The news just broke: Sprint has officially joined the WiMAX forum.
In an effort to meet high demand for fast Internet, Sprint is added to the forum family as a Principal Member.
"We support the forum's infrastructure goals," explained Oliver Valente, vice president - Technology Development, Sprint. "Standardization and certification will unlock significant opportunities for service providers and equipment makers while bringing new high-speed connectivity benefits for users. We are anxious to conduct technical trials as test equipment becomes available, as WiMAX is complementary to Sprint's high-speed communications portfolio, and we are looking at WiMAX solutions for a number of future applications."
Perhaps this is a motivating force for wireless competitors to join the forum as well. Who will be next?
Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! (well, not really)
I'm not talking about Superman, although WiMAX is certainly shaping up to be the Superman of the wireless world.
Aside from the gigantic growth that WiMAX has seen over the recent months, it's also becoming evidently popular. According to research conducted by Frost & Sullivan, WiMAX will probably become the "third most widely used high-speed Internet access technology".....right after DSL and cable - the big competitors of WiMAX (or, maybe I should say the Lex Luthors of WiMAX?)
WiMAX is highly sought-after because of its low-cost, evolution in product development and flexibility (think...Plastic Man?) when switching suppliers that push WiMAX-based products.
Despite consumer investments in WiFi and DSL, the competition is on. According to the report, WiMAX is looking to meet the latest demands in the wireless communications market for efficient voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), superior performance, and higher reliability in the wireless industry that is currently unmet by the existing technologies.
WiMAX has the upper-hand when it comes to rugged terrain and areas that are ill-equipped for DSL - specifically areas in rural Asia, Eastern Europe - both of which are extremely expensive for the deployment of DSL or cable.
According to Arjun Chokkappan, Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst, "For WiMAX, standards and low costs are expected to be crucial differentiating factors that will enable the technology to remain competitive in the mainstream commercial market."
The full release of the report can be read here on tmcnet.com.
There has been much hype over the last week with the news of WiMAX certification delays - and the wireless world has certainly been turned upside down. Perhaps it is the start of a wireless epic. The Wireless Strike Back? The WiMAX Wars? Or how about WiMAX: Beyond Wireless
I could go on with terrible movie references, but before I get ahead of myself.....
There is some hope for the WiMAX masses. Philip Solis, senior analyst of wireless connectivity for ABI research says there is no real harm that will come of the supposed six month delay. The hold up is due to later-than anticipated deliveries of compliant chipsets, not late interoperability in testing.
"These things take time," says Solis. "WiMAX's arrival was heavily hyped for early to mid-2005, but experienced observers aren't surprised by the holdup: we have seen similar situations often in other segments of the industry."
"I have been assured by Mr. Shakouri of the WiMAX Forum that their interoperability testing is on target to commence in July. Chipsets have already been released from small and nimble companies such as Wavesat. Others such as Sequans, and larger producers like Intel and Fujitsu Microelectronics America, will most likely start shipping during the second quarter. So deployments of certified products are probably not going to be held up to a dangerous degree."
So loosen your grip and take a breather - perhaps sit down with a cup of tea. WiMAX is certainly on the way and this little obstacle on the WiMAX journey is nothing to wage a war about. In the words of TMC's beloved programmer, "Looks good".
A recent report issued by Research and Markets addresses the issues concerned
in regards to conducting business in China. We here at TMC have our eye on
China, and as stated by Rich Tehrani, China is a formidable force in WiMAX and other technologies.
But there are matters to consider before you go ahead and invest business in
China.....
Because of the on-going liberalization and global market acceptance, China
has grown tremendously over the last few years. Despite the astronomical growth,
there are still many doubts and challenges in doing business. Key items to
consider are environmental: air, sea and road service as well as the economic
environment and market sizing and forecast. In order to jump into China's
ever-growing economy, companies have to invest billions of dollars on
infrastructure alone. Other brick walls? According to the report, the largest
obstacles are regulation, culture, weak infrastructure and undeveloped
industries. Without having any prior knowledge of China, anyone trying to do
business will certainly have a few wrinkles to iron out. Without any of this,
Research and Markets says that doing business in China is virtually impossible.
The full release can be read here on
tmcnet.com
The buzz sweeping the WiMAX floors is that there seems to be problems abound in achieving WiMAX certification. Also known as plugfest, WiMAX certification is now delayed 6 months, raising issues for companies who wished to launch their WiMAX-ready products.
The mission of the WiMAX forum is to evaluate testing options and to recommend products for test lab selection, and in order to become certified, products have to meet standard compliances as well as interoperability between different suppliers.
In a report issued by Research and Markets, it states that WiMAX has been the center of a lot of attention lately - but it does not mean that it is all hype and no substance. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Currently, there is a large number of companies actively promoting WiMAX, with nearly 200 in its WiMAX forum.
Yes. We're excited about WiMAX. Companies are ready for WiMAX. But is a brief 6 month time frame a real threat to the WiMAX market? It seems that this delay leaves the space wide open for other like-minded mobile broadband providers to hop in and gain market share and notoriety, and yes, that can be a real issue.
I guess, then, that 2005 will not be the quintessential WiMAX year. Those of us waiting on the sidelines for WiMAX to explode can only watch the news and sigh as we feel as though we're in a sitcom....."WiMAX 2004-2005 The Early Years". It's just not going to happen at this moment, folks.
Despite the fact that I blogged about China being next on the WiMAX map, and Rich Tehrani blogged about China being a formidable force, the news today is saying India is the model for the next wave of global wireless growth.
According to a report issued by Datacomm Research, India's wireless subscriber growth will double over the next 2 years and China may, in fact, slow down.
Here are a few facts from the release:
1. Wireless market growth in India hinges on increasing tele-density
above its current 1.7% level in the rural areas that represent 70% of
the population. There is a realistic opportunity to add 100 million
wireless subscribers over the next 2-3 years.
2. There are also significant opportunities for digital applications such
as Push-To-Talk (PTT). The key to success is tying digital applications
into local interests such as the Indian film industry, cricket craze,
and local festivals.
3. India's wireless market is a test bed for alternative infrastructure,
handsets, billing systems, business models and marketing strategies
that will likely prove applicable to other developing countries.
4. India's telecom market is also a minefield. Vendors must not only
understand the market, regulations, and competition: they must learn
the nuances of India's business practices and wireless value chain.
"India's wireless market requires fresh thinking regarding average revenue per user (ARPU), infrastructure design, handset supplies, and digital applications and content," said Chetan Sharma, President of Chetan Sharma Consulting and the report's author. "Increasing rural tele-density is a major piece to the puzzle, and building services around low ARPUs is the solution," he added.
Wireless technologies and WiMAX are paving the way for wireless growth in less-developed countries world wide. With that in mind, let me throw out a question: where do you think wireless/WiMAX will turn up next?
Two news items sparked my attention today that deal with China, WiMAX and the drive to be the next leader in the consumer electronics space.
Interestingly enough, Rich Tehrani was just mentioning last week that China is growing rapidly in subsequent technologies, and here we are, all jumping on board to stay up-to-date on the latest, greatest, and of course, fastest methods of communication.
A release issued today by Research and Markets prompts the idea that China will become the next leader in the electronics division.
Here's an excerpt:
The growth of electronics equipment production in China has been widely described as the most fundamental shift in the world electronics industry. Moreover, China is the main beneficiary of the 2001-2002 crisis as its share of the world electronics production grew from 10% in 2000 to 18% in 2003 at an amazing rate of 15.4% per year over the period, ensuring a solid business activity in difficult times for international players. The Chinese government, whose objective is to make the national electronics industry an independent and competitive activity, pulling the development of the country, actively supports this development.
What's more, China is on the map in WiMAX happenings as well. picoChip has announced a partnership with the Institute of Computing Technology (ICT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (say that five times fast!) in an effort to collaborate the acceleration of WiMAX in China. According to Peter Claydon, co-founder and CEO of picoChip, "Building on our plans for growth in the Chinese market, we are delighted that ICT recognises our global technology strength in WiMAX and has committed to a long-term relationship with us. The combination of ICT's world-renowned research expertise and strong industry knowledge together with picoChip's technology and WiMAX experience will significant assist the needs of operators in China."
The full feature on the WiMAX channel can be read here.
I feel like I should purchase a large world map and start using thumb tacks to highlight the many regions that are obtaining WiMAX connectivity. From WiMAX access in the jungle, to the desert, to the glaciers, and now China, who knows where WiMAX will show up next!
Scared of hackers, protecting your password, encryption or identity theft? Here's a solution: paint your house!
Now, don't run out just yet and purchase any old gallon of paint. Home Depot's Color Solution Center will not get you very far in shielding your WiFi connection. Force Field Wireless has created a latex house paint that is laced with copper and aluminum fibers that form an electromagnetic shield, blocking most radio waves, thus protecting your precious wireless network. Available only in flat gray, one coat will shield WiFi, WiMAX and Bluetooth networks that operate from 100 megahertz to 2.4 gigahertz.
Fret not, you don't have to make your house completely monotone - this paint makes a fine primer and can be used underneath regular household paint. Buyers beware: before slabbing on three coats (which, by the way, is the maximum level of protection) painters must apply with caution. Harold Wray, a Force Field Wireless spokesman, said the paint must be carefully applied. "Radio waves find leaks," he said. Also, be selective about application. Televisions, radios and cell phones can be affected.
Visit Force Field Wireless for more information.
Fellow blogger, Rich Tehrani said that there was a possibility that I'd throw a shout-out to the iPod in his blog yesterday , and sure enough, it didn't take much time for me to get to my musings about iPods, iTunes and that sort of iStuff that is becoming ever popular.
First of all, I'd like to mention that Apple just released the iShuffle, a plug and play device fit for spontaneous people who love surprises. This neat-o gadget is about the size of a pack of Trident gum and can hold up to 240 songs which, by the way, are automatically selected by your iTunes at random. As Apple says on the site about iShuffle, iPod shuffle adds musical spontaneity to your life. Lose control. Love it.
I already do. I may have to get one. And the price is a lot less than your standard iPod - about $99 buckaroos. Sweet.
So when are they going to invent the WiFi enabled iPod? (soon, I hope) Until that time comes, Metro FreeFi has a great little resource for you iPod'ers ....you can find a WiFi hotspot from your iPod if you download this nifty little resource. Pick a state (or 5) and download your custom built wiPod so you will always have your most favorite cities stored for WiFi access.
But note - iPod has a limit of 1,000 note files so if you have chosen more than 1,000 hotspots, your iPod will not register them properly.
Then again, if you have over a thousand hotspots, then clearly, you are more well traveled than I.
I guess if you're living in the South Pole or in a rain forest, or even the desert, chances are you're going to have access to a network (at some point in the future, at least) thanks to WiMAX technology. (Reference yesterday's blog)
Now, ADB Networks, a major independent service and support provider, headquartered in Mauritius (officially Republic of Mauritius, 790 sq mi island in the SW Indian Ocean, surrounded by coral reefs, ringed by mountains of volcanic origin, which rise to c.2,700 ft in the southwest. The island has a tropical, rainy climate.....just to name a few facts) will have connection to the globe thanks to Navini Networks.
"With Navini's portable wireless broadband access, the entire island of Mauritius will now be completely unwired," said Roger Dorf, president and chief executive officer, Navini Networks. "In addition, they will be superbly positioned to take advantage of next generation mobile broadband wireless access, 802.16e-based WiMAX."
The full release can be read here on TMCnet.
Maybe WiMAX is the new black. To say that 2005 is the year that will make or break WiMAX is not really a stretch.....because now even Tarzan can surf the Web, thanks to WiMAX technology.
Wi-LAN Inc., a charter member of the WiMAX Forum just announced receipt of a $6 million (Canadian, that is....$5 million U.S.) order for their broadband wireless solutions in an effort to provide data in remote towns with harsh, dry, even freezing environments.
According to Chris Beadle, Vice President of Global Sales, “Wi-LAN’s patented technologies, rugged outdoor form factors, non-line-of-sight capacity and long-range capabilities have made our solutions the best option for remote broadband networks under all weather conditions, from the freezing temperatures of Alaska to tropical jungles and arid deserts. Whether customers are looking for data, voice or video applications, Wi-LAN provides market-leading wireless solutions. Wi-LAN’s winning solutions, utilizing the technologies and high-quality products of the company and its partners, provide broadband Internet access, Voice-over-IP, data network extension, wireless data backhaul, telephony backhaul, and wireless hot zones. While this sale demonstrates the ability of our new sales team to win large competitive bids and the strength of our traditional product lines, the sale is within our expectations for the first half of fiscal 2005.”
I suppose, then, if you're planning a vacation to the Sahara, Papua New Guinea, or Fairbanks, Alaska...be sure to bring your lap top. Just watch out for those swinging branches.
In mid-December, Canada-based semiconductor company, Wavesat announced the delivery of the first ever WiMAX chip, the DM256 and the partnership with EDOM Technology Co., LTD. for the distribution of the chips in Taiwan.
The good news for today? Wavesat announceded the general availability of the DM256, moving to mass production in order to meet customer demands.
(And now, for the technical part....the DM256 integrated circuit implements the IEEE P802.16-REVd WirelessMAN-OFDM™ PHY layer protocol and is designed to be the main component of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modem for broadband wireless access. The PHY has two complementary functions. One is to process data for transmission where the output is a baseband I/Q signal or a 10 MHz IF signal. The process is reversed for the second function of receiving data where the input is a baseband I/Q signal or a 10 MHz IF signal. For data reception, the PHY implements proprietary synchronization and channel equalization methods for OFDM. Synchronization can also include frequency synchronization as well as timing synchronization.)
So what does this mean?
Many of us in the telecom industry have been making predictions for aught-five (a noteable read here from Johanne Torres) and deciphering which technologies are going to catapult communications into the next century. WiMAX is quite possibly my number one choice standard solution for companies looking to serve customers without shelling out billions of dollars on a brand spanking new infrastructure. By having the capabilities to offer broadband directly, WiMAX can support data ranges across metropolitan areas (yes, miles for those of you still new to this WiMAX thing).
What's more, (from our WiMAX channel) "a WiMAX base station would beam high-speed Internet connections to homes and businesses in a radius of up to 50 km (31 miles); these base stations will eventually cover an entire metropolitan area, making that area into a WMAN and allowing true wireless mobility within it, as opposed to hot-spot hopping required by WiFi."
Is Wavesat the pioneer for bringing WiMAX to the masses? Maybe not so much. According to ABI research, this first chip is a baseband-only unit; and while Wavesat has enlisted Atmel to build the radio component, and is itself developing subscriber unit MAC software and complete base station and subscriber unit reference designs, and the competitors are at large.
Philip Solis, senior analyst at ABI Research says ""As a smaller company, Wavesat can be more nimble, and has stolen this first march, but Intel and Fujitsu Microelectronics already have secured relationships with customers who will wait until they release their own products early next year. And when those milestones occur, Wavesat's huge adversaries will have much greater production capacity."
Even still, my prediction stands regardless of how the cookie crumbles, or rather, how the chip shall ship. WiMAX is a speeding train. You better hop on board.