Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Intel Corporation (INTC) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Duke of URL© who wrote (176708)	1/28/2004 4:47:30 PM
From: The Duke of URL©	Respond to of 186894

Intel's Got WiMax Headroom 01.28.04 Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC - message board) has been busy talking up the potential of "WiMax" technology, naming seven carriers worldwide it claims are looking to test kit based on the 802.16 wireless metropolitan area networking (MAN) standard. Top of Intel’s list of interested parties is crusty European incumbent BT Group British Telecommunications plc (BT) (NYSE: BTY - message board; London: BTA), which, according to a statement, is “assessing WiMax technology for trials and implementation.” BT itself remains less forthcoming. In fact, a call to its press office was greeted with a response of “What’s WiMax?” on three separate occasions [ed. note: how reassuring]. Other suspects identified by Intel include Hong Kong’s PCCW Ltd. (NYSE: PCW - message board; Hong Kong: 0008), Reliance Infocomm Ltd. (in India), Iberbanda (Spain), MVS Net (Mexico), Neotec (Brazil), and UK Broadband. “We have been in discussions with all the major carriers about WiMax, and they are all very interested in the work that is going on in this space,” Intel spokesman Dan Francisco tells Unstrung. Intel’s enthusiasm in pushing the development of WiMax is hardly surprising, in light of plans to launch its own 802.16a chips. “We expect to be first to market with the 802.16 certified silicon by the second half of this year,” adds Francisco (see Intel's WiMax Drive). These chips will be used in wireless MAN base stations intended to provide high-speed data services at distances of up to 30 miles or so (see Airspan Builds on Intel). WiMax is also being touted as a cheaper way to provide backhaul for 802.11 wireless LAN access points, which normally have to be wired up to an Ethernet or cable network to provide connectivity (see Working for the MAN). Intel’s bullisht statements come at a time of mixed industry sentiment over the technology’s potential for future success. A recent Unstrung poll found that Broadband Wireless Access and WiMax is the technology most likely to put a little oomph back into the wireless industry in 2004, contradicting earlier analyst belief that vendors in this space will be left with slim pickings (see BWA Takes the Honors and Startups Battle for Scraps?). — Justin Springham, Senior Editor, Europe, Unstrung