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Technology Stocks : The *NEW* Frank Coluccio Technology Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (21016)	4/23/2007 12:41:32 AM
From: Peter Ecclesine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 46821

The good and bad of WiMAX >> The first is as a way into mobile for non-mobile players. Worthington says he's seeing plenty of interest from ISPs, cable TV guys and satellite operators. Mobile will never be their core business, but a wireless data/voice offering broadens their product set.<< Right, let Ericsson operate the network for them who don't know how. Chaff to the left. >> The next - and this could be its biggest app - is in M2M, or man-to-machine. The idea of embedding chips in thousands and thousands of cameras, MP3 players, home networks, vending machines, to name but a few, certainly excites the WiMAX community. These would be deployable in multiple spectrum bands and would build on the growing installed base of embedded Wi-Fi devices.<< Why not Wi-Fi for M2M? Chaff to the left. >>The final one is the bet by Nortel, Intel and others to make WiMAX a foundation of 4G. That one's with the standards bodies right now and doubtless will remain there for years to come.<< 1 Gbps per static circuit, 100 Mbps per mobile circuit. >>WiMAX runs in the 2.3-, 2.5- and 3.5-GHz bands. For the mobile deployments, the lower bands are a must.<< Who has the spectrum now? petere

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (21016)	4/24/2007 1:56:51 AM
From: axial	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 46821

Hi Frank - Ericsson's position on OFDM/4G has been longstanding ambivalence. They now have both feet on the same side of the fence. I don't think there's any clarity at all on how things will evolve, or why. For the game to go one way or the other, some of the rules have to change. There's no question that WiFi has taken an early lead, and that it can do the things its proponents claim. But I still think that the spectrum at 2.4 GHz is going to become a tricky place to work. Yes, there are advances being made, but would you stake a business proposition on them? OTOH, WiMax has shortcomings, too. Spectrum. Handoffs. Power (battery) usage. WiBro seems to be perceived as a stopgap on the way to something better - but what? M2M? I agree with Peter: why not WiFi? Especially if the usage isn't time-critical (ie., must be received when transmitted). OK, there might be an advantage on licensed spectrum, but it's not a show-stopper for WiFi. Ditto backhaul. I agree with your contention that WiMax will be insufficient for many corporate usage scenarios, but then, what do you propose? There are LOS alternatives. Does anyone have a vision on how this will evolve? I don't. Advances in RF technology appear to have resulted in an array of competing alternatives, none of which is The Answer for everyone. So, do we have to wait for competing RF technologies to do a BetaMax vs VHS-like battle? Probably. Will it take a long time, as new (and competing) technologies emerge? Probably. Who knows? It's clear as mud to me. Jim

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (21016)	4/24/2007 8:38:30 AM
From: Peter Ecclesine	Respond to of 46821

>>The good and bad of WiMAX<< >>The first is as a way into mobile for non-mobile players. Worthington says he's seeing plenty of interest from ISPs, cable TV guys and satellite operators. Mobile will never be their core business, but a wireless data/voice offering broadens their product set.<< This is the largest claim, and largest farce - can anyone quantify how MVNOs like Virgin make their money longterm? Do-It-Yourself Wireless A former Microsoft exec is starting a service that lets just about any group—from churches to sports teams—become its own cell-phone provider businessweek.com The Limits of Affinity clickz.com