NetStumbler.com

WiMAX, or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is becoming a force in the wireless access arena, at least in parts of the world, reports In-Stat. By 2008, worldwide sales for WiMAX equipment will be billions of dollars, but over half of it will be for Customer Premise Equipment. WiMAX, a new form of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA), helps shift the economics of broadband to make it cheaper than ever to deploy. However, WiMAX providers will need to bundle wireless broadband services with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), so that consumers will save money every month, even though they are upgrading from dial-up Internet access to broadband.

People living in a wired culture can get tense if they have to unplug. That’s why California and Michigan are making high-speed Internet access available in recreation areas — a move that would seem to run counter to the whole point of recreation.
Via [boston.com]

Individuals are carrying around mobile devices for more than just productivity and convenience – some consumers also play games on these devices. Wireless gaming is on track to become the single largest wireless data application category from a revenue perspective, overtaking ring tones in 2005 and rising to nearly $1.5 billion annually by 2008, according to a new report from IDC. Moreover, casual, community-oriented subscription game revenue will grow from a distinct minority of total revenues to market dominance by the end of 2008.
Via [idc.com]

To hear some of its more enthusiastic proponents you might conclude that WiMax, an emerging wireless-broadband technology, was about to take over the world. WiMax is akin to a long-range version of the popular Wi-Fi technology that allows computers close to a small base-station to surf the internet without wires. Whereas Wi-Fi’s range is limited to a few tens of metres, WiMax can, in theory, work over tens of kilometres, allowing huge areas to be blanketed with wireless coverage. Hence the claims that WiMax will bring internet access to the 5 billion people who currently lack it, or that it will render expensive “third-generation” (3G) mobile networks redundant.
Via [economist.com]

Wi-Fi signal detectors should let you track down a wireless signal before booting up your notebook and wasting power. Unfortunately, early versions of the devices didn’t work very well. I tested three new devices and found them dramatically more useful than previous products.
Via [pcworld.com]

Mobile operator mmO2 has been sorting out where it will be setting out its stall for the alphabet soup of connectivity of the future.
Via [networks.silicon.com]

Wireless operators won’t earn as much from their investments in 3G wireless access because of decreasing prices for other options such as Wi-Fi, a new study says.
Via [informationweek.com]

Researchers have used an advanced form of the technology used in Wifi to achieve a record wireless throughput of 1Gbit/second.
Via [vnunet.com]

Intel’s interest in the debate over municipal wireless is a welcome twist in an issue so bogged down in free-market rhetoric it’s forgotten about the market.
Via [eweek.com]

A week after acknowledging that certification of WiMAX products will take about six months longer than expected, the WiMAX Forum officially announced its certification plans on Monday.
Via [commsdesign.com]

Voice is the application most likely to drive the popularity of wireless LANs in the enterprise and beyond, according to new research.
Via [networks.silicon.com]

SiGe Semiconductor’s range of ICs for the Wi-Fi wireless LAN standard includes the SE2550L RF front-end module and the SE2523L power amplifier specifically for 802.11b/g WLAN systems.
Via [electronicsweekly.com]

Although WiMax is still months away from its official inauguration, numerous wireless broadband proponents are announcing products. Many won’t see the light of day until at least mid-2005.
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]

Mobile computer owners can hook up to wireless Internet on maternity wards, in cafes, hotels, and even a Jerusalem shwarma stand.
Via [globes.co.il]

More households now use Wi-Fi networking than Ethernet, a trend that will lead to an explosion of new applications, according to a survey released this week by Parks Associates.
Via [commsdesign.com]