Intel strikes new WiMax partnerships
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The growing industry support behind WiMax, an emerging wide-area wireless technology, gained momentum as Intel said it had reached two partnerships with telecoms manufacturers.
26 March 2004 The growing industry support behind WiMax, an emerging wide-area wireless data technology, gained momentum as Intel said it had reached two major partnerships with telecoms manufacturers.
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The semiconductor giant said that Germany's Siemens and France's Alcatel will develop and promote what it calls 'end-to-end' products for the high-speed wireless technology.
Both Siemens and Alcatel expect their products to be available in the second half of 2005. Intel's WiMax chips will be ready towards the end of 2004.
The partnerships represent another major stride in WiMax's already rapid progress as an alternative to land-based broadband technologies and third-generation cellular networks, say analysts.
Antennae for WiMax networks carry a potential range of 30 miles and operate in as-yet unregulated portions of the radio spectrum. WiMax's close cousin, WiFi, has a much smaller maximum range.
As a result, WiMax service providers could cover a far larger area for lower cost than WiFi or 3G companies.
Intel, through its Centrino chips, has already invested heavily in WiFi and has indicated that it plans to make a similarly aggressive commitment to WiMax.
But there are some significant obstacles to overcome, including potential security problems and battery life shortages, say analysts. The first wave of WiMax services are likely to be targeted at PC users in rural areas, where broadband coverage is patchy.
Intel said recently that phone companies from six countries, including the UK, are considering WiMax-based services.
