Intel Predicts Coexistence of Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3G

"The wireless industry is evolving from a web of independent networks into a single, integrated wireless network with multiple standards, and no single standard is sufficient anymore," said Intel President and COO Paul Otellini, in a keynote address at the 3GSM World Congress 2004 in Cannes, France. Otellini predicts that it will be a requirement for Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3G to coexist in the future broadband wireless world.


Intel believes standards-based silicon would enable carriers and handset makers to lower costs and speed time-to-market in this new environment. Otellini sees the industry transitioning to modular communications infrastructure based on standards such as the Advanced Telecommunications and Computing Architecture (ATCA) specification and Intel processing technology.


Otellini used the occasion to unveil a new three-radio reference design for cell phones with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GSM/GPRS capability built-in, running Intel's latest applications processor and Intel StrataFlash memory. The phone supports multiple full-featured operating systems, plays MP3 music files with PC-quality sound, and includes a 1.3 mega pixel digital camera for pictures and video. Intel's reference design targets handset makers who want to provide cell phones capable of accessing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or 2.5G networks.


Regarding WiMAX, Otellini predicted "inflection point" in the 2006-2008 timeframe similar to what happened with Wi-Fi over the past few years, and said WiMAX capability would be available in notebook computers by 2006, followed by handsets in 2007. http://www.intel.com