Intel, Nokia Team To Push Mobile WiMAX

LONDON — Nokia and Intel have joined forces to accelerate the development, adoption and deployment of the mobile version of WiMAX, which is likely to be standardized in the latter part of next year as IEEE 802.16e.

Intel has been one of the most active proponents of both the fixed-line version of WiMAX, which is beginning to be deployed, and the emerging mobile standard, while Nokia has been a more recent convert to the high speed wireless technology. It now sees more demand coming from mobile network operators, its key customers on the infrastructure side, and suggests the high-speed broadband technology will be complementary to the 3G network infrastructure it is providing to numerous operators.

In April , Intel launched its first silicon for WiMAX. Originally codenamed Rosedale, the single-chip modem and applications processor have now been relabelled as the PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface.

The companies said Friday (June 10) they would collaborate on several areas in support of mobile WiMAX technology, including mobile clients, network infrastructure and market development. For mobile devices and notebook platforms. Intel and Nokia said they would work closely on both client and base station strategies to help deploy a WiMAX network infrastructure.

"Even though we and the industry as a whole are at the early stages of discovery and development, the industry momentum is remarkable. To have innovators like Nokia working to bring WiMAX and other broadband wireless technologies to the masses is very encouraging," said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and general manager of Intel's mobility group.