Tuesday, July 15, 2008

12:32 15 July 2008 New Scientist and Reuters report
Intel, the world's biggest PC chip maker, has launched the next-generation of its Centrino wireless chips for use in laptop computers and other non-PC devices.
The chips combine Wi-Fi capability with a newer wireless technology called WiMax, which allows for high-speed data transmission over much bigger distances, such as across entire cities. The WiMax-enabled version of the chips should be available later this year.
This is an interesting development in the battle between WiMax and 3G. If we do a system, element-by-element, analysis, we discover that 3G has significant advantage because it has service providers, distribution network, and cool client devices, such as iPhone, compared to just PCs on the WiMax side.  Will WiMax follow the WiFi citywide deployment pattern, when services chains, e.g. Starbucks, install access points to attract customers? Unlikely. Coffee shops are local, and so are WiFi configurations. WiMax are WAN-bound, therefore only a citywide business entity would benefit from it.

I should develop a technology battle case study to analyze and forecast possible implications of the announcement.

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