WiMAX Certification Delays? ABI Research Says "Don't Panic!"

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".