Posted: 09th Dec, 2005 By: MarkJ
The IEEE has formally ratified 802.16e, otherwise known as the mobile version of
WiMAX broadband wireless technology. The specification could have uses on moving vehicles and inside of future mobile phone technology:
Known as 802.16e, the mobile standard now officially extends the already ratified 802.16-2004 - aka 802.11d - specification, which details connections between fixed locations. The 802.16e standard allows a base-station to communicate with a moving device.
The two versions of WiMax are not compatible, but both are expected to be ultimately implemented in dual-mode base-stations, allowing a single antenna to talk to transceivers mounted on the side of buildings and to devices carried by cars, trains and pedestrians.
By the end of 2005, 802.16-2004 and 802.16e should have been merged into a single IEEE document, 802.16e-2005.This may be good news, yet the lack of compatibility between the two
WiMAX types, not to mention the failure to agree a final 'fixed'
WiMAX standard, still leaves a gaping hole to fill. More @
The Register.