Intel and Clearwire’s Board of Directors December 29, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Word on the Street Is....2 comments
BusinessWire reports some logistical movement among two of WiMAX’s key players, Intel and Clearwire. Arvind Sodhani has resigned from Clearwire’s board of directors, leaving one of Intel’s two spots open for a new member. The reason? Sodhani also serves as president of Intel Capital and executive vice president of Intel Corporation and feels his various involvements could create conflicts of interest.
The article also sheds some valuable light on Intel’s relationship with Clearwire. In speaking about his resignation from the board of directors, Sodhani was quoted as saying:
Intel continues to view WiMAX as a top strategic initiative and looks forward to continuing to support Clearwire to develop, deploy and market a mobile WiMAX service offering in the U.S. over Clearwire’s network.
After the Sprint-Clearwire split, naysayers seemed to believe that a major support beam for WiMAX had fallen apart. Optimists, on the other hand, recognized that a support system is already in place for WiMAX infrastructures, including supporters like Intel and Motorola. This theory has come to fruition, especially with quotes like Sodhani’s that profess support and camaraderie between Intel and Clearwire. It will be interesting to see if any such companies emerge in a symbolic leadership position as Sprint and Clearwire had.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Motorola, Sprint, Intel, Clearwire, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Cisco’s Navini Acquisition Complete December 19, 2007
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Marketwire reports that Cisco Systems has completed its acquisition of Mobile WiMAX leader Navini Networks. The acquisition is representative of Cisco’s decision to expand from the WiFi industry into WiMAX and next generation products and services.
In addition to ensuring that Cisco has a hand in newer technologies, the acquisition of Navini Networks may also help Cisco further develop its international reach. Since WiMAX is being deployed extensively in emerging countries that previously could not integrate wired connections, Cisco now has an opportunity to provide WiMAX to these areas and expand its reach.
According to the article, “Cisco plans to integrate Navini into its Wireless Technology Group, under the Access Networking and Services Group.” The completion of this acquisition puts Cisco on the map with Sprint, Motorola and Intel as one of the big supporters of WiMAX–providing further impetus for WiMAX deployment and development, and more big names behind a technology that is still building its reputation in the tech community.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Motorola, Sprint, Cisco, Navini, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
WiMAX Progress, With a Spotlight on Motorola December 17, 2007
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A Motorola press release published today highlights some noteworthy WiMAX stats with a view to the progress made in 2007. WiMAX contracts, engagements and the number of countries involved have all increased, with active trials continuing around the world. Chipsets are continually be tested and developed. Motorola also highlights its role in building networks in France, Germany and Pakistan. The company’s active involvement in WiMAX has earned it significant recognition, including a couple of “Best of WiMAX World” awards.
Statistics aside, Senior Vice President, WiMAX and Cellular Networks, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility, Fred Wright is quoted rather idealistically:
“With the recent and impeding launches of commercial service by major broadband wireless operators worldwide, WiMAX is set to become a mainstream broadband wireless technology at least two years ahead of other alternative technologies. While we spend the majority of 2007 proving the commerical viability of WiMAX technology, we will see the commercial launch of dozens of WiMAX systems in 2008 with a wide variety of customer premises equipment, PC cards, mobile devices, and innovative applications.”
If indeed this year was a time for proving the viability of WiMAX services, next year is truly the year to look forward to with respect to increases in WiMAX’s users as well as its acceptability to mainstream tech users.
Of note too: as a nod to Sprint, Motorola’s press release describes Sprint’s Xohm rollout as being “on track.”
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Motorola, Sprint, Xohm, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Envisioning 4G: WiMAX Gets Some Positive Buzz December 13, 2007
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The Chicago Tribune features an article that imagines the future of 4G in America; a world in which video conferences can be accessed via mobile devices and cameras and iPods can be used to share images and music with others in real time. WiMAX is included among these idyllic images of America’s technological future. LTE and WiMAX were naturally expounded upon as the two great 4G contenders. According to the article, WiMAX is seen as having a greater presence simply because it is being developed sooner than LTE. Sprint, Verizon, Motorola and Samsung are all mentioned, with a particular focus on Motorola, who is “conducting 40 WiMax demonstration trials worldwide and has signed 13 contracts for commercial service.” To see an article in a mainstream paper highlighting WiMAX as an up and coming technology is a great sign for the industry and great for inspiring interest in a technology that remains somewhat unknown among the average American tech user.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, 4G, LTE, Motorola, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Options for Sprint? December 6, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Analyses and Speculations.add a comment
With news that Sprint is soft launching “in the next few days” in the Baltimore/DC area, one can’t help but think of the company’s recent fallout with Clearwire. Since then, few details have been released concerning what route the company will take. One option that is being considered, however, is the idea of spinning off Xohm/WiMAX as another company. This tactic would apparently be used to attract investors, being that Sprint’s financial performance as of late has not been optimal.
However, an interesting point is raised by Tim Gray in his TMCnet article: if Sprint indeed spins off Xohm, that would leave the company devoid of a 4G technology. This may very well put Sprint at a developmental disadvantage, particularly since other companies like Verizon and AT&T are adopting LTE as their choice for a 4G technology. By relinquishing Xohm and all that it represents, Sprint could loose its long-term reach on the wireless industry. What remains to be seen is what other options Sprint is looking at for resolving the issue of funding for Xohm–hopefully options that will not jeopardize the company’s prospective relationship with 4G technologies.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, 4G, Sprint, Xohm, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Increases in WiMAX Equipment Market Revenue December 3, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Word on the Street Is....add a comment
Infonetics Research has released a report entitled “WiMAX and Outdoor Mesh Network Equipment.” Here are a few third quarter highlights as featured on Marketwire:
- Worldwide sales of fixed and mobile WiMAX equipment are up 6% at $206 million.
- Worldwide unit shipments of fixed and mobile WiMAX equipment are up 16%
- The number of worldwide WiMAX subscribers is expected to reach nearly 60 million by 2010
- Companies other than Sprint-Nextel that have voiced some sort of committment to WiMAX include Vodafone, Brasil Telecom, Cisco, Telmex, SK Telecom, Wateen, and NTT
- Manufacturer revenue for WiMAX equipment is expected “to grow at a five-year compound annual growth rate of 87 percent between 2006 and 2010.”
The rest of the report can be accessed through Infonetics Research. However, just from this sampling of data, it is encouraging to couple some concerete statistics and projections with the trends seen with WiMAX in the news. If anything, prospects seem rather optimistic.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, WiMAX equipment, WiMAX statistics, WiMAX revenue, Ari Zoldan
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Going WiMAX 