InformationWeek reports that Intel, Nokia and Nokia Siemens Network demonstrated an early version of a Wi-Fi/WiMAX network solution at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The technology is designed to allow mobile devices to seamlessly move from a Wi-Fi connection to a WiMAX connection with no disruption in internet access.  It works by responding to several different triggers; for example, a weakening Wi-Fi signal. Before the Wi-Fi signal is entirely lost, one is able to simultaneously connect to a WiMAX signal, leaving any online work unaffected by the switchover.

The article goes on to state the value of such a development:

Such anywhere, anytime connectivity is pivotal to mainstream adoption of future Internet-enabled devices, capable of accessing multimedia and other services over the Web. Intel and other companies are investing billions in the technology needed to build and support such devices, which are the future of mobile computing, proponents say.

Technologies like this are pivotal in terms of dual access, especially in moving some out of the familiarity of Wi-Fi into the still-somewhat-unfamiliar realm of WiMAX connectivity. But perhaps most valuable is the seamless quality of what Intel and Nokia are developing and what that will mean for mobile access.

Comsys Communications and Signal Processing and Agilent Technologies Inc. have combined their interests in a collaboration that may help speed up product development on the WiMAX front. Agilent brings to the table the Agilent N8300A, a wireless networking test set that can be used to identify WiMAX-compliant chipsets. According to the press release, “with Agilent’s support of Comsys chipsets, modules based on Comsys ICs can be calibrated and tested with the greatest speed and efficiency.”

The Agilent N8300A has been noted for the accuracy and speed with which it functions as a test solution. Likewise, Comsys is a leading supplier of chipsets on the WiMAX standard. With the two companies working together, one can imagine an assembly line-style movement with WiMAX chipsets being designed, tested and perfected. The efficiency of this type of collaboration may in fact ultimately trickle down and contribute to the production of viable WiMAX-enabled products (and the speed with which developments take place). Given the important role the development of products and devices will play in the adoption of WiMAX, these types of partnerships–if executed correctly–can prove to be valuable to the industry as a whole.