The Future Wireless

The Future is Wireless

The number of Wi-Fi technologies queuing up becomes the next big thing in net technology grows every month, but WiMax (802.16-2004) is being tipped by many as the wireless technology to have in future.

At a meeting of the WiMax forum in Spain, it was said that the world’s first certified WiMax chipsets will be available by the end of the year 2005. Intel is already on the case, investing millions of dollar in this field. Intel and BT are currently trailling the technology in rural areas.

Brighton has been the UK trail area for large scale WiMax operation over the last year with Internet company Metranet delivering high speed web access using WiMax technology. Clients such as Brighton and Hove City Council, the UNiversity of Sussex and Brighton Media Centre have been using applications like VoIP, video conferencing and security camera streaming using WiMax.

WiMax boasts a data link of around 30 miles with a maximum speed of 70Mbps, although whether commercial speeds will match up to this remains to be seen. WiMax will have to face down competition from established wireless and wired rivals, such as mobile phone companies who dominate the long range communications market already.

The battle for the Wi-Fi crown is just beginning.