In a recent interview with WiMax.com, Siavash Alamouti, the CTO of Intel’s Mobile Wireless Group, expressed his views about mobile internet-related topics including mobile WiMax.
Alamouti recognizes that consumers want decent mobile internet access, but companies are not providing it. Instead they are focusing on voice and low data rate communications such as texting, SMS and emails. Although devices like the iPhone offer Internet access, its functionality is not equivalent to that of a computer.
Alamouti believes that mobile service should allow 1 to 5 Mbps downstream at a monthly rate of no more than $30 a month. This is difficult to accomplish on a cellular network. This is why the WiMax community has created the IEEE 802.16e standard.
Alamouti’s components for Mobile Internet success include real Internet access and affordable rates and billing plans. To keep up with increased usage, providers will need more spectrum to provide consumers with more bandwidth. Mobile WiMax features are conducive to this. As long as the service is reasonably priced, people will utilize it.
