INTEL's WiMax Dream Goes On

INTEL feels really good. No, it's not about its CPUs now. This time the WiMAX technology has finally spawned its first child. Yes people, INTEL managed to produce its first WiMAX adaptor for laptops. The WiMAX Connect 2300 chip coming equipped with a radio antenna could be a future replacement for 802.11 Wi-Fi and cellular networks by providing a reasonable speed over several kilometers. INTEL said that multiple antennas could increase the power of the signal even more. The chip was mounted onto a Centrino laptop that also featured Wi-Fi and a HSDPA.

Rumors suggest that INTEL is pushing WiMAX as future replacement for HSDPA and EVDO high-speed cellular networks. In some cases, WiMAX could also replace 802.11b/g networks since it can match at least 802.11b speeds with several MB/s being transmitted on a wide range. WiMAX radios can also transmit and receive while moving at over 60 MPH.

The mobile WiMAX chip (IEEE 802.16e-2005), when combined with the company's previously announced single-chip multi-band WiMAX/Wi-Fi radio, creates a complete wireless capable chipset (Intel WiMAX Connection 2300). While the first platform that was said to integrate it is already on the market (Centrino), INTEL is pushing the chip into its forthcoming platform Centrino Pro (also known as Santa Rosa) which might also feature 3G connectivity.

"INTEL continues to drive innovation in mobile broadband access by eliminating the seams that prevent ubiquitous wireless connectivity. The WiMAX Connection 2300 will help speed the deployment of mobile WiMAX, and accelerate the availability of a new wave of 'personal broadband' laptops and mobile devices that deliver the real Internet," said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer at INTEL.