What's Next for WiMax

For WiMax to become a realistic wireless alternative for delivering connectivity and voice and data services, a number of things need to happen.

Before WiMax can reach its potential, according to Phil Redman, an analyst for IT advisor Gartner, WiMax providers must:

• Get more WiMax networks up and working.
• Build more support for voice over IP.
• Push for WiMax technology to be integrated into as many devices as possible.

Moreover, once the technological foundation is in place, Redman says that in order to squeeze the most business value out of WiMax, providers must:

• Expand their areas of coverage;
• Establish business models that won't cannibalize their lucrative cellular services;
• Make more applications available on a mobile basis; and
• Set up wider support from infrastructure players (i.e., steering them away from competitive technologies such as LTE, or Long Term Evolution third-generation platform ).

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