xenophon
join:2007-09-17
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
4 edits | Re: LTE or WiMax.. really. LTE will be limited mostly to phones and laptop cards. WiMAX is targeted to be on any kind of consumer device.
I don't think the two can really be compared other than performance. WiMAX has a completely opposite business model from cell-based networks. WiMAX is much more open like WiFi. You'll see consumer products from Cisco, D-Link, on MP3 players, GPS devices, cars, DVD players, cameras, refrigerators, etc. Won't see it nearly as much with cell-based networks.
Today you can't find a new laptop w/out WiFi built in. In a year or two, if Intel has their way you won't be able to find a laptop w/out WiFi/WiMAX built in. People will be buying devices that happen to have WiMAX at Best Buy and not even know it. When they see a 'hotspot', they'll probably think it's WiFi when it's actually WiMAX. This won't happen with LTE or UMB.
LTE will likely head down the same path of cell-based networks that require signing up for service with contracts. WiMAX should be as easy to buy service as renting a DVD at Redbox. The cell-based systems may change but the WiMAX business model is open out of the gate. |
