BBC NEWS | Technology | Intel reveals Wimax wireless chip
Intel innovates yet again and comes up with an integral Wimax chip (Still early stages but nevertheless something to keep technologists interested) and talk of a launch of a commercial product (in conjunctyion with network providers like BT) sometime in 2006. Via BBC (link above)
Wimax is seen as a method of extending broadband reach to whole cities, rural areas and countries with low net use.
It is also seen by some analysts as a potential competitor to mobile phone networks, although such a clash is still some way off.
Intel and other Wimax supporters will be hoping that the release of a chip will do for the technology what Centrino chips did for the spread of wi-fi.
The implementation of wi-fi-ready chips inside laptops by Intel helped propel the rapid growth of wi-fi networks around the world.
Sean Maloney, head of Intel's mobility unit, said many trials were under way, but the actual deployment of mobile Wimax would not start this year.
"You'll probably see things at the back end of 2006, you'll probably see some... trials earlier than that," he told the Reuters news agency.
Exciting stuff because despite this being 18 months away, the people now looking at ubiquitous computing applications start to come into their own. Wimax has got to be the competition to mobile networks and must push down the price of Broadband on the move.
Ultimately I could be stood in London and call up info on where to go for lunch, what play to see, guidebooks on the area, purchase a history to read at home and buy some souvenirs. I could also post my thoughts of the area, the restaurant, the museum and my photos. Technically I wouldn't need to carry anything as it could all be delivered to my home. That's obviously a consumer perspective, from a business perspective I could receive realtime business information while presenting to clients without having to use their network, or go an work in the park becuase the offie is too stifling. In fact I could be an etailer on the street, showing my wares off by laptop and distributing them via post (hey its an idea security needs to be worked out)
I'm a little bit excited by Wimax - lets hope that there is open competition in the UK access marketplace though - another BT monopoly could be disasterous.
Posted by Paul Goodison at April 19, 2005 10:55 AM | TrackBack