About a week ago I wrote a blog about the possibility of Apple embracing WiMAX. That blog was followed soon after by a MacObserver story.
Needless to say, I've gotten an earful from readers -- some good, some bad, and some a little bit ugly. I should have known that any article that combined lightning-rod topics like Apple and WiMAX would attract attention.
So I wanted to summarize the comments received and make a few corrections. Here goes...
Comment: Apple launched Airport in 1999, not 1997. Apple launched it at the Boston Macworld show, alongside Apple's launching of the iBook.
-> I stand corrected. For a handy Apple timeline check out this site.
Comment: It should be noted that Apple does use Intel chips in its xRAID product.
-> This was one of several comments I received that noted that Apple is already using Intel chips. Some folks also stressed that porting the Mac OS over to Intel would not be a major production, while others said the exact opposite. I'd love to get more input on this as I am no expert.
Regardless, I still cannot help but think that the wireless folks within Apple aren't at least a little intrigued by the business potential of WiMAX. Intel bet big on Wi-Fi a few years back and certainly did well as a result; any potential partner and OEM is taking Intel's WiMAX gamble very seriously.
Comment: WiMax would not be affordable for an everyday technology. Heck, Alvarion, one of the largest players in the game does not hardly sell anything less than $1000, with the exception of their low-end access units.
-> Alvarion has been selling proprietary fixed wireless gear in low quantities, hence the relatively high costs. WiMAX gear, produced in large quantities by multiple vendors, will be affordable. And Intel isn't going to be the only player making WiMAX silicon. Everyone currently producing Wi-Fi components is either already investing in WiMAX or keeping a very close eye on it. Wi-Fi wasn't particularly cheap in 1999 either.
Comment: Just because WiMAX is a "new" technology, does not mean Apple will adopt it, especially if it is the wrong tool for the job.
-> Agreed. But my point here is that there are new "jobs" that wireless technology will be expected to perform in the years ahead and WiMAX might be a very good fit for those jobs. Not all jobs. I don't believe Wi-Fi is threatened in the least by WiMAX.
Finally, a number of people made it clear that WiMAX is a "last mile" technology and not a "last hundred feet" technology. While I agree that this is how WiMAX is being positioned, it is by no means the only way that WiMAX may ultimately be used. Wi-Fi certainly wasn't originally envisioned as a technology for unwiring city blocks via a mix of mesh and MIMO technologies. I think we're going to see all kinds of unintended applications emerge from WiMAX.
Anyway, that's it for me. Keep those comments coming...
Russell Shaw is a specialist in mobile computing, telephony, networking and covers these fields regularly for numerous print and online publications. Russ writes the popular IP Telephony blog on ZDNet and contributes regularly to The Industry Standard blog as well. Author of seven books, Russ' latest book is Wireless Networking Made Easy.
John Yunker is president of 
1. Rick Dobbs on June 5, 2005 12:51 PM writes...
Well, now that Apple is switching to Intel chips, this little bit of prognostication is all but 100% confirmed...
Permalink to Comment2. Robert J. Berger on June 5, 2005 9:01 PM writes...
There is no advantage of WiMax over WiFi if they are both using unlicensed spectrum. The power limits of being unlicensed and the fact that they use almost the same spectrum and exact modulation (5Ghz OFDM in 802.11a and 802.16d) give them almost the same link budgets.
But WiMax requires a much more sophisticated base station than WiFi. WiFi is already 4 or 5 generations ahead of WiMax and its evolution is accelerating. WiMax is behind in its proposed schedule and I expect it will never reach any real volume compared to WiFi.
So WiFi is leaping into hyper evolution while WiMax is having problems getting into production. WiFi will be coming out with MIMO (802.11n when its standardized, pre-standard products already on the shelves at Frys.) before WiMax even gets into its second generation.
WiFi is recapitulating the evolution of Ethernet. WiMax is recapitulation the Hype cycles of all the standards that lost to Ethernet.
Any company is a fool to spend resources on WiMax for unlicensed applications, particularly for LAN applications, but in the end for WAN as well IMHO.
Permalink to Comment3. Alfred on June 9, 2005 3:30 AM writes...
Mr. Berger
Wi-Max IS a licensed spectrum at 3650 MHz.
For everyone that lives in a highly populated cityscape go ahead and stick with your Wi-Fi base stations every 300 meters. Out here in the country we need wide open spaces and power to match it.
The major concept of FCC support of Wi-Max is to get the whole country involved in broadband not just where it's inexpensive to provide service.
I think you're missing the point...Super Size Me
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