Garner warns US to hold off on WiMAX, Intel is furious
Written on July 23, 2008 – 2:25 pm
Joop Dorresteijn, Contributing editor
Picture from Erwin Boogert(CC)Yesterday, Gartner warned businesses to wait on investing in WiMAX, at least until more vendors actually create WiMax handsets. A analysis that upset Gregory Ofili, the marketing manager with Intel WiMAX. He reacted furiously, but Gartner may have a point.
WiMAX works over a range of 50 kilometers
As most of us know, WiMAX is a wireless technology can deliver up to 70 Mbit’s, and works over a range of 50 kilometers. Implementation is expected in the next two years. Garner estimates that WiMAX projects will be commercially implemented over the next two years.
US businesses should wait
The Garner analysis report mentions that WiMAX will remain a “niche technology” that is especially useful for emerging or rural markets that don’t have broadband services yet. Gartner mentions that the biggest problem for WiMAX is its speed of implementation on the US market, and businesses have to wait until coverage extends to more cities than the ones that are covered at the end of the year.
Furious reaction on the Intel blog
In response, Gregory Ofili reacted furious: “The ‘analysis’ by Phil Redman of Gartner, is so thoroughly devoid of reality, it leaves me uncertain where to begin to debunk it.
Since Gartner’s entire argument hinges on the belief that only the LTE fairy can conjure up dual mode handsets, then I suggest an intrepid team of investigators from Gartner should be dispatched to Asia, post haste, in order to confirm the existence of numerous WiMAX dual mode handsets.
I have 15 years in the Telecommunications industry, and I would expect better research from a fresh faced kid out of College. Such ‘analysis’ from Gartner should be supplied with a warning: ‘Not intended to inform strategic business decisions’. The LTE gang must really fear WiMAX. Otherwise, why all the attention and erroneous analyses?”
4G Networks in Europe
I would like to see WiMAX succeed in Europe, since it offers speeds faster then the current 3G networks, over a much longer distances then Wi-Fi technology. But Gartner might be right, we will see in the coming years. But who nows, maybe the secret Apple device contains a WiMAX transmitter?
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