Korean Telecom has signed an MoU with Apple which could make Korea among the first places to receive a Wimax-enabled iPhone. Such a phenomenal device as the iPhone could do wonders for Wimax, especially when it is introduced in such a hi-tech and huge market as Korea.
A while back, Nokia sneak previewed their WiMAX internet tablet. It has now started shipping in the US.
Nokia N810 Wimax internet tablet
The N810 Internet tablet features Wifi support, a large touchscreen and a slide-able QWERTY keyboard. It runs a mobile version of Linux and looks pretty sleek.
The tablet is listed at US$433 (after rebate).
InfoWorld has an interesting review of a recently deployed WiMax network in Reno, and how it performs in real world scenarios.
The results showed WiMax (or OFDM to be more precise) to be fast and reliable, but only if used from a fixed location such as a coffee shop or within an office. The service degrades fast and can’t compete with the likes of 3G when used from fast moving vehicles or trains. It also has limitations when it comes to high-bandwidth uses, such as large videos and 3D gaming.
Nonetheless, the ease-of-use and high performance of WiMax will outweigh its cons and will play a large part in its successful adoption. Expect to see more offerings such as this one, especially in areas where wireless is a more suitable and cost-effective medium than copper or fiber.
Motorola has announced an agreement with long-standing customer Mobilink (an Orascom Telecom Company) to deploy a WiMAX 802.16e-2005 access network for the operator in Pakistan.
This could do wonders for the mobile broadband-hungry segment of the Pakistani population that has recently emerged. More details available here.
According to this Information Week article and a report by Juniper Research, the Mobile Wimax standard or 802.16e, is set to hit 80 million subscribers within the next 5-6 years. The majority of these users is likely to come from the US and East Asia. However, the potential of WiMax to replace existing last mile solutions in developing countries could mean that they constitute a significant portion of this number.
Plans by chip makers, such as Intel, to include WiMax support in laptops and other devices would play a crucial role in the success of WiMax in the coming years.
