Intel announces mobile WiMax chip

The company launches its much-awaited Rosedale II mobile WiMax chip, a crucial step in the mobile data race ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù and war of words ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù against super-3G

Intel’s Rosedale II mobile WiMax chip was announced on Monday, which the company hopes will help further popularise the high-speed mobile technology.

The chip will see commercial trials in Europe by the end of this year, according to Chris Beardsmore, Intel’s market development manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“Rosedale II is our first silicon that supports [mobile Wimax]?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ which gives us a migration story from [fixed Wimax] networks being deployed today,” Beardsmore told ZDNet UK on Friday.

While fixed WiMax networks are planned for some areas of the UK, mobile WiMax has lagged behind in development. Mobile WiMax promises to bring high-speed, long-range wireless connectivity to laptops and handheld devices and is seen as rival to HSDPA or Super 3G, which is being pushed by many of the mobile operators such as Orange and T-Mobile.

Intel’s Beardsmore claimed Rosedale I ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù used in fixed WiMax devices ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù had allowed manufacturers to bring their costs down, but Rosedale II would further extend the market for Intel’s WiMax offerings.

“What we’re seeing with Rosedale II is, not only have the vendors who bought Rosedale I said they’ll buy it, but we’ve also seen people like Alcatel enter the market,” he said.

Full article: ZDNet UK