Sprint helps WiMax down the final straight

Chipmaker Intel and mobile operator Sprint will work together to develop WiMax, the emerging wireless technology being promoted as an alternative to fixed-line broadband.

The companies announced their agreement Thursday, adding they will test equipment for performance and interoperability as they seek to determine if providing wireless high-speed Internet access over multiple miles using WiMax is worthwhile. The technology behind the equipment will be based on industry standards, 802.16e, which could help to drive down prices of equipment. If products based on those standards are found to be compatible they will be marked with the WiMax logo.

By using WiMax standards, companies are hoping prices for equipment will also come down quickly, allowing them to lower service costs and encourage the proliferation of wireless broadband service. However, WiMax has been overly promoted as companies hope it will be the Wi-Fi of the broadband service industry. Service and equipment based on WiMax are not yet widely available but are expected to make it to market in 2006.

Intel would sell the chips to equipment makers, which would then sell service-enabling equipment to service operators, such as Sprint. Operators would then make high-speed Internet service available to customers in much the same way they do it now with cable or DSL.

Intel and Sprint will work with a mobile specification of the WiMax technology, 802.16e, to enable wireless broadband access on portable devices. 802.16e is still awaiting standards approval by a key industry group, the IEEE. Chips based on that standard aren't expected to be available until late 2006. The standard being used for fixed broadband access is 802.16-2004.