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Now It's Carriers' Turn To Talk Down WiMax
from the hype-circle dept
A Nokia exec made some waves two weeks ago when he said "cellular networks currently suck," but then said WiMax wouldn't live up to people's expectations. Then, earlier this week, a Qualcomm exec teed off on mobile WiMax. It's easy to characterize both sets of comments as attempts by entrenched cellular data companies to undermine a rival technology, but now, even carriers are saying slow down on the WiMax hype as both customer-premises and carrier equipment remains too expensive, and a lack of standardized spectrum around the world will keep prices high. The CTO of UK carrier BT told a trade-show panel that the first WiMax services will offer between 1 and 2 Mbps -- a far cry from some of the speeds the WiMax hype machine has been throwing out -- and said "the business case for mobile WiMAX is tough". But all this is coming from carriers at one show in Las Vegas. Fly across the country to Boston, where a WiMax show is happening at the same time, and the hype continues.
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Dont believe them
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Re: Dont believe them
As far as I can tell, it would be pretty damn difficult to use WiMax because no WiMax equipment actually exists.
My guess is you're thinking about the announcement recently from BellSouth. If that's the case, it's worth noting that that's NOT WIMAX. It's not even close. They're using proprietary wireless equipment from Navini that's CDMA-based, and has very little to do with WiMAX, even if they're calling it "pre-WiMax." Pre-WiMax is just a marketing label from companies that want to offer WiMax once it's available.
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Re: Dont believe them
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Re: Dont believe them
Nope. That's not WiMax. It's not WiMax because there is no WiMax equipment. Literally. It does not exist. Not a single piece of equipment has yet been certified as meeting the WiMax standards. Lots of companies have "pre-WiMax" equipment, and some in the press say that's WiMax, but it's not.
There will be WiMax equipment at some point, but this isn't it.
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Re: Dont believe them
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051016/BUSINESS/510160370/1003
ht tp://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051016/BUSINESS/510160370/1003
http://www.g lobetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051006.gtkatrinaoct6/BNStory/Technology/
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Re: Dont believe them
For about 3 years now companies have been claiming their equipment is WiMax when it isn't -- and the press has been eating it up and turning it around and saying it's WiMax. It's not.
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