HTC announces T8290 MAX 4G GSM/WiMAX handset for Scartel Yota in Russia

by Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News

HTC announced the dual-radio GSM/WiMAX T8290 handheld, dubbed “MAX 4G”, today. Rumors and photos surfaced last month of an HTC Windows Mobile device with a Russian user interface and claims of WiMAX support. Russian operator Scartel and HTC Corporation today announced the dual protocol handset as a featured device for its Yota mobile WiMAX service.

Voice calls over the cellular GSM service use a SIM card from a range of Russian network operators. When both callers are using the Yota WiMAX network, the call will automatically be routed as a VoIP session. The Yota phone service also supports unique business applications, allowing users to switch between English and Russian contact records while providing functionality such as call holding, conference calling and video calling using the VGA camera on the front of the device.
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Multi-Mode WiMAX/LTE Chips to Hit Markets in 2009, finds ABI Research

2009 will see the introduction of a new class of wireless communications chip that features dual-mode support for both WiMAX and LTE, according to ABI Research. The thrust of demand for such chips comes from those wireless device makers seeking to reduce the number of their SKUs; they will welcome the economies of scale that come from creating devices that support both 4G standards.

“Some mobile operators are showing interest in dual-mode chipsets,” says ABI Research principal analyst Philip Solis, “and they are backing it with cash. Vodafone, for example, has a foot in both WiMAX and LTE camps. They will use LTE in industrialized regions, and WiMAX in developing nations. In Japan, KDDI may deploy LTE on its own, but as an investor (along with Intel and others) in WiMAX operator UQ Communications, KDDI has an interest in both standards.”
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Parade of WiMAX laptops for U.S. begins

Acer, ASUSTeK, Dell, Lenovo and Toshiba announce notebook computer plans for mobile broadband.

by Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News

Five computer manufacturers announced the initial round of WiMAX-ready laptop computers. Through the addition of an expansion card designed by Intel, the machines are able to connect to the mobile WiMAX (802.16e-2005) services launched in the U.S. by mobile carrier Sprint. Acer, ASUSTeK, Lenovo and Toshiba timed their announcements with Sprint Nextel’s XOHM wireless network launch in Baltimore, Maryland. Dell announced its first lineup in August.
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Redline and Alianza offer Hosted Voice over WiMAX Solution

Alianza and Redline Communications Group Inc. announced that the companies have validated interoperability of products and services to accelerate voice offerings to WiMAX service providers.

Alianza and Redline tested Alianza’s hosted voice platform with Redline’s WiMAX Forum Certified® RedMAX systems as part of the Redline Ecosystem Verification (REV) program. The REV program verifies connectivity and performance between Redline’s RedMAX and RedMAX 4C Mobile WiMAX products and other WiMAX devices, enabling carriers to accelerate the deployment of interoperable networks. The program also includes Redline’s RedCONNEX and RedACCESS families, which are used by carriers around the world to support high-bandwidth voice, video and data services. Several WiMAX equipment companies, including base station, customer premise equipment and chip manufacturers, as well as WiMAX peripherals vendors, are now taking part in the REV program.
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DigitalBridge Communications raises $16.5 million capital for continued business expansion

DigitalBridge Communications Corp. announced it has completed raising a total of $16.5 million of senior and subordinated debt along with additional capital from its existing equity investors. These funds provide the company with significant additional liquidity with which to continue to build the enterprise.

In addition to an investment by the company’s existing investor group of Paladin Capital Group, RedShift Ventures, CNF Investments and Novak Biddle Venture Partners, and an increase in the company’s senior bank facility with Comerica Bank, the company received an $8.5 million subordinated debt investment from BIA Digital Partners and Spring Capital Partners.
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CDG predicts CDMA2000 operators among first to deploy LTE and mobile WiMAX to complement 3G networks

The CDMA Development Group (CDG) today announced that CDMA operators will be among the first to complement their 3G networks with wider bandwidth OFDM-based technology solutions, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Mobile WiMAX, as the 3G CDMA2000 family of technologies continues its rapid growth. CDMA operators are well-positioned to build on the wireless data business models they have developed for CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, and their 3G voice, broadband and broadcast data services will serve as their core revenue generators as they deploy next-generation networks.

“3G is enabling new services that drive profitable wireless data business models, which will continue to be the foundation for operators even as OFDM-based technologies like LTE and Mobile WiMAX are deployed,” said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. “Next-generation mobile broadband solutions will increase the value of existing 3G voice and data networks by interoperating with them to address distinct business needs.”
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U.S.: WiMAX is here, proclaims Sprint and Intel

by Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News

“It’s not slideware - WiMAX is here now,” said Sprint chief Dan Hesse as he addressed the crowd assembled in Baltimore, Maryland today for the formal launch of Sprint XOHM mobile broadband service. “It will take time to build it everywhere. Sprint will be launching 3G/4G multimode devices later this year for ubiquitous coverage.” What will people do with 4G services? “The killer application is video,” added Hesse. “And a lot of other great applications too. For example, public workers can pull down detailed, bandwidth-intensive architectural plans.”

Executives from Intel and the XOHM business spoke about the milestone and brought vendor and ecosystem partners on stage to be recognized during the event that culminated in the “ribbon cutting” of cables. The ritual signified the focus on delivering multi-megabit speeds to business and consumer customers without the restriction of location associated with DSL, cable and leased copper T1 lines.
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Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks Enter Into Patent License Agreement With Huawei

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks announced today a patent license agreement with Huawei and its affiliates for standards essential patents. The comprehensive agreement covers the worldwide use of all standards essential patents of all parties, including GSM, WCDMA, CDMA2000, optical networking, data communications and WiMAX in mobile devices, infrastructure and services.

“We are very pleased to have entered into this agreement with Huawei” said Ilkka Rahnasto, Vice President, Intellectual Property Rights, Nokia. “Huawei is the thirty-fifth company to license Nokia patents related to cellular standards and this agreement demonstrates how companies can license intellectual property in a way that encourages industry innovation and fosters a healthy IPR environment.”
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CE Vendors Offering Internet Connectivity Must Get the Usage Model Right

The trend towards cramming ever more functions into mobile phones is forcing consumer electronics vendors to explore new capabilities in their devices in order to stay relevant to consumers in a “connected age.” Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) combining specialized functions (camera, media player, navigation etc.) with wireless Internet access seem likely to succeed and consumers increasingly expect their electronics to connect to the Internet. But makers of these products have only a window in which to build devices and business models that users will adopt.

“CE manufacturers try to stay relevant in the face of phones that perform multiple functions ‘well enough’,” says ABI Research director Kevin Burden. “Mobile Internet Devices promise to deliver that relevance, but consumers aren’t clamoring for these new devices yet. That means CE vendors must get the user experience and the economic model right from the start. If consumers are not hooked by a compelling experience right away, they’ll stick with what they’ve got.”
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Sprint announces XOHM WiMAX Broadband Service in Baltimore Maryland

A next-generation 4G wireless network based on mobile WiMAX technology debuted today in Baltimore, Maryland as Sprint officially launched XOHM mobile broadband commercial service in the first U.S. city.

“This is truly an historic day with the birth of a completely new Internet-based business model that alters the dynamics of the traditional telecom industry,”

explained Barry West, president of Sprint’s XOHM business unit. “Wireless consumers will experience WiMAX device and XOHM service innovation on multiple levels as the computer, Internet, telecom and consumer electronics industries converge to redefine wireless mobility.”
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REDtone launches WiMAX services in East Malaysia

Motorola announced today that REDtone has launched East Malaysia’s first WiMAX broadband services, powered by Motorola technology. The first phase of the WiMAX network covers Kota Kinabalu business district, enabling high speed Internet access as well as data applications for enterprises.

In an effort to expand its broadband services offerings in East Malaysia, REDtone decided to establish a new network using WiMAX technology. Motorola is working with REDtone to supply and deploy WiMAX 2.3 GHz equipment at base sites and install customer premises equipment (CPE) to provide broadband services in major business districts in the first phase of the plan.
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2.1 billion mobile broadband customers by 2015, says Analysys Mason

Wireless broadband services will create significant opportunities for revenue growth, and cellular technologies will take the largest share, according to a report from Analysys Mason.

Globally, 2.1 billion wireless broadband customers will generate USD784 billion in service revenue by 2015. This revenue increase of about 2400% will be underpinned by continued developments in wireless technologies, improvements in devices and more flexible pricing options.
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Mercury unveils WiMAX car navigation system for Korea

Mercury has presented its high-end built-in car navigation system ‘MD5000′ supporting mobile broadband Internet service. By adopting KT WiBro device, it delivers faster speed than HSDPA even while moving at a speed of up to 120 km/h.

Equipped with Monahan 624 MHz processor, LG’s DMB chipset and PIP chipset independently, the MD5000 features ‘Mappy United’ map software, POP (picture out picture), PIP (picture in picture), NIP (navigation in picture) and drag & drop functions. It also provides trip display dedicated respectively to QUUS, OPIRUS, SM5/7, WINSTORM, TOSCA, and more.
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Falling WiMAX Chipset Prices Spell Good News for Adoption of Smaller Mobile Devices

The WiMAX chipset market is advancing quickly. There are solid 2-chip designs consisting of a single-chip baseband IC and a single-chip RF IC that are bringing power consumption down. Beceem, GCT Semiconductor, and Sequans have single-chip designs that include both the baseband and RF. Most importantly, WiMAX chipset ASPs are dropping rapidly.

“Even as the mobile WiMAX chipset market has barely gotten its feet wet, chipset ASPs are declining rapidly due to heavy competition and greater integration in designs,” says ABI Research principal analyst Philip Solis. “Prices for the baseband and RF components of the chipset have come down from the $35 range a few years ago to below $25, and will drop below $10 in 2011. These falling WiMAX chipset prices are critical for inclusion of the technology in smaller mobile devices.”
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WiMAX Services Revenues in Asia Pacific to Surge to US$5.5 Billion by 2012, Says Springboard Research

WiMAX is expected to gather strong momentum in the Asia Pacific region with WiMAX services revenues estimated to grow from US$58 million in 2007 to US$5.46 billion by 2012, according to the latest report by Springboard Research, a leading innovator in the IT market research industry. This translates to a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 148% for the period.

The report, titled “Laying the Foundation: WiMAX in Asia/Pacific 2008”, further estimated the number of WiMAX subscribers to grow from 230,000 in 2007 to 33.9 million by 2012. Mobile WiMAX services are estimated to garner a significant majority of revenues and subscribers compared to fixed WiMAX services during the forecast period.
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