Mobile WiMax: The Next Wireless Battle Ground

One of the newest technologies to join the fray is mobile WiMax, a version of traditional WiMax (worldwide interoperability for microwave access), which enables high-speed fixed wireless communications. Mobile WiMax proponents hope their approach will compete with cellular, Wi-Fi, and last-mile Internet-access technologies such as DSL and cable. The IEEE plans to adopt mobile WiMax 2.0, formally called IEEE 802.16m later this year. The technology would offer data rates of 100 Mbps for mobile uses and 1 Gbps for fixed applications via enhanced MIMO technology. If adopted on schedule, industry observers expect mobile WiMax 2.0 to appear in products by 2012.