for the service, which will be called AOL High Speed -- Powered by Clearwire, will start at $25.90 per month. Clearwire offers download speeds of 768Kbps to 1.5MB and upload speeds of either 128Kbps or 2256Kbps, depending on service plans.

AOL said that it expects the service to attract new users and existing customers switching to broadband.

"This innovative approach to broadband access offers consumers additional levels of freedom and flexibility in how and where they experience AOL's content and services -- and stands to be a promising feature for new consumer segments," Joe Redling, president of AOL's access business, said in a statement.The service will provide access to AOL content and other features such as online storage. While not a mobile service, AOL did say in a statement that it requires only a small modem that is easy to transport.