Nokia Siemens Networks announced that it will cut 1,500 jobs from Motorola Solutions, affecting R&D, supply chain and sales related to the WiMAX business.
Nokia
As service providers like Sprint Nextel, Verizon, and AT&T battle for the rights to WiMAX and LTE networks for their mobile data plans, the tailors that outfit compatible equipment – specifically, Motorola and Nokia – remodel their respective gadgetry and tech wardrobes to suit the burgeoning market.
Joining Samsung (which already demoed its own WiMAX 2 Mobile Broadband earlier this month) come Motorola and Nokia, who have each announced extensions of already-procured licensing agreements to cover the greatly celebrated, next-gen 4G-mania that’s seizing the nation – cellular technologies LTE, WiMAX, and LTE-Advanced were officially included in the companies’ prevalent intellectual property contracts, the terms of which remain undisclosed.
While the companies remain silent about the unnamed stipulations, their spokespeople remain enthusiastic about the promise of a 4G-enriched future."This agreement also shows that the industry is making fast progress in resolving LTE licensing issues between the major patent holders," said Finnish Nokia Vice President Paul Melin of the transaction, which took place this past Friday. Kirk Dailey, corporate VP of Motorola’s Intellectual Property department, announced that his company was “pleased to extend our existing IP licensing agreement with Nokia to include 4G technologies and are confident this agreement will help foster continued innovation and technological advancement for the telecommunications industry. Motorola is committed to leveraging the strength of its industry-leading intellectual property portfolio for the benefit of its customers, partners, shareholders and licensees.”
Motorola and Nokia face tremendous competition in bedding WiMAX – Samsung plans to have its own equipment out by the end of 2011 (much to the chagrin of rivals Apple and Google Android) suitable for WiMAX 2, encased in backwards-compatible technology that should fit even the currently growing WiMAX network. While Motorola already has a phone upgradeable to WiMAX in the works, Nokia has yet to dish on any up-and-coming devices – and, with both groups already infamous for their previously released Android tech and Asian-fave Nokia 6500 Slide, we eagerly await more information about any new models to be released by these freshly re-contracted companies. … Read the rest
Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA), just announced the release of a global report on the WiMAX market, predicting that the world market for WiMAX will exceed $9.4 billion by 2015. Despite the current economic downturn that threw most major industries for a loop, the report says that WiMAX is expected to recreate momentum thanks to a greater number of mobile WiMAX-enabled tools, growth in base station operation, and expansion in other emerging markets.
As WiMAX becomes more commercially accessible, main targets for WiMAX growth will be up and coming markets who have little or no DSL coverage. International areas of potential WiMAX growth and current WiMAX rollout include Eastern and Central Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Central America and Latin America. At present, India is considered to be the biggest WiMAX opportunity and various providers are scrambling to get their stake there.
International WiMAX growth in 2009 decelerated a bit over the course of the year while the global economic recession resulted in a decline in monthly revenues from business users. Hurdles with deployment for WiMAX operators involving financing, regulations, and spectrum allocation all played their respective parts in this decline. Keep in mind that growth is still expected, particularly after Q1 2010 showed major expansion in WiMAX devices, deployment, and subscribers.
Nationally, the WiMAX market has been growing and will continue to increase in not only remote, hard-to-reach areas, but now in major metropolis’ as well. Major factors that will drive continued adoption of mobile WiMAX are shifts in user spending towards wireless broadband services and rationalization of communication services expenses by consumers. Top WiMAX provider Clearwire has already rolled out WiMAX in over 30 markets across the country with plans of WiMAX in more major cities including New York and San Francisco for 2010.
Another factor to be taken into consideration in the future of WiMAX is the development of LTE and the hype surrounding it, as it is expected to have a major impact on the 4G world. In terms of the WiMAX-LTE debate, some are skeptical and believe that for one to prosper, the other must fail. In reality, the possibility of dual WiMAX and LTE-enabled devices has already been in the works with major 4G players including Clearwire, Intel, Nokia, and Sprint and shows real promise.
The report titled “WiMAX: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by GIA provides a comprehensive … Read the rest
Verizon Defends LTE at WiMAX Confab – Dec 2, 2009 (FierceWireless)
Clearly outnumbered by the mobile WiMAX advocates in the audience, Verizon’s Chris Neisinger defended his company’s choice of LTE for its 4G network technology. During the WiMAX Forum Americas 2009 conference here this morning, Neisinger said Verizon considered deploying mobile WiMAX technology but ultimately selected LTE because the company believes the technology will have a larger ecosystem.
Agreement Could Bring About Smartphone for WiMax Use – Dec 3, 2009 (Wimax News)
Users may soon have another way to access WiMax. AD2, Beecem and ECS have formed an agreement to Android-based smartphone for WiMAX users.
Time Warner Cable Announces Increase in WiMax Offering – Dec 2, 2009 (Wimax News)
Time Warner Cable launched mobile WiMAX service in Dallas and North Carolina December 1. The company states that its WiMax service, dubbed Road Runner Mobile, is as fast as its cable intenet service.
Airspan and Sling Broadband to Demonstrate Mobile WiMAX Network – Dec 2, 2009 (CNNMoney)
Airspan Networks Inc. (PINKSHEETS: AIRO), a leading provider of broadband wireless access networks, announced today that it plans to demonstrate its Mobile WiMAX solution, running on a dedicated backbone provided by Sling Broadband, a local Floridian WiMAX Operator, at the WiMAX Forum Congress Americas show December 2-3, 2009.
Exclusive: Green Packet Launches Infinit Service Management Platform – Dec 2, 2009 (Wimax News)
GoingWiMax caught up with Kelvin Lee, Senior General Manager of Green Packet Solutions to introduce Infinit Services Management Platform (ISMP).
Clearwire Hopes to Have WiMax-enabled Phones by Christmas 2010 – Dec 2, 2009 (Wimax News)
Clearwire has announced a self-imposed deadline for its plans for WiMax smartphones would be available by Christmas 2010, according to Clearwire CEO Bill Morrow.
ADC Teams with for WiMAX Access Service Node – Dec 2, 2009 (TMCnet)
ADC, a provider of global network infrastructure products and services, has chosen Aricent, a global innovation, technology and services company, to provide its WiMAX (News – Alert) Access Service Node or “ASN” software as part of the ADC WiMAX ecosystem.
25% of Grant Applications submitted are Wimax-based – Dec 2, 2009 (Wimax News)
25 percent of applications received by the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Department of Agriculture RUS Fund for last mile broadband stimulus applications are based on WiMax technology.
MoquiZone sets up First Base Station in China – Dec 1, 2009 (Wimax News)
MoquiZone has set … Read the rest
Telecom Providers Announce LTE Standard – Nov 5, 2009 (CNET)
In the battle between LTE and WiMax for wireless broadband, LTE may have just gotten another boost. A group of leading telecom service and equipment providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Nokia, and Samsung, announced a new standard Thursday for delivering compatible voice and messaging services using Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.
Anritsu Joins `4G and Fat Pipes` Panel Discussion Tour – Nov 5, 2009 (Reuters)
Anritsu Company, in conjunction with RCR Wireless News, is happy to announce RCR Local, a series of networking events held around the country to gather large groups of telecom and technology professionals. The first event will focus on the impact 4G services have on the wireless industry and, ultimately, our society as whole, both from an economic and cultural standpoint.
CLEAR WiMax on Sale Today in the Philadelphia Region – Nov 5, 2009 (Wimax News)
Clearwire Communications, LLC, announced today the expansion of its sales operations for CLEAR`s internet service throughout the Philadelphia region. The company will be showcasing mobile WiMax capabilities in Philadelphia’s Love Park at their consumer launch event.
Intel in Talks with ITI for WiMAX Joint Venture – Nov 5, 2009 (Business Standard)
The world’s largest chip maker Intel is preparing to participate in bids recently invited by ailing state-run telecom equipment manufacturer Indian Telecom Industries (ITI) to set up joint ventures based on various technologies including Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), according to sources close to this development.
Taiwan and China WiMax Partners Instead of Competitors – Nov 4, 2009 (Wimax News)
Acer chairman JT Wang, who also serves as chairman of the Taipei Computer Association (TCA), wants Taiwan and China based players to see each other more as partners than competitors.
Alvarion Beats Analyst Expectations – Nov 4, 2009 (Wimax News)
Alvarion reported lower quarterly earnings and revenue on Wednesday, although the results beat expectations and sent its shares higher.
Tata Teleservices Maharashtra to Spend $266m on 3G, WiMAX – Nov 4, 2009 (Total Telecom)
Indian operator says money will be spent at spectrum auctions and on capacity expansion.
Sprint’s Good News: 10 More Cities with WiMax and a New Netbook – Nov 4, 2009 (Wimax News)
Sprint-Nextel Corp., has confirmed that it is launching its first ever netbook as well as expanding the coverage of its WiMax network.
Obama Earmarks $7 Billion to Expand High-speed Internet … Read the rest
Intel Corporation and Nokia signed a long-term relationship contract today to develop a new type of mobile computing device and chipset. The two companies also signed a licensing agreement that will enable Intel to license Nokia’s HSPA/3G modem technologies. These two contracts were signed as steps toward the creation of a new technological device for the mobile broadband market.
Intel and Nokia will combine high-bandwidth mobile broadband communication computers and ubiquitous Internet connectivity to create this new device. The name and the specifications of the device were not spelled out, however the companies claim that it will surpass any of the mobile devices that currently exist in the market. It will present a totally new type of hardware, software, and mobile Internet service that any of the smartphones, netbooks, or PCs already possess. In terms of physical appearance, the device will be in “pocketable form” to ensure a user-friendly, totally mobile experience.
“We will explore new ideas in designs, materials and displays that will go far beyond devices and services on the market today,” said Kai Oistamo, Executive Vice President, Devices, Nokia.
Intel and Nokia will collaborate in several Open Source softwares in order develop common technologies that can be used in the Moblin and Maemo platform projects, which will deliver Linux-based operating systems for the coming devices. The Open Source softwares will include oFono, ConnMan, Mozilla, X.Org, BlueZ, D-Bus, Tracker, GStreamer, and PulseAudio. The companies want to adapt their device to numerous softwares in order to deliver advanced Internet and communication experiences to their consumers, such as rich graphics and multimedia capabilities.
In addition, Intel agreed to license Nokia’s HSPA/3G modem technologies in order to develop mobile computing solutions that deliver a powerful and flexible computing experience.
Intel supports multiple broadband standards to provide constant Internet connection. Nokia’s modem will help expand Intel’s broadband wireless chipset solutions for mobility, which already combine Wi-Fi and WiMAX technology.… Read the rest
Technology only gets better as time goes on, stretching its capablities and feeling out new territories. Of the many areas in which technology may improve, speed is monitered the most. So, it is no surprise that Apple’s ad campaign for the new iPhone emphasizes that the device is even faster than its previous model.
The iPhone 3GS, as a competitor to Palm’s Pre and other devices like it, is expected to contain extremely advanced features and applications. In addition, its debut may have an impact on the future of WiMAX if you make the following analogy: The iPhone 3GS is to mobile devices as WiMAX is to broadband in terms of speed. Working together, the two can create a monster of a phone.
Martyn Williams of Computerworld compared the current iPhone against other similar products and highlighted some areas in which the iPhone 3GS may improve. These included the iPhone’s resolution, which is only 480 pixels by 360 pixels as opposed to the Nokia N97 (640 pixels by 360 pixels) and the Toshiba T-01A (800 pixels by 480 pixels), the introduction of an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screen, a faster processor, and more memory.
Williams predicted that the new iPhone 3GS will sport data transmission speeds that are higher than the iPhone’s current 7.2 Mbps, which are transmitted over HSDPA networks. In conjunction with increased data transmission speeds, the iPhone 3GS may add WiMAX to the Wi-Fi service that already exists on the iPhone. This may be due to the fact that several service carriers are beginning to offer WiMAX in cities around the world to provide users with greater speed and wider coverage.
The iPhone 3GS, which was launched on June 8, includes the new iPhone OS 3.0 and over 100 new features such as Cut, Copy, Paste, MMS, and Spotlight Search. It is 4.5 inches tall, 2.4 inches thick, weighs 4.8 ounces, and comes in black or white. It has up to five hours of talk time, up to five hours of 3G Internet use, and 9 hours of Wi-Fi Internet use. It has a 3.5-inch Multi-Touch screen with 480 pixels by 320 pixels.
So far there is no indication of a WiMAX network on the iPhone 3GS; however, WiMAX is only in its initial stages in the United States and therefore we can not draw any conclusions for Apple at this point.… Read the rest
Briefly introduce yourself and your company. My Name Aleksander Freylekhman and I am Sales Manager for North America at Axxcelera Broadband Wireless. My focus for the company is channel management and business development. Until recent I was working for Winncom Technologies Corp. an international distributor for Wireless Broadband Solutions as a Product Manager. Axxcelera is a manufacturer of Wireless Broadband equipment. We provide Pico-type WiMAX based PtMP (Point-to-Multipoint) solutions for 3 and 5 GHz as well as high capacity PTP (Point-to-Point) solutions for licensed and unlicensed spectrums. Our philosophy is delivering products to the market with highest value to the dollar ratio and we’ve successfully being achieving this goal.
Nokia recently called WiMax the “wireless Betamax”. Would you agree with this statement ? WiMAX is not the only BWA technology available on the market today, that being said we see fixed WiMAX as a very strong and competitive technology for today and into the future. It’s is too early to say how it will compete with rival such as LTE since we are still at least 2 years away from technology being commercially available.
From a business standpoint, how is the economical downturn affecting the Wimax Industry ? If is difficult to find a recession proof industry. However, organizations and service providers are still growing. Public safety as well as video surveillance sectors are being devel
oped, mostly the mentality and approach has changed. Today, customers are looking for biggest value purchase and this is where Axxcelera takes a strong position. We provide solutions with low maintenance and support, more bandwidth, better services often at longer distances at lower capital investment.
Several major wimax operators have recently stepped into developing WiMax services in rural areas as part of the Rural Broadband Stimulus Package. Would you consider this a smart move ? Being a WiMAX company, it’s always good to hear that WiMAX networks are growing in size and quantity. Knowing that BWA is the preferred vehicle of delivering bandwidth to rural and/or underserved communities gives a nice stimulus for every WiMAX manufacturer.
As an innovative 4G solutions provider, where does Axxcelera foresee more opportunities ? Would it be on the international or domestic market ? Both international and domestic markets are good areas to target our resources. Due to our unique and highly portable platform we offer WiMAX solutions for both arenas. International customers can … Read the rest
This weekend Daryl Schoolar, a Senior Analyst with the market research firm In-Stat who has been covering all topics about broadband since 2000, wrote an interesting article on GiGaom unleashing WiMax’s business perspective in the upcoming months and years, also disputing Nokia’s recent comparison of WiMax with Betamax.
“…I believe there is a market for WiMAX. WiMAX’s problem comes from that fact when people talk about it, they do so within the context of the cellular technologies like LTE — but WiMAX is suited to a different use case altogether. Unlike cellular technologies that offer true mobility, WiMAX will offer what I call “nomadicity” — mobility a person can use while in a city but not when traveling between two metro areas. I conducted surveys at In-Stat in 2007 and 2008 to measure consumer interest in different wireless business models. The business models were based on laptop data usage, and described service offerings from mobile operators, hotspot providers, and Sprint/Clearwire’s WiMAX service plans. In both studies, consumers responded more favorably to the business model I described for WiMAX than those for cellular or Wi-Fi. …“
“ Coverage everywhere may be ideal, but consumers really want coverage just where they are. For most consumers, this location is their home metro area. The business model coverage description of WiMAX was limited to coverage in consumers’ home metro area, and a third of all U.S. cities. This is what I call “nomadicity” vs. “full mobility,” as is found with cellular [...] More than 80 percent of consumers said they had some level of interest in a plan that would provide broadband service both at home and on-the-go. Another 40 percent said they would switch from their current fixed broadband provider for one that could give them home and on-the-go service. Currently, Clearwire provides this in its Portland market.”
“I believe there is a business case for WiMAX [...] Whether or not Clearwire survives, I believe its emphasis on nomadicity, with a service that mixes both fixed and mobile broadband, will be successfully used by other WiMAX service providers.”
Read full article on GiGaom : WiMAX Can Win — If It’s Not Playing Against Cellular… Read the rest
Signals Telecom has published reports which estimate that Latin America’s WiMAX market is to surpass US$1.04 Billion in revenues during 2009-2013. WiMAX will also account for around 1.8% of broadband connections in the region over the same time frame.
The reports unveils that the WiMAX business model is developing from being an alternative to wired broadband access into a means for strengthening operator offer through service bundling.
“Delays in the certifying of equipment and the building of economies of scale that were promised by the Xhom and Clearwire launches in the United States, added to negative announcements on WiMAX by Alcatel Lucent, Nortel Networks and Nokia Mobile, have deprived launches of new operations using this technology of their dynamism. We have however noted cases, such as that of Embratel in Brazil, where WiMAX is used to penetrate markets where operators still do not have a fixed line network, to be able to wire them later with HFC networks,” indicated Carlos Blanco, Market Research Director for Signals Telecom Consulting and author of the reports.
High customer acquisition costs, wireless broadband access service proliferation by means of HSPA and lower speeds than those available via wired alternatives such as DSL or cable modem have been the main barriers faced by WiMAX in its attempt to position itself as a viable alternative broadband connection in urban centers.
“We are increasingly noting a greater positioning of WiMAX as a support technology for the service offer that operators already have available, particularly in areas that lack wired alternatives, or as in the case of Ertach Argentina, when it provides a clear advantage over fixed line operators, in this instance because of its greater geographical coverage. The deployment of WiMAX by UNE Telecomunicaciones in Colombia, launched originally under the Orbitel brand, shows how the launch of this technology focused on the mass market without any type of differentiation with the existing broadband offer has little chance of success, as it has shown negative growth in the last few months of 2008,” concluded Jose F. Otero, president of Signals Telecom Consulting.
In total, at 1Q09 there are 26 operators offering wireless broadband services by means of various WiMAX technologies, or that have indicated their intention to migrate their networks to 802.16 technologies in the medium term.… Read the rest
