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Intel next week is introducing a client chipset that supports both the fixed and mobile versions of WiMax, reports Light Reading.

Intel already sells a fixed WiMax chipset called Rosedale (Intel PRO/Wireless 5116), used in a variety of 802.16 clients.

At the Wireless Communications Association International (WCA) 2006 conference in Washington next week, the company will unveil Rosedale 2, says Light Reading. It has the capability of working both in the 802.16d and 802.16e modes. In a keynote speech to be made Wednesday at the Wireless Communications Expo, Scott Richardson, general manager of Intel’s Service Provider Business Group, will discuss Rosedale 2′s support for fixed and mobile WiMAX.

The chip is meant for use in residential gateways and modems, but the company also is exploring its use in picocell base stations. Rosedale 2 was reportedly “painfully designed in house,” says Yung Hahn, general manager of the WiMax product division at Intel.

By the end of the year, Intel plans to introduce a single-chip radio called Ofer-R, which supports both WiFi and WiMax. A PowerPoint presentation touting Intel’s WiFi/WiMax integration plans shows a parade of devices — including a camera and an iPod. Clearly Intel’s vision for WiMax is data and not VOIP.

“We have a target. We would ultimately like to see WiMax modems get below $50. You hit that mark and magic things happen.”

Unlike WiFi, Mobile WiMax is designed to run in licensed bands of spectrum.

“We’re not waiting for the carriers,” Hahn says. “Each of the regional teams is engaged with a series of operators. We’ve engaged with all the major ones and are in various stages of technology, but also having a lot of deep discussion about structuring a new business model where we both win out of this process.”

One potential candidate is Sprint Nextel, which has a swath of spectrum in the 2.5GHz range that it must use by 2009, per FCC regulations. WiMax is among the radio technologies that can operate in that range. Sprint is supposed to announce its plans for the spectrum by the end of the summer. (See Sprint Nextel Hunts for 2.5GHz Service.)

“The clear bellwether is going to be what does Sprint do?” says Chris Rauh, vice president of marketing for Nitronex Corp. , which makes WiMax power transistors. ”

That said, WiMax equipment makers such as Nortel Networks and Motorola say they have been garnering interest from cable providers. WiMax is also a possibility for backhaul technology in municipal WiFi networks.

“For sure, Sprint could be a nice jumpstart given all the frequency they have, but not a prerequisite to a big market by any means,” says Carlton O’Neal, vice president of marketing for Alvarion. “Mobile WiMax…is a much bigger phenomenon than just Sprint. That would be like saying the Internet or mobile cellular or satellite TV were determined by one company,” said O’Neal.

Related WiMAX announcements include:

Intel already announced the majority of its long-term CPU architecture this April. The Core microarchitecture will survive into 2008 with the 45nm Penryn core.

Notebook processors, earlier dubbed Merom, will ship this August and carry the Core 2 Duo moniker. Intel will be taking Santa Rosa mobile with a small form factor and supporting 802.11n. In a couple of years, the processor core that you use in your server will essentially be the same chip you use in your notebook.

How will 2.4 GHz WiFi “city clouds” merge with WiMAX technology? And what about commercial competition from licensed mobile WiMAX operators like Sprint and Clearwire? Will cable and telco operators stick with copper and fiber, or will they go with broadband wireless, too? And what about Rupert? Opinions vary.

Licensed frequencies available in the United States include:

WiFi at 2.4 GHz is a global phenomena. Client cards used to cost $600 — now they’re $20. One year from now dual mode WiFi/Mobile WiMAX cards will be available on mini-PCI cards for laptops. Two years from now it’s expected to be integrated onto SD cards, PDAs and cell phones. WiMAX at 5.8 GHz will first be used for backhaul. In 3-4 years, Mobile WiMAX, at 5.8 GHz, could evolve into a last mile solution.

Perhaps in 3 years the 2.4 GHz radios currently being mounted on lightpoles will be replaced with dual-band 2.4/5.8GHz WiFi/WiMAX radios. By then, license-free 5.8 GHz WiMAX might supply similar range with faster speeds. Dual (or triple) band phones may provide low-cost roaming. Unless cable companies get there first.

Related DailyWireless articles include Mobile WiMAX: The Attack Plan, Alvarion’s 3.5GHz WiMAX Client, Navini Ships Mobile WiMAX Ready Gear, Sequans Mobilizes with Altera, Wide Wide World of WiMAX, Airspan Gets Certified, TeleCIS Mobilizes Fixed WiMAX, Wavesat Teams with SK for WiBro, and Mobile WiMax: It’s Done.

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