Intel Pushes Fixed Broadband With WiMax Chip Set
Intel this week announced the availability of its first WiMax product, giving that much more credence to the nascent wireless protocol. But analysts caution that the technology is still more marketing hype than reality.
Source: eWeek
Cool! Maybe this will be the shot in the arm that wimax needs to get the standard *finally* ratified.Previously code-named Rosedale, the Intel PRO/Wireless 5116 chip set is based on the 802.16-2004 standard, which is based on fixed-broadband wireless connectivity—an alternative to cable or DSL.
While fixed wireless service efforts from carriers have failed in the past, Intel Corp. officials said they expect this one to succeed because it is standards-based.
Intel's marketing arm should help too, according to industry observers who pointed out that Intel's publicity for its Centrino Wi-Fi chip set last year helped propel the ubiquity of Wi-Fi.
"The chip set may be successful if Intel applies the same kinds of pressure they applied to get Centrino adoption," said Ken Dulaney, vice president of mobile computing at Gartner Inc. in San Jose, Calif. "Namely: money given to OEMs via marketing incentives, which help to offset costs."
Source: eWeek
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