Business Online Connection Options Expand with WiMax Technology

The world, especially the business world, is rapidly embracing a new connectivity technology called Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, or WiMax, to satisfy their data access needs. This is because many businesses have been looking for high-speed data research as they are mobile by way of wireless phones and other WiMax-enabled devices.The key difference between the WiMax technology and the Wi-Fi wireless technology is that WiMax can cover several miles or more, whereas Wi-Fi is limited to small hot spots. Advocates for the WiMax technology, such as Sprint and Motorola, assert that this new breakthrough could turn the entire country into one large hot spot.The primary reason for all this excitement surrounding this new technology is the ever growing demand among consumers for broadband, no matter where they are. In addition, the Federal Communications Commission is pushing businesses to implement the WiMax technology to broaden mobile broadband options for consumers.Originally, this new technology was developed for mobile data transmission, but it was soon discovered that is was a perfect fit for Internet phone service. This is why most analysts believe that WiMax will compete and actually threaten the traditional wireless carriers. This is one of the big reasons why Sprint is working hard with WiMax companies to build a national WiMax network.Certainly the WiMax technology will have huge market implications. By enabling consumers to surf the Internet anytime, any location, on virtually any device will create a whole new ballgame in a variety of markets. One thing to keep in mind as this evolves is that Wi-Fi is unlicensed whereas the more robust WiMax utilizes airwaves that require a government license, which is the same as cellphone service.
WiMax can support lots of high-bandwidth customers with ease, which means faster broadband at cheaper prices. This means that consumers will more than likely be big winners as WiMax’s efficiency will generate much better prices than currently being offered with today’s cell-based wireless broadband. Experts project that down the road WiMax will deliver Internet speeds up to 100 megabits per second on the down-link path and 10 megabits on the uplink.
In the meantime, companies like Sprint and Clearwire are combining to create a real network with bona fide customers. The first goal is to install mobile WiMax equipment at more than 60,000 cellphone sites across the United States. Sprint alone will be investing about 5 billion into the effort. The first markets will be Chicago and Washington D.C. and it is anticipated they will be going online in the spring of 2008.The new WiMax-based rollout will provide their customers with the capability to use virtually any WiMax device or software. This represents a huge leap from typical cell-phone businesses, which burden their customers with strict limitations on devices and software. Look for big changes to come shortly for the WiMax technology as other companies like Alvarion, which supplies service providers with the WiMax standard, start to get involved as well.
Jeff Neal Senior Writer, Options Strategist & Profit Strategies Radio Show Market CorrespondentVisit Jeff’s Forum