May 07, 2008
2008: The Breakout Year for WiMax?
By Michelle Robart, TMCnet Editor
Advancements in technology, a growing product ecosystem and economic opportunity based on a growing demand for mobile Internet access, make 2008 a potential breakout year in the U.S. for the wireless broadband technology known as WiMax, according to a report from Sidecut Reports, a new independent editorial research firm.
However, the report also found that the window of opportunity is rapidly closing, making it crucial for Sprint (News - Alert), Intel and their rumored gang of WiMax allies to launch services this year before competitive technologies can come to market.
The initial report titled, "Xohm (News - Alert) Or Go Home: Why 2008 Is WiMax's Breakout Year in the U.S. - Or Else!" is the first of Sidecut Reports' planned list of in-depth looks into topics at the intersection of telecommunications, the Internet and public policy.
Led by longtime industry journalist Paul Kapustka, Sidecut Reports claims to represent the future of technology journalism by providing business professionals with extensive background, up-to-the minute information, and decision-making analysis on pertinent topics at a competitive price.
Based on several months of reporting, the WiMax report includes in-person interviews at recent industry trade shows, as well as direct interviews with companies and executives from the product manufacturers and service providers in the WiMax arena.
The report provides the reader with an in-depth look at the most current state of the WiMax market in the U.S., and how it might create business opportunities for enterprises, investors and entrepreneurs in markets including mobile Internet businesses, software development, and mobile device manufacturing.
Beginning with the latest news on the planned launch of Sprint's "Xohm" WiMax network, the report then adds in some technical background on WiMax before diving into the technical and business reasons behind WiMax's opportunities and challenges, concluding with several predictions for WiMax's fate in 2008.
"Since Intel (News - Alert) and others have been beating WiMax's drum loudly for several years now, mainstream media and most of the technical press are starting to wonder when, or if, the technology will ever live up to the hype," said Kapustka, who was managing editor at the GigaOM blog network before starting Sidecut Reports late last year.
At the recent CTIA (News - Alert) show in Las Vegas, Sprint's announcement that the Xohm launch would be delayed led to the rumor of technology's early demise, a jump to conclusions that Kapustka said is expected for those who don't spend the time necessary to dig deeper into the WiMax world.
"While the Sprint launch is the most high-profile WiMax operation around, there are more parts to the story, including the potential rise of CLEC-type providers using WiMax to circumvent the local copper loop," Kapustka said.
"There is also a huge market developing for WiMax in emerging countries, which could provide profits for U.S. gear makers or application developers, and eventually their investors. Even Sprint's big partners, including Motorola (News - Alert), say that Xohm is only a small part of their WiMax plans for 2008. So to write WiMax off because of Sprint's problems is to miss the bigger story,” added Kapustka.
Michelle Robart is a Contributing Editor at TMCnet. To read more of her articles please visit her columnist page.
