ECS EliteGroup demonstrates first dual-mode Mobile WiMAX/EDGE device using Comsys baseband processor

ECS EliteGroup Computer Systems and Comsys Communication & Signal Processing Ltd. have announced that Comsys’ ComMAX CM1125 Multimode Mobile WiMAX/EDGE baseband processor will enable ECS EliteGroup’s new line of mobile WiMAX devices.

ECS EliteGroup will be demonstrating a prototype of their S370 Personal Internet Communicator working on both Mobile WiMAX and GSM networks in their suite at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas on January 8-11, 2008, to coincide with CES (Consumer Electronics Show).
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Clearwire introduces Mobile WiMAX “Clear” service to Portland Oregon

Clearwire today officially transformed Portland into the fastest unwired city in the West, and home to one of the first 4G WiMAX wireless broadband services in the world, called Clear. With Clear, consumers and businesses can access the Internet wirelessly, at true broadband speeds ? at home, in the office, around the Portland metro area, and on the go.

“Today is a historic day for the evolution of mobile computing and communications services in Portland, and the U.S.,” said Benjamin G. Wolff, chief executive officer of Clearwire. “Clearwire is reinventing wireless by delivering an unmatched combination of Internet speed and mobility. We’re providing a valuable service designed to improve our customers’ productivity and make their lives more enjoyable, wherever they happen to be in our coverage area.”
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Insprit Introduces Next-Generation Open WiBro Platform

Insprit said that it began to provide KT WiBro with a next-generation open service platform. The platform is Korea’s first open service solution that encourages user participation. Users can freely edit or produce service applications on the Web, push them to a variety of devices real time by using DCD technology, download them and share them with other users.

The platform is incorporated into the W-Station service, Korea’s first personalized wire/wireless open mobile 2.0 service, and provided under the name of “Open Box.” It enables WiBro users to freely produce services they want and share them. Also, even users who are not registered with the WiBro service can produce service applications for WiBro devices through SDK and post them onto the “Open Box gallery” so that any WiBro users could download them.
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YuKyung Technologies launches viliv S5 MID with mobile WiMAX

YuKyung Technologies held a press conference to launch its Atom-based MID ‘viliv S5′ in the market of South Korea.

Powered by Intel’s Menlow platform with an Atom Z520 processor and Windows XP OS, the viliv S5 is equipped with a 4.8-inch LCD screen, DDR2 1GB SDRAM and 30GB/60GB HDD. Offering 6 hours battery life, it also supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HSDPA, mobile WiMAX, DMB Mobile TV and GPS functions.
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Sprint announces dual 3G/4G aircard from Franklin Wireless

Sprint announced it will make the first 3G/4G dual-mode device, the Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem U300, which operates on both the Sprint 3G and 4G networks, available in US retail stores Dec. 21.

Sprint launched 4G in Baltimore in September and plans to launch in other markets across the country throughout 2009. The device will enable customers to experience high-speed Internet access, greater productivity and enhanced multimedia quality throughout 4G markets, and offer access to the existing Sprint 3G network virtually everywhere else. This is the first product available in the US to offer both 3G and 4G connectivity.
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Alvarion to layoff 11% in attempt to maintain 2009 growth

Alvarion Ltd. today announced that it will implement proactive cost reduction initiatives aimed at lowering the company’s breakeven point to help preserve profitability in the slowing global economy, while also maintaining its capability to continue growing if business conditions support growth.

As part of this series of initiatives, the company plans to reduce its global workforce this month by approximately 11%, from a base of about 1000 employees. In addition, Alvarion is implementing company-wide measures including management salary reductions. The combined initiatives are expected to generate annual cost of goods and operating expense savings of about $15 million.
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Comba Introduces New Remote Radio Unit for WiMAX Networks

Comba Telecom Systems Holdings Limited has introduced its WiMAX-compatible remote radio unit (RRU) to the global market. The RRU is a highly-integrated base station RF unit that can be detached from the BBU (BaseBand Unit) and fed with baseband signals through optical fiber. Its high power efficiency design and flexible configuration dramatically reduces CAPEX and improves deployment time for WiMAX network rollout.

A key feature of Comba’s RRU is that it is designed for easy customization for different BBU suppliers in order to expedite integration. The RRU supports point-to-point, star and daisy-chained connection with the BBU to provide a flexible system topology.
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Clearwire and Sprint Nextel complete joint venture transaction and receive $3.2 billion infusion

Clearwire Corporation and Sprint Nextel Corporation announced today that they have completed the transaction to combine their next-generation wireless Internet businesses. With the closing, Sprint contributed all of its 2.5 GHz spectrum and its WiMAX-related assets, including its XOHM business, to Clearwire. In addition, Clearwire has received a $3.2 billion cash investment from Comcast, Intel, Time Warner Cable, Google and Bright House Networks.

The transaction with Sprint and the new cash investment were completed on the terms originally announced on May 7, 2008. The new company retains the name Clearwire and remains headquartered in Kirkland, Washington.

Motorola Deploys Its First WiMAX 802.16e Trial Network in Vietnam

Motorola, Inc. announced today that the company has deployed its first WiMAX trial network for Vietnam Datacommunications Company (VDC), a member company of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), the largest Internet service provider (ISP) in Vietnam. The network allows VDC to test next-generation wireless broadband services in major cities of Vietnam and reinforces Motorola’s leadership in deploying commercial and trial networks for WiMAX 802.16e technology worldwide.

The launch of the WiMAX service follows the signing of an agreement between Motorola and VDC to commence a technical and commercial WiMAX trial in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City last year. Under the agreement, Motorola will install WiMAX Diversity Access Points and more than 100 customer premises equipment (CPE) in the nation’s two largest cities.
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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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