WiMAX has a reason to celebrate. The International Telecommunications Union has just approved the non-cellular technology as part of a 3G standard. This means that operators with 3G spectrum in their 2.5 GHz bands globally can use WiMAX to build out a spectrum.
The last interface added was back in 1999 when ITU added IMT-2000 as it established the original technologies. IMT-2000 and five other cellular standards had to be used in the 3G standard, now the door is open to WiMAX.
But all is not rosey for WiMAX, the debate between technologies is far from over.
Via [wirelessweek.com]
Continue reading ‘WiMAX Is 3G’
Though no one contests that mobile WiMax has been gathering momentum, some doubt whether the technology will deliver what it promises in terms of performance. Sprint Nextel believes its mobile WiMax network, which it will roll out in 2008, allows for download speeds of 2 Mbps to 4 Mbps and upload speeds of about 1 Mbps on the average.
According to Kerton Group principal Derek Kerton, the success of WiMax will depend on whether it can address issues such as in-building penetration and power consumption, which its backers regard as insignificant. Ali Tabassi, Sprint Nextel’s vice president of technology development, conceded that like any wide-area wireless technologies, WiMax is not immune to in-building penetration problems. The company, however, houses a special group that has solved these issues for its cellular voice and data service, to apply its expertise to the mobile WiMax network.
Kerton admitted that Sprint has the right strategy of creating an ecosystem of products and services based on the technology. The company has contracted Motorola, Samsung and Nokia to provide equipment and handsets for its service. Intel already announced it would release chips that will have both WiMax and WiFi capabilities. Tabassi, however, could not say when these devices will be available. He expects PCMCIA cards and modems to appear in the market when Sprint carries out its launches in two markets. Samsung, he said, may come out with a dual-mode phone by the end of the year.
Via [computerworld.com]
Continue reading ‘Mobile WiMax Vs. 3G: Will Faster And Cheaper Win?’
Verizon Wireless is upgrading its network with CDMA 1x EV-DO Revision A to enable faster BroadbandAccess wireless data services in several U.S. cities. The said technology delivers downstream speeds ranging from 450K to 800Kbps and upstream speeds between 300K and 400Kbps. BroadbandAccess subscribers pay a monthly fee starting from $60 — if they already have a wireless voice plan worth no less than $40 per month — to $80. The company is also selling two two Rev. A compatible products, i.e., the USB720 wireless modem and the AirCard 595 PC card.
Via [pcworld.com]
Continue reading ‘Verizon Continues High-Speed Wireless Data Rollout’
UK’s 3G market is circumspect over Ofcom’s announcement on spectrum auction. The public sale, the first in six years, will involve the 2500-2690 MHz band, which the British regulator deemed compatible with 3G and mobile WiMax.
Although stating that it welcomed the proposal, O2 urged Ofcom to retain its current condition demanding that 3G operators extend service to 80 percent of the population. The company, along with Vodafone, urged the agency to study whether 3G services can tap the 2G spectrum, which could expand their cell sizes and allow them to provide better service to their clients. Ofcom chief technologist William Webb believed “refarming” spectrum is not feasible at the moment. According to Webb, such move could lead to competitive imbalances.
Pipex, meanwhile, supported Ofcom’s plans and expects new entrants and traditional players to bid for spectrum. Graham Currier, the ISP’s business development director, said there is high interest in the event among companies hoping to deploy WiMax. He declined, however, to confirm that Pipex, which is partly owned by WiMax champion Intel, will participate in the auction and state the company’s plans concerning WiMax.
Via [news.zdnet.co.uk]
Continue reading ‘Mobile Operators Defensive Over 3G Auctions’
T-Mobile USA is due to begin offering a new service for mobile phone users that will allow seamless switching between its cellular network and their home Wi-Fi networks. The company will use unlicensed mobile access or UMA to enable the new service. T-Mobile, several blogs reported, has performed a trial of the service in the Pacific Northwest for a month. Kineto Wireless, one of the companies developing software to support the new product, expects T-Mobile to offer the service to users in at least one major city initially and expand the coverage to include the firm’s 7,836 hot spots nationwide.
Via [news.zdnet.com]
Continue reading ‘Switching From Cell To Wi-Fi, Seamlessly’
Sony has announced it’s new WI-FI instant messaging device, Mylo. Mylo stands for ‘My Life Online’ and is aimed at heavy music and instant messaging users. The unit will be able to surf the web as well as make Skype calls, all over WiFi. The device is touted as a personel communicator and features a 1 GB flash storage, expandable to 4 GB.
Via [today.reuters.com]
Continue reading ‘Sony Introduces Wi-Fi Instant Message/Music Device’
Blackberry addicts rejoice! WiFi/cellular dual mode is coming. The dual mode will mean that WiFi enabled business and campuses can reduce the cellular data usage, but still allow travel and roaming. Also planned is blackberry software for other devices such as palm handhelds.
Via [techworld.com]
Continue reading ‘Wi-Fi Blackberry Coming This Year’
Virgin Trains has elected to use WiMax to enable passengers get Internet connection from their seat. QinetiQ Rail is providing the technology and has installed it on the company’s Pendolino train. CEO Magnus McEwen-King expects the application of the WiMax-and-satellite combination to bring down costs. “If we were to use WiMax throughout the whole route - for the west coast mainline, that would be 1,500km - it would be very expensive. WiMax will be used in urban areas and satellite will give us 90 per cent of our reach,” McEwen-King remarked. The system, according to QinetiQ Rail, can deliver a connection of up to 49Mbps for trains moving at up to 200kmph, but with satellite downlink the speed will be around 20Mbps.
Via [networks.silicon.com]
Continue reading ‘Virgin Trains Get Connected With WiMax And HSDPA’
Samsung is getting ready in a big way to jump on WiMax. They are preparing a GSM/WiMax phone as well as PCMCIA cards and base stations for fixed and mobile WiMax. The first products should be seen in the first half of 2007.
Via [techworld.com]
Continue reading ‘Samsung Promises WiMax/GSM Phone’
Samsung is first out of the gate with a dual mode CDMA/WiMax phone. Details are scarce, but it appears to use a Korean variant of WiMax called WiBro. No details on availablity but it is a step in the direction of convergance.
Via [vnunet.com]
Continue reading ‘First Dual-Mode WiMax And CDMA Phone Revealed’
Ovum analyst Julien Grivolas expects faster third-generation mobile services to become mainstream consumer service by 2008. The analyst firm believes users of High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) in Western Europe will grow to 16.5 million in two years and 50 million through 2010. Grivolas ascribed the high estimated uptake to the reality that HSDPA recycles the spectrum already utilized for 3G base technology, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. This development, he said, could dampen the pace of adoption of WiMax. “In areas where HSDPA becomes widely available, like Western Europe, and where well-suited spectrum for 802.16e [mobile WiMax] is rare, the window of opportunity for mobile WiMax will be quite limited,” Grivolas remarked. Dean Bubley of Disruptive Analysis disagreed with Grivolas’ view, saying that WiMax would enjoy more success because it will not necessitate a backhaul upgrade to maximize the high speeds that it can deliver. In addition, “many cellular operators have a Walled Garden mindset, whereas possibly mobile WiMax plays better to the 21st century view of the world, where connectivity and services should be decoupled,” he stated.
Via [news.zdnet.co.uk]
Continue reading ‘Analysts Split Over HSDPA Vs WiMax’
WiMax and 3G are destined to compete in the Austrlian market. Unfortunatly WiMax has a mobility problem, it’s limited to fixed location installations right now. 3G on the other hand has mobility. The future won’t be decided till 2009, but content seems to be a big factor in which will win.
Via [pcworld.idg.com.au]
Continue reading ‘Will WiMax Play Second Fiddle To 3G?’
WiMAX May Challenge Asia 3G ‘In Five Years’
Analysts believe it will take another five years for WiMax to challenge 3G in the Asia Pacific region. According to In-Stat analyst Bryan Wang, WiMax users will grow to 14 million by 2011. This is just about 8 percent of the Asian 3G market by that time, as per the prediction of Frost & Sullivan research analyst Lenny Koay. The popularity of 3G, Koay said, will continue to rise in five years, with the number of users reaching 178 million by the end of 2011. Most of the growth will be seen in China and India as 3G services are expected to hit both markets next year.
Analysts say a lack of awareness in data services and the unimpressive revenues from mobile solutions play a role in the tepid WiMax uptake. Interoperability issues and lack of standardization, according to Wang, also hamper widespread acceptance of the technology.
Via [computing.co.uk]
Continue reading ‘WiMAX May Challenge Asia 3G ‘In Five Years’’