WiMax - A Look At The Future

Posted October 1, 2007 by Alexander Solis

With WiMAX on the horizon many wonder if WiMAX will revolutionize the way we use computers. WiMAX brings with it the promise of fast, reliable, and affordable broadband internet across multiple platforms, across the country and even across the world, all on one account. Scheduled to hit the market at full force in 2008, WiMAX will be available to over 100 million people and there will be significant international WiMAX expansions happening in Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East.

The WiMAX Players And Leaders.

The biggest factor in the development of WiMAX is the large number of players involved in driving it. Backed by big names such as Intel, Sprint, Samsung, Motorola, and many more, WiMAX has all the resources and support to be successful.

Motorola, Samsung, and Alcatel-Lucent are the big name players involved with building the infrastructure for WiMax. Samsung has been mainly focused on building the infrastructure in the Northeastern section of the United States, including Boston and New York, and has already completed the WiMAX infrastructure in South Korea. Alcatel-Lucent are network specialists involved in building the WiMAX networks Latin America.

Sprint and Intel are probably the two biggest factors that are going to influence the success of WiMAX in the internet market. Sprint being the most prominent and influential name in WiMAX and has been the first national carrier to enter the WiMAX industry. Sprint has opted to act more like an ISP when dealing with WiMAX rather than its traditional role as a telecom carrier. Sprint is offering its own product to WiMax called XHOM. Intel has decided to jump onto the WiMAX scene and has decided to begin implementing its dual Wi-Fi/WiMAX chips into their Centrino laptops in 2008.

There Will Be Two Types Of WiMAX Available.

Fixed WiMAX will be similar to cable/dsl in that you connect through a modem and router to get internet access. The benefit of WiMAX comes in the fact that its simpler, quicker, and more cost effective to build new WiMAX towers and antennas than it is to lay cable/dsl lines. This means that WiMAX has the potential to spread to areas where effective broadband internet isn't readily available.

The second type of WiMAX that will be available is Mobile WiMAX. This is becoming the standard and the one many companies wish to implement. This version allows its users and subscribers to "roam" between WiMAX stations and truly enhances the mobile internet experience. This is that standard that all major retailers for WiMAX are aiming to achieve.

Is WiMAX The Next Generation?

The main benefit and potential to WiMAX is that it can change the scope of the way we view the internet and online accessibility. The main goal of WiMAX is to enable users to have Fixed WiMAX in their homes or businesses and then to used Mobile WiMAX on their cell phones, laptops, or any mobile device to have access to the internet while on the move - all with one account. Thus, the primary and most immediate benefit of WiMAX is that it will bridge the gaps in internet availability. WiMAX will be able to reach rural and remote areas where it has been impossible or unfeasible to provide wired internet.

Another benefit to WiMAX is the ability to bring connectivity to many devices we haven't currently even thought about because of the norm of wired internet. With WiMAX's new take on internet connectivity the scope of what can be done has completely changed. With WiMAX it could be possible to bring connectivity to devices such as TV's, cars, traffic lights, surveillance cameras, and medical equipment.

With WiMAX on the horizon will it change the way we currently view and connect to the internet? Will it revolutionize all of today's modern technology and bring connectivity to virtually anything. With backing from many major retailers WiMAX has an extremely strong future. As said by an IT Consultant - " Within a very few years we will wonder how we ever coped without high speed wireless access to the internet in the first decade of this century".
 

To read more about WiMax or to leave a comment visit our Computer Service Blog or for a more recent update visit the Andy Wendt - Fun Technology blog.

Updated 7/28/2006