Motorola Intel join hands on WiMax for Mobile Phones

Motorola and Intel, on Thursday, announced their desicion to work together on acceleration of the development and adoption of the broadbnd technology called WiMax for mobile devices. The WiMax technology is based on the proposed IEEE 802.16e standard. With the IEEE 802.16e specification for mobile WiMax slowly moving toward approval, the companies will lay the ground work for the next phase of standardisation.

The companies will work together in labs, test their products for interoperability, and come up with recommendations on profiles, or the guidelines that the WiMax Forum will set for implementation of mobile WiMax, said Tom Mitoraj, director of WiMax business development at Motorola.

Motorola elucidated that the agreement does not bind it to using only Intel chips in its products.

Motorola also said on Thursday that it will not develop products using the 802.16d WiMax specification, which was ratified last year by the IEEE and only supports fixed point-to-point links. Instead, the company will put all of its development efforts into products supporting 802.16e. Equipment built for 802.16e is not compatible with 802.16d.

WiMax is considered a promising-generation wireless technology because it supports high data rates and has a long transmission reach. The technology supports data speeds from 1 megabit per second to 5mbps, and it can be transmitted over a 20-mile radius. This is much farther than Wi-Fi technology based on 802.11 standards, which typically transmits signals only up to 50 feet.

WiMax is also believed to be cheaper than comparable cellular technology because it requires fewer network elements.

Motorola sees WiMax as a key piece of its mobility strategy and plans to introduce an 802.16e WiMax phone in early 2007. The company also plans to build a dual-mode phone that supports WiMax and cellular to allow people to roam in and out of the two networks for maximum wireless coverage.

"WiMAX is beginning to deliver on its promise to provide broadband wireless access to businesses and consumers, and the promise of full mobility is around the corner with the anticipated ratification of the 802.16e standard," said Scott Richardson, general manager of Intel’s Broadband Wireless Division. "By working with Motorola on mobile WiMAX standards and technology, we can jointly develop and test equipment to meet the requirements necessary for truly mobile broadband."

"We believe 802.16e is going to be the way to go for both fixed and nomadic applications," said Dan Coombes, chief technology officer, Motorola Networks. "With its robust specifications and ability to support high-value services like voice over IP and mobility, 802.16e is an ideal choice for many applications. Teaming with Intel to work on 802.16e standards and interoperability matters will complement our strategy of using 802.16e with our MOTOwi4 WiMAX solutions."

The MOTOwi4 portfolio includes fixed and mobile broadband solutions designed to meet the different needs of wireless, wireline, and cable operators for lower cost delivery of data rich multimedia applications and services. The portfolio extends beyond access point solutions to encompass mobile devices, customer premises equipment, PC cards, in-vehicle public safety devices and services.

"The Motorola IMS solution is a central component of our seamless mobility strategy across multiple access environments including wireless broadband," said Raghu Rau, senior vice president of Global Marketing and Strategy for Motorola Networks. "Our IMS solution supports WiMAX as well as other packet-based broadband networks like Wi-Fi, DSL and cable, and mobile broadband."

Sequans Communications, a fabless semiconductor company, said its WiMAX products will allow equipment manufacturers to launch mobile WiMAX base stations and mobile devices in the second half of next year. The silicon and software supplier said its WiMAX solutions are WiBRO compliant and can be upgraded as the 802.16e standard evolves.

"With the imminent ratification of the IEEE 802.16e standard, and the capabilities and huge potential of mobile WiMAX, most wireless telecommunications equipment manufacturers and consumer devices manufacturers are eager to develop WiMAX-enabled base stations, phones, PDAs, multimedia players or laptops," said Bernard Aboussouan, vice president of marketing and business development at Sequans. "With our product rollout, manufacturers will have the necessary components, hardware and software platforms to begin development today and be first to market."