Intel

WiMAX coming later to Centrino 2

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:15:14 -0400

Intel plans to ship its highly anticipated Centrino 2 mobile laptop platform this week, but one key feature that will be missing is the dual-mode WiFi (802.11n)/WiMAX module. That feature, said an Intel spokeswoman, won't ship until sometime later this year--likely in time for commercial WiMAX launches from Clearwire and Sprint.

The platform that will be introduced today will include what Intel calls enhanced WiFi capabilities, and it's assumed that means the Draft 2.0 802.11n standard.

Centrino 2.0 is the fifth generation of Centrino technology. PC makers such as Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba are reportedly planning to launch new notebooks concurrently with the release of Centrino 2.

Intel, as you remember, invested $1 billion in the new Clearwire WiMAX business, which includes Sprint, cable companies and Google. Intel is hoping WiMAX incorporated in the new platform will do the same thing incorporating WiFi did, spur adoption. However, Clearwire's rollout will be on a market-by-market basis with 2010 or even 2011 delivering a reasonable footprint in the majority of the top 200 markets.

For more:
- read Network World

Related stories:
Intel: July launch for next-gen WiFi/ WiMAX platform. Intel story
Intel to re-enter mobile-phone market. Intel mobile-phone story

Sprint plays WiMAX consultant in Malaysia

Lynnette Luna — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:00:38 -0400

YTL e-Solutions Berhad (YLTLe), a subsidiary of YTL Corporation Berhad that invests in technology companies, has made a strategic agreement with Sprint's Xohm WiMAX business to help it roll out a WiMAX network in Malaysia.

YTLe said Xohm will provide expertise in key areas such as developing an ecosystem, infrastructure design and network deployment. This is the first consulting project for Xohm, which will work to replicate the way it is rolling out WiMAX in the U.S. Xohm is being absorbed into Clearwire later this year with significant investments from Intel, cable operators and Google. According to Atish Gude, senior vice president of mobile broadband operations with Xohm, the partnership with YTLe will drive "a stronger ecosystem, increasing economies of scale and strengthening global roaming opportunities."

For more:
-read WiMAX Day

Related stories:
New Sprint-Clearwire deal a shot in the arm for mobile WiMAX. WiMAX story
Sprint: Baltimore gets commercial WiMAX in Sept. Sprint WiMAX story

The should LTE-merge-with-WiMAX argument surfaces

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

The whole LTE-should-be-merged-with-WiMAX or vice versa idea is being talked about again. This time Intel's Sean Meloney, executive vice president and general manager of the sales and marketing group, says the two standards should be harmonized because they are about "80 percent" similar but that WiMAX is a couple of years ahead of LTE. He also said customers will be confused by the competing 4G technologies. Maloney says that Intel is looking into ways to integrate the two technologies and it is technically possible for Intel to create a chip set that could be used for WiMAX and LTE.

Of course, this news comes just a day after Intel announced that it is preparing to re-enter the mobile-phone market. Intel's CEO Paul Otellini told the Financial Times that as mobile devices become more powerful and adoption of computer-like applications rises, Intel is in a position to make inroads into the mobile-phone market.

Ask any executive in the WiMAX/LTE space and they say that the two should be merged, but the point of view is different depending on who you talk to. A man like Barry West, current CTO of Sprint, would welcome LTE into the WiMAX fold, as would President and Chairman of the WiMAX Forum Ron Resnick. Vodafone head Arun Sarin, whose company has chosen LTE, says WiMAX would work best as a subset of LTE.

Perhaps Resnick put it best when I interviewed him back in March about the prospect: "I think it's wonderful if we can make that happen whereby we figure out how to take the two and make it work so that no one loses."

The argument reminds me of the 3G standards-setting process back in the 1990s. CDMA advocates wanted one standard that was backward compatible with IS-95, while the GSM community opted for a CDMA-based standard, WCDMA, but didn't want it to be compatible with the IS-95 version given the time-to-market advantage CDMA operators would have. 3GPP subsequently opted to go with a version that had a different chip rate and other technical differences.

I see a similar political view brewing with LTE and WiMAX. The WiMAX community is looking at 802.16m as its 4G standard as the current standard has been accepted as an IMT-2000 technology. That, of course, will have to be backward compatible with 802.16. And if there is any merger, it's likely that 802.16m will be the standard to merge for 4G. With that, however, WiMAX operators will have an advantage in terms of backward compatibility. If that is the case, it's likely the LTE camp would rather stay with a separate technology and take advantage of the economies of scale it would receive as a result.

It has worked out that way in the 3G world. CDMA 1xEV-DO has been ahead in deployments, but WCDMA appears to be the winner today as a host of companies flipped from CDMA to the GSM 3G path for better economies of scale.--Lynnette

Intel-backed startup peddles WiFi PAN technology

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:59:57 -0400

A California start-up is coming to market with low-power WiFi personal area network (WiFi PAN) to bring low-power peripheral connectivity to WiFi platforms and give Bluetooth some competition.

Ozmo Devices, with Intel as one of its backers, is coming to market with technology that doesn't require an additional radio inside the platform or a dongle to communicate with a peripheral, such as a mouse or headset. The technology includes a software driver and an ultra-low power integrated circuit in the wireless peripheral that communicates with the platform.

Ozmo says its WiFi PAN technology is slated for integration in high-volume WiFi platforms and major peripheral manufacturers such as Belkin are sampling the IC for their new designs.

Ozmo's strategy is to target the computer and peripheral market initially, followed by consumer electronic devices that incorporate WiFi. Dave Timm, CEO of Ozmo, says WiFi PAN technology offers performance advantages over Bluetooth, including longer talk time. The price of the technology is also competitive with Bluetooth, he says.

For more about this story:
- check out this release

Centrino 2 with WiMAX coming this summer

Thu, 29 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Intel announced it will introduce its next-generation Centrino 2 mobile platform, code-named Montevina, July 14. The platform is expected to offer faster performance and longer battery life, and is long awaited by the WiMAX community as it incorporates both WiFi and WiMAX, although the wireless chips won't be available until August. In addition, the platform is 40 percent smaller so that it can fit in mini-notebooks.

"When we launched our Centrino WiFi platform, there weren't a lot of WiFi hotspots, but people still bought it even though by itself, WiFi was not ubiquitous," Intel Vice President Sriram Viswanathan said in a recent conference call. "Centrino was still successful. We expect the same with Montevina because there are other value propositions in the platform."

For more about Intel's Centrino 2:
- check out this article from InformationWeek

Related stories:
- New Sprint-Clearwire deal a shot in the arm for mobile WiMAX. See this Clearwire story
- Intel among winners of 2.6 GHz spectrum in Sweden. See this Intel WiMAX story

Technology-neutral European auctions opportunity for technology companies

Mon, 19 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

European governments have taken an unprecedented move to offer wireless broadband licenses on a technology-neutral basis, and technology companies are taking advantage to foster the proliferation of their technology interests and for a relatively cheap price tag.

Qualcomm last week won U.K.-wide L-band spectrum for $12.9 million, but the company is being vague about its plans for the band, saying it wants to "explore emerging business models and advanced mobile technologies."

Said Andrew Gilbert, an executive VP of Qualcomm: "Acquiring this spectrum will enable us to develop, test and explore a variety of innovative wireless services and technologies that will benefit European consumers and the wireless industry as a whole. The company has a long history of innovation and creating new technology markets."

Earlier this month, Intel Capital was among the winners of Sweden's auction of the 2.6 GHz band, acquiring 50 MHz of TDD spectrum for $26.5 million. Intel is seeking partners to build and operate a WiMAX network. The company plans to rent out the license to partners rather than sell it to grow WiMAX and the market for its Centrino WiMAX-enabled chips.

Of course, Qualcomm has a history of pushing new technologies via license ownership, with mobile TV being the latest. As it was going around evangelizing CDMA in the 1990s, the company bought licenses to begin Leap Wireless to push CDMA. Maybe it wants to prove that Ultra Mobile Broadband, the 4G path for CDMA technology, is a viable one.

It will be interesting to see who bids in the auctions going forward. Might Google make a play for a license and look for someone to run the network so it can guarantee its services on a carrier's network? Will Intel look to win more licenses, and what in the world is Qualcomm doing?--Lynnette

Intel among winners of 2.6 GHz spectrum in Sweden

Mon, 12 May 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Intel Capital was among the winners of Sweden's auction of he 2.6 GHz band, acquiring 50 MHz of TDD spectrum for $26.5 million. According to local press reports, Intel is seeking partners to build and operate a WiMAX network. The company, which recently plunked down $1 billion in the new Sprint-Clearwire WiMAX business, reportedly plans to rent out the license to partners rather than sell it.

Intel has made it clear the it isn't interested in becoming a service provider to push WiMAX. As part of the Clearwire deal, Intel has the option of wholesaling service from the new operator, but Intel Vice President Sriram Viswanathan told analysts that the company's primary focus "is to enable the platform to have WiMAX available across a variety of devices. You have to expect we're going to be primarily a technology supplier."

The other winners for 2.6 GHz spectrum, which is technology and service neutral, each acquired FDD allocations: H3G Access (2x10 MHz), Tele2 (2x20 MHz), Telenor (2x20 MHz) and TeliaSonera Mobile Networks (2x20 MHz).

TeliaSonera paid the most for its license, $93 million, while Intel paid the least. H3G Access, with only 20 MHz of spectrum, paid $49 million.

To read more about Sweden's 2.6 GHz auction:
- take a look at this telecoms.com article

Intel extends the range of WiFi

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:59:53 -0400

Intel says it has developed a new technology that could bring a signal to rural areas for a couple of hundred dollars. The company's just-announced "Rural Connectivity Platform" (RCP) is said to extend the reach of a conventional WiFi signal to 60 miles, using specialized software and an antenna that can transmit data at around 6.5 megabits per second. What's more, a single RCP device costs $500 and consumes so little power that it can be run off of a solar panel. No word yet on when we'll start seeing RCP.

For more about Intel's new technology:
- see this article from Technology Review

Related articles:
Study: 'Targeted' support needed to ensure rural access
Google looks to airborne platforms Report

Intel: WiMAX/WiFi chip coming in ultramobile PCs

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:59:56 -0400

Intel Senior Vice President Arun Chandrasekhar indicated that more than one-third of the ultramobile PCs coming to market later this year will include Intel's Atom Centrino platform, which offers a combination of WiMAX and WiFi. During the VON.x conference in San Jose this week, Chandrasekhar said of the 35 third-party designs for Atom Centrino devices scheduled to come to market in the second quarter, 37 percent will include WiMAX. Fourteen percent will include only WiFi and 49 percent will include a combination of WiFi and HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access).

To read more about Intel's Atom Centrino platform:
- check out this article from IDG News Service

Related articles:
- Intel announces WiMAX and WiFi chip Report
- Intel, Nokia, Nokia Siemens announce WiMAX pact Report

SPOTLIGHT: Analyst: Intel alone won't save Sprint-Clearwire deal

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:59:52 -0400

Reports early last month claimed that Intel was interested in investing about $1 billion to $2 billion into a rumored Sprint-Clearwire WiMAX joint venture, but one analyst is throwing cold water on Intel's potential role in such a JV. JP Morgan analyst Jonathan Chaplin pointed out that Intel's entire R&D budget is in the $1 billion to $2 billion range, and WiMAX is but one of several initiatives. Chaplin said it was far more likely that Intel would join a consortium of investors, which could include Google, handset makers and wireline or cable operators, to fund a Sprint-Clearwire joint venture. Article

Time is of the essence for Sprint/Clearwire WiMAX deal

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:59:58 -0500

Both Sprint and Clearwire sit in a holding pattern when it comes to their mobile WiMAX plans as the two try to hammer out a new deal and entertain outside deals. Clearwire is in cash-conservation mode as it scaled back its mobile WiMAX rollout plans earlier this year, while Sprint has yet to launch any more markets beyond the three that were soft launched at the end of 2007.

With WiMAX's success heavily resting on a joint build-out between the two operators or at least a nationwide rollout this year from Sprint, you would think one of the major WiMAX players would run to the rescue at this crucial time for the technology's commercial debut.

Back in February, the Street.com reported that Sprint was going to spin off its Xohm unit to form a joint venture with Clearwire with the help of a $2-billion investment from Intel Capital. The deal was expected to be announced in a matter of days, but nothing has happened. Motorola, too, has a viable interest in seeing mobile WiMAX roll out on a nationwide basis as it has reinvented itself as a leading WiMAX supplier. We haven't seen it step up either.

I can only imagine what the hold up is. I suspect Sprint understands WiMAX is its future and rejects any plans that would see it give up control of the business. So it appears a spin-off might not be in the cards. Of course, a spin-off is more ideal for any investor as it separates the WiMAX business from the severe core problems Sprint is facing.

At any rate, the longer it takes for WiMAX to roll out, the more the technology's advantage in the 4G market erodes.--Lynnette

Clearwire Q4 results offer mixed bag

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:59:56 -0500

Clearwire's fourth quarter results show the carrier has increased revenue to $45.4 million, up from $23.7 million a year ago. During the quarter Clearwire's net subscriber additions totaled 47,000, bringing its total subscriber base to 394,000. During the fourth quarter of 2006 Clearwire had 206,000 total subscribers. Despite the subscriber growth, however, ARPU fell 30 cents year-over-year: It was $36.09 for the fourth quarter in 2007, down from $36.39 in Q4 2006. Clearwire's churn rate increased to 2.4 percent, up from 1.9 percent a year earlier.

Pali Research's Walter Piecyk wrote in a research this week that the carrier "is essentially in a holding pattern as it negotiates a transaction with Sprint of the potential combination of their WiMAX assets and seeks an investment to fund the build out of a nationwide WiMAX network." Piecyk noted that the near term results are weak but irrelevant since the carrier is in "cash conservation mode."

For more on Clearwire's Q4:
- read this article from the AP

Related articles:
Hesse: Sprint still talking to Clearwire about tie-up Report
Rumor: Intel to facilitate Sprint/Clearwire deal Report

Taiwan WiMAX industry: We don't need Intel

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:59:53 -0500

Intel has yet to deliver on a pledge it made to the Taiwan government back in 2005 that calls for Intel to make equity investments in licensed Taiwan-based WiMAX operators, according to Economic Affairs Minister Steve Chen. It appears Intel has decided to invest in Japan's KDDI instead. As such, Chen said the Taiwan government welcomes other international companies to invest in Taiwan's WiMAX industry, adding that Taiwan does not necessarily need Intel's support for WiMAX development.

To find out more about the Taiwan government's comments about Intel:
- read this article from Digitimes

Related articles:
Taiwanese WiMAX makers worry about Sprint Report
Fujitsu to develop WiMAX chips in Taiwan Report

Rumor: Intel to facilitate Sprint/Clearwire deal

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:59:56 -0500

Rumors are circulating again that Sprint Nextel will spin off its Xohm WiMAX broadband unit and form a joint venture with Clearwire. The Street.com is reporting the deal between the two firms will include a $2 billion investment from Intel Capital.

If this rumored deal actually goes through, it will give a much-needed vote of confidence to WiMAX. Many companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week said much of WiMAX's future was resting on Sprint's Xohm business. Without Xohm, mobile WiMAX may not be anything other than a niche play.

Find out the latest on Xohm at the FierceWireless co-located event "4G and Beyond" on April 2 at CTIA Wireless 2008. Barry West, CTO of Sprint and head of the Xohm unit will be a keynote speaker and will provide a status update on Xohm. Here's a link to the agenda.

For more on Sprint and Clearwire:
- see this Street.com report

Related articles:
WiMAX's future still rests heavily in Sprint's hands Report
Sprint launches three markets as planned Report

Is Google Sprint's White Knight?

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:59:58 -0500

The Wall Street Journal is reporting Sprint and Clearwire are in talks to renew a joint venture that would see a nationwide WiMAX network like the one the two scrapped in November. This time, however, they're looking to bring in outside funding from the likes of Google, Intel and Best Buy--parties that could have a vested interest in seeing WiMAX and the company's open access plans succeed.

The paper says Google's interest is tepid at this point as it may only contribute $200 million or so. But it seems clear the online search giant doesn't plan to be too aggressive in the 700 MHz auction, only willing to put up the minimum $4.6-billion bid to trigger the open-access provision in the C-Block band. Sprint and Clearwire have already embraced Google on the application side and could provide a viable platform for Android. I wouldn't be surprised to see Google play a larger role in the the whole deal when the 700 MHz auction is all over.--Lynnette

Rumor: Sprint and Clearwire talking, again

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:59:57 -0500

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint and Clearwire have revived their talks about creating a joint venture to defray the costs of WiMAX. The two are reportedly looking to bring in outside funding from firms such as Google, Intel and retailer Best Buy. The plan could lower the $5-billion deployment costs of WiMAX and allow Sprint to focus on its core cellphone business, which is struggling.

Last summer, the two companies created a cost-sharing joint venture to build out WiMAX but ended the deal in November.

For more about the potential deal:
- read this article from the WSJ (sub. req.)

Related articles:
Some WiMAX vendors not sad to see Clearwire/Sprint split Report
End of Sprint-Clearwire deal means dirty work remains Report

Analysts say Russian market big for WiMAX

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Industry analysts Maravedis has forecast that the Russian Federation will be among the world's top five wireless broadband and WiMAX opportunities. Driving this market will be the growing Russian economy and the demand for telecom services which are outstripping the capability of legacy networks. In addition, telecommunications investment is still centered on large urban areas, leaving many rural areas without access to broadband. Maravedis reports that more than 75 percent of Russians do not have access to basic dial-up Internet access, providing a huge potential market for wireless broadband operators. However, Maravedis warns that the Russian Federation is and will remain a price sensitive market and mobile WiMAX will need to offer much lower prices to be competitive. CPE costs will also need to be kept low.

For more about the Russian WiMAX market:
- read this article from Cellular News

Related articles:
Intel looks to Russia to kick-start WiMAX Article
Report says WiMAX MVNO model may work Article

Intel plans big push into ultra mobile

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini told Consumer Electronic Show attendees that ultra mobile Internet devices will be the "next big thing in computing," and that the company will be making a big push in the mobile space in 2008.

The chip giant plans to ship its first low-power processor and chipset platform made for mobile Internet devices during the first half of this year. The single chip processor design, codenamed "Menlow," promises to be five times smaller while consuming 10 times less power than ultra low voltage mobile processors brought to market in 2006. Of course, WiMAX is at the top of the list when it comes to the optional standardized capabilities that Intel will feature in the Menlow. Other capabilities will include WiFi and 3G.

To read more about Intel's processor plans:
- take a look at this article from telecoms.com

Related articles:
Intel makes faster WiFi chip Article
Intel looks to Russia to spur WiMAX development Article

ALSO NOTED: Denver airport deploys 802.11n; Russia fixed-line operator to build WiMAX; and much more...

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> Denver International Airport became the first airport in the nation to deploy an 802.11n network. Release

> Nokia signed a deal with European WiFi hotspot provider The Cloud to enable WiFi customers to gain free access to Nokia's new music store. Release

> According to a recent report from Juniper Research, WiMAX services should have more than 80 million subscribers by 2013. Article

> Russian fixed line operator Comstar said it has gotten Intel to help it build out a mobile WiMAX network in the Moscow region. Article

Sprint, Clearwire ponder options

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:59:57 -0500

An article in the Wall Street Journal sheds a bit more light some of the plans Sprint and Clearwire have been considering for their WiMAX businesses after ending their plans to build out a nationwide network together. The article, which features a rare interview with Clearwire's Craig McCaw (although very light on the quotes and attributions), says Sprint's board last week rejected a plan to spin off the WiMAX unit and merge it with Clearwire. Meanwhile, it says Clearwire is holding discussions with parties that might include Intel, Comcast and Google about a direct partnership.

For more:
- read this Wall Street Journal article (sub. req.)