Intel Drops $600,000,000 On WiMax

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060706-7200.html">http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060706-7200.html</a><br /><br /><i>"Intel Capital has been busy. We reported yesterday on their multimillion dollar investment in videogame advertising, but that amount is pocket change compared to the US$600 million Intel has just invested in Clearwire. The investment is the largest ever for Intel Capital, and it signals the company's continued interest in the WiMAX-style technology pushed by Clearwire. Who is Clearwire? The firm, headquartered up in Washington state, offers wireless Internet access based on the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard, with plans to adopt full WiMAX compatibility when the technology finally gets up and running."</i><br /><br />This is going to compete directly with the wireless broadband from your carrier as well as your home connection for many users, though it remains to be seen how battery friendly it is for devices like a Pocket PC. Of course, your existing WiFi devices won't work with it - you'll need new cards. Still, I am glad this is finally getting off of the ground.

[Phoenix]

That's a massive investment, and with that, it's clear that it's being taken very seriously. Having spent that much money, Intel is going to be behind this for quite some time, and I'm very happy to see WiMax progressing.

I'd love to have a connection everywhere I went. Forget hotspots, which is like finding a needle in a haystack. Providing WiMax really takes off and continues to grow, this will blanket the nation. And no more routers, no more modems (as far as I've read, anyway). :D Plus, I'm hoping they'll just dive right into 802.20.

Of course, security will be of the utmost importance. I'm curious to know just what control we'll have on the client end, if any, and regardless, just how solid it'll be.

[myrampar]

This is going to compete directly with the wireless broadband from your carrier as well as your home connection for many users, though it remains to be seen how battery friendly it is for devices like a Pocket PC. Of course, your existing WiFi devices won't work with it - you'll need new cards. Still, I am glad this is finally getting off of the ground.

I have Clearwire where I live and am using it as a backup connection at home in addition to my cable internet. I also use the service to provide on-site support for my clients who have dial-up connections or entry-level DSL.

I've rigged up the Clearwire modem and a Linksys WRT54GC Compact Wireless router in my truck to provide internet access for my XV6700 and laptop/pdas while driving around town.

In my experience, the coverage is generally pretty good, however due to the directional nature of the Clearwire modem's antenna my connection can get dropped by simply turning the corner. I've also tried streaming music and/or videos from my home computer using Orb while driving (not watching of couse, simply listening :wink: ) and have noticed that even when going down a long straight road, the handoff between towers is fairly slow. It seems to take anywhere from 10-15 seconds for the transition to take place and my music or video to resume streaming.

It works well as long as I'm stationary and I don't have to drive very far to get a signal. Most of the places I frequent while out and about end up being within range, so I can stop and have lunch and still be connected if I leave it running in the truck.

It will be nice, however when they introduce a laptop card similar to those available to the EVDO crowd or introduce devices with this technology built-in. :)

[BoxWave]

wow. if anyone has read ferazzi's "never eat alone" -- i had no idea all this was transpiring. even with me in washington state.

great find.

-w

i say you checkout this all time greatest hits review :D --

http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=11356

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Well, hopefully this pans out, but Intel is going to have to either convince the PC OEMs to fork over more $$ for their WiMax capable processors/chipsets or offer it at no extra cost. There is no demand for WiMax support from the general public (can't demand something that they don't know about) and Intel is trying to drive that demand by putting into everyone's hands, but without the demand, OEMs aren't likely to want to pay for that extra capability. It's the whole chicken and egg question. I think this will arrive eventually, but I'd be surprised if that occurs anytime before 2008. I hope I'm wrong.