WiMax to Make Wireless Broadband a Reality

The next big thing in wireless technology seems to be the new 802.16 standard that recently reached the final stages of development. More commonly known as WiMax, this new IEEE wireless standard has been dubbed by technology experts as "Wi-Fi on steroids." While Wi-Fi sends data at speeds ranging from 11 Mbps -54 Mbps over a range of 100 feet, WiMax is capable of sending data at speeds of 70 Mbps over distances up to 30 miles. Such technology would finally make wireless broadband a reality, posing a great challenge to existing DSL and cable-modem service providers. And with backing by Intel Corp., WiMax could eventually become as mainstream as Intel's Centrino microchip.

The first versions of WiMax equipment are scheduled to hit the market by year-end, with WiMax-powered portable devices expected by 2006. This means that early versions of WiMax will be used for fixed broadband, with roaming capabilities soon to follow. Experts believe that WiMax will also help bridge the digital divide, as installing WiMax access points in developing countries will be much less expensive than attempting to lay miles of coaxial cable or telephone lines.

Featured

  • blue AI cloud connected to circuit lines, a server stack, and a shield with a padlock icon

    Report: AI Security Controls Lag Behind Adoption of AI Cloud Services

    According to a recent report from cybersecurity firm Wiz, nearly nine out of 10 organizations are already using AI services in the cloud — but fewer than one in seven have implemented AI-specific security controls.

  • stacks of glowing digital documents with circuit patterns and data streams

    Mistral AI Intros Advanced AI-Powered OCR

    French AI startup Mistral AI has announced Mistral OCR, an advanced optical character recognition (OCR) API designed to convert printed and scanned documents into digital files with "unprecedented accuracy."

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Personalize AI

    Microsoft has introduced a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.

  • teenager interacts with a chatbot on a computer screen

    Character.AI Rolls Out New Parental Insights Feature Amid Safety Concerns

    Chatbot platform Character.AI has introduced a new Parental Insights feature aimed at giving parents a window into their children's activity on the platform. The feature allows users under 18 to share a weekly report of their chatbot interactions directly with a parent's e-mail address.