WiMAX Day reported today that Motorola plans to expand its relationship with chip manufacturer Texas Instruments to develop a line of mobile, WiMAX-enabled handsets. The two companies reportedly will focus their efforts on the 802.16e standard. Motorola said that it plans to launch the new mobile devices in 2008.

 

According to WiMAX Day, during 2006 Motorola shipped 217 million mobile phones, landing the company 21 percent of the market. Motorola still takes second fiddle to Nokia (with 34 percent market share), but it may be poised to make headway in the WiMAX segment as Nokia seems to be lagging a bit behind in that area.

 

The WiMAX Day report notes that, arguably, Samsung is the leader currently when it comes to WiMAX handsets; the company played a key role in launching WiBro during 2006, and has committed $320 million R&D money for WiMAX products.

 

Other companies potentially looking to make moves in the space include LG Electronics (snagged six percent of mobile handset market during 2006, is eyeing WiMAX) and Sony Ericsson (seven percent market share, no WiMAX announcements yet).

 

There’s one major snag so far holding up widespread availability of WiMAX handsets: manufacturers are not producing the necessary chips in volume. Because of this, WiMAX Day predicts the handsets in question won’t start flooding the market until 2009.

 

What to take away from all this? WiMAX handsets are on their way eventually, but don’t hold your breath.