Ari Zoldan on January 17, 2008
TMCnet reports on DiBcom, TeamCast and UDcast; three companies that are devoted to Mobile TV and the DVB-SH standard. All these companies are collaborating in the Mobile TV Without Limits Project and are combining their equipment and support to give an added push to Mobile TV both in Europe and eventually in the United States. For those that are less aware, Mobile TV is television service delivered to subscribers via mobile telecommunications networks, such as mobile phone carriers.
Interestingly enough, UDcast is also a proponent of WiMAX technologies, in addition to its work on Mobile TV. As standards related to Mobile TV continue to develop and testing extends to the United States, it will be interesting to see if WiMAX and the advantages it has to offer could eventually merge with this emerging technology.… Read the rest
Ari Zoldan on January 14, 2008
Amid all the WiMAX demonstrations in cars and and the mobile flexibility WiMAX is set to offer, Chrysler has decided to jump on the bandwagon. At the North American International Auto Show, the company announced that it is working on a state-of-the-art in-vehicle communications system that will eventually feature wireless. The announcement was confirmed in a press release today.
Frank Klegon, Chrysler’s executive vice president of product development, explains the company’s thinking:
We recognize that customers are spending more and more time in their vehicles, and that the automobile is becoming much like an additional room in the home or office. To address this evolving reality, Chrysler vehicles will soon boast an unprecedented level of vehicle connectivity, delivering a wide array of important communications features directly to our customers, in their vehicles.
What does this mean for these future vehicle owners? If they thought features like in-vehicle DVD players, GPS and “hands-free” technologies like Bluetooth and voice command were great, what WIMAX can offer is incomparable. WiMAX-enabled vehicles will include internet search, voice-command e-mail access, streaming movies and music, file transfers, online shopping and more. So, practically speaking, while on a road trip your family could watch streaming video while you do an online search for local restaurants to check out at your next pit stop–all while keeping an eye on your office e-mail.
According to the press release plans are set for some of these features to be integrated in Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles “over the next few years.”
… Read the rest
Ari Zoldan on January 10, 2008
As rumblings in the news reveal, Sprint just announced that WiMAX is coming soon– as early as April of this year, according to some sources. This news is a good boost to overall WiMAX morale, given that naysayers have spoken negatively of the rollout since the Clearwire and Sprint fallout late last year.
Just as interesting as the rollout are some of the partnerships that are making it possible. We can see that these partnerships span the globe and are taking into account all facets of Xohm as a true contender in the wireless market. Mobile Tech News reports on just some of these. I have compiled them into a chart for the sake of reader-friendliness:
… Read the rest
Ari Zoldan on January 10, 2008
Want to talk WiMAX? For those in the New York City area, this is definitely something worth checking out. The New York Media Information Exchange Group (NY:MIEG) is having a breakfast panel discussion on WiMAX and related technologies. Here are the details:
Thursday, January 17th
7:30am to 10:00am
SobelMedia World Headquarters
4 West 43rd Street/Main Ballroom
New York, NY 10036
“Wireless, WiMAX & Mobile 2008 and Beyond: The Future of Communications”
Panelists include: Eric Bader, Laura Forlano, Dana Spiegel, Sree Sreenivasan and myself.
Ari Zoldan on January 7, 2008
In addition to the Montevina platform for notebooks, Intel may also be delivering WiMAX to ultraportables and mobile internet devices through its Menlow platform. InfoWorld reports that Intel is developing WiMAX chips specifically for mobile devices as an optional addition to the platform:
Intel is already developing a WiMax silicon chip codenamed Baxter Peak for mobile devices. Last year, Nokia said it would use Baxter Peak on its WiMax-enabled N-series Internet tablets, expected to ship in 2008... “[The chip] will be an option similar to how Echo Peak is an option for Centrino notebooks based on the Montevina mobile platform,” [according to Kari Aakre, an Intel spokeswoman]
With hopes of WiMAX taking off in 2009, Intel’s move toward including WiMAX chips in both notebooks and mobile devices is an excellent step toward boosting WiMAX adoption rates. Having a big name like Intel behind WiMAX and actively integrating supportive hardware will make providers that much more inclined to invest in WiMAX and customers that much more likely to subscribe to WiMAX services. Intel’s tactic also encourages a form of brand recognition in the sense that it gets the name “WiMAX” out to the public–thus building awareness about the technology and its capabilities.
Intel’s “Baxter Peak” and other WiMAX-enabled devices are scheduled for shipment early this year.… Read the rest
Ari Zoldan on January 3, 2008
With the new year, investors and all breeds of business people are re-evaluating–and maybe even crossing their fingers–for the industries they’ve put their money on. Many are wondering if this will be the big year for WiMAX in particular. Fortune seems to think so. In an article entitled ”The Top 10 Wireless Trends for 2008” WiMAX came in at number five with some buzz about Xohm and Nokia‘s WiMAX-enabled Internet tablet.
Also noteworthy is the fact that nearly all the other listed trends either go hand-in-hand with WiMAX or would benefit from the deployment of a nationwide network. For instance, camera phones with much more advanced functions are listed as one hot trend. With WiMAX, sending and receiving cell phone pictures would be so much faster and easier than it is on traditional cellular networks. Furthermore, WiMAX aficionados even speak of traditional digital cameras becoming WiMAX-enabled, with the ability to quickly and easily upload pictures to blogs, e-mails or other devices without ever touching a USB cord or PC. If camera phones have hit big, how much more so would a WiMAX-enabled camera be likely to hit the trend list?
For 2008, investors and others with a hand in WiMAX will be happy to see that secular sources are keeping an eye on WiMAX. The public’s technological needs and desires can be matched by what WiMAX has to offer–the key is getting it out there for the taking.
… Read the rest
Ari Zoldan on October 1, 2007
It seems that attendance and participation in WiMAX World USA is growing in tandem with the market. According to WiMAX.com, attendance and participation at the event doubled since last year, with over 8,000 in attendance and over 350 participants.
Commenting on the growing success of the WiMAX World Conference, founder Eliot Weinman said,
We in the industry truly believe 2008 will be the breakout year for this technology, and the fact that WiMAX World has grown so large so quickly supports that view.
The next conference is already scheduled for September 30 to October 2 of next year, with conferences in Europe and Asia slated for the spring.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, WiMAX World USA, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications… Read the rest
Ari Zoldan on September 28, 2007
Barry West, Sprint’s Chief Technology Officer, revealed more details about their upcoming XOHM service at WiMAX World USA in Chicago. ComputerWorld reports that pricing for XOHM will not be based on contracts or the model of pricing used for cellular phone service. Instead, XOHM will be subscription-based, with longer subscriptions offering lower prices on the service. In addition, various tiers of service will be offered that can be purchased depending upon the consumer’s needs. What will not be included with the service are SLA’s or Service-Level Agreements, which guarantee a minimum bandwidth, or your money back.
As for Sprint’s overall WiMAX rollout in preparation for XOHM? Barry West seems confident enough. He reported at WiMAX World that the company is on target with its preparations for nationwide deployment, and is up to par with its first rollout in Chicago and Baltimore. With competitors like Verizon and AT&T not planning any participation in 4G services until the next two years, West smugly remarked: “Xohm is all there, and we’re going to kick butt.”
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Sprint, WiMAX World USA, Xohm, WiMAX prices, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications… Read the rest
Ari Zoldan on September 27, 2007
CNNMoney reports on what is described as “the world’s first demonstration of unified communications over 4G WiMAX at WiMAX World USA.” In the demonstration, Nortel placed a phonecall over a 4G WiMAX network.
Probably the most intriguing aspect of this article, though, is its exploration of hyperconnectivity, which implies the idea of every possible technological device becoming connected. It conjures images of an era when e-mail, text messages, phone, instant messenger and general online access will all be interconnected. Although to some degree this has already happened with devices like BlackBerries, what is profound is the degree to which WiMAX can further develop the speed and efficacy of these interconnected tools. With more speed and a more powerful network, hyperconnectivity can be taken to a level that we cannot currently imagine.
With this in mind, Nortel’s attempt toward “unified communications” further simplifies the complexities that can be associated with hyperconnectivity. Nortel has found a way to eliminate the need for multiple passwords and the like, and has created a so-called “one-stop” way of accessing these different technological tools wirelessly. With convenience and ease of use entering the picture when it comes to hyperconnectivity, its pervasiveness in our evolving technological reality will only become more persistent.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Nortel, WiMAX World USA, unified communications, hyperconnectivity, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications… Read the rest
Ari Zoldan on September 26, 2007
The WiMAX World USA conference has featured yet another product that has produced some buzz in the world of WiMAX. InformationWeek describes a module developed by MobileAccess that may help close the debate as to how useful WiMAX is to offices and other large buildings.
In order to bypass the potential problems associated with WiMAX signals permeating the walls in large spaces, MobileAccess’ WiMAX Module will only require sliding a blade into the building’s telecommunications closet. This will greatly facilitate the switchover from current internet services to WiMAX. Rather than having to overhaul an entire building’s infrastructure, this module will make switching over to WiMAX simple and inexpensive. The module is expected to take off at some point next year, and will be particularly useful on college campuses, in large indoor spaces like airports, and even in places like malls and stadiums.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, MobileAccess, mobile WiMAX, WiMAX World USA, wireless, MobileAccess WiMAX Module, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications… Read the rest
